Heart Stays Campground

🌄 Introduction / Overview

For Kansas locals seeking an authentic and peaceful lakeside camping experience, Heart Stays Campground is an excellent choice within the sprawling, amenity-rich Pomona State Park. Located on the south shore of Pomona Reservoir near Vassar, this campground offers a distinct, rustic charm that appeals to those who prioritize natural beauty and quiet over bustling, full-service RV resorts. While Pomona State Park as a whole provides a wide range of facilities, Heart Stays is known for being a slightly older, quieter loop, often favored by tent campers and self-contained RVers looking for a more secluded feel.

Heart Stays is part of the larger 490-acre state park that encompasses a beautiful mixture of prairie grassland, woodland, and lakeside environments. Visitors to the entire park, including those staying at Heart Stays, have access to a wealth of recreational opportunities, including swimming, boating, fishing, and an extensive trail system. The review, noting a "wonderful time with my kids" even during a "very wet time of year," speaks to the enduring appeal of the park's environment and the quality time families can enjoy here, regardless of minor weather inconveniences.

As a designated state park campground managed by the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism (KDWP), Heart Stays benefits from the overall management and availability of core facilities, such as clean shower houses, while retaining a sense of primitive camping with its lack of utility hookups. This blend of primitive sites with nearby modern amenities makes it an accessible, yet authentic, way to enjoy the Kansas outdoors. The focus is clearly on natural immersion, providing a true retreat from city noise and lights.

🗺️ Location and Accessibility

Heart Stays Campground is situated on the south side of Pomona Lake, positioning it conveniently within Pomona State Park near Vassar, Kansas. This location places it within easy driving range for residents of Topeka, Lawrence, and the eastern Kansas region.

The general address for the park area is:

Vassar, KS 66543, USA

The Park Office, which manages the campgrounds, is located at 22900 Highway 368, Vassar, KS. Accessibility to the state park is excellent via paved highways. Heart Stays Campground specifically is a loop within the park and, due to its primitive nature, is generally accessible via well-maintained park roads.

It is crucial for visitors to note that Heart Stays is located near the park’s boat ramps and is reported to experience vehicle traffic, particularly when the campground is full during peak season, due to its proximity to the lake access points. However, the sites themselves are often described as level and beautifully shaded, offering a comfortable, though basic, setup. As is required for all KDWP state parks, a state park vehicle permit is mandatory for every motorized vehicle entering the park, which can be purchased upon entry at the gatehouse or the park office.

🛠️ Services Offered

As a designated primitive campground, Heart Stays offers basic campsite amenities, but guests benefit significantly from shared modern facilities located within the broader Pomona State Park.

• Primitive Campsites: Heart Stays is home to approximately 10 designated primitive campsites, suitable for tent camping or self-contained RVs that do not require utility hookups.
• Vault Toilets: Basic restroom facilities (vault toilets) are provided within or immediately adjacent to the Heart Stays loop for basic convenience.
• Shower Facilities: Guests have access to modern shower and flush toilet facilities, which are available nearby in one of the other developed campgrounds (e.g., Waucondah or Kansa Campground).
• Potable Water: Drinking water spigots are available within the campground area, providing a source for safe drinking water.
• Campsite Amenities: Each site typically includes a picnic table and a fire ring/grill for cooking.
• Pet-Friendly: Like most areas in Pomona State Park, Heart Stays welcomes domestic pets, provided they are kept on a leash at all times, making it a great option for families with furry companions.
• Sanitary Dump Station: A sanitary dump station is available within Pomona State Park for RV waste disposal (likely located in one of the utility campgrounds like Burning Heart).

🌟 Features / Highlights

The greatest features of Heart Stays are the outdoor recreational opportunities afforded by its location within Pomona State Park and on Pomona Lake.

• Direct Access to Pomona Lake: The campground is near the boat ramps, providing quick and easy access to the reservoir for boating, water skiing, and fishing. Pomona Lake is known for its excellent populations of crappie, white bass, and channel catfish.
• Extensive Multi-Use Trails: Pomona State Park offers an integrated trail system totaling over 8 miles, perfect for hiking, mountain biking, and nature walks. The newest trail, the Blue Dasher Trail, connects all the campgrounds, including Heart Stays, enhancing access to the entire park.
• Abundant Recreational Facilities: Guests have access to the park’s wider amenities, which include:
  • A designated swim beach.
  • A nine-hole disc golf course.
  • Multiple playgrounds, basketball, and volleyball courts.
• Scenic Beauty: The park's diverse mixture of prairie grassland and wooded shoreline provides beautiful views, perfect for photography and wildlife viewing (including deer and turkey).
• Community Atmosphere: The park is known for its "friendly people" who visit from across Kansas and other states, fostering a welcoming camping community.

📞 Contact Information

For information on campsite availability, current park conditions, or to inquire about reservations (though Heart Stays is generally first-come, first-served), please contact the Pomona State Park Office:

Park Office Phone: (785) 828-4933

Mobile Phone: +1 785-828-4933

Address (General Park): 22900 Highway 368, Vassar, KS 66543, USA

Please remember to confirm all operating hours and current fire restrictions by calling ahead, especially when planning a primitive camping trip.

👍 What is Worth Choosing

Heart Stays Campground is an outstanding choice for Kansas locals who specifically seek a primitive, high-value camping experience with backup support. It offers the quiet, natural immersion of a primitive site—allowing you to truly connect with the wooded environment and lake shoreline—while retaining access to the critical modern convenience of clean, nearby shower facilities and flush toilets (in the adjacent campgrounds). This is a significant advantage over true wilderness camping.

Furthermore, its location within the larger Pomona State Park grants guests access to an abundance of high-quality recreational activities, including extensive trails and excellent lake access for boating and fishing, all covered by a single park vehicle permit. If you own a self-contained RV or prefer tent camping and value a peaceful, natural setting with plenty of space to enjoy a "wonderful time with kids," Heart Stays provides a perfectly balanced and affordable lakeside escape near the heart of Eastern Kansas.