Lovewell State Park
Lovewell State Park in northcentral Kansas is a haven for outdoor lovers who look for variety in their vacations. Just 18 miles northeast of Mankato on US Hwy. 14, Lovewell offers a blend of camping, fishing, wildlife watching, and special events. You’ll discover plenty of variety in the day-use areas. A historic limestone schoolhouse hosts summer church services every Sunday. A seven-station, 14-target archery range is located north of the Cottonwood shower building. Pioneer Day-use area activities include a playground, sand volleyball, disc golf course, and horseshoes. Two basketball goals are located west of the marina, The Southwinds swimming beach offers both sun and shade. Picnic facilities are available throughout the day-use areas, as well as two large group shelters that can be reserved.
Lovewell is popular with campers. The area offers excellent shade and provides utility hookup sites including freeze-proof water and sewer hookups at designated sites, long-term sites, improved primitive sites, primitive camping area, and five rustic and four deluxe Camping Cabins. Designated electrical sites may be reserved; Buffalo and Walleye Point primitive camp areas are reservable for camping groups. Four shower-toilet buildings, two vault toilets, and two trailer dump stations are centrally located in the park. A year-round unisex shower and restroom facility is also available at the park maintenance building.
Lovewell is for people who love water. The south shore’s high bluffs block the summer winds and help calm the waters. You’ll find a full-service marina with double-lane boat ramp and daily or season boat slip rental. Lovewell Marina serves a full breakfast, lunch and dinner menu from April to September, and boasts the best barbecue around!! Also available is a double lane boat ramp at Cedar Point, with floating breakwater structures to calm the water for loading and unloading ease. This boat ramp can also be used at any water level. Two lighted fish cleaning stations (with outlets for your electric fillet knives) are also available.
(785) 753-4971
Thane Loring, Park Manager
4 miles East, 9 miles North, 4 miles East of Mankato, KS
LOVEWELL STATE PARK NEWS, NOTES AND HAPPENINGS!! Updated weekly.
The Lovewell State Park Office is open 8am to 4:00pm Monday thru Friday; closed Saturday and Sunday. You can also utilize the new CampItKS app, reserveamerica.com and campitks.com for online park purchases; and license.gooutdoorskansas.com for license purchases. Self Pay Station and Kiosk are also available for walk-in campsites and daily vehicle permits.
Willow, Cottonwood, and Southwinds Shower/Restroom buildings are now closed for the season. Walleye Point Shower/Restroom building and the public shower/restroom facility at the Maintenance Building are available year-round. North Willow, Cottonwood and Cedar Point Utility Campgrounds are closed for the season. Walleye Point, South Willow and Southwinds Campgrounds are available year-round.
As of 12-2-24, Lovewell Reservoir is currently 5 ft below conservation pool, and rising slowly. Marina Boat Ramp remains closed. East Lane of Cedar Point Boat Ramp is still usable, West Lane is closed. Boaters are advised to be watchful of low water hazards on the water as well.
The 2024 Lovewell Spring Newsletter is now available to view and print!! Click the link below!
Reservable campsites at Lovewell State Park will be open to reserve for the 2025 season beginning Friday, December 20th at 12 NOON.
Reservations for Lovewell State Park’s rustic and deluxe camping cabins are available 364 days in advance through the same websites, or through the state park office during regular business hours.
Fishing and hunting licenses can be purchased online. Other options for purchase of your hunting or fishing license are:
Webb's Bait & Tackle, Mankato KS (evenings and weekends)>>19 miles
Melby’s Home Center, Scandia KS>>31 miles
Food Mart and Republic County Clerk, Belleville KS>>40 miles
Heartland Foods & Orschelns, Smith Center KS>>49 miles
WalMart, Concordia KS>>57 miles
Click this link for the latest Lovewell Reservoir fishing report!
Frontier, Pioneer, Pine Ridge and Sunrise Camping Cabins are designated as a "PET FRIENDLY" cabin. Customers who wish to bring their pets for their stay at these Camping Cabins will need to choose the "Pet Friendly" option on the online reservation page (or request it during a telephone reservation), and pay an add'l fee of $50.00. All other cabins remain as "No Pets Allowed". Pets must be kept outside in a kennel or on a secured chain or leash.
Special events for 2024 were as follows:
Let's Camp America, Free Park Entrance and Open House Tours May 4
Free Fishing Weekend June 1 and 2
Kids Fishing Clinic June 9
Creature Feature RESHEDULED, DATE TO BE ANNOUNCED
Mammoth History July 20 RESCHEDULED, DATE TO BE ANNOUNCED
Campground Christmas August 10
Lovewell Fireworks Display Sunday Sept 1st Cedar Point Boat Ramp at dusk
Free State Park Entrance Sept 8
3D Archery Shoot Sept 1st thru Sept 8
Classic Car Show Sept 21
#OPTOUTSIDE Free Park Entrance Nov 22
All special event dates are subject to change.
Established in 1967.
