This is our second time to visit this park and we will probably come back should we visit the area again. The only drawback is that it is 20 miles from Lawrence, but if you just want to relax and chill, this is the place. Dump station is well situated on the property for incoming and outgoing traffic. We camped here in a 45 ft. motorhome and the sites can handle us. We camped here in a Motorhome.
The park is excellent. We were there 2 weeks and loved the park. The sites are very large and easy to pull in. The reason for the #5 is that the showers weren't cleaned, not even once. Usually the Army Corps of Engineers parks are very clean and we were very surprised that this beautiful had showers that weren't cleaned once the whole time we were there. We camped here in a Motorhome.
All I can recommend is that you stock up on necessities before pulling in here because the nearest shopping of any mention is over 20 miles away! There is a very small store in Clinton but mostly carries mini mart type stuff. Large wide/long pull through lots plus long back-ins. We didn't see any lots right on the lake but some of the back-ins were about 150' from it. Quiet at night even though it was fairly busy the weekend we were there. Dark skies which are great for star gazing. Verizon hotspot and phone worked fine and, although they don't have cable, we got about 20 to 25 channels on the antenna. Some geocaches in the area. Good-sized lake with several boat ramps. Rate is the Senior rate. We camped here in a Fifth Wheel.
You expect things to be a little low-rent and utilitarian at a COE campground, and yeah--the shower/restrooms are nothing fancy, but they *work*, water pressure and temperature in the showers is nice, and they're kept nice and clean. The grounds themselves are attractive and pleasant, and staff very friendly and helpful, from the attendant to the custodian to the volunteers. We stayed here two full weeks, and would again in a heartbeat, once it warms back up in the spring! We camped here in a Tent.
This campground is in Clinton Lake State Park. Our site was a nice pull through with newly paved roads and pad. The sites were nice sized with grass and a picnic table. The bad thing about this campground was the bugs. You could not be outside of the camper without being swarmed. I have camped at state parks and national parks and never had this kind of bug problem. They were everywhere including the bathrooms and showers. There was a nice beach close the the campground but there had been so much rain when we camped here, that the beach was flooded. Also, the bugs were at the beach. If they dealt with the bugs and cleaned up the restrooms, this would be a fabulous place to camp. We would not stay here again. We camped here in a Travel Trailer.
Excellent park with lots of wildlife, nice fellow campers. Did not go to the lake, stayed here during Nascar but did enjoy park very much. We camped here in a Travel Trailer.
We enjoyed our one-night stay. Our campsite was pull-thru, level, shady, and pleasant with 50A service. The beach is a long hike away, so bring a bike or a car to get there. The playground equipment is new. The management is nice. We camped here in a Motorhome.
Site was gravel next to the woods. Many sites were in the open and I doubt that there is any shade in the summer. Very quiet and close to water recreation. Enjoyed my stay. We camped here in a Travel Trailer.
A very nice COE park with large, shady sites, some with waterfront views. New playground equipment, clean bath & shower houses. We camped here in a Travel Trailer.
Sites were long, level, and a decent width. A lot of weekenders even at this time of year. A lot of campground smoke at night. Don't know that we'd stay here again but we would recommend it to others. We camped here in a Fifth Wheel.
This is a large state park with several campgrounds. Sites vary in size, but most can accommodate any rig. Roads were paved. Sites were gravel. Water and electricity are available at most sites, but water was not yet turned on at individual sites. I had to fill up at the dump station. Some sites are out in the open; some have varying amounts of shade and nearby trees. The camp host was friendly and helpful. There was a playground for the kids. Showers were hot and clean, but spartan and in need of maintenance. It was unbelievably quiet at night with a chorus of bird songs to roust you out of bed at dawn. We camped here in a Travel Trailer.
We stayed for a total of 6 nights: 3 in the Cedar Ridge campground and 3 nights in the Walnut campground. This is a beautiful park with some great camping facilities and it's close to Lawrence for shopping and sightseeing. We had 50 amp pull-through in Cedar Ridge, but moved to Walnut and had 30 amp but a much prettier back-in campsite. It's especially peaceful here late in the season. We camped here in a Motorhome.
