Kansas City West / Lawrence KOA

The Great Outdoors

Kansas is not usually associated with epic outdoors attractions or natural recreation areas, but you’ll be pleasantly surprised when you rent an RV near Kansas City West/Lawrence KOA and set off in search of a park or forest to explore. Before you leave Lawrence however, be sure to check out Riverfront Park, the town’s main outdoor area. This quaint park by the Kansas River is a nice place to take a stroll, taking in pleasant images of the river and the city around it. The park proves to be a fabulous place to mountain bike or hike despite its city surroundings.Outside the city of Lawrence, you can visit nearby state parks like Clinton State Park. Clinton State Park has mesmerizing views of Clinton Lake, with sandy beaches, swimming areas, fishing spots, and great bird watching areas. Kansas is known as the Sunflower State, and when you visit Clifton State Park, you can stroll through fields of towering sunflowers and get a feel for why it is named the way it is. Perry State Park is similarly situated on Perry Lake over by Topeka, with fishing spots, boat ramps, swimming areas, sandy beaches, hiking paths, and other lakefront amenities of its own.There are no national parks nearby when you're camping at Kansas City West/Lawrence KOA, but you can take a trip over into neighboring Missouri and visit Mark Twain National Forest for a couple of days. Named for legendary American author Mark Twain, this sprawling wilderness covers nearly one and a half million acres, containing trickling springs, raging rivers, tranquil lakes, towering mountains, and seven distinct wilderness areas. You can use your campervan rental to stay in several different parts of the forest or do some long-distance hiking if you are up for it.

City Attractions

A lively college town like Lawrence has lots of fun treasures contained within, so when you rent a camper near Kansas City West/Lawrence KOA, you won't have a dull moment. Thanks to the University of Kansas, there are enough museums and fascinating features to see while you spend time in town. The Biodiversity Institute & Natural History Museum is a breathtaking, interactive institution on campus, with a collection of exotic animals that help researchers gain a better understanding of the world. You can learn about ancient, extinct species with fossilized specimens and preserved skeletons on display.The Spencer Museum of Art is a mesmerizing collection of artwork from around the world, with Faberge eggs from Russia and classical statues from Rome. Big-name artists and lesser-known locals are both featured in the museum, where workshops, seminars, and events are often held to promote and pay tribute to the visual arts.The Watkins Museum of History completes the trifecta, with a bevy of exhibits and displays telling the story of Kansas and the people who live there. An intricate tapestry of stories and moments is woven masterfully together thanks to a collection of antiques and photographs, while a genealogical library helps connect people with distant ancestors. Countless other options present themselves when you rent an RV near Kansas City West/Lawrence KOA, and that doesn’t even include Topeka and Kansas City, which both have their own magnificent features.