Army Corps of Engineers · Kanopolis Lake · Marquette, KS

Riverside

Riverside Campground is located on the Smoky Hill River just downstream from Kanopolis Lake in central Kansas, 30 miles southwest of Salina. Kanopolis Lake, one of the state's oldest lakes, provides many outdoor activities, including boating, fishing and hunting.

More like this: electric hookups in Kansas · reservable in Kansas · big rigs in Kansas · pets allowed in Kansas · group sites in Kansas

Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Smoky Hill RiverRiversideRiversideGeneral Campsite in Riverside
Photos courtesy of USACE · Recreation.gov

Site mix

Standard with electric19
Standard, no hookups10
group shelter nonelectric1
Host/management1
Most sites here open on Recreation.gov six months ahead, at 10 a.m. Eastern. Sold out is not final: cancellations come back into the pool, most of them two to three days out. How to catch one

Site guide

Will my RV fit

The longest site here provides 80 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.

Have the trailer VIN? It carries the trailer length.

30 sites in 2 loops. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.

SiteLoopTypeEntryFits, ftSurfaceShadePowerWater / sewerWaterfrontPeople / vehiclesFires
SP - PrimitiveADMINStandardBack-in45GravelPartialNo8 / 3Yes
SP - Offseason ElectricADMINElectricBack-in45GravelPartial30 ampYes / –Riverfront8 / 3Yes
SP - Offseason PrimitiveADMINStandardBack-in45GravelPartial30 ampYes / –Riverfront8 / 3Yes
SP - 30 AMP Electric & WaterADMINElectricBack-in45GravelPartial30 ampYes / –Riverfront8 / 3Yes
SP - 50 AMP Electric & WaterADMINElectricBack-in45GravelPartial30 ampYes / –Riverfront8 / 3Yes
001RIVEElectricBack-in45GravelPartial30 ampYes / –Riverfront8 / 3Yes
002RIVEElectricBack-in25GravelPartial30 ampYes / –Riverfront8 / 3Yes
003RIVEElectricBack-in45GravelPartial30 ampYes / –Riverfront8 / 3Yes
004RIVEElectricBack-in50GravelPartial30 ampYes / –Riverfront8 / 3Yes
005RIVEElectricBack-in45GravelPartial30 ampYes / –Riverfront8 / 3Yes

Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 6:00 PM, checkout 6:00 PM.

Amenities & rules

HookupsElectric, water
Max vehicle length80 ft
EquipmentRVs & trailers, Tents
PetsAllowed
CampfiresAllowed, subject to restrictions
  • Riverside Campground offers 24 campsites, 16 with electric and water hookups and 8 primitive campsites. Other amenities include flush toilets, drinking water, showers, a playground, dump station and direct river access.
  • During the peak season (May 15- Sep 15) all camping payments will be made directly to Recreation 1 Stop. Below is the proper procedure when arriving at Riverside:
  • 1.If Reservation is made prior to arrival, proceed to reserved site and have reservation number available for proof of payment.
  • 2.If arriving without a reservation do the following:
  • Select Campsite (Reservations are not posted. Do not set up on site until payment is made)
  • Visit www.recreation.gov or call 1-877-444-6777 to check availability and pay for camping fees.
  • Set up on Campsite

Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near Riverside30°40°50°60°70°80°January: 0.71 inches of precipitation, 3.2 inches of snowFebruary: 1.12 inches of precipitation, 3.0 inches of snowMarch: 1.69 inches of precipitation, 1.6 inches of snowApril: 2.54 inches of precipitation, 0.1 inches of snowMay: 4.90 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowJune: 4.13 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowJuly: 3.95 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowAugust: 3.51 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowSeptember: 2.73 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowOctober: 2.27 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowNovember: 1.09 inches of precipitation, 0.8 inches of snowDecember: 0.97 inches of precipitation, 2.9 inches of snowJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 30.6°F averageFebruary: 33.9°F averageMarch: 43.8°F averageApril: 53.1°F averageMay: 63.5°F averageJune: 74.6°F averageJuly: 79.4°F averageAugust: 77.2°F averageSeptember: 68.9°F averageOctober: 56.6°F averageNovember: 43.3°F averageDecember: 33.1°F average0 in1 in2 in3 in4 in5 inTemp °FInches
The line is the average temperature and the bars are average precipitation at Kanopolis Lake, less than a mile from the campground at 1,492 feet, station USC00144178 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020. Precipitation totals about 30 inches a year. The dotted line is average snowfall, about 12 inches a year on the same inches scale.

