Campgrounds and RV parks near Great Bend, KS

Great Bend sits along the Arkansas River in central Kansas, near the great bend the river makes as it turns southeast. The town is a practical basecamp for two of the most important wetlands in the interior of the United States: Cheyenne Bottoms Wildlife Area, at 204 NE 60 Road, and Quivira National Wildlife Refuge to the south, another Ramsar Wetland of International Importance. The two areas were jointly named as one of the 8 Wonders of Kansas, and Quivira is on the Ramsar list of wetlands of international importance. RV travelers have several private-park options in and around town. Cottonwood Grove RV Park Great Bend, Kansass is a full-service option in the city, with West Wind Villas, Santa Fe RV, and Triple J RV Park also serving central Kansas travelers. Wilson RV Park sits farther east and is often used by visitors combining a wetlands stop with a run along Interstate 70. Beyond the private parks, camping is permitted only in the primitive campground located 1/2 mile west of the Cheyenne Bottoms area office, giving birders the option of staying close to the marsh at sunrise.

Private RV parks around Great Bend, including Cottonwood Grove RV Park Great Bend, Kansass, West Wind Villas, Santa Fe RV, Triple J RV Park, and Wilson RV Park, take bookings directly by phone or through their own websites. Availability is usually easier here than at parks near larger Kansas destinations, but sites tighten during spring migration weekends and fall hunting seasons. Public-land camping uses different systems. At Cheyenne Bottoms, camping is permitted only in the primitive campground located 1/2 mile west of the area office, and sites are first-come, first-served through the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks. Recreation.gov lists Quivira National Wildlife Refuge as a gateway managed by the Fish and Wildlife Service but does not sell campsites inside the refuge, so plan to base out of town.