Located right about in the heart of Kansas, approximately 60 miles west of Salina, Wilson Lake is somewhat of an anomaly among the state’s otherwise flat and featureless plains. This 9,000-acre reservoir, created by the damming of the Saline River, is surrounded by scenic cliffs and sculpted outcrops within the region’s low Smoky Hills. These hills consist of Dakota and Kiowa sandstone formations that were deposited during the Cretaceous Period. Boasting three recreation areas (Wilson Lake State Park, Minooka Park, and Lucas Park), as well as an 8,000-acre Wildlife Area, Wilson Lake offers locals and visitors ample opportunities to get outdoors for camping, hiking, biking, fishing, and wildlife watching. The year-round campgrounds at Wilson State Park feature 240 sites for tent and RV campers in two main areas: Hell Creek and Otoe. Within these areas, campsites are situated around the shores of State Park Cove and Hell Creek Cove, and many have nice views of the lake. RV campers can choose from full- or partial-hookup sites, with back-in or pull-through drives; tent campers have access to primitive sites. Most sites are open and exposed. All are equipped with picnic tables and cooking grills, and have access to water faucets, flush and vault toilets, showers, and cooking shelters. Dump stations are available in both areas. Campsite rates are $10–$24/night, plus vehicle fee; weekly and annual rates are available. The park provides two boat launches for recreational and fishing watercraft, as well as docks and a fish-cleaning station. Common catches in the lake include striped, spotted and smallmouth bass, bluegill, crappie, walleye, and catfish. Paddlers can launch kayaks, canoes and SUPs from anywhere along the shoreline. A swimming area is located in State Park Cove in the Hell Creek Area. Mountain bikers can enjoy riding on the 25-mile Switchgrass Trail, and the 1-mile, barrier-free Cedar Trail is nice nature path for the mobility impaired. Bird and wildlife watchers should be on the lookout for white-tailed deer, rabbits, quail, turkeys, and a variety of resident and migratory waterfowl, songbirds and raptors.

Wilson State Park Campground

Wilson State Park is truly a hidden gem. It is surrounded by miles of rolling farmland, so it is like an oasis when you see this beautiful lake as you enter the park. We stayed in Foxtail Loop in Site 61. It couldn't have been more perfect. We pulled-in at sunset and discovered that our site had a completely unobstructed view of the sunset over the lake. We stayed for two nights and couldn't have been happier with it. There are several hiking trails throughout the park to explore. We were surprised by the warm weather when we got there in early October 2020, it was 94 degrees! That said, we would absolutely go back and definitely recommend it.

Quiet Beautiful Park With Lakeside Pull Thru Sites

On a trip to Colorado for some hiking and biking, we stopped off here for a night.  Campground had nice camp sites and was well maintained and facilities were very clean. 

What make the space though we're the miles of incredible bike trails around the lake.  Worth going back just for those!  Very challenging if you take the tougher routes or there are others for leisurely rides.

Bike trails are awesome!

It was in the high 90s but the breeze from the lake kept us comfortable. Lots of tent spots, but many RVs as well. There was plenty of room between camping areas for peace and quite, beautiful sunsets! Showers, bathrooms, water, and electricity available.

Great spot

Always good at this park.  The state park staff do an excellent job even with the budget restraints of the state government. 

Wilson Lake "The clearest lake in Kansas"

Great spot. There are many tent and even RV spots that are right near the water. Some parking spots require a Kansas state park passport but we were able to buy one at the park office. The water was calm enough in the morning and evenings to kayak and explore the coves. mid day when the water started getting a bit rougher we swapped the kayaks for bikes and explored the trails. the park offers several dirt trails and a few paved paths perfect for all levels of riders! To top it off the sunsets were amazing every night.  only rated 4/5 because the bathrooms/showers weren’t the best.  


Bring your bicycles and boats! 

Great stay. The lake is very clear and beautiful. We saw a decent amount of fish jumping at night. 
Not a lot of shady spots but there are some.   
Showers and restrooms available but quite a ways away from the sites. We had to take the car to get there from our site or it was a bit of a walk. Otherwise all good. 4/5 for the distance to facilities. 


Nice spot

The trails at this campground are super fun for mountain biking! Quick and flowy! Not really set campsites, more dispersed camping.

