Glamping close to Winfield, Kansas offers outdoor accommodations in the Flint Hills region, where prairie grasslands meet rolling limestone hills. The area experiences hot summers with temperatures averaging 90°F and mild winters around 40°F. Most campgrounds remain accessible year-round, though facilities like showers may close during winter months at certain locations.
What to do
Mountain biking trails: Santa Fe Lake features multiple trail difficulty levels for bikers of all skill levels. "The mountain bike trails as well as hiking trails are perfect for beginners to experts," notes Helena P., who appreciates the well-maintained routes at Santa Fe Lake.
Kayaking on smaller lakes: The smaller size of Santa Fe Lake makes it ideal for paddling without disruption from larger watercraft. "This lake is a nice break from places like Cheney and Afton. It's small so there aren't a lot of big boats disturbing the water, which makes paddling a lot more enjoyable," explains Chris L.
Sunset viewing: Find peaceful sunset spots throughout the region. At Santa Fe Lake, Armaan M. shares, "There are several beautiful views of the small damn and the broken sections that create a little waterfall. The sunset in particular was really peaceful and easy to watch from the benches."
Fly-in camping experience: Beaumont Hotel & RV Park offers a unique opportunity with its private airstrip. "Fly in with your own plane, drive your car/RV or ride your bicycle. Beaumont with their own airport, hotel, campground, and cafe with a lot of Frisco Railroad History," writes Joyce R.
What campers like
Clean facilities: Wellington KOA maintains high standards for their bathrooms and showers. "Friendly staff, extremely clean bathrooms and showers! Nice grassy spot for our tent!" reports Wandering W. at Wellington KOA.
Convenient check-in process: Late arrivals appreciate the organized systems at some campgrounds. Aaron S. notes, "Pulled in around 11pm, had to use the late check-in process. Well organized and easy with individual maps for each site number."
Laundry options: Some campsites offer coin-operated laundry facilities for longer stays. "This is a very clean and well maintained camp ground. We just needed one night and used the coin operated laundry," shares Jack B.
Historical elements: The Beaumont Hotel area offers camping with historical context. Sarah B. explains, "We stopped here for the night because it was in the right location, but were surprised by how nice it was. The history of the hotel and accompanying landing strip was fascinating."
What you should know
Site surfaces vary: Prepare for different ground conditions depending on campground. "Sites are gravel and maybe a little rutted, some more gravel would help level things up," advises Mark S. about Wellington KOA.
Alcohol restrictions: Policies differ between campgrounds. At Sarge Creek, alcohol is not permitted, while El Dorado State Park does allow it.
Water levels change: Flooding can impact campsite availability. "The lake was flooded so the water was a bit off," reports Randall J. about El Dorado State Park.
Shower costs: Be prepared for coin-operated showers at some locations. "It was $32 to stay the night, and the showers were coin-op," notes Shaanti O. about Santa Fe Lake.
Campground busyness varies seasonally: "We probably are a little late in the season, not real busy (early November)," observes Mark S. about Wellington KOA's quieter off-season atmosphere.
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: El Dorado State Park's Bluestem Point offers recreational equipment for children near the water. "Decent beach area with playground equipment for kids," according to Stanleigh S.
Multiple camping options: The area offers variety for different family preferences. "Rent kayak, tent and rv friendly. Fishing and hiking. No Wi-Fi but there are usually two bars," explains Silf G. about Santa Fe Lake.
Beach areas for swimming: Some campgrounds feature designated swimming spots. According to Marty D., Santa Fe Lake has a "swim beach & great for tent camping."
Spacious sites: Families appreciate room to spread out at certain campgrounds. Todd P. mentions about El Dorado State Park, "The sites were level and spacious. We will definitely be back."
Tips from RVers
Full hookup availability: Shady Creek Area at El Dorado State Park offers complete RV services including water, electric, and sewer. "Nice campsite, tons of sites with nobody else here. Not buggy either," notes Zach A.
Water fill locations: Some campgrounds offer water filling stations even when direct hookups aren't available. "Electric only but the office lets you fill your fresh water tank by the entrance and there is a dump station," explains Marty D. about Santa Fe Lake.
Big rig accessibility: Several campgrounds accommodate larger RVs with appropriate parking areas. Wellington KOA, Santa Fe Lake, and El Dorado State Park all offer big-rig friendly sites with 50-amp electric service.
Campsite selection strategy: Jason B. advises about Wellington KOA, "Nice KOA campground. A little further than we wanted to be from Wichita, but not their fault. Clean, friendly employees."
