A white Tacoma with a camper shell parked on a rise above a broad, empty basin under building cloud.

Army Corps of Engineers campground

Rock Creek

Army Corps of Engineers campground in Perry Lake, Jefferson County, Kansas. 917 feet. 4.8 miles from Perry.

Managed by
Army Corps of Engineers Perry Lake
Elevation
917 ft USGS elevation model, at the mapped point
Sites
79 59 standard electric, 10 standard non-electric, 10 walk to
Longest rig
72 ft The longest vehicle any site is listed for
Hookups
Electric, Water
Reservations
Recreation.gov

Overview

Rock Creek Campground is situated on the south end of Perry Lake in the lush Kansas forest.

CAMPGROUND GATE POLICY--Park entrance gates will be closed from 10pm-6am Friday/Saturday nights and the entirety of holiday weekends. An exit lane is provided with one way traffic only. No late entrance will be allowed and only Park Staff or Emergency Personnel will be permitted through the gate after 10pm.

Recreation

Perry lake has a reputation for being one of the best sailing lakes in the region; however, boaters of all types will enjoy the many opportunities offered here, whether it's sailing, power boating or canoeing. Perry Lake offers excellent fishing: White crappie, flathead catfish, walleye, white bass, channel catfish and sauger are in abundance throughout the lake. In addition to the vast lake, the area has approximately 27,000 acres of public land dedicated to wildlife management: turkey, deer, quail, pheasant, rabbit, squirrel, duck and geese are all found on these federal lands. A scenic road follows the shoreline along the length of the campground, offering sweeping views of the lake.

Facilities

Rock Creek Campground offers 80 spacious campsites. Primitive camping is offered at a-loop in Peninsula, Big Rock, and the walk-in only area-Edwardsville Loop.

A large reserveable group picnic shelter and playground make the area ideal for large parties or family functions.

Natural Features

Perry Lake Dam was completed in 1969 to help with flood control for the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers. Today, the lake boasts 159 miles of shoreline and 12,000 surface acres of water, creating countless recreational activities for visitors, and earning it the nickname "paradise on the plains." The campground is surrounded by the lake on one side and a dense canopy of forest on the other, making it ideal for those wishing to enjoy the best of both environments.

Nearby Attractions

For hikers, the nearby 29-mile Perry Lake loop trail offers a range of terrain and difficulty from easy, gentle slopes in the south to rugged, varying elevation changes in the north. Perry Lake is a short drive from Lawrence, Topeka, and Kansas City--each offering their own array of unique shopping, dining, and attractions.

The description, directions and fees are the Army Corps of Engineers’s own words, from its record on Recreation.gov.

What people do here

  • biking
  • boating
  • camping
  • fishing
  • hiking

The land around Rock Creek

The ringed pin is this campground; the others are its nearest neighbours. Switch on forest roads or BLM routes to see the way in.

Interactive map. Drag to pan, scroll or pinch to zoom, and select any point to see which agency manages the land. Arrow keys pan and the plus and minus keys zoom when the map has focus. A list of every state with its share of federal land is on the Explore page.

Map layers

Layers
Base map
Legend

Federal land, by managing agency

  • Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
  • US Forest Service (USFS)
  • National Park Service (NPS)
  • US Fish and Wildlife (USFW)
  • Bureau of Reclamation (USBR)
  • Department Of Defense (DOD)
  • Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA)
  • Other Federal
  • State
  • Local
  • Alaska Native Lands (Patented or Interim Conveyed)
  • Alaska Native Allotment

Federal campgrounds, by agency

  • Forest Service
  • Bureau of Land Management
  • National Park Service
  • Army Corps of Engineers
  • Reclamation, Fish and Wildlife and others

State and local land (USGS PAD-US)

  • State land
  • County and city land
  • Regional agency or district
  • Land trust or conservancy

Gaps with no tint inside public land are private parcels, often old mining claims and homesteads. They are not open to the public.

Dashed clay lines on the base map are unpaved tracks from OpenStreetMap. They show what exists on the ground, not what is legal to drive.

Select any point to see who manages the land.

Boundaries are approximate and land status changes. This map is a planning aid, not a survey or a statement of access. Confirm routes, closures and camping rules with the managing office.

Source: Recreation Information Database (Recreation.gov), record updated February 25, 2026. Elevation from the USGS 3D Elevation Program. Seasons, fees, water and fire rules change; the managing office has the final word.