Outlet Campground is situated below the Melvern Lake Dam on the eastern edge of the Flint Hills of Kansas. Visitors enjoy the area's wide range of recreational activities, including boating, fishing, hiking and hunting.
Melvern Lake impounds nearly 7,000 acres of water on the upper reaches of the Marais des Cygnes River Valley. Boating and swimming are popular activities on the lake.
Anglers will find walleye, crappie, channel and flathead catfish, as well as black, striped, white and smallmouth bass.
The 18,000 acres of land surrounding Melvern Lake provide plentiful hiking and hunting opportunities. Several trails wind around the lake, including the 4-mile Tallgrass Heritage Trail, which begins in the campground. Hunters may find deer, quail, turkeys, ducks, rabbits and squirrels throughout the area.
This large campground offers 140 family sites, many of which have full hookups for electric, water and sewer. Two group day-use picnic shelters with electrical hookups are available as well. Several family picnic sites can be used on a first come, first served basis. Amenities include flush and vault toilets, showers, drinking water and a dump station. A boat ramp, accessible dock and fish cleaning station are located on-site. Younger campers love the park's swimming beach, playground and stocked fishing pond, which is open year-round.
The Flint Hills represent America's last expanse of intact tallgrass prairie, made up of big bluestem, switchgrass and Indian grass. The rolling hills on the south side of the lake are wooded, and the campground has scattered trees and limited shade.
From US-75, take the Melvern exit. Turn west onto Melvern Lake Parkway and continue 1/4 mile to the cut-off road, then another 1/4-mile west to River Pond Parkway and follow into the campground.
Melvern Lake enforces the national no-show policy. If you do not check in with the park attendant within 24 hours of your reservation check-in time, you will be listed as a no-show, your site will be released and you will be charged $20 plus the first night's fee.
Very nice, well-kept park. We stayed in spot 91 B-LO with 30/50 amp electric, water and sewer. Pretty level spots. Bathrooms and showers were mostly clean. There were two clothes washers and two dryers by the bathrooms! There's a nice paved nature trail.
We went to a Lance Owners of America rally at Melvern Outlet. This is the perfect location for group camping. The facilities are so nice. There is a pavilion with a sink, long buffet serving area, grill, picnic tables and bathrooms. There is a great walking trail with signage identifying the flora. We will be back for more visits.
Looks like a great place to camp. There's water and electric hook ups.