Pretty park but too much partying going on for me. People drinking beer and cussing. They want you to come join them. You loose privacy with that going on right next to you. And the park people seem to look the other way. Also it seems a bit expensive but I don't know what other state parks charge. Stayed 7 days and had to buy a yearly park pass on top of the nightly charge, so I haven't figured exactly what that all comes to. It's kind of confusing. We camped here in a Fifth Wheel.
Very nice State Park. For the most part it is clean and well maintained. Naturally since it is a state park, there is some "partyers" on the weekends. No sewer hook ups but there is a dump station at the park entrance of both campgrounds. Camp hosts are friendly and accommodating. We camped here in a Motorhome.
This is a beautiful place, but no Wi-Fi or cable TV is available. We have camped here in tents as well and really enjoy the shaded sites - shade in the RV sites is a little harder to come by. We love Lawrence, especially the commercial area on Mass St. We camped here in a Travel Trailer.
Nightly Rate includes $15 camping fee plus $7 park entry fee. Lake was not easily accessable from camping area. Dumping station was available just outside of camping area. We camped here in a Travel Trailer.
Review Rating
[ 9 / 10 ]
August 2005
$18
This is a really nice state park campground. It borders a large lake, but the lake is hidden by the trees from the campground. It is a bit of a walk from parking area to swimming beach. Wonderful location just west of Lawrence. No cable tv but good reception from Topeka and Kansas City. We camped here in a Fifth Wheel.
This is a decent COE campground that would probably fit well into a few days or weekend of camping. But there were some negatives that chipped away at my rating. It has good paved access roads, a fair amount of space between well maintained sites, partial shade thru out, picnic tables, fire rings, and grills. There is a nice playground for the kiddos. The sites will accommodate all rigs. Its half 30A electric and half dry camping sites. The dry sites are the same size and design as the RV sites and would please most tent campers who don’t want electricity. There are only four or five pull thru sites which in my opinion doesn’t rate as a place with pull thrus. 3G cell, satellite, and TV signals are good. There are also some 50A sites, but they are occupied by custodians or volunteers during the season. The negatives are that the majority of sites have some degree of fore and aft level issues. It is hard to understand, that in this mostly flat campground in a flat state like Kansas, they couldn’t get that right. The four restroom buildings don’t have shower capabilities. That is in a separate building in the campground which is some distance from the majority of camp sites. The lighting in all of the buildings are on day/night sensors. During the day the inside of the buildings are dark. The only water faucets where you can connect a hose to fill tanks is at the bathroom buildings and that takes a long hose. Handicap sites probably don’t meet ADA compliance since they are gravel and won’t accommodate a wheelchair. Not to mention that they aren’t even marked as handicap on the site posts. The voltage was on the low side, but it is a 30A campground. The fee/info booth is completely closed on Tuesday and Wednesday despite there being an abundance of paid attendants to man it 7 days a week. I have a hard time rating this CG. It has served my purpose for being here and I got my monies worth. As mentioned, it’s a decent CG, but if you are familiar with the higher quality of COE campgrounds then this one rates somewhat below that standard. Access and Golden Age discounts are honored here. We camped here in a Motorhome.
We were disappointed in this campground. Was not well maintained. Spots are narrow and neighbors very close. Must unhook toad to get in with a big rig. Limited space for the tow vehicle. Would not stay here again. We camped here in a Motorhome.
Stayed here Saturday night of Memorial Weekend. Very crowded with lots of families with children. Lots of entertainment for the families. Lot was very long, lots of lush grass, and the fenced dog run was shaded and our dog loved it. Never used the restrooms, but grocery looked like it was well stocked. It was a bit expensive for one night, but we felt very safe and enjoyed our short time there. We would definitely stay here again on our way through. We camped here in a Fifth Wheel.
Fine for overnight. Sites narrow, older facility. Able to accommodate our 43 ft coach. Has a fenced pet area. Could use a second dumpster. The one was overflowing by Sunday evening. We camped here in a Motorhome.
OVERPRICED! Nice little setting, could use a smile or two from the staff. Never talked to owner, but looks like they might care. Will look into the off season to maybe come back. We camped here in a Fifth Wheel.
Staff pleasant and helpful. Restroom and showers have a musty/old smell to them and needs updated. They have three showers, but only one of the three was workable when we were there. I am sure they are fixed by now. The campground was full and had a lot of activity. Grounds were clean, no trash seen. Pool and play area great. Liked the pet area, but would have loved it if there would have been water avalible. Felt price was extremely high for what is offered. Cable is extra (which we did not have). Noticed May 2011 stay was $35 and our July stay was $55 without cable. Little bit of a price hike!! We camped here in a Fifth Wheel.
