State Park Camping

My family and I love to camp at but I have to wonder, what is the draw to the State Parks as opposed to the Corp camp grounds here in Kansas? By that I mean, for what it costs to camp on the State side there must be something I am missing. I have driven through most every state campground in Kansas and I have yet to find one more appealing than the Corps campgrounds.
The biggest factor is the cost. I can camp in any corps operated campground for less than 20 bucks a night with full utilities, no vehicle permit, no yearly camping permit and much more room between campsites. If I go to the state side, I will spend $200 a year for a camping permit, $25 per vehicle permit, and $18.50 per night to camp with electricity and water. Not to mention they have you stacked in there like cord wood in the campsites.

So with all of this said, what is the draw to the state parks? Why would I want to spend that kind of money to camp when I can go to the Corps side of the lake and camp for about half of what it cost to camp on the state park side, have much more room at my campsite and usually nicer campgrounds? I guess I am missing something or I just dont get it :confused:

Not trying to start a war here, I just truly do not understand. It burns my butt that as a Kansas taxpayer I must pay that kind of money to camp in the state park. Even more so is the fact that I must either buy a daily permit or an annual permit just to drive through a state park even though I use no facilities! :mad:

I don't camp much anymore but I never bought a yearly permit. Just the $18 or so per night. I think the permit saves the part of the fee that's not utilities. You'd have to camp a bunch to come out on a yearly. My favorite lake, Hillsdale, doesn't have a Corp campground.

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Originally Posted by LOWEDE

I don't camp much anymore but I never bought a yearly permit. Just the $18 or so per night. I think the permit saves the part of the fee that's not utilities. You'd have to camp a bunch to come out on a yearly. My favorite lake, Hillsdale, doesn't have a Corp campground.

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Actually Hillsdale is what prompted this post. We drove to Hillsdale last weekend and I love the looks of the lake but the camping areas were just about non-existent. The few we found were stacked in there like cord-wood and I just dont want to camp like that. I will continue going to Melvern, Pomona and Council Grove and camping in the Corps campgrounds. I just cant see spending the money the state is trying to get out of us when I live, work and pay taxes in this state. It cost almost half to camp on the Corps campgrounds as compared to the State campgrounds.

It is disappointing there are not more responses to this post but certainly not surprising. Everyone has an opinion until they have to put a signature on that opinion in front of those accused.

I think it is ridiculous that we as Kansas taxpayers must pay as much as we do to use our own state land but yet we can use the federal land at close to half of the price.

Flame on......

wheels i have a comment and an opinion bout everything don,t blame you however the only camping i do is onthe mo side4 very limited and on coe grounds and don't know anyone on ks side that camps

Try the COE campgrounds at Melvern. The area below the dam is my favorite place to camp, and I think there are a couple more on the south side of the lake that are primtive. The only fee you pay below the dam is $17 for the campsite, which allows you to use multiple tents.

Maybe you missed a few spots at Hillsdale. There are over 150 electric sites there. Some are a couple of miles from the park entrance. The camp fees at Melvern and Hillsdale are within a buck. Not sure where you get the half price. The state parking fee would average out pretty cheap if you camp much. I'd compare Hillsdale Crappie Cove with anything at Melvern and more shade on many sites. Also close to swim, boat ramps and showers. The Melvern State Park is also a pretty big one. I really don't work for the park. Just think you are missing a pretty good time close to the city. Have fun! Those days slip away fast.

I think the difference is the state does not have the unlimited funding that the feds have. I know Kansas camping cost less than Iowa, North or South Dakota last year.