Click Your Heels Together and Visit These Kansas Locations
Camping in Kansas is great! The state is pretty underrated if you ask us, and camping there is an excellent way to really immerse yourself in all it has to offer. That said, there is something that’s even better than camping in Kansas: free camping in Kansas.
That’s right, there are opportunities to camp in Kansas without paying a single dime—and we aren’t just talking about remote dispersed camping. Much of the free camping in Kansas is found in city parks, sometimes even with free amenities and hookups.
Here are a few of our favorites!
State Fishing Lakes
First, we must mention the many state fishing lakes scattered across the state. These lakes are beautiful, and while they don’t offer much in the way of amenities, they are a great place to stay for an escape into nature.
Some of the lakes are good for swimming, and all of them are good for kayaking, canoeing, and of course, fishing. The spots are pretty scattered but are often hidden away for privacy. You might find a fire pit at your site, and trash cans are sometimes available. Flush toilets and running water are not usually an option, but most state fishing lakes do have pit toilets.
We especially like that there are so many state fishing lakes in Kansas. This means you should be able to find free camping in a number of locations as long as you’re willing to drive to the more rural areas.
→ Learn more about Kiowa County State Fishing Lake here!
→ Learn more about Geary State Fishing Lake here!
Santa Fe Safari RV Campground
Chanute, KS
Located in the adorable town of Chanute, Santa Fe Safari Campground is pretty much as good as it gets in terms of free campgrounds. It features 28 back-in sites right by the ball fields and playgrounds. Each site has both water and electricity (20-, 30-, and 50-amp), and there is a dump station onsite. There’s also a public restroom on site, complete with a heated shower!
This amazing campground is totally free for the first 24 hours of your stay. Don’t want to leave so soon? You can stay longer for just $20 a night for a maximum of 10 days per 30-day period. Just drop your payment in the self-pay station.
In addition to the free campground, Chanute also boasts an adorable Safari Museum that you should definitely check out.
→ Learn more about Santa Fe Safari Park here!
Chautauqua Park
Beloit, KS
If you’ll be near Beloit during your Kansas adventures, we highly recommend staying at Chautauqua Park. This is a great place for free camping in Kansas. It has a total of 10 level concrete campsites with both 30- and 50-amp electric hookups. Potable water and a dump station are also available in the park, but no showers.
This campground is open from April 15 through October 15 and is patrolled by the police, so it is very safe. You can stay in this park free of charge for up to 10 days in any 60-day period, making it an ideal spot for a long rest from the road.
Wondering what you might do while visiting the town of Beloit? We recommend the town’s awesome water park, which is complete with water slides and a lazy river. The Mitchell County Museum is also fun, as is the historic Little Red Schoolhouse.
→ Learn more about Chautauqua Park here!
Marysville City Park
Marysville, KS
Marysville is not a big place. In fact, it’s probably one of the smallest towns you’ll ever camp in. That said, the people there are beyond welcoming and friendly, and small-town charm is found around every single corner. It’s absolutely adorable and a great getaway. Make sure to check out the small-town museums, play on the playground and in the pool, and enjoy a slower pace of life.
Another wonderful thing about teeny tiny Marysville? This is another one of our favorite spots for free camping in Kansas.
The Marysville City Park campground boasts several campsites. Most are dry camping spots, but three of them offer 30- and 50-amp electric hookups for vans and RVs. Potable water is also available onsite, and there is a dump station in the park. The only thing this free camping in Kansas is missing is showers.
It’s 100% free to stay in this city park and use the amenities. That said, it is possible to make a donation if you wish. Guests are invited to stay up to 5 nights but are asked to wait 30 days before staying again.
→ Learn more about Marysville City Park here!
Davis Park Campground
Greensburg, KS
Last on our list of spots for free camping in Kansas is Davis Park Campground in Greensburg. This one is a nice little city park that has 6 grassy sites available for all the travelers that happen to pass through town. Each site has a 15-amp outlet, and potable water is available at two onsite spigots during the warm season.
The park also has a playground and a baseball field but no showers or toilets, so you will need to be totally self-contained. There also is not a dump station at this park. We couldn’t find a stay limit for this park when we were there, so it would be worth asking a local if you plan to stay for long.
In terms of things to do in Greensburg, we recommend checking out the Big Well Museum, relaxing and enjoying the slower pace the town has to offer, and checking out some local eateries. If you want a bit more to do, consider driving 45 minutes into Dodge City, where you’ll find more museums, a water park, and more.
→ Learn more about Davis Park here!
As you can see, there are several places that offer free camping in Kansas. Why not start planning your adventures in the Sunflower State today?
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