Situated on the southern end of Dodge City, Kansas, is Riverside RV Park. In total, 94 RV sites are offered, with additional sites reserved for tent camping. Every site is equipped with full hookups and pull-through capabilities. Other amenities offered include indoor restrooms with showers and 24-hour laundry facilities, as well as a store that sells various items one may need. Staci, the park’s manager, says that she and her staff “go above and beyond” to help guests should they need it, from guiding the guests to their site to providing recommendations for local attractions. Some of the most popular locations in town include Boot Hill Museum and Boot Hill Casino and Resort. She continues to say the demographic of guests is fairly broad, as they host patrons ranging from couples and families looking for an overnight stop to workers staying in the area for months at a time.
Riverside RV Park is located on over two acres of land and offers 94 spaces, all of which are pull-throughs with full hookups. Some spots offer picnic tables, and there is an additional row of sites that are usually reserved for tent campers. The west side of the campground features sites that are larger for guests if they would like or need more space. Other amenities at the park include 24-hour coin-operated laundry machines and indoor restrooms. Guests can also take advantage of the on-site store, which sells some groceries, RV supplies, and other sundries. The campground is generally open, with a walking path winding through the park that guests can enjoy.
For those looking to dine out, several restaurants, including Central Station Bar and Grill, Bella Italian, and El Rodeo, are located in Dodge City proper. Guests with dogs can take advantage of the dog walk in the nearby Wright Park. Some of the other attractions that the campground highlights include the Boot Hill Museum, Boot Hill Casino and Resort, and Ford County Lake, which is the closest large lake for fishing. Smaller designated fishing ponds can be found around the area, and people can fish in the pond at the Dodge City Community College with a valid fishing license. Finally, those looking for a place to play a game of golf can do so at the Mariah Hills Golf Course on the west side of town.
Further outside of town, people willing to travel can find some state and national parks where there are fishing and hiking opportunities. Hodgeman County State Park, which is north of Dodge City, and Clark State Fishing Lake and Wildlife Area to the south are two such examples. Coldwater Recreation Park in the nearby town of Coldwater also offers two playgrounds for those with children and a nature trail wrapping around the lake’s perimeter.
Riverside RV Park is known by many as a popular place to stay overnight in Dodge City, according to the manager, Staci. She goes on to say that the park is known for its welcoming and home-like atmosphere, with a large number of repeat guests. Staci says that the staff at the park are willing to “go above and beyond” to help guests if needed, such as guiding them to their sites and suggesting activities or restaurants to try in the area.
The park offers brochures of local attractions, many of which cater to a wide range of demographics. This is because the people staying at the park range from couples and families visiting for a few days to workers staying for an extended period. Due to this wide range of patrons, there are some notable policies that the staff expects guests to follow during their time there. Pets are welcome at the park but must be kept on a leash and cleaned up after. Additionally, visitors must manage their speed and drive the posted speed limit around the park. Smoking is not allowed in any of the buildings, and there is a quiet time enforced between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. Riverside RV Park is open year-round, with the summer season being the busiest time of the year.
Many past guests have left reviews of the property regarding their stay there. These reviews often mention that the campground was “nicely kept,” with one specific patron noting that the “laundry room, restrooms, and showers were immaculately clean and smelled good.” Other common sentiments expressed in these comments revolve around the convenience of the check-in process, saying it was a “breeze.” This same guest also points out that “the campground is convenient to Boot Hill Museum and the city’s parks.”
With regard to its history, prior to being the Riverside RV Park, the land was being used as a commercial sand pit before it was repurposed for people to use as a recreational area sometime in the 1960s. The RV park has been in operation for approximately 60 years and was originally known as Water Sports Campground before being renamed when it was purchased by a new owner: Bruce Trent. Bruce purchased the park in 2021 from its previous owners, the Morgisons. The current manager, Staci, has been with the park for 22 years and enjoys meeting new people. She believes that "meeting new people is interesting" and has likely contributed to the park's welcoming and friendly atmosphere. There are plans in the works to reclaim a lake on the property, which dried up due to the ongoing drought. Bruce plans to continue to clear out the growth and rocks to better sustain the lake and improve the view for many of the RV spaces.
500 Cherry St
Dodge City, Kansas 67801
United States
Campground
Bruce Trent
