Santa Fe Trail
Santa Fe Trail Campground is located on the 3,310-acre Council Grove Lake in the green expanses of eastern Kansas.
More like this: electric hookups in Kansas · full hookups in Kansas · reservable in Kansas · big rigs in Kansas · pets allowed in Kansas · group sites in Kansas
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Standard with electric | 31 |
| Tent-only | 1 |
| group standard electric | 1 |
Site guide
Will my RV fit
The longest site here provides 102 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.
33 sites. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Type | Entry | Fits, ft | Surface | Shade | Power | Water / sewer | Waterfront | People / vehicles | Fires |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 001 | Electric | Back-in | 56 | Gravel | Partial | 15/20/30/50 amp | Yes / No | Lakefront | 8 / 2 | Yes |
| 002 | Electric | Back-in | 54 | Gravel | Partial | 15/20/30/50 amp | Yes / No | Lakefront | 8 / 2 | Yes |
| 003 | Electric | Back-in | 44 | Gravel | Partial | 15/20/30/50 amp | Yes / No | Lakefront | 8 / 2 | Yes |
| 004 | Electric | Back-in | 50 | Gravel | Partial | 15/20/30/50 amp | Yes / No | Lakefront | 8 / 2 | Yes |
| 005 | Electric | Back-in | 70 | Gravel | None | 15/20/30/50 amp | Yes / No | Lakefront | 8 / 2 | Yes |
| 006 | Electric | Back-in | 44 | Paved | None | 15/20/30/50 amp | Yes / No | Lakefront | 8 / 2 | Yes |
| 007 | Electric | Back-in | 57 | Paved | Partial | 15/20/30/50 amp | Yes / No | Lakefront | 8 / 2 | Yes |
| 008 | Electric | Back-in | 39 | Gravel | Partial | 15/20/30/50 amp | Yes / No | Lakefront | 8 / 2 | Yes |
| 009 | Electric | Pull-through | 102 | Gravel | Partial | 15/20/30/50 amp | Yes / No | 8 / 2 | Yes | |
| 010 | Electric | Back-in | 47 | Gravel | Partial | 15/20/30/50 amp | Yes / Yes | Lakefront | 8 / 2 | Yes |
Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 4:00 PM, checkout 3:00 PM.
Amenities & rules
| Hookups | Electric, water, sewer |
| Max vehicle length | 102 ft |
| Equipment | RVs & trailers, Tents |
| Pets | Allowed |
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
Santa Fe Trail Campground offers 35 reservable campsites, including one group camping area that can accommodate up to 75 guests. Electric hookups, flush toilets and other modern amenities are provided. The campground has plenty of shade, along with open grassy areas for games and recreation.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Weather by month
Getting there
From I-70, take Highway 177 south for 30 miles. Continue west across the dam road, then right onto City Lake Road. After a mile turn right into the campground entrance.
| Nearest town | Council Grove, Kansas |
| Coordinates | 38.6819° N, 96.5249° W · Directions ↗ |
Supplies & services
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 35.6 mi |
| RV sales & service | Four Seasons RV ↗ | 36.8 mi |
| Outdoor gear | Outdoor Gear & Knives ↗ | 45.4 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
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Video
Santa Fe Trail Campground Council Grove Lake, KS
Worth a stop
The town of Council Grove, located about 2 miles southeast of the lake, is a National Historic District, with seven Santa Fe National Historic Trail sites in the community.
- 0.2 miCouncil Grove Marina ↗Boat launch
Other campgrounds nearby
Historic landmarks nearby
Natural features
Council Grove Lake sits in the rolling, grassy Flint Hills. The lake was created by a dam built in 1964, and now offers recreational opportunities to hundreds of thousands of visitors every year. Historically this area is where the Osage Indians signed a treaty to establish the Old Santa Fe Trail. A marker in the town of Council Grove indicates the place where the treaty was signed.
Recreation
Boating is a popular pastime at the lake, and a boat ramp is located in the campground for visitors' convenience. The lake is known for its fishing opportunities, with crappie and catfish being the most abundant. Council Grove was also the first lake in Kansas to receive stocking of Saugeye. Hunters will find populations of quail, prairie chicken, wild turkey and deer on the nearly 2,700 acres of hunting lands surrounding the lake. Hiking trails wind along the lake shore and into the forest. Pioneer Nature Trail is known as the most scenic trail, with plenty of wildlife, greenery and wildflowers creating a beautiful background. Council Grove is also a starting point for the Flint Hills National Scenic Byway. This byway travels through the best of the remaining remnants of the Tallgrass Prairie Ecosystem in North America. Along the byway and 25 miles south is the National Tallgrass Prairie Preserve, where visitors can spot colorful wildflowers in the spring and array of autumn colors in the fall.
Guidebooks for Kansas and camping across the country
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Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
Do I need a reservation at Santa Fe Trail?
Sites at Santa Fe Trail are reservable on Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Santa Fe Trail?
Check-in 4:00 PM, checkout 3:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
How many sites does Santa Fe Trail have?
33 sites, including 31 standard sites with power, 1 tent-only site, and 1 group standard electric.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Santa Fe Trail?
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 Santa Fe Trail have hookups?
Yes, electric, water, and sewer hookups at some sites.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are there showers or a dump station at Santa Fe Trail?
Electric hookups, flush toilets and other modern amenities are provided.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are pets allowed at Santa Fe Trail?
Yes, pets are allowed at Santa Fe Trail. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at Santa Fe Trail?
Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions.
Source: Recreation.gov
Is there cell service at Santa Fe Trail?
FCC coverage maps show Verizon 4G LTE, AT&T 5G, 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 Santa Fe Trail?
Boating is a popular pastime at the lake, and a boat ramp is located in the campground for visitors' convenience. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Santa Fe Trail?
Council Grove, Kansas. The town of Council Grove, located about 2 miles southeast of the lake, is a National Historic District, with seven Santa Fe National Historic Trail sites in the community.
Source: Getting there
What if Santa Fe Trail is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Neosho Park (0.8 mi), Canning Creek (1 mi), and Kanza View (1.8 mi).
Source: Campgrounds nearby