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Lake Shawnee County Park

The best camping in Lake Shawnee County Park, KS

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Stories from the community

Alex

2 weeks ago

Tent

Weekend Trip to The Light Center

Susan was very kind and lighthearted and gave us great information about her land and the campsites. The site we choose was perfect and the weather was perfect. Highly recommend Susan and The Light Center.

Nate

2 weeks ago

17 ft pop-up camper

2 nights at Basecamp Flint Hills

Sweet little set up. We went in the off-season and brought our own small porta potty and it worked out great. The host had a lot of firewood available and were very communicative.

Timothy

2 weeks ago

Tent

With pets

Weekend Trip to The Hitch N' Post

Absolutely amazing site! Steven went above and beyond my expectations. We showed up with 4 kids between the ages of 5 and 12, and he pulled no stops entertaining them, including walking his horse down to our campsite for the kids to pet. Be sure to ask him what his record is with the ax throwing!!!😉😆 we will definitely be returning.

Keith

3 weeks ago

With kids

Weekend Trip to Saddle Ridge Retreats Lawrence

Enjoyed a bonfire on a cold evening at the Retreat, and the silo was comfortable with the wood stove keeping the chill out. We hiked around the ranch and squeezed in a little fishing. Thanks for a great evening! looking forward to another visit

Stevie

3 weeks ago

With kids

Weekend Trip to Lake Georgia-Sue

I stayed in The Stevie glamping yurt at Lake Georgia Sue Campground, and it was absolutely perfect. The view was beautiful, the area was peaceful and quiet, and everything was spotless. The entire property is stunning, with horses, goats, mini pigs, and other animals that add to the overall experience. The lake itself is gorgeous, and the residents and employees were incredibly friendly and accommodating throughout my stay. It truly feels like a little hidden gem. Location-wise, it’s great too—Jesse James Cave is just a short drive away, and there’s a local diner nearby with amazing food. If you’re visiting in the fall, the scenery is especially breathtaking. Highly recommend staying here, especially in The Stevie!

Christopher

November 2025

Tent

Weekend Trip to Basecamp Flint Hills

Such a great site, and the riding is fantastic no matter what direction you head from camp. Amy is a great host, communicating quickly. The onsite facilities are perfect, and I'm anxious to come back this spring. If you're a light sleeper, I'd recommend ear plugs, but I wear them at most every camp site. The cows have a lot to say!

blake

November 2025

Tent

Group trip

Weekend Trip to Basecamp Flint Hills

Great place , right off the trail. Well maintained and safe

blake

November 2025

Tent

Group trip

Weekend Trip to Basecamp Flint Hills

Awesome location, right off the trail. Amy was very helpful and in constant contact around our reservation. I wish there were more campsites like this on other bike trails.

Emily

October 2025

With pets

4 nights at The Light Center

The Barn at the Light Center is a perfect relaxing stay. It is quiet and serene, the property around it is beautiful to walk around! I would definitely love to stay there again and recommend it to everyone I know!

Anson

October 2025

Group trip

Weekend Trip to The Light Center

It was a great experience, host was super helpful. Area was clean and provided a lot of quality of life aspects.

Eugene

October 2025

Tent

2 nights at Roots, Fruits & Greens Farm

Kate’s Hipcamp site is the best. Did our yearly trip w both kids and their friends. Despite the rain, we had fun. The goats, chickens, and dogs are fun to hang out with. The land is wide open, the barn is a nice shelter when it rains. Would recommend for anyone! Kate is the best host, we have done this 4-5 years in a row now.

Autumn

October 2025

3 nights at The Little Forest Nest

Unique stay under the stars and close by to many nice trails. Host was kind and communicative. Rained on our last day but was fun to sleep in and watch the rain come down on the glass ceiling. Had lots of deer visitors. Great fall stay.

Siobhan

October 2025

Tent

1 night at Basecamp Flint Hills

Solo camped while driving back out to the east coast, rained all night and site didn’t flood. Very safe and great place to stay for a night.

