Outlet(Melvern)
Outlet Campground is situated below the Melvern Lake Dam on the eastern edge of the Flint Hills of Kansas. Visitors enjoy the area's wide range of recreational activities, including boating, fishing, hiking and hunting.
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 | 137 |
| group shelter electric | 2 |
| Host/management | 13 |
Site guide
Will my RV fit
The longest site here provides 80 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.
139 sites in 5 loops. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Loop | Type | Entry | Fits, ft | Surface | Shade | Power | Water / sewer | People / vehicles | Fires | Accessible |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 001 | A-LO | Electric | Back-in | 60 | Paved | Partial | 50 amp | Yes / – | 8 / 2 | Yes | |
| 002 | A-LO | Electric | Back-in | 60 | Paved | Partial | 50 amp | Yes / – | 8 / 2 | Yes | |
| 003 | A-LO | Electric | Back-in | 60 | Paved | Partial | 50 amp | Yes / – | 8 / 2 | Yes | |
| 004 | A-LO | Electric | Back-in | 60 | Paved | Partial | 50 amp | Yes / – | 8 / 2 | Yes | |
| 005 | A-LO | Electric | Back-in | 60 | Paved | Partial | 50 amp | Yes / – | 8 / 2 | Yes | |
| 009 | A-LO | Electric | Pull-through | 60 | Paved | Partial | 50 amp | Yes / – | 8 / 2 | Yes | |
| 010 | A-LO | Electric | Pull-through | 60 | Paved | Partial | 50 amp | Yes / – | 8 / 2 | Yes | |
| 017 | A-LO | Electric | Pull-through | 60 | Paved | Partial | 50 amp | Yes / – | 8 / 2 | Yes | |
| 018 | A-LO | Electric | Pull-through | 60 | Paved | Partial | 50 amp | Yes / – | 8 / 2 | Yes | |
| 019 | A-LO | Electric | Pull-through | 60 | Paved | Partial | 50 amp | Yes / – | 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 04:00 PM, checkout 04:00 PM.
Amenities & rules
| Hookups | Electric, water, sewer |
| Max vehicle length | 80 ft |
| Equipment | RVs & trailers, Tents |
| Pets | Allowed |
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
| Fees | Melvern Lake enforces the national no-show policy. If you do not check in with the park attendant within 24 hours of your reservation check-in time, you will be listed as a no-show, your site will be released and you will be charged $20 plus the first night's fee. |
| Accessibility | Site 079 is listed accessible |
This large campground offers 140 family sites, many of which have full hookups for electric, water and sewer. Two group day-use picnic shelters with electrical hookups are available as well. Several family picnic sites can be used on a first come, first served basis. Amenities include flush and vault toilets, showers, drinking water and a dump station. A boat ramp, accessible dock and fish cleaning station are located on-site. Younger campers love the park's swimming beach, playground and stocked fishing pond, which is open year-round. Laundry facilities are no longer available to all campers.photographyoptions.net/images/melvern/tour.html)
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Weather by month
Getting there
From US-75, take the Melvern exit. Turn west onto Melvern Lake Parkway and continue 1/4 mile to the cut-off road, then another 1/4-mile west to River Pond Parkway and follow into the campground.
| Nearest town | Melvern, Kansas |
| Coordinates | 38.5137° N, 95.7062° W · Directions ↗ |
Supplies & services
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | under 0.1 mi |
| Outdoor gear | Outdoor Gear & Knives ↗ | 8.1 mi |
| RV sales & service | Central RV ↗ | 26.4 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
Melvern Lake Campgrounds - Outlet - Drone Flyover - Aerial Overview - Kansas
Other campgrounds nearby
On the National Register nearby
- Topeka Atchison and Santa Fe Pratt Truss BridgeStructure · Melvern · 3.9 mi
- Lyndon Carnegie LibraryBuilding · Lyndon · 6.6 mi
- Osage County CourthouseBuilding · Lyndon · 6.8 mi
Natural features
The Flint Hills represent America's last expanse of intact tallgrass prairie, made up of big bluestem, switchgrass and Indian grass. The rolling hills on the south side of the lake are wooded, and the campground has scattered trees and limited shade.
Recreation
Melvern Lake impounds nearly 7,000 acres of water on the upper reaches of the Marais des Cygnes River Valley. Boating and swimming are popular activities on the lake. Anglers will find walleye, crappie, channel and flathead catfish, as well as black, striped, white and smallmouth bass. The 18,000 acres of land surrounding Melvern Lake provide plentiful hiking and hunting opportunities. Several trails wind around the lake, including the 4-mile Tallgrass Heritage Trail, which begins in the campground. Hunters may find deer, quail, turkeys, ducks, rabbits and squirrels throughout the area.
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 Outlet(Melvern)?
Sites at Outlet(Melvern) are reservable on Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
How much does it cost to camp at Outlet(Melvern)?
Melvern Lake enforces the national no-show policy. If you do not check in with the park attendant within 24 hours of your reservation check-in time, you will be listed as a no-show, your site will be released and you will be charged $20 plus the first night's fee.
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Outlet(Melvern)?
Check-in 04:00 PM, checkout 04:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
How many sites does Outlet(Melvern) have?
152 sites, including 137 standard sites with power and 2 group shelter electric.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Outlet(Melvern)?
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 Outlet(Melvern) have hookups?
Yes, electric, water, and sewer hookups at some sites.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are there showers or a dump station at Outlet(Melvern)?
Amenities include flush and vault toilets, showers, drinking water and a dump station.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are pets allowed at Outlet(Melvern)?
Yes, pets are allowed at Outlet(Melvern). Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at Outlet(Melvern)?
Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are there accessible sites at Outlet(Melvern)?
Site 079 is listed accessible on Recreation.gov. What that covers (a paved pad, an accessible table, a nearby accessible restroom) is on each site's booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
Is there cell service at Outlet(Melvern)?
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 Outlet(Melvern)?
Melvern Lake impounds nearly 7,000 acres of water on the upper reaches of the Marais des Cygnes River Valley. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation



