Hillsdale State Park
RV Guide
Introduction
The beautiful 57-feet deep, 4,580-acre Hillsdale reservoir, with its amazing recreational opportunities and diverse wildlife, makes Hillsdale State Park a RV holiday paradise. Located in the rolling hills of Miami County, with convenient access from urban Kansas City, this state park provides numerous options for outdoor fun activities for RV campers in the woods and at the waterfront. Activities to enjoy at the picturesque park include camping, hiking, angling, boating, hunting, swimming, horseback riding, model airplane flying, hiking, nature observation, picnicking, photographing, and sightseeing.
RV campers and anglers at Hillsdale State Park catch fish species such as walleye, catfish, largemouth bass, crappie, and bluegill. Wildlife in the park include whitetail deer, bobwhite quail, squirrel, rabbit, beaver, muskrat, and a variety of waterfowl.
Facilities and amenities at Hillsdale State Park include pay stations, vault toilets, trailer dump stations, boat ramps, dock/pier, fish cleaning station, marina, dumpsters, concessions, playgrounds, shelters, modern and primitive cabins, archery and gun ranges. Hillsdale Shooting Range offers handgun, rifle and shotgun shooting. Lovers of horseback riding find the Saddle Ridge equestrian area a pleasant destination with its approximately 32 miles of marked trails available to horseback riding.
Hillsdale lake was completed in 1982, and Hillsdale State Park officially opened in 1994.
RV Rentals in Hillsdale State Park
Transportation
Driving
Hillsdale State Park is located between Spring Hill and Paola, in the rolling hills of Miami County, with convenient access from urban Kansas City. Getting to the park in your RV, trailer, or car is easy, and navigation within the park is equally stress-free, thanks to the local paved roads and gravel roads in the park.
Parking
There are four parking areas for RVs, trailers, and other vehicles in Hilldale State Park. These parking lots are found around the Youth & Scout Camp Area, Jayhawk Area, the swimming beach, and the primitive camping area. Therefore, RV campers have a variety of options for parking their rigs while on holiday at Hillsdale State Park. Overnight parking facilities are also available.
Public Transportation
There are no public transportation facilities available at Hillsdale State Park.
Campgrounds and parking in Hillsdale State Park
Campsites in Hillsdale State Park
Reservations camping
Scott Creek Campground
Scott Creek Campground in Hillsdale State Park consists of 60 pet-friendly campsites available for RVs and tents. All the campsites in the campground are equipped with electric and water hookups for RVs. RV length limit at this campground is 102 feet. Scott Creek campground has a vault toilet, and self-pay station, but no shower house. There are two shelters available for campers to use on a first-come first-serve basis, but they are also reservable. Fires are allowed only in designated fire rings. Only 3.2 cereal malt beverage consumption is allowed. The campground has direct access to the Hillsdale lake. Quiet hours are 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. Actions which alarm, anger, or disturb others are prohibited. Generators cannot be used during quiet hours.
Crappie Cove Campground
Crappie Cove Campground is located in the Russel Crites Camping Area in the park and features 37 pet-friendly campsites available for tents and RVs. The campsites are equipped with electric and water hookups for RVs. RV length limit at the campground is 70 feet. Campsites in the campground are accessible by paved and gravel roads. Amenities at the campground include showers and toilets, telephone, a self-pay station, laundry facilities, waterfront, a volleyball area and playground. Quiet hours are 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. Actions which alarm, anger, or disturb others are prohibited. Generators cannot be used during quiet hours.
Pintail Point Campground
Pintail Point Campground, located in Russel Crites Camping Area, consists of 42 pet-friendly campsites available for RVs and tents. All the campsites are equipped with electric and water hookups for RVs. RV length limit at the campground is 80 feet. Pintail Point campground features an ADA accessible shower house with laundry facilities, a vault toilet, and a self-pay station, and a waterfront. Quiet hours are 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. Actions which alarm, anger, or disturb others are prohibited. Generators cannot be used during quiet hours.
Quail Run Campground
Quail Run Campground in Russel Crites Camping Area features 19 pet-friendly standard campsites equipped for RVs and tents, and 10 primitive campsites available for tents only. Electric and water hookups are available for RVs at the standard campsites with waterfront. RV length limit at the campground is 70 feet. Amenities at this campground include an ADA-accessible swim beach shower house, and an ADA-accessible shelter house equipped with shower, toilet, vault toilet, picnic tables, and pay phone. Quiet hours are 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. Actions which alarm, anger, or disturb others are prohibited. Generators cannot be used during quiet hours.
Saddle Ridge Campground
Saddle Ridge Campground in Hillsdale features 22 pet-friendly standard campsites available for RVs and tents, and 12 primitive campsites available for tents. All the standard campsites in Saddle Ridge campground are equipped with electric and water hookups for RVs. RV length limit at the campground is 50 feet. Facilities at the campground include vault toilets, self-pay station, and a shelter, with amenities such as picnic tables, toilets, and equestrian trails. Quiet hours are 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. Actions which alarm, anger, or disturb others are prohibited. Generators cannot be used during quiet hours.