Does the phrase "Reach out and touch someone" bring back any memories? This park epitomizes that! While the park wasn't full, we wound up so close to an Airstream that we could have stuck our hands out the window and handed them a cup of coffee. This is an older park that is going through a transition from KOA to Jellystone. Very accommodating office staff when making reservations however getting directions while lost (make sure you turn North after you exit the toll road!) was a challenge. Not a bad place to stop if just for overnight but crowded none the less. Not sure we'll stay here again. We camped here in a Motorhome.
This is a very nice park. Owners are very friendly and helpful. It is located in Lawrence. Very clean, well kept grounds. We stayed an extra night because it was so pleasant. We would definitely stay again. Access for a big rig was easy and sites were more spacious than most. Recent tree trimming provided shade without any danger of damaging a rig. We camped here in a Motorhome.
This is not a KOA any longer. It changed over to a Jelly Stone Park in July 10. It is also a Good Sam. Nice location and this being our first stay in a camp cabin it was nice. Nice clean showers and rest rooms. Not a lot going on but it was still winter. They rent canoes and have other things to do for those with children. Easy to find off the interstate. Far enough away not to hear the noise. Would stay here again if I pass through. We camped here in a Campground Cabin.
This CG is now a Jellystone Park franchise, but other than a Yogi Bear statue it looks like a KOA. It is fine for an overnight stay as it is quite close to I-70 (the closest off ramp to the CG is temporarily closed, the toll booth at exit 204 can give you specific directions to the Jellystone/KOA). The staff are very friendly and they honored our KOA discount. We camped here in a Travel Trailer.
The power was out on arrival after a huge rainstorm and we couldn't get a receipt, but otherwise the office was operational. Pleasant staff. We were escorted to our pull-through, FHU, 30/20 site. We were permitted to use our generator until the power was back on, which happened in 30-60 minutes. Rather impressive was the lots of staff working busily at removing downed branches and other effects of the storm despite our evening arrival. The bathroom and showers were nice and clean. Store stocked good items including ice cream. The WiFi didn’t come back up. We also didn’t try the pool or playground since another storm was incoming. We didn’t use the cable TV since it wasn’t free. There was some road noise from alongside interstate location. It was good for our overnight. We would return. We camped here in a Motorhome.
This is a very nice, well maintained park. Has a nice store and friendly, helpful front desk staff. Has a clean small pool (did not use it). Showers/restrooms were uncomfortably warm, low water pressure and poor shower heads. Their pizza was great. Rate is based on weekly special. We camped here in a Travel Trailer.
Lots of amenities for the kids. Wi-Fi is supposed to work good, but on our visit it was barely acceptable. Pizza available on-site. Typical KOA with wooded camping spaces. Yeah, stay here; it was nice. We camped here in a Motorhome.
While we were there, the campground was still a KOA. However, the owner mentioned that the campground was in the process of changing over to a Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park as part of its strategy to be a destination campground. We met our daughter and granddaughter for a long weekend and to attend an event in Bonner Springs, KS. They stayed in a cottage while we stayed close by in our trailer. Our reservations were in order; check-in went smoothly and we were escorted to our site. The campground had several activities for kids that our granddaughter enjoyed. The jumping pillow was a big hit along with the swimming pool, bird watching, and hay ride. The common grounds around the campground were pleasant, well kept and nicely landscaped. The owner, hosts, and staff were helpful and friendly. Our site was reasonably level. The width of the interior drives that led into the sites and the sites themselves were a bit tight. During our stay, there was a water outage that lasted a couple of hours. We did notice some low water pressure. We had to rely on our Smart Phone more than Wi-Fi for Internet connectivity. We heard trains often yet they were not a problem for us. Based on some previous reviews, we were prepared for much more invasive train noise than we experienced. The campground seemed to fill to capacity during our stay. As more campers arrived, the bathrooms could have used a little more attention and cleaning throughout the day. We would stay at this campground again. We camped here in a Travel Trailer.
