Best Tent Camping in Kansas

As with many campgrounds in Kansas, this state fishing lake boasts camping without charge. There are five designated primitive tent spots with fire rings and tables. No RV spots, no electric, and no water. Two spots are at the entrance near the vault toilet and three spots are caddy corner on the back of the lake. You are responsible for removing your trash, the fields are well maintained, and of course you can fish. There are two docks and you can drop a boat in the small lake. There is a lot of noise from the working silos, railroad, and highways.

Feel like you're camping like a smurf, almost.  Mushroom camping area are a series of campsites which have a mushroom like shelter over each sites picnic tables (except for one that has a different shaped structure)  Each covered area sits on a concrete pad and has two picnic tables.  Site also has a metal fire ring.  The spots all have plenty of grass around them for your tents.  These sites are listed as primitive so cost only $12.75 for the night.  Their is a vault toilet in the area, but it is only really conveniently located near two of the sites.  These sites are spaced far apart from each other.  No water available in the camping area, but you can get it and other services from some of the other campgrounds in the area.  Most of the sites sit out in the open.  The site I stayed at did have two trees which I was able to use for my hammock.

The Cimarron Grassland is an amazing part of the Great Plains ecosystem and definitely worth a look when driving through the southwest corner of Kansas. It will not be what you’re expecting! The sunrises alone are worth the price of admission, which was just $7 per night.

Just off the park driving tour road, this little campground sits between small ponds in a larger wetland area within the Cimarron River. Each site is spacious with the usual picnic table, fire ring, and tent pad. Vault toilets and potable drinking water are available all year round, we just had to wait for the faucet to thaw after freezing up overnight.

The area is fantastic for bird lovers, and we watched flocks of Starlings tuck themselves into the marsh grasses for the night. Raptors, warblers, and many other bird species use the area as a fly-over stop during migration. Hiking is close by on the Sante Fe Trail which follows the original path of the old wagon trail through the plains, biking and other motorized recreational vehicles are allowed in certain areas. While the terrain might not be challenging, the sandy soil makes any long walk or ride just a little bit more difficult.

The nearby town of Elkhart affords the usual amenities for groceries, gas, and a few restaurants. The National Grassland office is also in town if you want more information about the area. Check out our blog about our time traveling through southern Kansas...and unexpected treat!

Pros Off-season was quiet Open bathrooms were nice and well kept. Easy access to trails Lots of wildlife, vultures, deer, etc. Well marked and plenty of them spots Marina was a quick bike ride away and had a lot to offer during the season. Primate loops had some good spacing and tree cover, along with views of the lake. Inner loops not so much Potable water available year round. Was drinkable.

Cons Signs marked closed bathrooms but not the closest open bathrooms. One per campsite was still open with heat and electric. Weirdly all vaults were closed Office and hosts were unavailable so we had to leave for Casey's for firewood. While before the season, someone told us it's typically impossible to get firewood because the office is usually closed. Signs to the entrance to park and n avigation were pretty small, impossible to read at night, not lit. Electric parking pass only issued one day pass at a time. Would do the paper pass across the parking lot next time. Spacing is definitely a bit crowded for tent camping privacy this time of year. Will be curious to see how it feels in the summer/fall.