The Top 6 Most Popular State Parks In Kansas For 2023 Have Been Revealed
By Lisa Sammons|Published October 17, 2023
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Lisa Sammons
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Lisa loves animals and has dogs, rats, cats, guinea pigs, and snakes. She is passionate about animal rescue and live music - traveling across the country to see a favorite band is a pretty regular occurrence! Being out hiking in the woods enjoying the scenery with her beloved dogs is another favorite hobby, and also checking out the Pokemon Go scene in whatever city she happens to be in at any given time (coffee and dog leash in hand). You can reach Lisa at lsammons@onlyinyourstate.com
With the recent upgrading of Lehigh Portland to state park status, there are now 28 state parks in Kansas. Each offers its own unique attributes that make it worthy of the designation. The one thing they all have in common is that each features magnificent scenery and some sort of attraction that makes it worth visiting. The Kansas State Parks director recently released a list of the most-visited state parks in Kansas for 2022. In all, these amazing destinations saw around 8,000,000 visitors over the course of the year: pretty impressive numbers! Here are the top six most popular state parks in Kansas, by number of visitors during 2022:
1. El Dorado State Park: Butler County
El Dorado State Park, 618 NE Bluestem Rd, El Dorado, KS 67042, USA
If you spend much time outdoors in the Sunflower State, it should come as no surprise that El Dorado State Park in Butler County took the #1 spot. It's the largest state park in Kansas and it's home to an overwhelming variety of landscapes, with hills, El Dorado Reservoir, and more than 4,000 acres to explore. There are cabins and campsites available if you want to turn your trip into a multi-day adventure.
2. Clinton State Park: Lawrence
Clinton State Park, 798 N 1415 Rd, Lawrence, KS 66049, USA
Coming in second was the beautiful Clinton State Park, home to more than 1,500 sprawling acres along the north shore of Clinton Lake. It's a popular spot for boating, and it's home to one of the best beaches in Lawrence, KS.
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3. Cheney State Park: Cheney
Cheney State Park, 16000 NE 50 St, Cheney, KS 67025, USA
Cheney State Park near Wichita is a favorite campground for many Kansans, and it's also home to some of the best trails in Kansas. It's the type of magical oasis where you can escape all your worries for a while, and looks straight out of a storybook with its wooded trails and picturesque views.
Hillsdale State Park is not far from Kansas City and makes for an excellent place to escape into nature. It's home to hiking trails, campsites, and a man-made lake that's perfect for fishing and recreation. The park and wildlife area spans an impressive 12,000 acres. You can get more information from the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks website.
5. Tuttle Creek State Park
Tuttle Creek State Park, River Pond Road, Manhattan, KS, USA
Tuttle Creek State Park is one of our favorite places for camping. In all, the park is 1,200 acres, but it's divided into four segments. There are 600 campsites available, plus some of the best fishing in the state.
6. Wilson State Park
Wilson State Park, 3 State Park Road, Sylvan Grove, KS 67481, USA
I couldn't resist including the under-appreciated Wilson State Park. This place is perfect for a day of fun in the sun in any season, and the Smoky Hills and limestone outcroppings make for such a unique landscape.
Did we miss your favorite state park in Kansas? Share your go-to spots in the comments!
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