Sylvan Park
Sylvan Park Campground is located below the dam at Wilson Lake in the wide open spaces of central Kansas. A few campsites overlook the Saline River exiting the dam, while a handful of other sites overlook the Old Saline River channel.
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 | 24 |
| Standard, no hookups | 1 |
| group shelter electric | 1 |
| group standard electric | 1 |
Site guide
Will my RV fit
The longest site here provides 118 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.
27 sites. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Type | Entry | Fits, ft | Surface | Shade | Power | Water / sewer | People / vehicles | Accessible |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Electric | Back-in | 65 | Paved | Partial | 30 amp | Yes / – | 8 / 2 | |
| 02 | Electric | Pull-through | 95 | Paved | Partial | 30 amp | Yes / – | 8 / 2 | |
| 03 | Electric | Pull-through | 100 | Paved | Partial | 30 amp | Yes / – | 8 / 2 | |
| 04 | Electric | Pull-through | 93 | Paved | Partial | 30 amp | Yes / – | 8 / 2 | |
| 05 | Electric | Pull-through | 103 | Paved | Partial | 30 amp | Yes / – | 8 / 2 | |
| 06 | Electric | Pull-through | 102 | Paved | Partial | 30 amp | Yes / – | 8 / 2 | |
| 07 | Electric | Pull-through | 104 | Paved | Partial | 30 amp | Yes / – | 8 / 2 | |
| 08 | Electric | Pull-through | 80 | Paved | Partial | 30 amp | Yes / – | 8 / 2 | |
| 09 | Standard | Back-in | 70 | Paved | Partial | No | 8 / 2 | ||
| 10 | Electric | Back-in | 60 | Paved | Partial | 30 amp | Yes / – | 8 / 2 |
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
| Hookups | Electric, water, sewer |
| Max vehicle length | 137 ft |
| Equipment | RVs & trailers, Tents |
| Pets | Allowed |
| Accessibility | Sites 14, 15, 16, 17 and 8 more are listed accessible |
Sylvan Park Campground offers 27 reservable modern campsites, along with an 8-site group camp area and large group picnic shelter that can accommodate up to 50 guests. Most campsites offer sweeping views of the surrounding prairie, in addition to a handful of sites which offer a beautiful view of the Saline River. Access to hiking trails and a boat ramp make exploring the area convenient for visitors, while others looking to stay closer to the campground can enjoy an on-site sand volleyball court and playground.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Weather by month
Getting there
From Interstate 70, north of Wilson, Kansas, take exit 206 and turn north onto Highway 232. Continue for 8 miles, then turn right onto Highway 181 and follow signs to the campground.
| Nearest town | Sylvan Grove, Kansas |
| Coordinates | 38.9683° N, 98.4917° W · Directions ↗ |
Supplies & services
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 2.9 mi |
| Outdoor gear | Myers Sporting & Supply ↗ | 37.4 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
Sylvan Lake Campground Review | Vlog
Worth a stop
Wilson State Park, also located on the south side of the lake, offers additional recreation opportunities, as well as Lucas and Minooka Parks. Visitors can check out the nearby town of Lucas, known for its unique artistic spirit and attractions, or experience the rich historical heritage of Wilson, Kansas and other surrounding communities.
- 0.2 mi
- 0.9 miSpillway Boat Ramp ↗Boat launch
- 3 miLucas Park Boat Ramp ↗Boat launch
Other campgrounds nearby
On the National Register nearby
- Behrhorst Brothers HardwareBuilding · Sylvan Grove · 6 mi
- Evangelical Lutheran SchoolBuilding · Sylvan Grove · 6.4 mi
- Deeble Rock GardenSite · Lucas · 6.7 mi
Natural features
Wilson lake, known as the "clearest lake in Kansas," is located in the Smoky Hills of North Central Kansas--a rolling landscape of hills, buttes and hazy valleys. Also known as Post Rock Country, the area contains thousands of miles of stone fenceposts and buildings that have been constructed out of the area's local limestone. This and other unique geologic formations and mixed grass prairie lands provide an excellent scenic backdrop for recreation around the lake.
Recreation
Boating is the most popular pastime on the lake, with plenty of room for water skiing, wake boarding, jet skiing, sailing and more. The high salinity content of the Saline River makes drinking and irrigation difficult without special treatment, but it aids the stocking of ocean-native Striped Bass, which have been known to reach enormous sizes in Wilson Lake. This and many other game fish species have been enhanced by a stocking program conducted by the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism. Walleye, Large and Smallmouth bass can be found in abundance in the lake, as well as White bass, channel and flathead catfish. Several trails are available to visitors, including the Bur Oak Nature Trail located in Sylvan Park. This 3/4 mile nature walk is a self guided interpretive trail, that has many interpretive stations along the path. Wilson Lake also offers hunting opportunities for a variety of game animals, including pheasant, quail, prairie chicken, whitetail deer, turkey, waterfowl and rabbit.
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 Sylvan Park?
Sites at Sylvan Park are reservable on Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Sylvan Park?
Check-in 6:00 PM, checkout 6:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
How many sites does Sylvan Park have?
27 sites, including 24 standard sites with power, 1 standard site without power, 1 group shelter electric, and 1 group standard electric.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Sylvan Park?
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 Sylvan Park have hookups?
Yes, electric, water, and sewer hookups at some sites.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are pets allowed at Sylvan Park?
Yes, pets are allowed at Sylvan Park. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are there accessible sites at Sylvan Park?
Sites 14, 15, 16, and 17 are listed accessible on Recreation.gov, 12 sites in all. 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 Sylvan Park?
FCC coverage maps show Verizon 4G LTE and AT&T 4G LTE at the campground point. Terrain changes that from one site to the next.
Source: FCC Broadband Map
What is there to do at Sylvan Park?
Boating is the most popular pastime on the lake, with plenty of room for water skiing, wake boarding, jet skiing, sailing and more. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Sylvan Park?
Sylvan Grove, Kansas. Wilson State Park, also located on the south side of the lake, offers additional recreation opportunities, as well as Lucas and Minooka Parks.
Source: Getting there
What if Sylvan Park is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Lucas Park (1.7 mi), Minooka Park (5.1 mi), and Venango Park (35.7 mi).
Source: Campgrounds nearby