Santa Fe Trail Campground, Council Grove, KS

Santa Fe Trail Campground in Morris county is located 48 min south of Manhattan, KS with an elevation of 1,298 feet. There are a total of 33 campsites. The campground is normally open from the beginning of April to the end of October. 32 sites can accommodate RVs and trailers between 39 and 102 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. 28 sites have electric and water hookups. 4 sites have electric hookups. Fees range from $15.00 to $160.00. Some amenities include shower, dump station, playground, boat ramp. Activities include boating, fishing, hiking trails, floating sports.

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38.68332, -96.52654
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(620) 767-5195 (Information)
(620) 767-5195 (Reservations)
$15 - $160

Campsite Reviews (59)

4.2 out of 5

5 star		49%
4 star		32%
3 star		8%
2 star		8%
1 star		0%

@KarenP1757435 · Camped on Oct 24, 2024 at Campsite #38

Wow what a wonderful surprise this campground was! The other reviews were correct about this loop sites not being very level. But we came prepared and once set up it was a wonderful site. We didnt realize all the history in the area! We loved learning all the interesting facts about Council Grove and the surrounding area. Kaw School to the Tall Prairie preserve, The flint Hill Bike hike trail It had something for everyone Be sure to stop at the Hays House for at least one meal. Cant wait to come back next year to try some fishing as well as jump onto the Santa Fe Trail west.

@MarkB1441206 · Camped on Oct 16, 2024 at Campsite #8

Loved our stay in Santa Fe Trail Campground! Beautiful surroundings, we even saw a variety of wildlife!

@DavidD5028320 · Camped on Oct 15, 2024 at Campsite #26

No complaints at all. Nice area

@JackC9848296 · Camped on Sep 25, 2024 at Campsite #28

Nice campground, water / 50 Amp electric / dump station. Site was lake side / slight shade, very quiet at night!

@TheoK024CF2E82 · Camped on Sep 8, 2024 at Campsite #29

quiet campground, nice sites. Showers are free, bathrooms are cleanCouncil Grove is a lovely little town

@BretL0BA881972 · Camped on Sep 5, 2024 at Campsite #4

Great campsite

@StaciS5A7C8482 · Camped on Aug 23, 2024 at Campsite #9

Prices keep going up and quality has gone down. Campsite needed to be mowed. You would think with the increased prices they would at least update all sites to 50 amp.

@BarryS5552372 · Camped on Aug 9, 2024 at Campsite #21

This is a nice site with good access to amenities. It is close to the bathhouse, easy access to the playground and boat launch. It has good lake access, views and is spacious. Most sites are pretty level for tent camping. Paved camper parking areas are not level. Be prepared to bring extra leveling blocks. There are good, mature trees to provide shade and shelter.

@CarmonH952E60B · Camped on Jun 30, 2024 at Campsite #10

Overall a nice experience, enjoyed visiting Council Grove, KS & staying at the Santa Fe Trail campground site #10. We could not use our fire pit as it was located on unlevel ground needs repairs, it was unsafe to walk around & there was no place to sit because of it's location. There were 2 campsites marked #10 (direction signs are wrong also) we chose based on the picture i saw when reserving (however, pictures need updating and remove incorrect pictures). Bathrooms & campsite if we used any kind of light at night were engulfed with white biting gnats. You couldn't sit outside at night, it would help campground sprayed. We encountered no park guards, volunteers, local sheriff or park rangers at anytime during our stay from June 30-July 7,2024. Except for July 4th we saw 1 CG Police officer around 2pm. entire camp ground lost electricity 7/2 for several hours & we tried notifing but no one answered the door or phone for the number given. need an emergency/after hours number. When we arrived 6/30/24 bathrooms were filthy & no toilet paper & dirty until 7/1/24 it was finally cleaned & stocked. Apparently they're not cleaned on Monday, Weekends or Holidays (it was very busy & needed it). Your reservation process is also lacking. The NR deal is very discouraging & i almost gave up & went somewhere else to camp. We have encountered reserving problem W/your site several times over the year & it just gets worse. You shouldn't have to book 2 weeks of camping ahead of time just to be able to stay the time period you want. Also it wouldn't let me reserve on June 30th it said checkout only site no one could tell me what that meant. You need to put in sewers at ALL of your campgrounds. IF you are going to go to internet only communication you need to have cell phone and interent at ALL of your campgrounds. This campground does not get any signal for AT&T or Verison and there is no interent or WI-FI offered even though it says there is.

