KANSAS
FREE CAMPGROUNDS

Dear Reader: We are updating these listings now (April-May, 2004). The listings on this page now are in many cases outdated. We except to have our updated directory posted by June, 2004.

State Fishing Lakes: Nearly all Kansas counties have a State Fishing Lake, and they are all plainly shown on Rand McNally atlases (get one for your travels) and official state maps. Free camping is allowed for seven days in designated camp sites.

Wal-Mart stores. Unless posted, RVers may spend the night for free in any Wal-Mart parking lot. For a list of Wal-Mart stores that do not permit free overnight stays, click here.

Arkansas City
There are city parks here with free camping, one at the southeast part of town on the Walnut River (my favorite of the two) and one at the south edge of town on the Arkansas River. Both have electricity and water, although the water isn't available at each site. Only the one at the south edge of town offers a dump site, and it's pretty easy to navigate. I'd suggest staying at the first campground and dumping at the second. -- JUDY B.

Chanute
This town has a public RV park at 25th and Sante Fe, and there is no charge for the first three nights. It has 30 amp electricity and water at each of the sites and a dump station. The park is about a mile east of Hwy. 169 and is very clean. -- JERRY HAYES

Garnett
We spent a lot of time in and around this fine example of a friendly Kansas farm town. There is a city lake with a small blacktop camping area with hook-ups. You just go to police department office and ask for a key to turn water on, give them $5 -- close enough to free -- and then turn the key back in back in later. I got my $5 dollars back more than once. -- JOHN AND CAROLYN

Liberal
"We stopped by the Mid America Air Museum in Liberal and was told by the managment that we were welcome to stay in the parking lot. It's dry camp and nice and quiet." -- JAMES HILLIS

Lyndon
The city park at 10th and Topeka Ave., offers three hookups sites at no charge for stays up to a week. Lyndon is 27 miles south of Topeka on Highway 75 is is close to Pomona and Melvern lakes. The park includes a two-story log house (circa 1870), a play area, covered shelters, picnic tables and restrooms (open in summer only). Shops are nearby. For more info contact the city office at 785-828-3146. -- SOURCE: CITY OF LYNDON

Lyons
Lyons has a free campground with hookups and dump station and you can stay up to five days. It's tree-shrouded, and located at the southwest corner of town in a low traffic area. Lyons is not large, only 4,000 people. Anyone in town can tell you how to get to the campground, but it's easy to find anyway. -- A. CHANDLER

Meade
This southwest Kansas town of 1,500 offers free overnight camping in the park on East US-54. Meade is 32 miles northeast of Liberal. -- THE EDITOR

Medicine Lodge
There are four sites with 30 amp electricity in the city park, on the east side of town on U.S. 160. The outer two sites are closest to the water if you are not sharing. There are no signs to this free campground, a well kept community secret, I guess.-- VERN M (9-00)

Parsons
A city city park is seven blocks east of U.S. 160 where it intersects with U.S. 59. Three days of free camping is offered. Ten RV sites have 20 amp electric service, and there are showers -- J. PAUWAY

Smith Center
Smith Center is the home of Peterson Industries, which manufactures the Excel line of fifth wheels. The town has a couple free overnight parking spaces by its city park (look for the historic windmill). It seems that they have electricity, 15 or 20 amps, too. Be sure to tour the Peterson factory. They make a very high quality line of fifth wheels.
--D. BALERIA

St. Francis
A free campground nestled in trees is located next to the museum complex just south of Highway 36 in St. Francis. It features hot showers, restrooms, picnic tables, grills, covered shelters and disposal facilities. -- THE EDITOR

Washington
Rotary Park is a half mile east of town on Kansas Route 36, and offers free overnight stays. -- R. JENSEN

West Mineral
This campground isn't free, but it's cheap, yet more important it's amazing. Why? Because you can camp in the shadow of Big Brutus, the world's second largest electric mining shovel. Walk through its cavernous body, sit in the operators chair or climb 16 stories to the top of the boom for a great view of the rolling prairie. Primitive RV sites are $5 or $7.50 with electric hookups. There is also a dump station. West Mineral is in the southeast corner of the state, 15 miles southwest of Pittsburg. -- THE EDITOR

General information

From reader Gary M. of Topeka: Kansas does allow overnight parking at its rest stops. Some along I-70 have dumps and water. There are around 30-40 state fishing lakes in Kansas where you can camp overnight free. Most are off the beaten path with no facilities and it's dry camping only. A good idea is to get the free official state highway map (tourist centers in the state have them or they can be ordered from the state tourism department).