Hillsdale Lake
RV Guide
Introduction
Offering visitors a wide range of recreational activities, a state park, and numerous campgrounds for you to choose from, Hillsdale Lake is a great choice for your next RV holiday destination.
Hillsdale Lake was originally built in 1982 for the purpose of flood control, but over the years it has developed into a premier outdoor destination. In 1989, the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks leased 12,880 acres of land for recreation and wildlife management purposes. This has resulted in the area in and around the lake being operated within the state park system, so there are no COE-run campgrounds or activities.
Hillsdale Lake is popular with tourists and those living in urban areas since it is only 30 miles from Kansas City. During the summer you will find many visitors having fun in the sun by swimming, boating or fishing. The open spaces in the park are in a transition zone between the prairie lands of the west and the mixed hardwood forests of the east, which means there is great diversity of plant communities and wildlife. Birding, hiking, and hunting are the most popular recreation at the lake, along with a shooting range that is below the lake.
RV travelers looking to stay at the lake will be pleased to note that there are many campgrounds available on the south, southwest and eastern sides of the lake. You will also get to choose between sites that vary from offering full hookups, electric-only or primitive sites. If you are looking to rent an RV there are many available in and around Kansas City. Be sure to check out the The Ultimate Resource Guide for RVers and enjoy your stay.
RV Rentals in Hillsdale Lake
Transportation
Driving
Getting to and from Hillsdale Lake is very straightforward. It is located between Spring Hill and Paola in Miami County and is only 40 miles from the center of Kansas City. For those seeking supplies and amenities, there are many towns even closer to the lake than Kansas City, including Hillsdale (around four miles away), Paola (around 10 miles away), and Spring Hill (around 13 miles away).
The roads in and around the park are kept in very good condition and there should be no issues with you navigating the roads, whether you are in an RV, trailer, or car. There are no known obstacles that could damage your rig, but if you come across one be sure to report it to the park staff. During the wintertime, snow is common in the area so we recommend calling the lake staff before you begin your journey to confirm the roads will be clear.
Parking
There are multiple parking areas for RVs, trailers, and other vehicles at the lake, including four areas within Hillsdale State Park. Overnight parking facilities are also available.
Public Transportation
There are no public transportation facilities that will take you to and from Hillsdale State Park.
Campgrounds and parking in Hillsdale Lake
Campsites in Hillsdale Lake
Reservations camping
Sunflower Campground
Sunflower Campground within Hillsdale State Park is the most popular campground at Hillsdale. The campground contains 61 RV friendly campsites that are all equipped with full hookups (electric, water, and sewer hookups). Each site also has a concrete pad and decent spacing in between each site. Please note that there is no direct lake access from the Sunflower Campground, so keep that in mind when you are choosing a place to stay.
RV's up to 110 feet in length are permitted in the campground and there are also restrooms, showers, laundry facilities, water collection points, and a dump station. Pets are also allowed and you should be able to get cell phone reception on all of the major networks.
Quiet hours are 11PM to 6AM and we recommend that you book a reservation in advance. Sunflower Campground is open during the peak season.
Scott Creek Campground
Scott Creek Campground is the second largest of the reservable campgrounds within Hillsdale State Park. The campground consists of 60 RV friendly campsites that all have a picnic table and fire ring that are available for you to enjoy. All of the sites at Scott Creek Campground are equipped with both water and electric hookups and they are large enough for rigs up to 102 feet in length.
Unlike the Sunflower Campground, Scott Creek does not have a shower house, but there is a vault toilet, self-pay station, and easy access to the lake. There are also two shelters available for campers to use that can be reserved online, or used on a first-come-first-serve basis if it has not been reserved.
Fires are only allowed in the designated fire rings and quiet hours are from 11 PM to 6 AM. We recommend that you make a reservation before you arrive at the campground in order to guarantee that you will have a place to stay during your time at the lake.
Pintail Point Campground
There are also many campgrounds available to the northwest of Hillsdale State Park within the Russel Crites Camping Area. Pintail Point Campground is the largest of those found in this area and consists of 42 RV friendly campsites.
All of the sites at Pintail Point Campground are equipped with electric and water hookups for RVs and the sites are suitable for RVs up to 80 feet in length. Other amenities include an ADA accessible shower house, laundry facilities, a vault toilet, a self-pay station, and waterfront lake access. The campground is also pet-friendly and you should be able to get cell phone reception on all of the major networks.
Quiet hours at Pintail Point Campground are from 11 PM to 6 AM. Like the Hillsdale State Park sites, you can make a reservation in advance online, and it's probably a good idea to do so.
Crappie Cove Campground
Crappie Cove Campground is the second-largest RV friendly campground that is located in the Russel Crites Camping Area. Here you will find a total of 37 RV friendly campsites that all come equipped with electrical and water hookups. This campground is known for its roomy sites and gravel surface.
Along with having electrical hookups, each site includes a fire ring, lantern hook, and a picnic table. Other amenities at the campground include showers, toilets, telephone, a self-pay station, laundry facilities, waterfront, a volleyball area, and a playground. The campground is also pet-friendly and you should be able to get cell phone reception on all of the major networks.
