Outlet(Melvern)

Location

30442 River Pond Parkway
Open in Google Maps ↗

Policies

Check-in

04:00 PM

Check-out

04:00 PM

Max stay

14 nights

Pets

Allowed (per listing)

Campfires

Allowed (per listing)

About

Outlet Campground sits immediately below Melvern Lake Dam on the eastern edge of Kansas's Flint Hills, where the rolling, largely treeless tallgrass prairie gives way to wooded hills along the lake's southern shore. The campground is a good base for a wide variety of activities on Melvern's roughly 7,000 acres of water and 18,000 acres of public land: boat ramps and an accessible dock put you on the water for boating, water sports and swimming; anglers can expect walleye, crappie, channel and flathead catfish, and several bass species; and hikers can pick up the 4-mile Tallgrass Heritage Trail right in the campground. Hunters using the surrounding public lands will encounter deer, turkey, quail, ducks, rabbits and squirrels at seasonally appropriate times, while birdwatchers and prairie enthusiasts will appreciate the native big bluestem, switchgrass and Indian grass that define this last expanse of intact tallgrass prairie. A virtual tour of the lake is available online for planning purposes. The campground itself is large and serviceable, with 139 campsites in total 137 sites configured for both RVs and tents and 2 tent-only sites arranged into several areas (A-LO contains 48 sites, Loop B is a single-site loop, and there is one designated Day Use site). Many family sites offer full hookups (electric, water and sewer), and a dump station is on site; amenities include flush and vault toilets, showers and drinking water. Family picnic spots are available on a first-come, first-served basis, and the park offers two group day-use picnic shelters with electrical hookups, a fish-cleaning station, a stocked year-round fishing pond, a playground and a swimming beach for younger campers. Access to the campground is a short drive west from US-75 at the Melvern exit onto Melvern Lake Parkway toward the dam. Note the park enforces the national no-show policy: if you fail to check in within 24 hours of your reservation start time, your site will be released and you'll be charged $20 plus the first night's fee. For more information or reservations call (877) 444-6777 (local) or (785) 549-3318.