Outdoors
Trails and recreation areas near Overland Park open to biking and mountain biking.
Good to know: Wilderness areas are closed to bikes; check each area’s trail rules and yield to hikers and horses.
20 mi southwest · US Army Corps of Engineers
Managed by the Kansas State Park System, Hillsdale offers camping, fishing, boating, hunting, hiking, equestrian trails, and relaxation within 40 minutes of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area.
21 mi northeast · US Army Corps of Engineers
Blue Springs is a 720 acre lake located in Blue Springs and Lee's Summit Missouri. There are 6 picinic shelters, swimming beach, primitive bicking/hicking trails and marina. Blue Springs is operated Jackson County Parks and Recreation.
35 mi west · US Army Corps of Engineers
This day-use picnic area, located just north of Clinton Lake in the hills of Kansas, is the perfect spot for a party or family gathering.
Map of 17 places loads as you scroll.
Managed by the Kansas State Park System, Hillsdale offers camping, fishing, boating, hunting, hiking, equestrian trails, and relaxation within 40 minutes of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area.
Blue Springs is a 720 acre lake located in Blue Springs and Lee's Summit Missouri. There are 6 picinic shelters, swimming beach, primitive bicking/hicking trails and marina. Blue Springs is operated Jackson County Parks and Recreation.
This day-use picnic area, located just north of Clinton Lake in the hills of Kansas, is the perfect spot for a party or family gathering.
Within 30 minutes of downtown Kansas City, this 7,190-acre lake offers city and county operated water-related recreation facilities including a regional visitor center and an 36-hole golf course.
Bloomington East Park includes Cedar Ridge, Hickory/Walnut, and Oak Campgrounds, Ash and Elm Group Camps, and Bloomington Beach Picnic Shelters.
Located conveniently near the cities of Topeka, Lawrence, and Kansas City, Perry Lake boasts a wide variety of recreational opportunities.
Slough Creek Campground is situated on Perry Lake in the lush Kansas forest. As the largest and most popular recreation area at the lake, Slough Creek is an ideal destination for family camping trips.
Longview Campground is situated on Perry Lake in the lush Kansas forest, offering peaceful, family-oriented camping. Longview offers families the chance to camp together in a group camp setting overlooking the lake.
***WATER WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE DURING THE NON-PEAK SEASON. WATER AT ALL CAMPSITES, SHOWER BUILDINGS AND DUMPSTATIONS WILL BE TURNED OFF.
Melvern Lake is situated on the eastern edge of Kansas' Flinthills Region. It draws outdoor enthusiasts from a wide range of disciplines. Melvern Lake covers approximately 7,000 acres of water and 18,000 acres of land open for public use.
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.
Located adjacent to the Lake of the Ozarks, Truman features excellent fishing, a regional visitor center and powerplant exhibit area. Rugged hills, scenic bluffs, hardwood forest and prairie offer some of the best scenery in the State.
Loess Bluffs National Wildlife Refuge is located in northwest Missouri, near Mound City.
Kansas' only granite outcrop is located here, at the scene of a short-lived gold rush in 1887.
Situated in the scenic Flint Hills, Tuttle Creek Lake provides 12,500 surface acres of water and 100 miles of shoreline, making it the second largest lake in Kansas.
Flowers, birds and game enhance this project in rolling prairie country. The 10,900-acre Fall River Game Management Area is located here.
The Milford Education Center and Fish Hatchery are located below the dam. From Topeka, 65 mi W on I-70, 5 mi N on US77, 2 mi W on K-57 hwy.
Distances are straight-line miles from downtown Overland Park. Listings come from Recreation.gov’s federal recreation database; check each official page for hours, fees, fire restrictions and closures before you go.
THINGS TO DO · YOUTUBE SHORT
A local activity Short shared by McPeek Adventures.
Watch on YouTube ↗
THINGS TO DO · YOUTUBE SHORT
A local activity Short shared by Amber Bond Morgan-Travel (Moving with the Morgans).
Watch on YouTube ↗
Hillsdale Lake (US Army Corps of Engineers), about 20 miles southwest of Overland Park as the crow flies. Next are Blue Springs Lake (21 mi) and Overlook Park (35 mi).
Based on Overland Park’s average highs, March–June, September–November. Conditions at higher elevations can be much cooler.
Federal agencies including US Army Corps of Engineers, Fish and Wildlife Service. Each listing links to its official page for hours, fees, closures and current conditions.