Camping is a great activity that allows you and your family to really experience the great outdoors, and the Leawood, Kansas, area is an amazing place to commune with nature while camping. There are so many ways to camp, from primitive camping in simple tents to RV camping with beds, a bathroom, and a kitchenette to “glamping” in a luxury camper with even more homey amenities. But there’s no wrong way to camp, as long as you and your family have fun, stay safe, and responsibly explore nature.

Here are some of the best camping spots in and around the Leawood, Kansas, area.

Walnut Grove RV Park

“toddler holding cookie” used with permission via Unsplash by kellysikkema

About 9 miles northwest of Leawood in Merriam, you’ll find Walnut Grove RV Park. This camping area hosts 50 campsites, and the quality of the camping tends to lead to a full park, so make sure to book well in advance of your adventure. Plus, the campsites only accommodate campers and RVs that are 65 feet long or less, so if you’re renting, don’t pay for the biggest model if you want to stay at this awesome park. And while it’s pretty close to your Leawood home, it’s a great spot for a staycation.

All that said, Walnut Grove is perfect for families who need some modern amenities, like Wi-Fi and hot showers, when they’re away from home. You can get a fire ring and picnic table for your campsite for no extra charge. There’s also an on-site laundromat for campers who stay longer than their supply of clothes can handle, a little dog park where they can do their business and meet fellow camping pups, and a store/front office with camping supplies, complimentary coffee, and the friendliest staff you’ll ever meet.

Longview Campground

Longview Campground is located about 16 miles southeast of Leawood in nearby Lee’s Summit, Missouri. It’s the largest of Jackson County’s campgrounds, so it’s chock full of must-have amenities for campers and a bit more. This campground has full-hookup lots and sites with just electric hookup for campers as well as sites for tent camping. You can also make a campfire using a fire ring, cook over the fire using the fire grill, eat at the picnic table, and let the kids play on the playground. And you get to use clean bathrooms and showers during your stay, too.

Even though it’s close to home, Longview Campground has some sites you don’t have in Leawood. You can enjoy Longview Lake, just steps from the campground, where you can fish, take a boat ride, swim, sun on the beach, or go for a water ski or jet ski trip. Stock up on fishing tackle and supplies at the lake’s marina. The campground even has boat and bike rentals on-site, too. In addition to the lake, you can also go horse riding at Longview Horse Park.

Fleming Park – Blue Springs Campground

You can find Fleming Park and Blue Springs Campground about 21 miles northeast of Leawood in nearby Blue Springs, Missouri. The campground is located in the northwest portion of the enormous 7,800-acre park, right near the shores of Blue Springs Lake. You can stay at one of the 82 campsites, of which there are multiple full-hookup sites, electric-and-water hookup sites, and electric-only hookup sites.

This destination features a fun playground for the kids, laundry machines, as well as shower facilities and restrooms. If you want to start a fire or keep your food and drinks cool, you can buy firewood or ice, meaning you don’t have to buy and haul your own.

Even though this campground is right next to Blue Springs Lake, you can also enjoy the splendors of Jacomo Lake that’s a bit to the south. On both lakes, you can rent a boat or take your own out onto the water, kayak, or go fishing. You can also dine with the family at one of the picnic shelters and hike one of Fleming Park’s many trails.

Clinton State Park

Head about 50 or so miles directly west to Lawrence, Kansas, to stay at Clinton State Park. This park houses nearly 400 campsites with a variety of hookup options, including 50, 30, and 20 amp electric, and over 170 primitive camping sites for those who want to rough it or test out their Boy Scouts skills.

You can also rent cabins, which sit atop a high bluff overlooking the Clinton Reservoir below. When you stay in a cabin, you get amenities like heating and air conditioning, a full kitchen with cookware, an indoor dining table and picnic table outside, as well as a grill and a fire ring.

Clinton State Park is a fantastic camping destination for families who love to hike because this park features two all-season nature trails, including a short-and-sweet quarter-mile trail and a lengthy 25-mile trail you can hike or mountain bike over the course of a few days. If you happen to come after a good snow, you can do some cross-country skiing on the 5-mile trail.

This is also a great park for anglers, hunters, and lovers of wildlife viewing. The Clinton Reservoir is 7,000 acres of fishing waters, stocked with catfish, smallmouth bass, crappie, and more. The park also features grasslands and deciduous forests that are home to deer, turkey, quail, squirrel, and rabbit, all of which you can hunt or trap with the appropriate license. You can also spot bald eagles, Canada geese, woodpeckers, mourning doves, and non-game birds; amphibians and reptiles, including lizards, turtles, and bullfrogs; as well as mammals like mink, beavers, bobcats, coyotes, and foxes.You can choose camping for a staycation or a unique family vacation away from home. And since the Leawood area is rich with amazing landscapes, waterways, and nature areas, it’s the perfect place to pitch a tent or park a camper. These are just some of the best camping spots in and around the Leawood, Kansas, area. Did we miss any of your favorite camping destinations? If so, let Crème de la Crème of Leawood know, and we’ll be sure to add it to our list!