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LaCygne Lake and Wildlife Area

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There is a free camping area near LaCygne, Kansas, just east of US-69 highway at the 399th Street exit. Several parking areas are available for you to pick a spot and set up your tent or park the RV. Vault toilets are located near the boat ramp but no other amenities are provided. There are no picnic tables, fire rings, trash dumpsters, hookups, or potable water.

The camping area is located on the north end of the reservoir where the creek feeds into the lake. The area is maintained by the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks. A brochure can be downloaded by following the link below:

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Douglas State Fishing Lake

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Douglas State Fishing Lake is a 180-acre lake northeast of Baldwin City, Kansas, off US-56 Highway. The lake and recreation area was constructed in the early 1960’s and is surrounded by 538 acres of wildlife area. There is free primitive camping in designated areas along the lake’s western shoreline. There are vault toilets but no hookups, drinking water, or trash dumpsters. There are some picnic tables and makeshift fire rings. Camping is considered dispersed as there are no designated sites, just pick a spot and set up your tent or park the RV.

You can download the park’s official brochure by selecting the link below:

Marais des Cygnes State Wildlife Area

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There are two free camping sites easily accessed from US-69 highway near Pleasanton, Kansas. The sites are located within the Marais des Cygne State Wildlife Area, not to be confused with the nearby National Wildlife Refuge (which does not offer camping).

The sites are about 5 miles west of US-69 at the Kansas Highway 52 exit. Both are along the banks of the Marais des Cygne river, popular with locals for fishing and canoeing. Each site is equipped with a picnic table and makeshift fire ring. No other amenities are available; no vault toilets, no water, and no trash dumpsters.

Free Camping Logbook and Journal

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Many travelers like to record their daily travels in some type of logbook or journal. A few years ago, I wrote about the many logbooks sold on Amazon (see original post here). The difficult part is finding one that suits your needs as there are thousands to choose from. So I’ve created a simple form you can use for free.

This camping logbook sheet is formatted so you can print it on three-hole paper (or regular paper and use a three-hole punch) to place in a binder. It provides space for writing a campground’s name and location, your arrival and departure dates, as well as the site number and cost per night. Use the check boxes to identify campsite features such as:

  • Picnic Tables
  • Fire Pits/Rings
  • BBQ Grills
  • Pull-Thru Sites
  • Tent Pads
  • Electric, Water, and Sewer Hookups
  • 50-amp Service
  • Cable TV Connection

You can also check off the features available within the campground such as:

  • Flush Toilets
  • Showers
  • Laundry
  • Dump Station
  • Wireless Internet

Space is also provided to indicate when the campground is open (all year or seasonal). Lastly, there is space for you to write about your experience while staying at the campground.

The campground logbook sheet is in PDF format and can be downloaded by selecting the following link:

The Next Exit 2023

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Many of us rely on our cell phones while traveling on Interstate highways for finding gas, food, lodging, and more at the highway exits. Most of the time it works well but there are times when there is no signal or you’ve got a low battery.

The Next Exit is a paperback book that has been popular for many, many years. It is helpful to have this in your car, truck, or RV as you travel. The book doesn’t require batteries nor a cell signal, either. Inside you’ll find information about services available at exits along Interstate highways such as gas, food, lodging, shopping, and a lot more.

To learn more or purchase a copy, see the sales page at Amazon (affiliate link).

The Next Exit book