- Camping Available: No
- ADA Camping Available: No
- Reservable Sites: No
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- Camping Available: No
- ADA Camping Available: Yes
- Reservable Sites: No
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- Camping Available: No
- ADA Camping Available: Yes
- Reservable Sites: No
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- Camping Available: Yes
- ADA Camping Available: Yes
- Reservable Sites: Yes
- Primitive Camping: 100
- Water, Sewer, Electric: 4
- Water, Electric: 6
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- Electric: 28
- Camping Available: Yes
- ADA Camping Available: Yes
- Reservable Sites: No
- Primitive Camping: 100
- Water, Sewer, Electric: 14
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- Camping Available: Yes
- ADA Camping Available: Yes
- Reservable Sites: Yes
- Primitive Camping: 100
- Water, Sewer, Electric: 1
- Water, Electric: 7
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- Electric: 24
- Camping Available: Yes
- ADA Camping Available: Yes
- Reservable Sites: Yes
- Primitive Camping: 100
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- Electric: 30
Important Cabin Information: Reservation Terms and Conditions, Cabin Reservation Information
1. General Information: Lovewell State Park offers both rustic and deluxe style camping cabins. The rustic camping cabins: Frontier and Pioneer cabins each consist of two double/four single bunks, including mattresses. Southwinds, Pine Ridge and Sunrise Camping Cabins consist of two double beds and six single bunks, including mattresses. Renters must provide their own bedding. Cabins are heated and cooled and have electricity. Shower and Restroom facilities are a short walking distance or a short drive from each of the cabins. A dining table and counter area are provided inside. A campfire ring, bbq grill, picnic table, and freeze-proof water hydrant are located just outside each cabin. The deluxe camping cabins: Lookout, Scout, Settler, camping cabins consist of one queen bed, including mattress, and a sleeper sofa. Pilgrim camping cabin consists of one full bed, including mattress, a sleeper sofa, two kid-sized bunk beds, and full-size mattress in the loft area. Renters must provide their own bedding and towels. Deluxe Camping Cabins are heated and cooled and have electricity. They feature a dining/living area, full bath, kitchen with stove, refrigerator, microwave, coffee pot, and limited kitchen equipment (pots/pans; utensils; dinnerware). A campfire ring, picnic table, and freeze-proof water hydrant are located just outside each cabin on a cement patio, below the deck. Frontier, Pioneer, Pine Ridge, and Sunrise Cabins are designated "Pet Friendly" Cabins. Cabin renters can bring their pets into these cabins, with payment of the $50 Pet Fee. In all other cabins, pets must remain outside in a kennel or on a secured chain. Permittee must be at least 18 years of age, and someone over 18 must be present at the cabin for the duration of its occupancy.
3. Reservation Procedure:
Cabin will be reserved when renter submits an $13.75 non-refundable transaction fee, and ALL NIGHTS/ALL ADULTS FEES IN ADVANCE by check, cash or credit card. Telephone and Online Reservations are by credit card only. Cash and check only if reserving in person.
4. Other Regulations:
1. Cabin permits are valid from the date purchased to noon the next day.
2. Camping cabin must be occupied at least once every 24 hours.
3. Only the maximum number of adults for each cabin will be allowed in the cabin after 11 p.m. All others will be asked to leave at that time.
4. Quiet hours are from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m.
5. Other camping units (campers and/or tents) are not allowed in the area surrounding the cabin.
6. Consumption of alcoholic liquor and cereal malt beverages are allowed, but no kegs. Glass containers are discouraged.
7. No smoking inside the cabin.
8. Pets are not allowed inside (except for designated pet-friendly cabins), and must be kept outside on a chain, leash or kennel.
9. Trash must be removed from the cabin and discarded in dumpsters.
10. Permittee is responsible for cleanliness, condition or damages to the cabin upon check-out. Damage deposit will not be returned in the case of a violation; and permittee may be financially responsible for additional amounts depending on the degree of violation.
- Type of Facility: Cabin Primitive
- This facility is ADA accessible
- This Facility is Reservable. Check availability and reserve Southwinds Cabin
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- Type of Facility: Deluxe Cabin
- This Facility is Reservable. Check availability and reserve Pilgrim Cabin
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- Type of Facility: Cabin Primitive
- This facility is ADA accessible
- Location of Facility: N39 53.741 W098 02.533
- This Facility is Reservable. Check availability and reserve Pioneer Cabin
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- Type of Facility: Cabin Primitive
- This facility is ADA accessible
- Location of Facility: N39 53.788 W098 02.139
- This Facility is Reservable. Check availability and reserve Sunrise Cabin
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- Type of Facility: Deluxe Cabin
- This Facility is Reservable. Check availability and reserve Lookout Cabin
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- Type of Facility: Cabin Primitive
- This facility is ADA accessible
- Location of Facility: N39 53.684 W098 02.266
- This Facility is Reservable. Check availability and reserve Pine Ridge Cabin
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- Type of Facility: Deluxe Cabin
- This Facility is Reservable. Check availability and reserve Scout Cabin
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- Type of Facility: Deluxe cabin
- This Facility is Reservable. Check availability and reserve Settler Cabin
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- Type of Facility: Cabin Primitive
- This facility is ADA accessible
- Location of Facility: N39 53.799 W098 02.403
- This Facility is Reservable. Check availability and reserve Frontier Cabin
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This form allows you to email Lovewell State Park with any questions you might have about the State Park and its facilities. This includes season openings and closings, campsite reservations, special events, etc.