Ryan

October 2025

Tent

1 night at Basecamp Flint Hills

I loved hammock camping here — the area was quiet, easily navigable, and the stars were super visible. Lots of trees spaces hammock-distance apart.

Queen-sized waterbed with tubes of water (not one sloshy bladder) Comfortable

Erica

October 2025

2 nights at The Light Center

I needed a place to rest and recharge in nature, and this was perfect. The farewell greeting by the goats as I left the building was the icing on the cake!🥹

Dave

October 2025

Tent

Weekend Trip to Basecamp Flint Hills

Nothing fancy, but everything a bike packer or motorcycle camper might need. Be sure to bring food or dine before you arrive, there are no stores or restaurants anywhere nearby.

Ashley

October 2025

Tent

With pets

Weekend Trip to Lake Georgia-Sue

This place is amazing! My best friend and I decided to have a girls weekend and camp out. The hosts were so nice and accommodating. The property was absolutely beautiful! We went towards the end of October and it was still stunning! Tons of animals that are so used to people and dogs that they ignored our dogs thinking they were big and tough. We are already planning on going back next weekend!

Sabena

October 2025

Tent

Weekend Trip to The Light Center

Susan was lovely, she came out to meet us and showed us different remote sites. Due to our tent size (6 person) we chose the first one. All the sites were nice and remote. 2 sites by the stream are on the smaller size so take account. You can see the stars clearly at night! Had a nice small fire going The chickens run from you 😂 and the goats like ear and butt scratches.

Taylor

October 2025

Weekend Trip to Lake Georgia-Sue

Loved visiting Lake Georgia Sue. The Stevie was magical and secluded. Every bit of our experience was pleasant. We enjoyed being in nature and seeing so many adorable animals. We also made use of a tandem bike for a ride around the lake. 10/10 recommend.

charlie

October 2025

16 ft car

3 nights at Basecamp Flint Hills

Endless views, clean easy to find. Close to the trail and quiet.

Top-rated campgrounds

Basecamp Flint Hills

98%

(413)

36mi from Lake Shawnee County Park · 20 sites · Tents, RVs, Lodging · Allen, KS

Located on the Flint Hills Trail State Park in Allen Kansas, Basecamp Flint Hills offers camping in the scenic Flint Hills of Kansas. BFH is 20 miles north of the world capital of gravel cycling, Emporia KS, and 20 miles east of historical Council Grove. BFH has hammock trees and shaded acreage for tent camping, a no-frills bunkhouse, and two back-in camper sites for those who prefer a bit more luxury. This is a community style campground where picnic tables and campfires will be shared with your neighbors. We encourage you to expand your circle and enjoy the experience! Seasonal facilities include an open air, cold water shower and port-a-potty available April through October. We do not currently have adequate infrastructure to accommodate horses.

The Light Center

98%

(443)

25mi from Lake Shawnee County Park · 13 sites · Tents, Lodging · Baldwin City, KS

The Light Center is a 95 acre natural sanctuary nestled in a wooded creek valley amidst the farm land of Kansas. • We have a refinished community barn with two private rooms and a community kitchen, a 30ft Pacific Yurt and lots of great places to camp. • If you're just driving through or want an 'easy' camping experience with wifi, pitch your tent in the spacious yard around the barn. • We have lots of places to hike to and several wonderful remote camping spots. Choose from hiking out to camp near the large creek that winds through our land, gathering with friends in a meadow or tucking into a spot in the woods with a beautiful view of the Kansas plains. • Out here, on a clear night, you can see all of the stars. We are an organic, sustainable farm providing natural sacred spaces for hiking and camping. We welcome peaceful camping for people with reverence for the land and all beings. We have goats, free-range chickens, guinea hens, dogs and cats. For the safety of our livestock and other guests, we do require visitors to keep their dogs on a leash at all times. The Light Center is a retreat center serving as a beacon, lighting the way into a vibrant future. We are creating new paths with open hearts. We offer events, celebrations and ceremonies about harmonizing with the earth and inspiring personal, local and global connections. We provide a safe space to nurture and inspire spiritual growth and empower youth.

