Campgrounds and RV parks near Waterville, KS

Waterville is a small city in Marshall County in northeast Kansas, roughly 40 miles north of Manhattan and the Tuttle Creek reservoir. RV travelers use it as a quiet base for the Flint Hills region, with several state park units and one private RV park within easy driving range. The closest concentration of campsites is at Tuttle Creek State Park, composed of five units (River Pond, Rocky Ford, Cedar Ridge, Fancy Creek and Randolph) that make up the 1,200-acre park. Fancy Creek - Tuttle Creek State Park sits on the northwest arm of the reservoir and is the nearest unit to Waterville, while River Pond - Tuttle Creek State Park and Cedar Ridge Park - Spillway Park - Tuttle Creek State Park cluster near the dam south of the lake. Oregon Trail RV Park - Westmoreland is a private option to the southwest. For riders and history-minded travelers, Rock Creek Station State Recreation Area - Horse Camp lies across the state line near Fairbury, Nebraska, on the historic Oregon and California Trail corridor. Tuttle Creek Lake itself is a reservoir on the Big Blue River, built and operated by the Army Corps of Engineers for flood control.

Kansas state park sites at Tuttle Creek, including Fancy Creek - Tuttle Creek State Park, Cedar Ridge Park - Spillway Park - Tuttle Creek State Park, and River Pond - Tuttle Creek State Park, are booked through the ReserveAmerica platform, with reservations available up to about a year in advance. To reserve any Tuttle Creek cabins or campsites, campers can also contact the park office directly by phone. A daily vehicle park permit is required in addition to the camping fee. Campsite cancellation terms are strict: cancellation 0 to 2 days before arrival results in no refund, cancellation 3 to 14 days before arrival results in loss of the reservation fee, one night stay fee, plus a cancellation fee, and cancellations 15 or more days out result in loss of the reservation fee plus a cancellation fee. Rock Creek Station State Recreation Area - Horse Camp in Nebraska uses a mixed system: reservations are available for half of the electrical sites up to 180 days in advance, and all other camping is first-come, first-served with fees paid at an Iron Ranger box. Oregon Trail RV Park - Westmoreland is a private park, so travelers should book directly with the operator.