Great trail network!

When traveling to Kansas there are 26 state parks to visit.     It might be a bit difficult to decide which you would like to consider for your outing however I would like to encourage you to give Wilson Lake State Park a thought.    There are several reasons which you might find appealing however one of the most impressive I have found is the sheer amount of camping you can find featuring a variety of options.

  

Wilson's Lake State Park has everything from primitive camping to Cabins and everything in between.   There are sites designed for RVs both small and large offering everything from standard electric to full connections.    With 240 sites on location this can quickly be considered as one of the best camping of this area.

  

Lake views are accessible from almost every campsite at the Park with up close and personal access in several of the loops.     Prices vary from Primitive to Improved sites  from $13 to $26.   

  

I found that while some of the loops provided more primitive restroom accommodations others had very nice flush toilets and showers.   There is a playground central to the park and several areas which you can launch smaller vessels such as canoes or kayaks and a larger boat ramp.

  

I checked out the various loops while visiting and found that many of the loops were semi even and provided various levels of shade to help you even on the hottest of days.   When I visited there had been a lot of recent rains which elevated the lake levels and lessened the beach access dramatically however typically there is a very nice beach area near two of the camping loops.

  

The outdoor space of the park has been a point of focus and the creation of a large bike trail was constructed to allow people to get out and enjoy the surroundings.    Many additionally, hike this path to see a bit more of the nature of the area which include deer, rabbits and foxes.

  

I really enjoyed my visit to the park.   Upon meeting the camp host I learned that the booking policy for the campground is very flexible and they do encourage you to make sure you try to book in advance during peak traffic season.

  

TIPS:   

*   Try to book in advance of 2 months for a cabin.   These spaces are very limited and often from June to September they are booked all weekends.
*   Bring your fishing pole.   There is a great access point for those wanting to fish from the shore before you get to the park entrance and another just after entering.

Options For Every Camper

Wonderful spot close to sandy beaches, great for little kids. Good clear water at 3 feet deep. Sparse T-Mobile cell service.

88 great spot 

Bluestem RV

We really enjoyed our time here.  We had only one neighbor in our area of the park and were right on the water.  The lake was busy during the day and quieted down in the evening.  Bathrooms need a refresh but I can only imagine how much use they get each year.  Overall we highly recommend this place.  Before entering the park grab some firewood and last minute supplies from the local bait shop, 2nd right after getting off the main road.

Beautiful Spot!

Stunning views in every direction. A true diamond in the rough tucked just 8 miles from I-70 near Sylvan Grove, KS. This is a great place to enjoy the breeze as it blows across the rolling plains of eastern Kansas.

Wilson State Park has multiple camping loops with a variety of hookup options from primitive sites overlooking Wilson reservoir to full hookups with 20/30/50 amp power, water and sewer for RVs. Bring your camera, some comfortable shoes and sunscreen and enjoy plenty of opportunities for hiking, biking and fishing.

A true hidden gem!

Ranger Review: Camp Zero 10 liter cooler at Wilson Lake in Kansas
Campground review-driving up to Wilson Lake  you would never know you were in the middle of Kansas. There are rolling hills surrounding the lake. There is not clearly marked signs which made the area kind of confusing for us. There are so many loops with camping and 2 other parks in this same area. The lake itself is very large and lengthy. It’s beautiful-perfect for boating, fishing, or kayaking. There are not a lot of trees so the area can get pretty windy. Lots of sites face the water. Prices vary from 10-24 per night. There are also park permits and service fee you must pay. Sites range from primitive to full hook ups. Most have fire rings and picnic tables. There are plenty of trails for hiking and biking and swim beaches. The bathrooms are clean and there are showers,marinas,dump stations. Check in and out is at 2 pm. Make sure to check out the town of Lucas for all the fun art. 
Product Review: As a Ranger for the DRYT, I get products to test from time to time and I tested the 10 liter Camp Zero at Wilson Lake. What I love about the Camp Zero cooler is:
1:  The light aluminum handle with gripping pad. Makes it easier to carry without losing grip
2:  The rubber feet on the bottom makes it so it doesn’t slide around in the car or boat and get scratched or scratch up the car. 
3:  the molded cup holders on the top of the cooler that turns it into a much need table on the beach
4:  The heavy duty rubber latches to keep the cooler latched. They are bear resistant
5:  The awesome colors you can get them in
I chose the bright green 10 liter cooler.  The green is so fun and cheery and I know that I’ll be able to spot it where ever it is.   This cooler really keeps the drinks cooler for extended periods of time. It is so heavy duty, and sturdy. The cooler is a little heavy once you put ice and drinks in it so I’ll just make my husband carry it. I’m excited to take this Camp Zero 10 liter cooler with me on all our adventures