The Lawrence/Kansas City KOA was a great place for us to unwind as a family. We work conferences on the weekends and visit campgrounds in between. It is a more basic campground, but we still had loads of fun. My son came home each night in desperate need of a bath- a sure sign fun was had. The staff was friendly, but I can't speak to the camp store. They had only just opened for the season when we arrived. They were obviously still getting stock in for the shelves. I read the reviews about the trains and there are a LOT of trains. Probably one an hour or so, even at night. My son who LOVES trains started ignoring them because there were just too many to get excited over. I'm not a particularly light sleeper so it didn't bother me too much, especially after the first night or two. I could see being in a tent would be more bothersome or in a trailer with windows wide open. All in all, we had a great time with the jumping pillow and playground. The pool hadn't opened yet, but my sons and I had a great water gun fight in the grassy area near the pavilion. We camped here in a Motorhome.
This was our first experience with KOA. Train whistle, train whistle, clang, clang. The staff was nice and friendly. We had RV trouble and had to cancel our reservation, then ended up being able to make our reservation anyway. Unfortunately, KOA policy dictates you get your reservation fee deducted anyway. That's ok, our fault. Nice paved road leading up to campground, lots of activities for kids. Has a pool, jumping pillow, basketball court, pool. Train whistle, train whistle, clang, clang. Staff friendly and helpful. Cable TV didn't initially work, and staff was quick to come fix it. (Paid extra for the cable TV.) Wi-fi was fine. Laundry was very nice. Did have to wait until some of the semi-permanent residents finished folding their clothes on the washer that I had my clothes in before I could get them out and put them in the dryer. Clang, clang, train whistle, train whistle. Interior roads were rough, not conducive to bicycle riding, our picnic table was rotting and splintered. Neighbor's dog on a twenty foot leash, came and visited us while we were sitting outside in front our camper door. Several dogs were tied up outside of campers, felt sorry for them. Never heard them bark, probably because of train noise. KOA does have policies regarding dogs in the campground, but apparently they are not as important as the cancellation guidelines. Big picture: nice folks, if you like trains, you will LOVE this park. If you don't like trains, day to day, I would say, stay somewhere else. We camped here in a Fifth Wheel.
First trip of the year and it was early March. The campground was pretty empty besides the full timers and a few weekend travelers doing a one night stop over. First time to a KOA as well and was impressed with the staff, and having a little RV part shop in the store helped with breaking in a camper for the year. The Pros: First the restrooms were very clean and the showers were private with great water pressure. The staff were very accommodating. (I had to use a chalking gun to fix a leak and they provided me one to use). They had a pizzeria on site and the delivery to your rig was nice (not the best tasting pizza I had, but hey you do have to rough it I guess). Free WiFi, for those that bring their computers, and cable TV is extra of course. Also the park is well kept and they were always leveling the gravel every day I was here. Lawrence is about 5 minutes away and it is a college town (KU) so it has a great downtown area to walk in, and many places to eat and drink. The Cons: They have a dog area, which is just used to let the animals do their business. Not really a dog park or a walking area. The train is within ear shot and does run continuously, it was loud enough to wake me in my rig, so if you are in a tent bring ear plugs. Overall a great place to camp and explore the Lawrence area. If you have kids, there are plenty of fun play ground equipment and they have a pool and a jump pillow. Also could see this being a good site for a family reunion or another gathering. We camped here in a Fifth Wheel.
Have you ever been to Lawrence? It's about as all American as any town there is or ever has been. This KOA is only a mile or two from downtown. Quilting stores, darn wholesome home cooking, wicked strong cocktails and squishy cheeked college kids are everywhere. Oh, this KOA is awesome! We camped here in a Fifth Wheel.
Rate reflects discount for KOA. We have stayed at this park a number of times this year as it is close to family, friends, and medical appointments. It is a clean park, with friendly staff and usually quiet neighbors. The staff here try very hard to accommodate any need a camper may have. We had a large site, although a tree was a problem with the awning, table and fire pit. We will stay again. We camped here in a Motorhome.
This campground was great. We camped here with our pop-up camper. The kids enjoyed the super big bouncing pillow. The pool was small but a lot of fun. There was a corn maze and live entertainment. These folks are the friendliest people in the world. They even have pizza delivery to your campsite. We camped here in a Tent Trailer.