Unbound Gravel Ranch

100%

(16)

44mi from Lake Shawnee County Park · 11 sites · Tents, RVs, Lodging · Reading, KS

Discover a peaceful countryside camping spot designed exclusively for Unbound Gravel riders! Revel in the camper's paradise tailored to biker comforts, just a short 10-15 minute drive from Emporia and the race start. Our amenities include barn shower access, shared bathroom, a convenient bike wash, and on Saturday/Sunday morning, enjoy complimentary coffee, juice, water. Included in your booking are Saturday/Sunday breakfast options that include an oatmeal bar, fruit, and biscuits and gravy. After your epic ride, unwind by the firepit and relish the camaraderie of fellow riders. Welcome to your haven in the heart of gravel racing! 🚴🏕️

Greentree Barn

100%

(4)

44mi from Lake Shawnee County Park · 2 sites · RVs · Olathe, KS

Just outside of town. Barn on property was built in 1910. Currently offering driveway parking for RV or travel trailer with 20amp 110v power. 10 minutes from downtown Olathe or Gardner. 1 mile north of New Century Air Center.

Bare Ass Acres

97%

(67)

51mi from Lake Shawnee County Park · 10 sites · Tents, RVs · Emporia, KS

30 acres with large shop, pond, and hedgerows. 3 miles west of Emporia off hwy 50. Learn more about this land: 30 acres hay field with a pond for swimming or fishing. Shouse (shop house) owner lives on site. Looking for people that come to Emporia Kansas for community events like the Dirty Kanza, Disc Golf, and more.

Inntirety Forest Healing Center

98%

(46)