@ReginaWC9E8427 · Camped on Jun 25, 2024 at Campsite #30

Most out of level campsite I have experienced in many years (25+) and no one staffing campgrounds to answer questions or provide maps/information.

@KatP1088EEDED1 · Camped on Jun 12, 2024 at Campsite #24

The camping in this area is excellentIF you have an RV (and you reserved your spot back in December!). The tent pads are in bad shape and always have been. The bathhouse is sorta clean, but the lights dont work well. Before Covid, this place was awesome. Too bad theyve let things get run down.

@VernNB31E092C4 · Camped on May 3, 2024 at Campsite #31

Definitely one of the nicest campgrounds Ive ever been to. I parked right on the lake. Spaces are widely separated. A park like setting

@TarynSA7EC8409 · Camped on Apr 5, 2024 at Campsite #35

This campground needs some serious upgrades. Practically every campsite along the water is so uneven that we had to call Recreation.gov and ask to change sites because we used a stack of 6 levelers PLUS a couple of boards and could not get level. Lots of dirt and uneven ground. There was no soap in the bathrooms. The play ground equipment is dangerously old and unattractive.

@ThomasW1659833 · Camped on Oct 18, 2023 at Campsite #37

We had a very pleasant fall camping experience.

@sandim9A335045 · Camped on Aug 4, 2023 at Campsite #20

Nice shady spot with a great view of the lake. Pull through drive, but very unlevel. Even after reading the description, I thought I have levelers, no problem. Even with 4 levelers, way off to being level. Access to water is steep, I never made it all the way down.

@PamelaF123617D · Camped on Jul 8, 2023 at Campsite #26

Beautiful, big campsite near the lake shore. Nice view of lake. There was a cover over the picnic table.

@JohnT2915386 · Camped on Jul 6, 2023 at Campsite #24

Really liked the site and lake. Tent pad was in pretty bad shape.

@WENDYG6822131 · Camped on Jun 27, 2023 at Campsite #33

Nice and quiet campground.

@mikel7503834 · Camped on May 22, 2023 at Campsite #35

Have been here several times, and have always had a great experience and good time.

@RobS5453962 · Camped on May 5, 2023 at Campsite #25

Council Grove Lake is an vastly under rated camp spot. It’s a great drive through the Flint Hills to get there(coming from KC). The lake is relatively calm and not over crowded. Council Grove( a great title town) is just a quick 3 minute drive away. Santa Fe has most of its sites with a relatively good view. Some are close to your neighbor and some are more private(check Google Maps). Rangers frequently drive through so its well monitored. Clean and well kept grounds. We will return.

@LynnT3666035 · Camped on May 4, 2023 at Campsite #27

We like to kayak and when the lake is rough due to wind, we go to Munkers Creek on the east side of the lake.

@robynd51258828 · Camped on Apr 28, 2023 at Campsite #27

Council Grove is a neat little town. Cool antique shops, a great little grocery store and very friendly people. Nice lake, good fishing, and nice (but not level) camp sites! Camp ground is well maintained, with electric and water and a close and easy to get to dump station. We will be back!

@EveretteT14822 · Camped on Apr 23, 2023 at Campsite #27

Very nice area

@CraigB4500034 · Camped on Apr 17, 2023 at Campsite #1

When I arrived at my reserved campsite, it was occupied by a fisherman's pickup truck. Luckily, another camper told me where to locate the owner so I could get him to move his truck. During our stay, I noticed that other fishermen were taking advantage of the empty park entrance booth by using whatever campsite they chose to park near desired fishing spots.

@Elizabeth21617 · Camped on Oct 24, 2022 at Campsite #24

The park is really nice except the uneven ground. I only had a campervan so it was hard to level. Should have move to different site as I noticed the campground was almost empty.

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