Ranger Review: Camp Zero cooler at Wilson Lake in Kansas

What a lovely campground and state park.  It’s 16 minutes off I70 and feels so remote and peaceful- no highway traffic noise. We pulled in late at night on a Monday in October after many hours in the road and were thrilled at how peaceful and clean it was. We stayed at campsite 17 right on the lake in the loop with electric and water hookups, picnic table, fire pit(but no firewood available- gotta buy it at a local fish and tackle store outside the park) No need for leveling blocks, easy to settle in and cook dinner. In the morning we hiked some of the trails and showered in the shower house. Beautiful views of the lake from the trails. We could have stayed another night and will return on another cross-country trip. Lovely!

What a lovely campground and state park

Amazing people and clean sites

This was our second time camping here and we loved it just as much as the first! We stayed on Wheatgrass loop site #57. The sites are huge! This back-in site was easily 50-60ft long. Water and electric hookups were conveniently located and the site was mostly level side to side. And that view! *chefs kiss*

Now for the downsides, and this isn’t something to fault the park for, but more of a campground etiquette thing: because this site is on the way to both the nearby beach and the trash dumpsters, other campers were constantly walking through our site. Something to be mindful of if you decide to camp on this loop, but it wouldn’t stop me from camping here. We will definitely be back!!

Truly A Hidden Gem

 While I read up quite a bit on traveling thru Kansas, this state park is truly better than I could imagine. Very scenic, peaceful, and plenty to do( or do nothing&amp; enjoy the solitude). It's always hard ranking campgrounds, but this is easily a top 5 for me. We drove to nearby Minooka Park,that looks great as well. This area is great. Groceries, gas,&amp; golf nearby. Restaurants too. If considering a visit, book it and you won't be disappointed.

Loved It

Only stayed one night during our road trip. Lake was really beautiful and our campsite was in a great location. We stayed in a tent in one of the Coneflower primative spots. We had a great view, a little shade and a trail down to the lake. Bathrooms were decent, but very hot. Breeze off the lake was perfect but we had to secure the tent pretty good to keep it from blowing away. 

The marina sells firewood, ice, and other goodies. Staff were all very friendly.

We will definitely come back here when we have more time!

Loved it here!

Stayed two nights at Wilson State Park on our way from Georgia to Alaska. We were so pleasantly surprised! Several campsites to choose from, each offering different (but equally beautiful) views &amp; amenities. Tons of hiking and biking trails. We camped in November so some of the bathrooms were closed but there was one open bathroom facility that was drivable with hot showers. Only con was the showers were push button style so somewhat of an inconvenience. We arrived late, which was not a problem. There were no gates and we were able to check-in and pay the following day. All in all, a fantastic experience and we would definitely return!

Fantastic site for the active camper!

Big Bluestem Campground Site 78! Prime spot with large shade tree to block western sun. 20’ from water’s edge with path to drop kayaks in, swim or even sit lawn chairs into the water to cool off. Noted as largest saltwater and clearest lake in Kansas. 30/50A/120V and water hookups. Concrete pad. Clean showers a few hundred yards away. Trash bin in middle of loop. Marina two loops away; about 4 minute drive. Outstanding rock formations, reminds me of Utah. Water levels effect access to some formations. Great time, great weather, we’ll be back soon!
T-Mobile service 1-4 bars.
Streamed HotSpot for ROKU without issues.

Perfect spot for camping, Kayaking, swimming, fishing, hiking, biking… or chillaxing! 

BEAUTIFUL views!!! Very windy but worth it for water front. We stayed in a loop alone that could have had 3 other sites, next to beach access. Bathrooms were a bit of a walk but again, worth it!! 

Thought I had seen a mirage once we pulled into the park after miles of Kansas greens and browns. 

Self reg station (electronic) at the park as well as reserve early online. 