Prairie State Park Campground serves as the primary campsite near Liberal, Missouri, with just four primitive sites located in a wooded hollow. The park encompasses over 14 miles of trails through tallgrass prairie, where bison roam freely. Summers in this region can be hot with temperatures regularly exceeding 90°F, while winters are typically mild with occasional freezes and snowfall between December and February.
What to do
Bison viewing: Year-round opportunity at Prairie State Park Campground where visitors can observe free-roaming herds. One visitor noted that "Prairie state park isn't very large but it is nice to see somewhere dedicated to preserving the native grassland that the Midwest used to be covered with. The main draw for me other than it being close to where I live is that you get to be around buffalo with out fences."
Stargazing: Clear prairie skies offer excellent night viewing opportunities. A camper at Prairie State Park mentioned the site is "Good for star gazing. Two sites have a paved pad and two do not...depends what you're looking for."
Hiking: Multiple trail options ranging from 1.5-4.5 miles at Prairie State Park. According to one visitor, "There are quite a few trails ranging from 1.5-4.5 miles—total of 14 miles of trails."
Swimming: Public beach access at Crawford State Park located about 20 miles west of Liberal. A camper shared that Crawford State Park has an "Amazing swimming beach, modern bath house and great restaurant."
What campers like
Privacy between sites: The small campgrounds provide distance between neighbors. At Oak Point Campground in Crawford State Park, campers appreciate that "This place was easy, pretty and well appointed. Great site next to river, across from bath, laundry and showers. Quiet and easy access."
Lakefront camping: Many sites at Crawford State Park directly face the water. According to one camper, "A handful of small campgrounds surround the lake. Almost every spot is on the water."
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Beyond bison, the natural setting attracts diverse wildlife. A camper at Prairie State Park observed "Lots of deer around, beautiful to see but this also means ticks!" Another noted you can hear "coyotes all night howling and barking."
Concrete pads at developed sites: Rocky Cove Campground offers sturdy, level surfaces for easy setup. One visitor commented that "Rocky Cove has concrete pad sites, nice and level, both on and away from the lake."
What you should know
Stream crossing required: Access to Prairie State Park campsites involves crossing water that may become impassable. A visitor warned that "Since you have to drive through this stream to get to the campground beware when there has been heavy rain as it may not be accessible."
Ticks present: The grassland environment harbors ticks, particularly during warm months. Multiple campers mentioned ticks, with one noting "Lots of ticks. Good clean campground. Bathroom. Bison roam the park."
Limited facilities at primitive sites: Gunn Park and Prairie State Park offer basic accommodations. A Gunn Park visitor explained, "This place is a small park that has lots of hiking trails it is five dollars for tents $10 for RVs with electric the bathrooms are Porta potty."
Variable cell service: Coverage differs between campgrounds. At Prairie State Park, a camper reported "I did have steady cell service with AT&T while here."
Tips for camping with families
Campground playgrounds: Several area parks offer play areas for children. At Lamar City Park, a visitor noted it has "a mile walking loop, playgrounds, bathrooms, a couple spots with RV power hookups, and a dump station."
Nature center visits: Educational opportunities at Prairie State Park introduce children to prairie ecology. A camper mentioned "The nature center is small but they have two bison, a coyote, and many other learning opportunities inside."
Swimming options: Public pools supplement lake swimming during summer. One Lamar City Park visitor mentioned "The city swimming pool is next door if you want to swim or possibly shower."
Poison ivy awareness: Parents should educate children about identifying this plant. A camper at Prairie State Park warned "There is also significant poison ivy along the roads but there are signs warning about that. Best to keep to the maintained roads and paths."
Tips from RVers
Check site length before booking: Some campgrounds have limited space for larger rigs. At Osage Prairie RV Park, a camper advised "Osage Prairie, Site #46 (46 total sites), long enough for tt and truck, gravel, full hookup, close, but not bad, on interstate service road, no major noise."
Leveling requirements vary: Bring leveling blocks for uneven sites. One Osage Prairie RV Park visitor mentioned they "needed two blocks to level, some mature trees, some short sites, some longer, make sure to ask for longer."
Electric-only lakefront sites: At Rocky Cove Campground, a camper pointed out that "The lake sites have power only, and the Prime sites (opposite the lakeside sites) have water and power both."
Self-registration systems: Many parks use unattended check-in processes. At Gunn Park, visitors "Self-register at the camping area entrance and then hang your tag on your rearview mirror."