Youth & Scout 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. Water hookups for RVs is available at the Youth & Scout Area. There is a large area for tent camping, a flag pole, a portable toilet and a water spigot, and a parking lot. Quiet hours are 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. Actions which alarm, anger, or disturb others are prohibited. Generators cannot be used during quiet hours.
Sunflower Campground
Sunflower Campground in Hillsdale State Park features 61 pet-friendly campsites available for RVs and tents. All the campsites are equipped with full hookups (electric, water, and sewer hookups) for RVs. RV length limit in the campground is 110 feet. The campground has a waterfront, as well as shelter. Some of the campsites in the park are wheelchair accessible. Quiet hours are 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. Actions which alarm, anger, or disturb others are prohibited. Generators cannot be used during quiet hours.
First-come first-served
Russel Crites Primitive Campground
Russel Crites Primitive Campground consists of 11 primitive campsites available on first-come, first-served basis. RV length limit at Russel Crites Campground is 21 feet. The campground has a vault toilet. An amphitheater is located just around the campground. Quiet hours are 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. Generators cannot be used during quiet hours.
Rabbit Ridge Campground
Rabbit Ridge Campground in Hillsdale State Park is a primitive campground with 30 pet-friendly campsites available for tents. The campsites in the campground are not equipped with RV hookups. RV length limit in Rabbit Ridge campground is 21 feet. This campground is for tent camping and features fire rings and picnic tables. There are no sites available for reservation. Fires are allowed only in designated fire rings. Only 3.2 cereal malt beverage consumption is allowed. The campground has direct access to the Hillsdale lake. Quiet hours are 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. Actions which alarm, anger, or disturb others are prohibited. Generators cannot be used during quiet hours.
Alternate camping
Russel Crites Camping Area
Russel Crites Camping Area in Hillsdale State Park consists of Russel Crites Campground, Crappie Cove Campground, Pintail Point Campground, and Quail Run Campground. The camping area features standard campsites equipped with electric and water hookups for RVs, and primitive campsites. Quiet hours are 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. Generators cannot be used during quiet hours.
Seasonal activities in Hillsdale State Park
In-Season
Birds and Wildlife
Hillsdale State Park is rich in bird species and wildlife for the viewing pleasure of campers on RV holiday. Common wildlife in the park include whitetail deer, bobwhite quail, squirrel, rabbit, beaver, muskrat, and a variety of waterfowl. If you’re interested in bird watching, then you’ll see bald eagles, shorebirds, finches, warblers, sparrows, and hawks. With binoculars and a spotting scope, you can see approximately 50 large stick nests in the tallest sycamores growing from the nearby Rock Creek bottom.
Hiking and Biking
Hillsdale State Park features over 24 miles of trails for RV campers at the park to mosey through. When you hike on these trails, you’ll walk through grassy meadows, forested hills, cedar-dotted prairies, and deep-wooded valleys, making your hike a worthwhile experience and nature-loving adventure. Most of the trails in the park, e.g. the Hidden Spring Nature Trail, are designated for hiking and mountain biking and allow campers to take their children outdoors and enjoy your visit to the lake. Additionally, the Saddle Ridge Equestrian Area in the park has approximately 32 miles of marked trails which are available to horseback riders.
Fishing
At Hillsdale State Park, fishing is allowed on the entire 51-mile long shoreline of the Hillsdale reservoir, except in the developed beach areas, boat ramps, courtesy docks, swimming beaches, and in swimming areas marked with buoys. With a surface area of 4,500 acres and depth of 57 feet, the lake is an amazing fishing site. Campers and anglers catch various fish species such as 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).
Off-Season
Hunting
RV campers and visitors have 7,200 acres of land for hunting opportunities within the bounds of the wildlife area at Hillsdale State Park. What’s more, there’s room for novice hunters and professional hunters to get their hunting game going within the designated areas in the park. So, stow your hunting gear in your RV as you drive up to the park for your holiday because you are going to have a great time.
Beach Use and Swimming
In Hillsdale State Park, there are two developed beach areas open to RV campers from sunrise to sunset to enjoy recreational activities while on vacation. The beach area features a bathroom and shower house for use by beach lovers. Certain items and activities such as glass containers, open fires, pets, fishing, boats, alcohol/beer are prohibited within the beach areas. When you’re at the beach, get your trunks and towels and go swimming in the warm lake! What’s more, there are beach shelter facilities in the park which are available on a first-come first-served basis.
Shooting Range and Archery
Hillsdale State Park is well known and unique for its Shooting Range which is open to the public. The supervised shooting range features a 100-yard rifle range, a 200-yard range, a 50-yard pistol range and a trap/skeet shooting range. Additionally, the archery range in the park is open to campers and visitors. So, you can engage in recreational archery at the park, and even master the skill.
