Evening Star Campground

🏡 **Introduction / Overview: Authentic Lakeside Camping Under the Kansas Sky**

For those in the Kansas region who prefer a more traditional, back-to-nature camping experience, **Evening Star Campground** offers an essential and beloved destination. It is not a private RV resort but rather a dedicated **primitive camping area** located within the beautiful and highly popular **Pomona State Park**, situated near Vassar, KS. This distinction is important: Evening Star is where campers go to pitch a tent, enjoy the quiet of the woods, and maintain a close proximity to the abundant recreational opportunities of Pomona Lake without the lights and noise of full-utility RV loops.

Pomona State Park, managed by the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP), is renowned for its scenic landscape, which blends gently rolling prairie with mature timber. The park sits on the shores of **Pomona Lake**, a 4,000-acre reservoir known for its excellent fishing and boating. Evening Star Campground provides a basecamp that truly allows visitors to unplug. While primitive sites do not offer electric or water hookups directly at the site, they provide a rustic charm, often being nestled closer to the lake and offering a greater sense of solitude compared to the park's more developed areas like Michigan Valley and Heart Stays Campgrounds.

This campground caters specifically to the tent camper, the small trailer owner who doesn't require hookups, or the large group seeking a simple, inexpensive gathering spot amidst nature. It is a genuine Kansas outdoor experience, focusing on quiet enjoyment, stunning natural beauty, and direct access to the water and trails.

📍 **Location and Accessibility**

Evening Star Campground is geographically located within the boundaries of **Pomona State Park**, near the small community of Vassar in Osage County, Kansas. This location places it conveniently between several major population centers, making it an excellent weekend getaway for local residents:

• Approximately 35-40 minutes south of **Topeka, KS**.
• Roughly a 50-minute drive southwest of **Lawrence, KS**.
• About 1.5 hours southwest of the **Kansas City Metro Area**.

The park office address, which serves as the main contact point for the campground, is:

22900 S Hwy 368, Vassar, KS 66543, USA (The official park office address)

Accessing the park is straightforward. Visitors typically use US-75 or other major highways, then follow well-marked state routes (like KS-268 and KS-368) directly to the park entrance. Once inside Pomona State Park, signage will direct campers to the various areas, including the designated primitive area known as Evening Star. The internal roads are generally gravel and designed for easy navigation, even for those hauling non-utility trailers.

🛌 **Services Offered (KDWP Facilities)**

As a primitive campground, the services offered directly at Evening Star are minimal, promoting a traditional camping style. However, campers benefit greatly from the full range of amenities available throughout the larger Pomona State Park property. Services include:

• **Primitive Campsites:** Approximately 25 designated sites specifically for non-utility camping (tent or RV without hookups). These sites are available on a **first-come, first-served basis** and **cannot be reserved** in advance.
• **Vault Toilets:** Basic restroom facilities are typically available within or immediately adjacent to the primitive camping loop.
• **Water Access:** While not at the site, potable water hydrants are usually located nearby or in the adjacent utility camping loops (such as Heart Stays or Burning Heart) for filling containers.
• **Modern Restrooms and Showers:** Campers at Evening Star have access to the park's **modern shower houses** and **flush restroom facilities**, which are situated a short drive or walk away in the developed camping areas.
• **Waste Disposal:** A centralized **sanitary dump station** for RVs and trailers is available within the State Park for convenient waste disposal before departure.
• **Laundry:** Laundry facilities are available within the park, typically near the main shower houses, adding a significant level of convenience for longer stays.

✨ **Features / Highlights**

The standout appeal of Evening Star Campground is its connection to Pomona Lake and its focus on a peaceful, straightforward camping experience. Key features and highlights include:

• **Direct Lake Access:** The campground is often situated close to the shoreline, offering excellent **shoreline fishing potential** and beautiful lake views, particularly in the fall and spring.
• **Pomona Lake Recreation:** Campers have immediate access to the 4,000-acre lake for **boating, watersports, and swimming**, with a nearby **swimming beach** and **boat ramps** available within the State Park.
• **Extensive Trail System:** Pomona State Park is known for its trails. The campground offers proximity to the park's hiking, biking, and nature trails, allowing for easy exploration of the diverse Kansas ecosystem.
• **Disc Golf Course:** The park features an 18-hole **disc golf course** (often referred to as 'Frisbee golf' in amenities lists), providing a fun and popular recreational activity.
• **Archery Range:** A dedicated **archery range** is available within the park, catering to hunting and sporting enthusiasts.
• **Family-Friendly Amenities Nearby:** A **modern playground** is located in one of the adjacent, developed campground areas, ensuring entertainment for younger visitors.
• **True Primitive Camping:** For those who desire the quiet, non-electric environment, the Evening Star area is the perfect secluded retreat from the busier, utility-equipped campgrounds.

📞 **Contact Information**

As a section of Pomona State Park, all inquiries, especially regarding permits, park fees, and the availability of first-come, first-served primitive sites, should be directed to the main park office:

Address: 22900 S Hwy 368, Vassar, KS 66543, USA (Pomona State Park Office)

Phone: (785) 828-4933

Mobile Phone: +1 785-828-4933

💪 **What is Worth Choosing: Simplicity and Serenity on Pomona Lake**

Choosing **Evening Star Campground** is choosing the classic Kansas camping experience defined by simplicity, affordability, and the natural environment. It is particularly worth selecting if your priorities are **tent camping**, **low cost**, and **proximity to Pomona Lake’s recreational activities**.

Unlike the park's reservable utility sites, Evening Star offers a welcome sense of freedom and quiet. The first-come, first-served nature means that while popular, it often attracts the most authentic outdoor enthusiasts. Its value proposition is clear: you get the stunning natural environment of Pomona State Park, the fishing and boating opportunities of the 4,000-acre lake, and the benefit of nearby modern amenities (showers, restrooms, dump station) without paying for electric and water hookups you don't need.

For budget-conscious families, solo adventurers, or groups looking for a designated spot to pitch a tent and enjoy the stars far from the hum of air conditioners, Evening Star Campground is the premier choice at Pomona Lake—a true Kansas gem for the rustic camper.