47mi from Lake Shawnee County Park · 5 sites · Lodging · Edwardsville, KS

Transform Your Story Into A Fairytale. Reawaken Your Inner Child & Reconnect With Your Authentic Self In A 5-acre Enchanted Forest. The Inntirety Healing Center is a wilderness retreat and glamping area in Kansas City, KS. It offers a path for awakening your body, heart, and mind and restoring harmony with life through self-discovery and emergence into the senses. Inntirety is a forest restoration project powered by love, and it will forever be a work in progress! The camping areas and trails leading to them are groomed, finished, and regularly maintained. Please consider that Inntirety is not in the 'luxury' camping category, as this is not our intention. We try to integrate into the natural setting and provide an intimate and immersive experience by combining earthing, exploration, play, and discovery. We have beautiful and unique amenities, including a forest barrel sauna, a wood fire-heated clawfoot tub flower bath experience, a mini zipline, an outdoor shower, and hanging tree pods. Finally, enjoy a complimentary continental breakfast, which you can self-prepare! We supply homemade waffle mix, oatmeal, coffee, and tea. This land holds so much history, and unfortunately, prior inhabitants used a small area within this beautiful forest as a dumping ground for old appliances, car parts, and other retired debris. We are carefully working on removing and restoring this space as we can. As a nod to the prior inhabitants of this land, we are carefully collecting any artifacts found and reintegrating them into our building projects or transforming them into found-object art pieces. 10 minutes from The Legends, Speedway, and American Royal(coming soon). 10 minutes from Azura Amphitheater & Renissance Festival Grounds. 20 minutes from Downtown Kansas City, Historic River Market KC, The Crossroads. 20 minutes from Overland Park Convention Center. We are a substance, alcohol-free area for many reasons. A bottle of wine or something to sip on by the fire is acceptable, but Inntirety is a place of healing and exploration. Thank you for observing this request. We live on the property in the main house. Google Maps is mildly accurate, but it is like saying we are located at our neighbor's property. The house is green and has a wrap-around deck. If you aren't sure, please feel free to text me. We want to acknowledge that Inntirety Healing Center is on the traditional, ancestral, and current home of Native Americans, Indigenous, and First Nations people. We ask you to join us in acknowledging the many tribal groups from our area, including the Jíwere, Kaw/Kansa, Otoe-Missouria, Shawnee, and Kickapoo tribes. We honor the elders, both past and present, and this calls us to continue to learn their stories and how to be better stewards of the land we occupy. Camping/Glamping Sites We have four glamping areas: two bell tents, a vintage pop-up camper, a tiny treehouse cabin, and a more primitive camping area with a tee-pee-style tent. Each site has a firepit or chiminea. If it is unsafe to burn, we will let you know. If conditions are dangerous for burning, each site has a mini BBQ grill. It is very important to keep your door zipped or shut. We try our hardest to keep bugs out so you are comfortable within. Each site has insense, and this is a magical bug detourant. Inntirety Cafe / Lounge Mini-Kitchen Area If you don't feel like cooking or preparing your morning coffee at your site, you can use the community mini-kitchen area in the Inntirety Cafe. There are cooking utensils, a 2-burner electric stovetop, a French press, an electric kettle, and pots and pans. There is also a water station within the kitchen area. There is complimentary coffee, tea, creamer, sugar, butter, cooking oil, and a few other items for cooking. Please clean up the area if you decide to use the community mini-kitchen. * We do not have running water inside the community area, but a sink is set up near the Forest Sauna for washing dishes. Inntirety Lounge Our community lounge is located within the Inntirety Cafe. Inside, you will find books, games, art supplies, and more. You are welcome to cool off, chill out, and relax during your stay. If you would like to borrow a book, game, etc., to return it to your campsite, please return it upon leaving. Solar Shower Just outside of the Forest Sauna is a solar shower with a small changing area. We have a water warming station near the outdoor sink to use for your shower. Inside the cafe, there is a laundry basket you can place your laundry in after you are done. Body wash, shampoo, and conditioner are in a basket by the shower. Solar Shower Instructions: If you want a warm shower, plug in the water heater near the sink. It takes about 1 hour to heat the water. Fill the white bucket with water. Walk over to the solar shower area and place it on the cinder blocks. Put water pump in the bucket. To turn on the pump, press the button for 3 seconds first and then once to activate. Groomed Trails The Inntirety forest has a groomed trail about a 3/4 mile loop. If you go off the trail, please be aware that you will probably get poison ivy, ticks, and other things you might not want to bring home as a souvenir. Please stay on the trails. Zip Line We have a 100ft zip line that guests are free to use. Please sign a waiver in the lounge before usage. Forest Spa Add-Ons: Wilderness Barrel Sauna Please let us know if you would like to use the sauna. It takes some time for it to heat up. Further instruction is at the sauna. We will ask that you sign a liability release if you want to use the sauna.

Lake Georgia-Sue

95%

(135)

32mi from Lake Shawnee County Park · 155 sites · Tents, RVs, Lodging · Ottawa, KS

Welcome to Lake Georgia-Sue — Your 85-Acre Getaway in East Central Kansas Escape to Lake Georgia-Sue, an 85-acre oasis of relaxation, adventure, and natural beauty. Conveniently located in East Central Kansas—just a short drive from Kansas City, Topeka, Lawrence, and Wichita—our property offers the perfect blend of peace and play. At the heart of the property is our 8-acre lake, ideal for fishing, swimming, kayaking, small craft boating, and even windsurfing. Whether you’re here to unwind by the water or explore the land, there’s something for everyone. Horse enthusiasts will love the on-site pastures, private round pens, and access to hundreds of miles of scenic riding trails that intersect the property. Our campsites are spacious, private, and peaceful—no crowded neighbors here. Choose from lakefront or forest sites, perfect for both primitive camping and RVs (electric hookups available via generator; fresh water also provided). Guests enjoy access to modern comforts, including showers, toilets, an air-conditioned clubhouse, a playground, and a variety of friendly farm animals—ponies, pet pigs, goats, and chickens. We’re proudly pet-friendly, too! Lake Georgia-Sue is also ideal for group gatherings—from family reunions and birthdays to weddings and retreats—with space for up to 25 campers. We’re just a short drive from several state lakes and great local restaurants (and sometimes we even take a trail ride into town for BBQ or Mexican food!). Come experience the peace, privacy, and playfulness of Lake Georgia-Sue—your Kansas countryside escape awaits.

