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home/Knowledge Base/Kansas/Free Camping at Kansas State Fishing Lakes
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Free Camping at Kansas State Fishing Lakes

624 views 2 August 23, 2022

Where can you find free camping at Kansas State Fishing Lakes? We researched all the state fishing lakes operated by the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks to find out which allow free camping and have listed them here.

camping at a kansas state fishing lake
Camping at a Kansas State Fishing Lake

Free Camping at Kansas State Fishing Lakes

Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks owns and operates 46 state fishing lakes throughout the state. 39 of those lakes allow free, primitive camping. The others either require fees and reservations, or have prohibited camping. Most of these lakes offer pit toilets, and about half have picnic tables and fire rings. Very few, however, have trash cans.

Rules for Camping at Kansas State Fishing Lakes

Rules for camping at Kansas State Fishing Lakes is the same as that for all Kansas state managed lands (download the full set of rules here)

  • 14-day maximum stay
  • Camp only in areas designated for camping
  • Do not leave your campsite unattended for more than 24 hours
  • Pets should remain on a leash no more than 10 feet in length
  • Quiet hours are from 11:00pm to 6:00am
  • Fires are permitted only in fire rings, grills, and stoves
  • Fishing license is only required if you are fishing

List of Kansas State Fishing Lakes That Allow Free Camping

Atchison State Fishing Lake, Atchison, KS, (39.63325, -95.17813), Primitive camping is allowed on the south and east side of the lake. Picnic facilities and restrooms are available on site. Rural water is provided at the southeast entrance to the area.

  • Download Official Brochure
  • Read reviews on FreeRoam

Barber State Fishing Lake, Medicine Lodge, KS, (37.29824, -98.58136), Numerous primitive campsites are located around the lake.

  • Read Reviews on FreeRoam

Bourbon State Fishing Lake, Uniontown, KS, (37.79118, -95.06882), Primitive campsites are located along the west shore of the lake.

  • Download Official Brochure
  • Read Reviews on FreeRoam

Brown State Fishing Lake, Robinson, KS, (39.84860, -95.37499), Primitive camping is allowed around the lake.

  • Read reviews on FreeRoam

Butler State Fishing Lake, Latham, KS, (37.54855, -96.69038), Primitive campsites are located all around the lake.

  • Download Official Brochure
  • Read Reviews on FreeRoam

Chase State Fishing Lake, Falls, KS, (38.36550, -96.59187), Primitive campsites are located along the north shore of the lake.

  • Download Official Brochure
  • Read Reviews on FreeRoam

Clark State Fishing Lake, Ford, KS, (37.39696, -99.78367), Numerous primitive campsites can be found all around the lake.

  • Download Official Brochure
  • Read Reviews on FreeRoam

Concannon State Fishing Lake, Garden City, KS, (38.06942, -100.55899), Primitive campsite is allowed all around the wildlife area.

  • Read Reviews on FreeRoam

Cowley State Fishing Lake, Dexter, KS, (37.09889, -96.80291), Primitive campsites are allowed along the north shore of the lake. Only a 7-day stay is allowed here.

  • Download Official Brochure
  • Read Reviews on FreeRoam

Douglas State Fishing Lake, Baldwin City, KS, (38.80035, -95.15763), Primitive camping areas, four vault restrooms, and picnic tables are provided for area users. Camping is only allowed in provided areas.

  • Download Official Brochure
  • Read reviews on FreeRoam

Finney Wildlife Area, Garfield Township, KS, (38.17552, -100.33376), Primitive camping is allowed, but very few areas can accommodate campers.

  • Read Reviews on FreeRoam

Ford State Fishing Lake, Wright, KS, (37.82314, -99.91862), Primitive camping is allowed on the west shore of the lake, while the east shore is reserved for boy scout camps.

  • Download Official Brochure
  • Read Reviews on FreeRoam

Geary State Fishing Lake, Junction City, KS, (38.89902, -96.85931), Primitive camping allowed all around the lake. The east shore offers fireplace grills, picnic tables, and vault toilet.

  • Download Official Brochure
  • Read reviews on FreeRoam

Goodman State Fishing Lake, Ness City, KS, (38.38753, -99.85373), Primitive camping is allowed on the south and west shores of the lake.

  • Download Official Brochure
  • Read Reviews on FreeRoam

Hain State Fishing Lake, Spearville, KS, (37.85290, -99.85756), Primitive camping is allowed all around the lake, but is limited to due to lake’s small size.

  • Download Official Brochure
  • Read Reviews on FreeRoam

Hamilton State Fishing Lake, Syracuse, KS, (38.03109, -101.82037), Primitive camping is allowed all around the lake.

  • Read Reviews on FreeRoam

Hodgeman State Fishing Lake, Jetmore, KS, (38.04879, -99.82651), Primitive camping is allowed at the north end of the lake, by the dam, but can only accommodate up to three (3) campsites at the most.

