Kit Carson
Campground · 11 bookable sites ·
Managed by the US Army Corps of Engineers
- 11
- Bookable sites
- 1,292 ft
- Elevation
Overview
Kit Carson Campground is located on the 3,310-acre Council Grove Lake in the green expanses of eastern Kansas.
Recreation
Boating is a popular pastime at the lake, and a boat ramp is located in the campground for visitors' convenience.
The lake is known for its fishing opportunities, with crappie and catfish being the most abundant. Council Grove was also the first lake in Kansas to receive stocking of Saugeye.
Hunters will find populations of quail, prairie chicken, wild turkey and deer on the nearly 2,700 acres of public hunting lands surrounding the lake.
Hiking trails wind along the lake shore and into the forest. Pioneer Nature Trail is known as the most scenic trail, with plenty of wildlife, greenery and wildflowers creating a beautiful background.
Council Grove is also a starting point for the Flint Hills National Scenic Byway. This byway travels through the best of the remaining remnants of the Tallgrass Prairie Ecosystem in North America.
Along the byway and 25 miles south is the National Tallgrass Prairie Preserve, where visitors can spot colorful wildflowers in the spring and array of autumn colors in the fall.
Facilities
Kit Carson Campground offers 11 reservable campsites. Electric hookups, flush toilets and other modern amenities are provided.
The campground has plenty of shade, along with open grassy areas for games and recreation.
Natural Features
Council Grove Lake sits in the rolling, grassy Flint Hills. The lake is created by a dam built in 1964, and now offers recreational opportunities to hundreds of thousands of visitors every year.
Historically this area is where the Osage Indians signed a treaty to establish the Old Santa Fe Trail. A marker in the town of Council Grove indicates the place where the treaty was signed.
Nearby Attractions
The town of Council Grove, located about 2 miles southeast of the lake, is a National Historic District, with seven Santa Fe National Historic Trail sites in the community.
The facts
- 11 bookable sites
- Loops: KC
Site types
- 10 Standard Electric
- 1 Standard Nonelectric
Amenities
- Electric hookups
- Water hookups
- Campfires allowed
- Shade
- Pets allowed
Not recorded upstream: sewer hookups, fire pits, picnic tables, grills.
11 campsites at Kit Carson
| Site | Loop | Type | Entry | Surface | Water | Max rig | People | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | KC | Standard Electric | Pull Through | Gravel | Lakefront | — | — | 🐾 |
| 10 | KC | Standard Electric | Pull Through | Gravel | Lakefront | — | — | 🐾 |
| 11 | KC | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | Lakefront | — | — | 🐾 |
| 2 | KC | Standard Electric | Back In | Gravel | Lakefront | — | — | 🐾 |
| 3 | KC | Standard Electric | Back In | Gravel | Lakefront | — | — | 🐾 |
| 4 | KC | Standard Electric | Back In | Gravel | Lakefront | — | — | 🐾 |
| 5 | KC | Standard Electric | Back In | Gravel | Lakefront | — | — | 🐾 |
| 6 | KC | Standard Electric | Back In | Gravel | Lakefront | — | — | 🐾 |
| 7 | KC | Standard Electric | Back In | Paved | Lakefront | — | — | 🐾 |
| 8 | KC | Standard Electric | Back In | Gravel | Lakefront | — | — | 🐾 |
| 9 | KC | Standard Electric | Pull Through | Gravel | Lakefront | — | — | 🐾 |
Getting there
From I-70, take Highway 177 south for 30 miles. Kit Carson entrance is located on the west side of the highway at the dam road.
38.69527, -96.49617 · 38°41'43.0"N 96°29'46.2"W
Typical weather
Typically 90°F in Jul, down to 40°F in Jan.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °F | 40 | 45 | 56 | 67 | 75 | 85 | 90 | 89 | 81 | 69 | 55 | 44 |
| Low °F | 20 | 23 | 33 | 44 | 55 | 65 | 69 | 67 | 58 | 45 | 33 | 24 |
| Precip in | 0.8 | 1.3 | 2.2 | 3.4 | 5.2 | 4.9 | 4.4 | 4.4 | 3.2 | 2.4 | 1.7 | 1.1 |
1991–2020 averages from the nearest NOAA station, 1.5 mi away — not measured at the facility itself, and elevation can make a real difference over that distance.
Map
More photos
Member photos
Common questions about Kit Carson
- Can you reserve a site at Kit Carson?
- Yes, Kit Carson is reservable through Recreation.gov.
- How many campsites does Kit Carson have?
- 11 sites.
- Are pets allowed at Kit Carson?
- Yes, pets are allowed at Kit Carson.
- Does Kit Carson have hookups?
- Electric, Water.
- Are campfires allowed at Kit Carson?
- Campfires are allowed at Kit Carson. Check for a current fire restriction before you go.
Camping near Kit Carson
- Richey Cove 0.4 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Kanza View 0.6 mi · Campground · we watch it
- North Richey Cove 0.8 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Neosho Park 1.6 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Santa Fe Trail 1.8 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Canning Creek 2.2 mi · Campground · we watch it
- East Rolling Hills Park (KS) 33.7 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Outlet Park (KS) 33.9 mi · Campground · we watch it
- West Rolling Hills 34.9 mi · Campground · we watch it
- North Overlook Park (KS) 34.9 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Curtis Creek 36.9 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve Visitor Center 18.5 mi · Facility
Contact
- Phone 6207675195
- Book Recreation.gov
Recreation.gov last updated this record on 2026-07-04.
Facility information and photographs from Recreation.gov (RIDB). SpotOpened is not affiliated with Recreation.gov or any federal agency.
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