Review Rating
[ 9 / 10 ]
June 2009
$32
We arrived after driving from southern Illinois- a very long day. We made reservations from the road and our registration was handled promptly. The best was being offered pizza delivered to our campsite- they bake and sell pizzas on site. We ordered a pizza and as soon we finished our hook ups, it was delivered to our door- WHAT A TREAT!!!! It appeared several campers were there for the weekend- lights strung, families gathered under awnings. We had a very nice stay. We camped here in a Travel Trailer.
Excellent friendly staff. Park had been there a long time, but well cared for with beautiful trees, even has corn field for Aunty Em or Toto to scamper through. Roads are named after Wizard of Oz places which was so cute. We stayed several nights to visit with family in Overland Park. The city of Lawrence is wonderful and just down the street from KOA, lots of activities, good places to eat, shopping and for us 26 miles to our family. we had a thunderstorm which knocked out the power on a hot summer night, but the temps were comfortable and wondered if we were on a river to be so comfortable. We camped here in a Motorhome.
This is our second stay at this park. It is a typical KOA. The sites are gravel and not all that level. The pool was clean and crowded as the temp was over 100. Getting to the park is very difficult as there is construction on the interstate and the interchange is hard to maneuver. All in all it is a good park We camped here in a Motorhome.
Sites are not level, some even have potholes; lots of birds around will soil your rig with purple droppings; staff not all friendly; bathrooms were not always available as groups would come in and commandeer the entire bathroom; facility charges inflated prices for everything they can - all improvements surround them making more money; utilities are old; water hooks up in a big in-ground hole and during the rainy period mud and water stand in these holes! Would prefer not to stay there again. We camped here in a Motorhome.
Nice park, well cared for. WiFi and cable worked well but cable channels are limited. Staff was very helpful and pleasant. MapQuest directions from Hwy 24 were not even close so watch out for this. We would stay here again and would recommend this park. We camped here in a Travel Trailer.
Very nice park. Lots of things for the kids to do. We watched a movie outside, the kids loved it. Staff was very friendly and were really nice. The only problem we had was that it was really tight getting our 45 ft coach into our spot. Check your directions, both GPS (Garmin and Streets and Trips) sent us to the wrong place. Overall we enjoyed our stay and will return. We camped here in a Motorhome.
We stayed at this campground for three weeks and had a site near the grassy play area, which was kept well mowed. Campground was clean as were facilities. Nice staff with lots of things to do at the campground. Half way between Kansas City and Topeka provides lots of options. Yes, there was noise from the nearby road construction and the many many trains. Lots to do in the area and wide variety of restaurants in town. We camped here in a Motorhome.
This was one of the nicest RV parks we stayed at on our 2 week trip. Very neat and clean and the people running the place were very friendly and helpful. We did not stay long (1 night) but it is always nice to stay in a campground that you really feel comfortable in. I saw another post that really flamed this spot and I can't believe they are talking about the same campground. This place is great and the price is right! We camped here in a Motorhome.
My family stayed July 12-19 in a cabin, and it was a very peaceful and friendly place. The owner treated all the children as if they were his own. We felt like we were all family. I truly can't remember any train noises. I am not sure what the other campers were talking about. I had never stayed in a KOA before, but I can understand now they have much higher standards. The pool was great as was the atmosphere. It was nice having the internet for my laptop as well. The folks in the store were very friendly and the prices were not too bad as well. I can't tell you how much fun we had with the kids and the other campers. The softball game was a blast. I can't wait to come back for another vacation. We camped here in a Campground Cabin.
Very friendly staff here. A hayride and movie on Friday night. GREAT place for kids. The managers were very helpful and professional. Everything was very clean. We camped here in a Fifth Wheel.
This was the worst campground we have ever stayed at in our lives. The hook-ups were not on the correct side of our trailer and management was no where to be found. The actual site was dirty with garbage and the people next to us did not want to move their car from our spot assigned. I would save your money from getting off the turn pike and go to the next campground. We have stayed at other KOA's South Padre Island and it was GREAT! Very disappointing KOA! We camped here in a Travel Trailer.
Friendly very helpful staff. Typical KOA, very convenient but located close to train tracks with lots of train horns. Sites are mainly pull throughs and not particularly wide. Wifi worked great. Was a good place for an overnight stop but I don't know if I would want to spend a lonf time here. We camped here in a Tent Trailer.