  • Read Reviews on FreeRoam

Jewell State Fishing Lake, Jewell, KS, (39.69929, -98.27946), Camping is available only in one of 6 designated sites (Cattail Cove, Panfish Flats, Willow’s Weep, Catfish Cove, Plum Thicket Shores, and Ash Creek).

  • Read Reviews on FreeRoam

Kingman State Fishing Lake, Kingman, KS, (37.65506, -98.25945), Primitive campsites are located along the east shore of the lake.

  • Download Official Brochure
  • Read Reviews on FreeRoam

Kiowa State Fishing Lake, Greensburg, KS, (37.61208, -99.30123), Primitive is allowed, but limited to just a handful of sites.

  • Download Official Brochure
  • Read Reviews on FreeRoam

Leavenworth State Fishing Lake, Tonganoxie, KS, (39.12456, -95.15042), Primitive camping is allowed in four designated areas in the southern half of the lake. The northern arms of the lake are part of a wildlife refuge and is off-limits to camping.

  • Download Official Brochure
  • Read Reviews on FreeRoam

Louisburg Middle Creek State Fishing Lake, Louisburg, KS, (38.50821, -94.67393), Primitive camping located at designated sites along north shore.

  • Download Official Brochure
  • Read Reviews on FreeRoam

Lyon State Fishing Lake, Reading, KS, (38.54553, -96.06043), Primitive camping site are located along the eastern half of the lake.

  • Read Reviews on FreeRoam

Miami State Fishing Lake, Fontana, KS, (38.42056, -94.79240), A concrete boat ramp, a courtesy dock, fourteen earthen piers, and vault toilet are available for fishermen and campers. Primitive camping is permitted on the earthen piers.

  • Download Official Brochure
  • Read reviews on FreeRoam

McPherson State Fishing Lake, Battle Hill, KS, (38.47812, -97.47038), Primitive campsites are located all around the lake.

  • Download Official Brochure
  • Read Reviews on FreeRoam

Montgomery State Fishing Lake, Independence, KS, (37.16354, -95.69222), Primitive camping is available all around the lake.

  • Read Reviews on FreeRoam

Nebo State Fishing Lake, Holton, KS, (39.44794, -95.59652), Primitive camping is allowed near the boat ramp area, but very limited in space.

  • Download Official Brochure
  • Read Reviews on FreeRoam

Neosho State Fishing Lake, Parsons, KS (37.42419, -95.19977), Primitive camping is limited to designated campsites all around the lake.

  • Read Reviews on FreeRoam

Osage State Fishing Lake, Fairfax, KS, (38.76520, -95.67166), Primitive sites located all around the lake.

  • Read Reviews on FreeRoam

Ottawa State Fishing Lake, Minneapolis, KS, (39.10746, -97.57092), Free primitive camping is allowed in designated areas around the lake.

  • Read Reviews on FreeRoam

Pottawatomie Lake No. 1 State Fishing Lake, Westmoreland, KS, (39.46976, -96.40871), Primitive camping is restricted to designated sites in certain areas.

  • Download Official Brochure
  • Read Reviews on FreeRoam

Pottawatomie Lake No. 2 State Fishing Lake, Manhattan, KS, (39.23018, -96.52746), Free camping is allowed in the primitive campsites located on the west side of the lake.

  • Download Official Brochure
  • Read Reviews on FreeRoam

Rooks State Fishing Lake, Stockton, KS, (39.40156, -99.31795), (Formerly Lake Stockton), Free camping is allowed in the four designated camping areas along the east shoreline of the lake. A vault toilet is located near the boat ramp. A walk way facilitates access from the shelter house to the toilet.

  • Read Reviews on FreeRoam

Saline State Fishing Lake, Salina, KS, (38.90226, -97.65430), Free camping is allowed around the lake, but space is limited due to the lake’s small size.

  • Read Reviews on FreeRoam

Shawnee State Fishing Lake, Topeka, KS, (39.20433, -95.80417), Primitive campsites located all around the lake.

  • Download Official Brochure
  • Read Reviews on FreeRoam

Sheridan State Fishing Lake, Valley, KS, (39.36107, -100.22961), Designated sites provide primitive camping near the shoreline with plenty of trees for shade. Picnic tables and fire rings are located at many of the sites.

  • Read Reviews on FreeRoam

Washington State Fishing Lake, Morrowville, KS, (39.92876, -97.12018), Primitive camping allowed along the east side of the lake.

  • Download Official Brochure
  • Read Reviews on FreeRoam

Wilson State Fishing Lake, Buffalo, KS, (37.69580, -95.67428), Primitive campsites are located all around the lake.

  • Download Official Brochure
  • Read Reviews on FreeRoam

Woodson State Fishing Lake, Toronto, KS, (37.79251, -95.84230), Numerous primitive campsites are located all around the lake.

  • Read Reviews on FreeRoam
Tags:KansasKansas Department of Wildlife and Parks

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