The best camping in Kansas with horseback riding

True to its reputation, Kansas is a land of vast prairies. The Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve protects a tiny remnant of the 170 million acres of prairies that once covered North America, and the Flint Hills provide some of the state’s most dramatic landscapes, with jagged ridges rising from the grasslands. For scenic lakeside camping, the Army Corps of Engineers operates campgrounds on Council Grove Lake and the Marion Reservoir. Eisenhower State Park and El Dorado State Park are welcoming options with grasslands and woodlands. Many private RV parks are also found near Wichita and along Interstate 70.

Dodge City is practically synonymous with the Wild West. Where outlaws fought on dusty streets now stand a number of museums telling wild tales of Wyatt Earp, cattle drives, and bygone days. To explore the landscapes of the high prairies, head to the Little Jerusalem Badlands State Park and the Cimarron National Grassland, which protects over 100,000 acres. Camping in western Kansas includes a cluster of RV parks near Dodge City and other towns in the region, particularly along Interstate 70. Share the land with a prairie dog colony by camping at Prairie Dog State Park or camp lakeside at Cedar Bluff State Park, which has a unique BMX track. Escape the prairies to find Historic Lake Scott State Park, which is home to deep canyons, woodlands, and towering bluffs.