Quiet hours at Pintail Point Campground are from 11 PM to 6 AM. Like the Hillsdale State Park sites, you can make a reservation in advance online..
Quail Run Campground
Quail Run Campground in Russel Crites Camping Area is the smallest of the three reservable campgrounds that are located within this area of Hillsdale Lake. There are 19 RV friendly sites for you to choose from and all of the sites have electric and water hookups. The sites will be able to support RVs up to 70 feet in length.
Along with those hookups, there are also some great amenities at this campground, including a swimming beach, a payphone, shower house, and an ADA-accessible shelter. The shelter has a shower, toilet, vault toilet, and picnic tables. Quail Run Campground is also pet-friendly and you should be able to get cell phone reception here on all of the major networks.
If you are wanting to make a reservation at Quail Run Campground you can do so online. Quiet hours are 11 PM and 6 AM and the campground is open during peak season.
Alternate camping
Saddle Ridge Campground
Another camping option within Hillsdale State Park is the Saddle Ridge Campground. Saddle Ridge is only available to equestrian campers and features 22 RV friendly sites and a further 12 tent-only primitive sites. While there are no full hookup sites available, all of the 22 sites have electric and water hookups.
RV's up to 50 feet in length can use Saddle Ridge Campground and the facilities at the campground include vault toilets, self-pay station, picnic tables, toilets, water collection points, and a picnic shelter. Pets are also allowed within the campground and you should be able to get cell phone reception on all of the major networks.
Quiet hours are 11 PM to 6 AM and we recommend that you book a reservation in advance in order to guarantee a place to stay the night. Saddle Ridge Campground is open during the peak season.
Youth & Scout Group Camping Area
The Youth & Scout Area in Hillsdale State Park features a pet-friendly primitive campsite with a large fire ring with benches nearby and four picnic tables. This campground is popular with scout groups or those traveling in a large group.
There is a large area here tent camping, a flag pole, a portable toilet, and a water spigot, and a parking lot. Quiet hours are 11 PM to 6 AM. Please note that actions which alarm, anger, or disturb others are prohibited. Generators cannot be used during quiet hours.
Rabbit Ridge Campground
The only first come, first served campground available to visitors to Hillsdale Lake is the Rabbit Ridge Campground. Located in Hillsdale State Park, Rabbit Ridge has a total of 30 sites that are all primitive, so don't expect to find any hookups here. Please note that is campground is not RV friendly and is suitable for tent camping only.
Some of the amenities found here are fire rings, picnic tables, and direct access to Hillsdale Lake. Please note that fires are allowed only in designated fire rings and quiet hours are from 11 PM to 6 AM.
Seasonal activities in Hillsdale Lake
In-Season
Swimming
During the summer months, Hillsdale Lake is a great place to cool off when the temperatures soar. There are two developed beach areas at the lake that you can enjoy from sunrise to sunset, including beach shelter facilities that are available on a first-come-first-served basis. The beach areas are separated from the rest of the lake so you won't have to worry about avoiding boats and other watercraft. The beach areas are also equipped with bathrooms and a shower house for to use during your visit.
Boating
If you are looking to enjoy some fun out on the water you will not be disappointed by Hillsdale Lake. Boating is a very popular activity and the lake has no restrictions on horsepower or boat type. There are many boat ramps scattered across the shore of the lake that you are welcome to use, and if you don't have your own watercraft, rentals are also available from a marina on the southern end of the lake.
Fishing
Hillsdale Lake welcomes those who love to fish with fishing permitted on the entire 51-mile long shoreline (besides the swimming beaches and other developed areas). With a surface area of 4,500 acres and a depth of 57 feet, the lake is an amazing fishing site. When the lake was created, 70 percent of the standing timber was left in the lake to provide fisheries and wildlife benefits, which the fish love. Common species caught include walleye (up to nine pounds), crappie (up to 13 inches), white bass (up to two pounds), largemouth bass (up to four pounds), and channel catfish (up to ten pounds).
Hiking
Once you are finished with the activities at the lake, there are over 24 miles of trails for you to explore within Hillsdale State Park. The trails are very diverse and will give you the chance to walk through different environments, including grassy meadows, forested hills, and cedar-dotted prairies. Most of the trails in the park can also be used by mountain bikes and there are also approximately 32 miles of marked trails available to horseback riders.
Off-Season
Wildlife Viewing
The wide range of habitat is also great for RV lovers looking to view some of the local wildlife. There are many different bird species to be viewed, including bald eagles, shorebirds, finches, warblers, sparrows, and hawks. Remember to bring your binoculars and spotting scope too as you can see approximately 50 large stick nests in the tallest sycamores. If you are looking for larger animals you may be able to see whitetail deer, rabbit, beaver, and a variety of waterfowl.
Target Ranges
Located within Hillsdale State Park is a public shooting range that attracts people from all over looking to learn or improve their techniques. The range is supervised and features many ranges, including a 100-yard rifle range, a 200-yard range, a 50-yard pistol range, and a trap/skeet shooting range. Alternatively, you can also check out the archery range. If you plan to use either the shooting or archery range remember to bring your own equipment.
