Meade State Park
High Plains Oasis in Southwest Kansas — 443 Acres With a 55-Acre Spring-Fed Lake on the Shortgrass Prairie, Campground With Electric and Water Hookup Sites for Tents and RVs, Primitive Camping Areas, Fishing for Largemouth Bass Channel Catfish Bluegill and Crappie in the Spring-Fed Lake, Boat Ramp (Trolling Motors Only — No Gas Motors Permitted), Sandy Swimming Beach, Nature Trail Through Mixed Grassland and Riparian Habitat, Spectacular Turkey Vulture Roost at Nearby Dalton Gang Hideout Historic Site, One of the Most Remote and Peaceful State Parks in Kansas, Near Meade Meade County Southwest Kansas
Meade State Park is a 443-acre state park with a 55-acre spring-fed lake near Meade, Meade County, southwest Kansas, managed by Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism (KDWPT). The park features a campground with electric and water hookup sites for tents and RVs, primitive camping areas for a more rustic experience, fishing for largemouth bass, channel catfish, bluegill, and crappie in the spring-fed 55-acre lake, a boat ramp (trolling motors only — no gas motors permitted on the lake), a sandy swimming beach popular during hot Kansas summers, a nature trail through mixed shortgrass prairie and riparian habitat along the lake margins, picnic areas and reservable shelters, a playground, and proximity to the Dalton Gang Hideout — a famous Wild West historic site and roadside attraction in the town of Meade.
Meade State Park is a genuine oasis on the High Plains — the 55-acre spring-fed lake sits in a shallow valley surrounded by rolling shortgrass prairie that stretches to the horizon in every direction. In late summer and early fall, hundreds of turkey vultures gather in a massive communal roost at the nearby Dalton Gang Hideout — a surreal wildlife spectacle that draws birdwatchers from across Kansas.
The park is rarely crowded — making it one of the most peaceful and remote state park camping experiences in Kansas. The dark skies in this corner of the state are exceptional for stargazing.
Things to Do
- Fishing — bass, catfish, bluegill, crappie
- Camping — electric/water hookups + primitive
- Swimming — sandy beach
- Boating — trolling motors only
- Nature trail — shortgrass prairie
- Stargazing — dark High Plains skies
- Nearby — Dalton Gang Hideout, turkey vultures
Park Information
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Location | Near Meade, Meade County, SW Kansas |
| Size | 443 acres |
| Lake | 55 acres — spring-fed |
| Camping | Electric/water hookups + primitive |
| Boating | Trolling motors only — no gas |
| Managed By | Kansas DWPT |
| Coordinates | 37.2333° N, 100.3167° W |
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you use a boat motor at Meade State Park?
Only trolling motors are permitted at Meade State Park — gas motors are not allowed on the 55-acre spring-fed lake. The 443-acre park near Meade in remote southwest Kansas offers a campground with electric and water hookups plus primitive sites, fishing for bass, catfish, bluegill, and crappie, a sandy swimming beach, a nature trail through shortgrass prairie, and exceptionally dark skies for stargazing. The nearby Dalton Gang Hideout in Meade hosts a spectacular turkey vulture roost in late summer. Managed by Kansas DWPT.
Last updated: May 2026
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