Roots, Fruits & Greens Farm

99%

(99)

38mi from Lake Shawnee County Park · 6 sites · Tents, RVs · Easton, KS

The farm is in its tenth growing season, selling eggs and vegetables for home delivery and to some of Kansas City's best restaurants. We are so excited to share the beauty of the property with you! Learn more about this land: You will be staying on a working farm. The property is 20 acres with a 2 acre pond, 1 acre of vegetables, two dozen goats, three (large but gentle) guardian dogs, and a flock of chickens, guinea fowl (and sometimes turkeys or quail). The camp sites are scattered around the property, with several secluded from the main field/barn/campfire. Enjoy a day of fishing or strolling the property and finish off a relaxing day by watching the sunset by the fire.

The Hitch N' Post

100%

(65)

40mi from Lake Shawnee County Park · 5 sites · Tents, RVs · Wellsville , KS

Enjoy the beautiful timber, canoe pond, peaceful creek, the native wildlife, and the sound of nature throughout the property. Disc golf, hiking trails, canoeing, fishing, and swimming in creeks are favorites by most guests. Guests can also learn how to throw a tomahawk, hunting knife, and atlatl near the camping sites. Learn more about this land: Enjoy the beautiful timber, canoe the pond, peaceful creek, the native wildlife, and the sound of nature throughout the property. Disc golf, hiking trails, canoeing, fishing, and swimming in the creek are favorites by most guests. Guests can also learn how to throw a tomahawk, hunting knife, and atlatl near the camping sites. Our campsites are just a short walk from the farmhouse ,or drive right to your camp site. . To your own private location. If you are bringing an RV, for an additional charge there is a gravel lot with water and electrical hook ups.

Forest Retreat & Spa

77%

(13)

54mi from Lake Shawnee County Park · 4 sites · Tents, RVs · Kansas City, KS

*NEW UPDATE construction work is complete - easier access to camping/RV site #1 with level clearings at site #2 & #3. one acre fenced dog run for four legged campers - can access with a 4 wheel drive or dispersed camping to relax under the stars with your your furry friend.* 8 acres of Foraging orchard with a meandering creek - close to city attractions Learn more about this land: Forest Retreat Located 10 min from downtown and 7.5 miles from Legends ( home of Sporting KC! ), this historic farmstead boasts 8 acres of foraging orchards, a meandering creek and a bevy of sweet hens. (Free eggs :) Multiple campsites available : Forest Garden - ( 2 campsites ) Autumn Olive grove - ( 4 campsites ) Stoney Creek - ( 1 campsite ) Meadow Pass - ( 3 campsites ) One acre fenced dog run (drive in) RV site with water and electrical hook up (RV and campers 18' and under please)

Pink Gravel Campsites

93%

(7)

50mi from Lake Shawnee County Park · 9 sites · Tents, RVs · Dwight, KS

Scattercreek

93%

(14)

30mi from Lake Shawnee County Park · 4 sites · Tents, RVs · Mc Louth, KS

Learn more about this land:One of the only north running creeks in the state of Kansas. Plenty of woods and open fields. Lots of turkey and deer roam the property. Just around the corner is Jefferson Hill winery and bed and breakfast. This landscape holds many great camping spots through its holds.

The best camping in Lake Shawnee County Park, KS guide

Overview

About

Twice cited by the tourism industry as a top travel destination in Kansas, Lake Shawnee is visited by more than 1 million people each year for festivals, ball tournaments, golf, boating, fishing and camping; or just to hike the Lake Shawnee Trail and visit Ted Ensley Gardens. Shelter houses available for rent, playgrounds, tennis courts and sand volleyball round out the fun. Lake Shawnee was built as a Work Progress Administration project. Construction began in 1935 and was completed on September 3, 1939, when more than 5,000 fishermen celebrated the opening day.

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