Ash Campground

🌲 Introduction / Overview

For Kansas groups seeking a more traditional, rustic, and community-focused outdoor experience, Ash Campground offers the perfect blend of essential amenities and natural simplicity. Located within the popular Bloomington East Park at Clinton Lake, Ash Campground is designated specifically as a group camping area. Unlike the developed RV sites found elsewhere in the park, Ash (along with its counterpart, Elm Group Camp) is primarily designed for tent camping groups. This spacious, mowed grassy area provides a wonderful setting for large youth organizations, scout troops, school groups, and family reunions who prioritize communal activity and the classic "roughing it" experience. With a capacity to host up to 75 people, Ash Campground serves as a fantastic base camp for exploring the vast recreational opportunities surrounding Clinton Lake while providing a secure and dedicated space for your entire party. It perfectly captures the essence of a traditional campout beneath the wide Kansas sky.

🗺️ Location and Accessibility

Ash Campground is situated within the expansive Bloomington East Park area, managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) at Clinton Lake. The general address provided is N 1182 Rd, Lawrence, KS 66047, USA. This places the group camp conveniently close to the City of Lawrence, making access straightforward for local Kansas groups and those traveling from the Kansas City metropolitan area or Topeka. The group camp is intentionally located somewhat removed from the larger, individual campgrounds (like Cedar Ridge or Hickory/Walnut), offering a greater degree of privacy and space. Access to the group camp is secured by a gate, with the combination provided to the reserving party via email or by contacting the Clinton Lake Project Office or the Cedar Ridge Fee Booth. This controlled entry ensures that the large area is reserved exclusively for your group, enhancing security and privacy for all campers. Being part of Bloomington East Park, access to the lake shore, boat ramps, and extensive trailheads is just a short drive away.

💧 Services Offered

Ash Campground is geared toward a primitive group experience while ensuring certain crucial amenities are available. Note that this group camp is non-electric, fostering a true escape into nature.

• Group Capacity: The area accommodates a minimum of 10 and a maximum of 75 people in a large, mowed grassy area.
• Primary Use: The site is primarily designed for tent camping groups, allowing ample space for numerous tents.
• Vehicle Access: A limited number of small wheeled camping units (like tent campers or small trailers) are permitted, provided they remain on the gravel roadway.
• Picnic Shelter: A central picnic shelter is provided for covered communal space, great for dining or activity organization.
• Water: The campground features drinking water hydrants for convenient access to potable water.
• Toilets: A vault toilet is available on-site, offering a basic but essential restroom facility.
• Cooking Facilities: The area includes picnic tables and a large grill for group meal preparation.
• Shared Modern Facilities: Campers can use the full shower building and modern restrooms located a short drive away at the Hickory/Walnut campground area.

🛶 Features / Highlights

The true value of Ash Campground lies in its large, dedicated space and its immediate access to the multitude of recreational opportunities available at the renowned Clinton Lake.

• Dedicated Group Space: The large, open, mowed area provides random camping space, giving groups the flexibility to set up their tents and activities exactly as needed.
• Communal Sports Area: The camp includes a dedicated volleyball court/pit, perfect for organizing games and team-building activities.
• Proximity to Lake Activities: The camp is close to Clinton Lake’s extensive offerings, including four sets of boat ramps for fishing, boating, and water sports, plus a nearby swimming beach (day-use fee may apply).
• Trail Access: Groups can easily access the surrounding trail systems, such as the Smokehouse Trail, for group hiking, biking, and wildlife viewing.
• Nearby Recreational Amenities: Campers are a short distance from the popular 18-hole professional disc golf course located in Bloomington East Park.
• Natural Setting: The location is ideal for groups focusing on nature education and primitive skills, offering a serene, non-electric environment away from the noise of large RV campgrounds.
• Fire Ring: A central fire ring provides the perfect spot for campfires, storytelling, and s'mores under the night sky (fires must be confined to the ring).

📞 Contact Information

Ash Campground is an asset of the USACE Bloomington East Park at Clinton Lake. All reservations for this specific group camp must be made through the national reservation service.

Physical Address: N 1182 Rd, Lawrence, KS 66047, USA (This is the general vicinity for the group camp access road)

USACE Clinton Lake Project Office Phone: (785) 843-7665

Reservation Phone: 1-877-444-6777 (Reservations are made through the National Recreation Reservation Service or recreation.gov)

Groups must remember to secure the gate combination upon reservation. The Project Office is the best source for up-to-date information on seasonal opening/closing dates (typically May 1 to September 30) and current park regulations.

✅ What is Worth Choosing

Ash Campground is the ideal choice for any Kansas group prioritizing a traditional tent camping experience with dedicated, private space. It is worth choosing because it provides an affordable, high-capacity venue—accommodating up to 75 people—without the distraction of individual RV sites or full electrical hookups. This focus on primitive, communal camping makes it unparalleled for scout troops, youth clubs, and large family outings where the goal is team building and a true connection with the outdoors. The provision of a sheltered area, vault toilet, and nearby access to modern showers balances the rustic setting with necessary convenience. You get a large, reserved slice of the beautiful Clinton Lake recreational area all to yourselves, allowing for organized games on the mowed field and easy access to lake fun, without the high costs or complexity of a fully developed campground. For groups that value simplicity, space, and a genuine campout under the stars, Ash Campground is the perfectly tailored solution in the Lawrence, KS area.