Pro scans every minute· 119K campsites tracked

Moderate to Book

Santa Fe Trail Campground

Council Grove Lake, Kansas

Sold out? We check Santa Fe Trail Campground for cancellations and email you the moment a site opens.

Cancellation alerts

Sold out for your dates?

ArriveLeave

Free to start. Email alerts included.

As of October 2026, Santa Fe Trail Campground is a campground in Kansas with 33 campsites. Santa Fe Trail Campground is booked through Recreation.gov.

PermitSnag checks Santa Fe Trail Campground for availability and tells alert holders when a site opens up.
Santa Fe Trail Campground is located at 38.6819° N, 96.5249° W.

people allowed on 32 of 33 sites: 8
people allowed on the largest site: 75

Santa Fe Trail Campground reservations and next available dates

October 2026

November 2026

open, tap to book on Recreation.govsold outin your alert

Stay and booking rules

Mid-stay changes allowed
Changes allowed: 4 change(s) per reservation
Maximum consecutive stay: 14 consecutive nights
Maximum stay: 14 nights
Military discount available

Published by Recreation.gov for Santa Fe Trail Campground, read on September 30, 2026.

Campsites at Santa Fe Trail Campground

1234567891011121314151617181920212223242526272829303132S-1

Standard 31
Group 1
Tent 1
Hookups 32

What an RV fits

30–34 ft1 site
35–39 ft1 site
40–44 ft3 sites
45–49 ft4 sites
50–54 ft4 sites
55–59 ft3 sites
60–64 ft2 sites
65–69 ft6 sites
70–74 ft5 sites
75–79 ft1 site
100–104 ft1 site

Amenities

restrooms

At a glance: Setting: Forest.

Things to do: fishing, boating, hiking, wildlife, photography, stargazing.

All sites at Santa Fe Trail Campground, as listed by Recreation.gov

Every site is in the SFET loop.

Site	Type	Sleeps	Max RV	Hookups
001	Standard	8	56 ft	Electric, Water
002	Standard	8	54 ft	Electric, Water
003	Standard	8	44 ft	Electric, Water
004	Standard	8	50 ft	Electric, Water
005	Standard	8	70 ft	Electric, Water
006	Standard	8	44 ft	Electric, Water
007	Standard	8	57 ft	Electric, Water
008	Standard	8	39 ft	Electric, Water
009	Standard	8	102 ft	Electric, Water
010	Standard	8	47 ft	Electric, Water
011	Standard	8	49 ft	Electric, Water
012	Standard	8	30 ft	Electric, Water
013	Standard	8	49 ft	Electric, Water
014	Tent	8	-	-
015	Standard	8	69 ft	Electric
016	Standard	8	44 ft	Electric
017	Standard	8	50 ft	Electric

Site	Type	Sleeps	Max RV	Hookups
018	Standard	8	46 ft	Electric, Water
019	Standard	8	68 ft	Electric, Water
020	Standard	8	67 ft	Electric, Water
021	Standard	8	66 ft	Electric, Water
022	Standard	8	70 ft	Electric, Water
023	Standard	8	70 ft	Electric, Water, Sewer
024	Standard	8	60 ft	Electric, Water
025	Standard	8	63 ft	Electric, Water
026	Standard	8	72 ft	Electric, Water
027	Standard	8	70 ft	Electric, Water
028	Standard	8	68 ft	Electric, Water
029	Standard	8	78 ft	Electric, Water
030	Standard	8	68 ft	Electric, Water
031	Standard	8	50 ft	Electric, Water
032	Standard	8	55 ft	Electric, Water
S-1	Group	75	-	Electric, Water

About Santa Fe Trail Campground

Overview

Santa Fe Trail Campground is located on the 3,310-acre Council Grove Lake in the green expanses of eastern Kansas.

Recreation

Boating is a popular pastime at the lake, and a boat ramp is located in the campground for visitors' convenience.

The lake is known for its fishing opportunities, with crappie and catfish being the most abundant. Council Grove was also the first lake in Kansas to receive stocking of Saugeye.

Hunters will find populations of quail, prairie chicken, wild turkey and deer on the nearly 2,700 acres of hunting lands surrounding the lake.

Hiking trails wind along the lake shore and into the forest. Pioneer Nature Trail is known as the most scenic trail, with plenty of wildlife, greenery and wildflowers creating a beautiful background.

Council Grove is also a starting point for the Flint Hills National Scenic Byway. This byway travels through the best of the remaining remnants of the Tallgrass Prairie Ecosystem in North America.

Along the byway and 25 miles south is the National Tallgrass Prairie Preserve, where visitors can spot colorful wildflowers in the spring and array of autumn colors in the fall.

Facilities

Santa Fe Trail Campground offers 35 reservable campsites, including one group camping area that can accommodate up to 75 guests. Electric hookups, flush toilets and other modern amenities are provided.

The campground has plenty of shade, along with open grassy areas for games and recreation.

Natural Features

Council Grove Lake sits in the rolling, grassy Flint Hills. The lake was created by a dam built in 1964, and now offers recreational opportunities to hundreds of thousands of visitors every year.

Historically this area is where the Osage Indians signed a treaty to establish the Old Santa Fe Trail. A marker in the town of Council Grove indicates the place where the treaty was signed.

Nearby Attractions

The town of Council Grove, located about 2 miles southeast of the lake, is a National Historic District, with seven Santa Fe National Historic Trail sites in the community.

Rules and notices at Santa Fe Trail Campground

Recreation.gov does not date these notices. We last read them on September 30, 2026. Check Santa Fe Trail Campground on Recreation.gov

Notices from Recreation.gov

New for 2024, check-out time is 3PM and check-in time is 4PM.

Campsite must be reserved prior to setting up camping equipment.

Two camping units are allowed per campsite, i.e. one RV and one tent or two tents. Only one camping unit may be plugged into the electric service.

Quiet hours are from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. Park gates close at 10pm, all park visitors who are not camping must depart prior to 10 p.m.

Pets must be kept contained at all times (i.e. leash or pen). It is a violation to leave pets unattended.

Help keep your parks operating at their best - Please report issues and concerns with any of the facilities to a park ranger or volunteer. For emergencies call Morris County Sheriff Office at (620)767-6310.

Help protect your public property by leaving them better than when you arrived. Trash receptacles are available throughout the parks. Please throw away any discarded materials in these locations; campsite fire rings are not to be used as trash cans. Dumping of household trash is not permissible.

All motorized vehicles (including toys) must be licensed and tagged to operate on Corps roadways. An Off-Road Vehicle park is located below the dam in Outlet Channel-East; maximum wheel-base width of 66-inches.

Click here for more information on Council Grove Lake

Don't Move Firewood: Protect your forests from tree-killing pests by buying your firewood locally and burning it on-site. Visit Dontmovefirewood.org for further information.

Recreation.gov permit and campground cancellations →

Santa Fe Trail Campground FAQ

How hard is it to get a campsite at Santa Fe Trail Campground?

Santa Fe Trail Campground is rated "Moderate to Book" based on historical demand. With 33 sites available, you have good chances of finding availability, especially on weekdays.

How do I find last-minute availability at Santa Fe Trail Campground?

Cancellations happen frequently at Santa Fe Trail Campground, especially 1-2 weeks before check-in dates. PermitSnag monitors availability 24/7 and sends instant alerts when sites open up due to cancellations. This is often the best way to snag popular campsites.

How many campsites does Santa Fe Trail Campground have?

Santa Fe Trail Campground has 33 campsites.

Campgrounds