Beach

Acorns Resort

16 RV Sites, 4 Cabins

Acorns Resort anchors itself on the shores of Milford Lake, Kansas's largest body of water at over 15,000 surface acres, offering a lakeside camping and lodging experience that stands as one of the finest outdoor retreats in the Great Plains. With cedar and oak canopies shading the grounds, a rocky shoreline distinct from the sandy beach areas found elsewhere on the lake, and a full range of accommodation options from RV sites to Pacific Yurts, Acorns Resort has established its reputation as the premier destination on Milford Lake's western shore — and one of the most complete camping destinations in the entire state. Sixty-one RV campsites with gravel pads accommodate rigs of all sizes across the shaded grounds, while 25 custom-built cabins nestled among the trees provide solid-wall comfort for guests who prefer not to sleep in their own RV. Six Pacific Yurts overlooking the rocky shoreline offer a distinctive middle ground — camping-adjacent in feel, genuinely comfortable in practice — and a lodge facility with nine hotel-style rooms rounds out the options for larger groups with varying accommodation preferences. Pontoon boat, kayak, stand-up paddleboard, and canoe rentals are available directly from the resort, simplifying gear logistics for guests arriving without their own watercraft. Pets are welcome throughout the property. The setting captures the best of Flint Hills-edge Kansas — wide sky, gentle hills, and the mirror-flat surface of Milford Lake reflecting sunrises that reward waking before the day gets underway. The 163 miles of shoreline surrounding the lake offer extensive room for exploration by water, and the resort's rocky shore has a distinct character — moss-covered limestone and ancient Flint Hills geology — that makes it visually different from the sandy areas elsewhere on Milford's banks. Blue herons are a consistent presence along the shoreline at dawn and dusk, and the stillness of Milford Lake on a calm morning is one of those quintessential Great Plains experiences worth the trip alone. Milford Lake's fishery is one of the most productive in the central United States, with wiper, walleye, crappie, largemouth and smallmouth bass, and channel catfish all drawing dedicated anglers who make the trip specifically for the fishing during prime spring and fall seasons. The Milford Nature Center, operated by the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, offers free exhibits and well-maintained birdwatching trails right on the lake shore and is worth a morning visit for guests who want context for the region's natural history. Junction City and Manhattan are both within easy driving distance for dining and supplies, and Fort Riley — one of the U.S. Army's largest and most historically significant installations — adds genuine military and frontier history to the surrounding landscape. Spring and fall are prime seasons at Acorns Resort, with fishing particularly productive in April and May when lake temperatures are optimal. Summer weekends draw full-capacity crowds to Milford Lake for boating and water recreation, so booking RV sites, cabins, or yurts well ahead of any July or August visit is essential. The resort's breadth of accommodation styles — from open-sky RV pads to yurts to hotel rooms — makes it one of the most versatile camping destinations in Kansas regardless of your preferred level of outdoor immersion.

from $30/night

Camp Mi Casa on the Route RV Park

51 RV Sites

Camp Mi Casa on the Route RV Park in Carthage, Missouri, offers 51 full-hookup RV sites directly on Historic Route 66, with 20, 30, and 50-amp service and rigs accepted to 50 feet on a big-rig-friendly layout. Back-in, pull-through, and premium pull-through categories sit alongside an outdoor pool, pickleball courts, and a beach, minutes from Carthage's Victorian square. Fifty-one sites run in back-in, pull-through, and premium pull-through configurations, all carrying water, sewer, and electric on 20, 30, and 50-amp, sized to 50 feet. Laundry, restrooms, showers, and a pavilion handle the practical side. The layout prioritizes the social character that makes Route 66 campgrounds distinctive — travelers comparing notes and planning the next day's drive over evening fires. Pets are welcome. An outdoor pool and beach anchor the warm months, with pickleball courts and swimming filling the rest. A golf course is nearby. The amenity set is practical rather than elaborate, which suits a park where most guests are moving through on a route rather than settling in for a week. Carthage sits on one of the Mother Road's most authentic and well-preserved stretches, and the town's Victorian commercial square is minutes from the park. The property serves both dedicated Route 66 travelers making the full pilgrimage and visitors who find the city en route to somewhere else. Directions from Springfield: continue on West I-44 to Carthage Exit 18B/I-49 North, north on I-49 to Exit 53 for Webb City/Central Avenue, left toward Webb City heading west on Highway 171, then the second exit at Brooklyn Heights and left at the end. Summer Route 66 travel is the peak — reserve ahead.

Lake Carl Blackwell

71 RV Sites, 9 Cabins, 60 Tent Sites

Lake Carl Blackwell in Stillwater, Oklahoma, offers 71 full-hookup RV sites, nine cabins, and 60 tent sites on a 3,370-acre reservoir, with 20, 30, and 50-amp service, ADA-accessible sites, and rigs accepted to 80 feet. Beaver Cove and Huntsmeadow back-in and pull-through categories join a beach, boat ramp, disc golf course, and golf cart rentals. Seventy-one sites span Beaver Cove back-in, Beaver Cove pull-through, Huntsmeadow back-in, and Hunts Meadow pull-through categories, all carrying water, sewer, and electric with fire pits and picnic tables, sized to 80 feet. Naming the loops rather than numbering tiers makes the property easier to picture, and 80 feet accommodates the longest coaches with a tow. Accessible sites are available. Nine cabins and 60 tent sites round out the lodging — a substantial tent inventory. A general store, laundry, dump station, restrooms, and showers handle the practical side. A beach and boat ramp open the lake for boating, canoeing, kayaking, and fishing, with a disc golf course, sports courts, volleyball, golf cart rentals, walking, hiking, biking, horseback riding, a playground, pavilion, and picnicking filling the rest. Birding across the reservoir is productive, and a golf course is nearby. The land is owned and operated by Oklahoma State University — the only major lake in the United States under direct university management. That institutional stewardship shows in how carefully the shoreline and facilities are kept, and Stillwater is minutes east. Summer lake season and OSU football weekends drive the sharpest demand. Reserve well ahead for both.

from $25/night