Eisenhower State Park

Open — Open year-round. State park vehicle permit required. Prime season rates begin April 1. Park office hours Monday through Friday 8am to 4pm; self-pay stations available at park entrance. Maximum stay 14 consecutive days.

About

Named after President Dwight D. Eisenhower, Kansas' native son, Eisenhower State Park encompasses 1,785 acres on the north shore of Melvern Lake in Osage County. The park sits at the eastern fringe of the Flint Hills, featuring 1,000 acres of tallgrass prairie and 440 acres of woodland surrounding the 6,930-acre Melvern Lake, a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers flood control reservoir on the Marais des Cygnes River. The campground infrastructure includes 163 utility sites spread across multiple campgrounds: 126 sites with water and electric hookups, 25 full-hookup sites with water, electric, and sewer, plus primitive camping areas at Five-Star, Sailboat Beach, and Omaha Swim Beach. Equestrian enthusiasts will find 15 campsites with electric, water, and individual corrals in the upper loop of Westpoint Campground, plus primitive Cowboy Campground. Five shower houses serve the camping areas. For those preferring a roof, the park offers four modern cabins with full kitchens and bathrooms, plus two primitive yurts and Mamie's primitive cabin. Recreational opportunities abound. The Crooked Knee Horse Trail provides 20 miles of riding through undeveloped terrain, open to horses, hikers, and mountain bikers. An 18-hole disc golf course, 19-target walk-through archery trail, and a 5-mile bike trail offer additional land-based activities. On the water, Melvern Lake features two nine-lane boat ramps with excellent access for anglers targeting walleye, crappie, sauger, white bass, and channel catfish. The park maintains a boat dock with 16 rental slips at the East Boat Ramp. Additional amenities include a swimming beach, sand volleyball court, basketball court, horseshoe pits, a kids' fishing pond, and a fly fishing pond. Ike's General Store at Doud Campground offers supplies, kayak and canoe rentals, and firewood. The Jones Family Activity Area features Ike's Shelterhouse, ideal for group gatherings.

Directions

Located 30 miles south of Topeka on Highway 75, then 3 miles west on K-278. Park is on the north shore of Melvern Lake in Osage County.

Nearby Campgrounds