Getting there

From Salina, KS: Take HWY 140 19 miles west to HWY 141. Travel 14 miles south on 141, then 1/2 mile east on Riverside Drive. Look for signs to the park. From Ellsworth, KS: Take HWY 140 15 miles east to HWY 141. Travel 14 miles South on Hwy 141. Travel 1/2 mile East on Riverside Drive and look for signs to the park.

Nearest townMarquette, Kansas
Coordinates38.6103° N, 97.9570° W · Directions ↗

Supplies & services

Dump stationDump station ↗0.9 mi
RV sales & serviceFour Seasons RV ↗51.8 mi

Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.

Explore

Video

Riverside Campground - Targhee National Forest, ID

On the National Register nearby

On Register Atlas →

Natural features

The campground is situated on the wooded riverside where wildlife is abundant. Whitetail deer, Great Blue Heron, Quail, Turkey, Rabbits, Squirrels and a wide variety of waterfowl are commonly seen. Sandstone bluffs, rolling hills, and vast, open prairie lands surround the lake.

Recreation

Kanopolis Lake offers great boating and fishing opportunities. On land, hunting, hiking, and biking are popular activities.

Nearby

The Fort Harker Museum in Kanopolis and the Rogers Art Gallery and Museum in Ellsworth both portray the settlement of the American West. Kanopolis State Park, Kansas' first, offers numerous trails for hiking, biking and equestrian activities. The park also has additional boating, fishing, and picnicking areas.

Guidebooks for Kansas and camping across the country

We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.

  • Kansas Trail Guide
    Jonathan M. Conard and Kristin M. Conard, 2015
    Find at Bookshop.org
  • Frommer's Exploring America by RV
    Harry Basch and Shirley Slater, 2012
    Find at Bookshop.org

Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.

Reference

Questions people ask

Do I need a reservation at Riverside?

Sites at Riverside are reservable on Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.

Source: Recreation.gov

What time is check-in at Riverside?

Check-in 6:00 PM, checkout 6:00 PM.

Source: Recreation.gov

How many sites does Riverside have?

31 sites, including 19 standard sites with power, 10 standard sites without power, and 1 group shelter nonelectric.

Source: Recreation.gov

Will my RV fit at Riverside?

Recreation.gov lists no practical vehicle capacity limit for the largest site here, which usually means pull-through or open parking. The sidebar tool checks a trailer or motorhome length against every site.

Source: Will my RV fit

Does Riverside have hookups?

Yes, electric and water hookups at some sites.

Source: Recreation.gov

Are there showers or a dump station at Riverside?

Riverside Campground offers 24 campsites, 16 with electric and water hookups and 8 primitive campsites. Other amenities include flush toilets, drinking water, showers, a playground, dump station and direct river access.

Source: Recreation.gov

Are pets allowed at Riverside?

Yes, pets are allowed at Riverside. Leash rules apply.

Source: Recreation.gov

Can I have a campfire at Riverside?

Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions.

Source: Recreation.gov

Is there cell service at Riverside?

FCC coverage maps show Verizon 4G LTE, AT&T 4G LTE, and T-Mobile 5G at the campground point. Terrain changes that from one site to the next.

Source: FCC Broadband Map

What is there to do at Riverside?

Kanopolis Lake offers great boating and fishing opportunities. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.

Source: Recreation

What is the nearest town to Riverside?

Marquette, Kansas. The Fort Harker Museum in Kanopolis and the Rogers Art Gallery and Museum in Ellsworth both portray the settlement of the American West.

Source: Getting there

What if Riverside is full?

The nearest public campgrounds are Venango Park (2.3 mi), Sylvan Park (38 mi), and Lucas Park (38.6 mi).

Source: Campgrounds nearby