We’ve visited a lot of cities in our years on the road. One of our absolute favorites so far? Kansas City! We’ve visited this lovely city a few times and our most recent visit was just as fun as I expected.
One of the things I love most about this city is that it’s big enough to feel like an actual city without feeling overwhelming. I also appreciate that there are so many amazing family-friendly things to do, including a lot of free options. Of course, it’s also nice to have so many RV camping options to choose from.
Planning to go RVing in Kansas City? Here’s everything I’ve learned that I think you should know as well.
First Things First: Should You Bring the RV into the City?
We learned very early on in our RVing adventures that you don’t drive an RV through a downtown area. I mean you can do it, but it’s very not fun.
Kansas City may be on the smaller side as far as cities go, but it is no exception to this rule. While the highways around KC are manageable, the downtown streets can be narrow, confusing, and not at all forgiving for larger rigs. Parking is scarce, and garages won’t work for obvious reasons.
Instead of trying to drive your rig around downtown, I highly recommend finding a comfortable RV park or campground outside the busiest areas—or even outside of the city entirely—using your “toad” (tow car) to get around. Trust me when I say doing this is going to save you a ton of stress.
Note: It’s also important to know that many parking garages in downtown KC will not accommodate large trucks. We had issues with this during our first visit and now make a point of planning our parking carefully.
Best RV Parks and Campgrounds in Kansas City
There are a few different camping options in and around Kansas City. Obviously we haven’t tried them all, but we’ve tried several and I have done quite a bit of research. Here are my top picks for RVing in Kansas City.
Worlds of Fun Village (Kansas City, MO)
If you’re traveling with family or just want easy access to fun, Worlds of Fun Village might be your spot. This is the closest full-service RV park to downtown and is located right next to the Worlds of Fun and Oceans of Fun amusement parks, so you can easily access the fun they have to offer.
The park offers spacious pull-through sites, full hookups, and modern amenities—but it is a bit pricey for my taste, so it probably wouldn’t be my first pick.
Riverfront Park Campground
I like budget-friendly campgrounds, and that is exactly what Riverfront Park Campground in Leavenworth is. This is a city-run campground that is about 45 minutes outside of KC and offers fire pits, picnic tables, electric hookups, and a beautiful view of the river. Best of all, the camping fee is pretty much as low as it gets without being free, meaning you can stay longer without breaking the bank!
Leavenworth State Fishing Lake
Speaking of free campsites, if you need a totally free place to stay, Leavenworth State Fishing Lake has you covered. This spot is about 40 minutes outside of the city and while it doesn’t offer any amenities at all, it’s hard to beat free camping.
I will say that this spot does tend to stay full throughout the summer, but the shoulder season offers better weather anyway.
Walnut Grove RV Park (Merriam, KS)
If being close to the city is all you care about, Walnut Grove RV Park might be a good choice. This park is about 15 minutes from downtown, offers full hookups, and the location can’t be beat. That said, the sites are tight and the road noise is obnoxious. I’d only choose to stay here for a short stay, and even then, the majority of our time would be spent out and about.
Kansas City Must-Dos
Wondering what to do while RVing in Kansas City? Well, one of the coolest things about this city is that it offers so many things to do. To make a good thing even better, a lot of these things are free or very inexpensive. So far, we’ve managed to avoid spending much money at all during our visits to the area.
The Barbecue Pilgrimage
Okay, I have to admit that my absolute favorite thing about Kansas City is the barbecue. Honestly, you can’t visit this city and not try the barbecue—and really, I recommend trying several spots while you’re there.
Some of my favorites include:
- Joe’s Kansas City Bar-B-Que (the original one in a gas station—it’s legendary for a reason).
- Arthur Bryant’s
- Q39
American Jazz Museum & 18th & Vine District
Okay, so we haven’t done this one yet, but it is on my list for next time. Kansas City is the birthplace of swing and bebop jazz, and from what I understand, the 18th & Vine District captures that legacy.
The American Jazz Museum is also supposed to be worth a stop, and since I’m a music nerd, the fact that there tends to be live music in the area really piques my interest.
Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art
I’m a sucker for a good art museum, and I’m an even bigger sucker for a free museum. Combine the two and you can bet I’m gonna be there. Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art does just that and it does it well. It offers free admission, an incredible art collection, and some iconic shuttlecock sculptures out on the lawn that are absolutely worth a photo or two.
Union Station & Science City
Union Station itself is a beautiful, historic train station with exhibits and dining. We adored the cute (and free!) train exhibit and spent quite a bit of time looking at all it had to offer.
We also enjoyed Science City, the science museum located inside of Union Station. We visited using our ASTC membership so admission was free, but I’d say it’s a museum that is worth paying for if you’re visiting with kids.
Crown Center Mall
This one is maybe a bit touristy, but I love it just the same. Crown Center Mall is, of course, a mall, but it is also home to a whole bunch of cool museums and exhibits.
We absolutely love Hallmark’s Kaleidoscope, which is a super amazing, totally free, kid’s art space where young visitors can create just about anything they can imagine with various supplies. We also appreciated the free Hallmark mini-museum next door to Kaleidoscope, as well as the train-themed restaurant called Fritz’s where a small train delivers your food.
Seasonal Considerations for RVers
It’s important to understand that Kansas City weather can be extreme, so timing matters, especially if you plan on boondocking. We have visited in all seasons except winter. Here’s my take.
Summer
The summer is hot and humid. I definitely don’t recommend camping without hookups during this time of year, and really I’d recommend skipping July and August altogether if you can. If you do decide to visit during this time, choose a campsite near water to take advantage of cooler breezes.
Fall
If you ask me, fall is the best time to visit Kansas City. The weather is lovely and the leaves start to change, so camping is a pleasant and pretty experience, especially if you choose a rural campground. It’s also football season, meaning the city is abuzz with excitement.
Winter
Winter in Kansas City can be harsh. The city sees a good amount of snow, ice, and below-freezing temperatures. This means your RV will need to be winterized during a winter visit, which makes things difficult. Generally speaking, I don’t recommend RVing in Kansas City in the winter if it can be helped.
Spring
I adore springtime in Kansas City, and I think spring is the second best season to visit, right behind fall. The weather is warm enough to enjoy the outdoors without being too hot, and boondocking is still possible. Just make sure you watch out for severe thunderstorms and tornado warnings.
I love RVing in Kansas City and will definitely return over and over again. There are so many things to do and see that we aren’t likely to run out any time soon, and the fact that there are free and cheap camping spots nearby is a huge bonus. Hopefully this guide helps you plan an awesome trip so you can fall in love with this city like I have!
