Tuttle Creek Campgrounds

Seven campgrounds are conveniently located around Tuttle Creek Lake. The Corps manages two of these campgrounds in Stockdale and Tuttle Creek Cove Parks. The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks manages each of the four state park campgrounds.

The most developed campground, a favorite of recreation vehicle users, is River Pond State Park, with over one hundred hookup sites and level paved camp pads. Of these, 24 sites offer 50 amp electrical service, and 16 sites are winterized with frost-free water hydrants. It and the campgrounds in Spillway State Park, Randolph State Park and Stockdale Park boast shower buildings. Fancy Creek Park has a more secluded utility campground with 24 electrical service sites, pull-through and back-in sites are available. Two new ADA accessible restrooms are open year round. Water, while not available in the Fancy Creek Park itself, is obtainable near by.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, Pottawatomie County\'s Carnahan Park campground is the most primitive. Vault toilets, picnic tables and grills in a large open area greet the user, but no water is available. Camping is free at Carnahan.

Camping at Tuttle Creek Lake is permitted only in these designated campgrounds. Random camping elsewhere is prohibited, due to the absence of sanitary facilities.

All campgrounds have a 14-day stay limit. Quiet hours are in effect from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.

All campgrounds contain level campsites, with picnic tables, grills, and fire rings. Shower and water-borne toilet buildings are located in most parks.

Manned entrance stations are located at Fancy Creek and River Pond campgrounds, and all campgrounds are patrolled routinely by park rangers and local law enforcement officers.

CAMP GROUNDS

Randolph State Park - (Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks) This 202-acre park is located on the east side of the lake at the north end. Facilities include: unlimited random camping, a high water ramp, dump station, 5 group picnic shelters, shower house, and hiking/equestrian trails.

River Pond State Park - (Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks) The 514-acre park is located below the dam. Facilities include: 193 camping sites of which 102 are electric sites, 3 boat ramps, dump station, 18 reservable picnic shelters, 2 shower houses, 2 courtesy docks, playground, fishing dock and fish cleaning station, swim beach, bath house, and a nature trail.

Stockdale Park - (Corps of Engineers) The fees in Stockdale are $18 per night, with water and 50 amp electrical hookups open April 15 - October 31. The 188-acre park is located on the west side of the lake.
Facilities include: boat ramp, shower house, and dump station. Half of the campsites are shaded.

Spillway State Park - (Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks) The 153-acre park is located on the east side of the lake, 2 miles north of the dam. The facilities include random camping sites, a large boat ramp, marina, shower house, courtesy dock, fish cleaning station, and 7 group picnic shelters.

Tuttle Creek Cove Park - (Corps of Engineers) The fee is $18 per night, with water and 50 amp electrical hookups open April 15 - October 31. Non-hookup sites are $12 per night. This 252-acre park is located approximately 3 miles north of the dam on the west side of the lake. Facilities include boat ramp, comfort station, courtesy dock, swim beach and playground. Most campsites lack shade.

Carnahan Creek Park - (County Operated) This free campground situated on 245 acres is located on the east side of the lake. Facilities include 3 campsites without shade, boatramp, vault toilets, and miles of hiking/equestrian trails. No drinking water is available.

Fancy Creek State Park -; (Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks) The 372-acre park is located on the west side at the north end of the lake. The facilities include 24 electric sites, 10 picnic shelters, vault toilets and a hiking trail. The 2 boat ramps are silted in and useable only at high lake levels.

Admission: Park Permit Required
Address: Five miles north of Manhattan on Hwy 24
Phone: 785-539-7941
Our Email: TuttleCreekSP@wp.state.ks.us
Corps of Engineers contact: Tuttle.Creek@Nwk02.usace.army.mil

Come visit us in Tuttle Creek Lake, Kansas