There is excellent highway access, but no highway noise. Downtown Lawrence is a great commercial area with local businesses and a wide selection of dining choices. KOA staff was very friendly. Wi-Fi worked perfectly. We camped here in a Travel Trailer.
The campground was clean, the bathhouse and restrooms were clean. Showers had good water pressure and hot water. The pool was clean and there were planned activities for the kids such as a hayride, crafts and movie night. The gravel paths through the campground are not great for bike riding. It was very noisy since it is in close proximity to the highway, an airport and double train tracks. The trains really lay on the horns when passing. There was a monthly rental section that was a bit unkept and the residents were not respectful of other guests or family hours. Due to the noise we will not be back. We camped here in a Travel Trailer.
OK for a campground to be used for an overnight stop. The trains were noisy all night long, blowing their horns loudly. The noise was really pretty constant, and overpowered the noise of our AC when we tried to see if that would drown it out. We camped here in a Travel Trailer.
This park is the only park for the area. It's odd, the entrance is beautiful and the grounds are extensive, but the rv spaces are very narrow. Each pad runs the opposite direction from the next one and is approximately 10 feet wide. There was alot of needed maintenance on our space and the park caters to kids. We camped here in a Motorhome.
Very friendly staff, very nice office/store, and clean restrooms. We stayed here on the "stay one get one free weekend", and were very satisfied with our stay. Lots to do in Lawrence as well. This park is a nice stop over off I-70/Kansas Turnpike. We camped here in a Motorhome.
Nice gift shop, and fellow stayed a few minutes late for check in. Just overnighted, but wow, what highway noise. Good campground, poor location if noise is a concern, lots of big rigs braking all night. We camped here in a Fifth Wheel.
OK, I've got to chime in on this park. We read the reviews and felt a few trains wouldn't be a problem. We were wrong! We have been travelling for over a month now and this was, by far, the noisiest park we have been to, bar none. We arrived around 6 pm and set up camp. We heard a few trains at that time. They went all night long. They lay on their whistles through town and are about 200 yards from the KOA. Trains went by every half hour. I don't see how anyone could stay at this park unless they are deaf. I was up at 5:30 am and counted 6 trains before 8:00 am, when I stopped counting (the trains didn't stop coming). It is a nice park otherwise. Nice wide sites. Nice KOA setup. Lots of room. I would never stay here again! We camped here in a Motorhome.
There was a group of kids riding a motorscooter for 4 hours straight without a break. I tried complaining to the manager nicely and also asked the person nicely to ride somewhere else. The lady in the office said they were perfectly in their rights to do anything in the campground that they wanted. Furthermore, if we wanted peace and quiet we needed to go out in the woods. I couldn't believe what I was hearing! Later, they came to our campsite and told us to leave. How do they run a business this way? We had camped there many times, and had probably stayed there many more times since we are local. Do not stay here! You won't be treated fairly if you voice a concern about anything. We asked other people staying in the park that day if the motorscooter bothered them, and they all said yes, I have an idea other people were annoyed but just were too intimidated to say anything. We camped here in a Fifth Wheel.
This is a very nice CG. Our grandson especially enjoyed the warm cookies and the pool. We were very interested in the Wi-Fi but it "came and went" at our campsite. We camped here in a Motorhome.
We stayed here three weekends in the fall of 2005. We did not think the campground was nearly as poor as the other reviewer. Kind of liked the sounds of train traffic. It can lull you to sleep. Staff was very friendly and accommodating. Nice shade. It is a typical KOA so sites are close together and a bit pricy. Very good location to downtown Lawrence which is a wonderful place to spend a fall afternoon. We camped here in a Fifth Wheel.
We thought the Lawrence/Kansas City KOA would be a nice place to stop on our way from Colorado to Indiana. While it is easy off and on to I-70, it was not worth the visit. The sites are very close together and the entire campground smelled of sewage. The trash dumpster was overflowing which didn't help the smell. There are train tracks very near by with trains running all night and constantly blowing their horns. We had a pull through site but had to back out when it was time to leave in the morning due to numerous vehicles parked in the roadway. If we had not been so tired when we pulled in, we would have asked for our money back and looked for a different campground. The only good thing we can say is the office staff was nice and did take us to our site. We will not stay here again. We camped here in a Motorhome.