Colby is a small city and the county seat of Thomas County, Kansas. A post office was established in the middle of Thomas County in 1882, and in April 1884, a local land assessor and preacher named J.R. Colby obtained a patent to set up a new town in the area. He officially acquired the land in March of the following year, and a month later, the town charter was issued by the Kansas Secretary of State. Colby was named the county seat in 1885 and officially incorporated as a city in 1886. Over the next couple of years, two different railroads would reach the new community, leading to modest economic development.
Colby remains a quaint town to this day with a 2023 population of approximately 5,600. The city is known as a progressive agricultural community, and the most famous landmark is Cooper Barn, which is the largest barn in the state. Colby also hosts the annual Plains Music Festival in the city center, which features plenty of great live music, food trucks and kids' activities. If you're looking for outdoor fun, you could stop by Fike Park for a day of picnicking, tennis or volleyball. Or, if the weather's hot, you might prefer to head to Colby Aquatic Park to cool off and enjoy some family fun.
For some leisurely outdoor recreation, you could play a round of golf at Meadow Lake Golf Course. It's also worth strolling through the Thomas County Farmers Market to pick up some delicious, fresh produce. While you're in town, you could also watch a movie at Colby Cinema, browse the fascinating exhibits at the Prairie Museum of Art & History, and do some shopping at the Southwind Antique Mall. When your stomach starts to rumble, consider stopping by the City Limits Bar & Grill for a tasty steak. Then for dessert, you could make your way to the family-owned Goodies and Things.
While you're in the Colby area, you could have a relaxing stay at High Plains Camping. The serene, family-owned campground, which is 20 minutes southeast of Colby, offers full-hookup RV campsites and a variety of convenient amenities. For example, guests have access to climate-controlled bathrooms, laundry facilities, a library, a common room, an outdoor splash zone and a dog park.
Goodland KOA Journey is another excellent campground approximately 35 minutes west of Colby. You can rent one of the 32 full-hookup RV campsites. The campground provides plenty of amenities, including Wi-Fi, cable television, a dog park, a pool, picnic areas, mini golf and more. Plus, the campsites are well maintained and shaded.
You could also check out Lake Scott State Park, an hour south of Colby, which boasts a whopping 155 full-hookup RV campsites available for only $20 to $32 per night. The campground is situated right on the shores of Lake Scott, providing guests with wonderful waterfront views. There are also many recreational opportunities around the park, such as swimming, boating, fishing and hiking.
Located in Meade County, three hours and five minutes south of Colby, Meade State Park encompasses 803 acres and is known as a fantastic area for outdoor recreation. The park features an 80-acre lake, which is a great fishing spot for crappie, bluegill, channel catfish and largemouth bass. There's also a tranquil swimming beach to enjoy on hot days, and two scenic hiking trails run through the park too. Other popular activities for visitors include mountain biking, picnicking and hunting.
Three hours southwest of Colby, John Martin Reservoir State Park surrounds the placid waters of its namesake lake, which provides wonderful opportunities for swimming and fishing for crappie, bass, walleye, bluegill, catfish, and other species. Additionally, there are several beautiful hiking trails to explore, and while you navigate the area, you should keep an eye out for porcupines, coyotes, deer, bobcats and many types of birds. You can also partake in activities like geocaching and horseback riding around the lovely park.
Wilson State Park is revered as one of the best outdoor recreation destinations in Kansas. Situated on the shores of the Wilson Reservoir, two hours and 20 minutes southeast of Colby, the park is an excellent spot for fishing, swimming, boating and water skiing. The popular park includes a swimming beach, a marina, and many miles of hiking and biking trails. There are plenty of wildlife species inhabiting the area as well, such as deer, bobwhite quail, waterfowl and various songbirds. During your visit, be sure to check out top-notch trails like the Dakota and Switchgrass Bike Trails.
An hour and 20 minutes east of Colby, the Nicodemus National Historic Site preserves several historic buildings that were once part of Nicodemus, Kansas. The community came about in 1877 when a large group of Black people decided to unite and establish a new place where they wouldn't be treated with prejudice and racial violence. As you explore the fascinating site, you can learn about the hardships the founders of the town experienced as well as the amazing spirit each of them possessed. If you take the Nicodemus Walking Tour, you'll get a chance to see all the town's remaining structures.
The Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site, in Colorado, two hours and 10 minutes southwest of Colby, preserves a somber event in history when the United States Cavalry massacred over 150 Native Americans. The horrible event took place on November 29, 1864, after the Native Americans were led to believe that they could safely leave the area. However, that was untrue, and they were attacked. Today, visitors can take a ranger-guided tour of the site to learn more about the tragic events as well as what led up to them and their aftermath. You can also visit the Repatriation Area to pay your respects to those who were killed on that fateful day. If you want to explore the area further, there are several quality hiking trails that you can check out.
Another unique historic site worth visiting is Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site in Colorado, three hours and 20 minutes southwest of Colby. The site is home to the reconstructed Bent's Old Fort, which was originally built in the early 19th century and destroyed in 1849. During the 1830s and '40s, though, the fort was used for trading between buffalo trappers and Native Americans. Once the National Park Service deemed that the site had historical significance, the Pueblo-style fort was rebuilt as accurately as possible. Today, guests can explore the impressive fort, watch an educational film and navigate Bent's Old Fort Hiking Trail.
Samuel R. McKelvie National Forest covers 116,000 acres in Nebraska, four hours and 40 minutes north of Colby, and is a popular destination for camping, hiking, horseback riding, mountain biking and many other recreational activities. During your visit, you can also head to the Niobrara River Canoe Launch for a day of paddling, rent a campsite at the peaceful Steer Creek Campground and photograph the area's vivid wildflowers. When the snow arrives during winter, many of the forest's trails transform into excellent cross-country skiing routes.
San Isabel National Forest in Colorado, five and a half hours southwest of Colby, is known for its three converging mountain ranges, which give the national forest a breathtaking landscape. The forest encompasses roughly 1.1 million acres, and in addition to majestic mountain peaks, it features quiet meadows, lush woodlands and babbling streams that are perfect for fly fishing. Additionally, the vast natural haven is home to stunning sites like the Garden of the Gods and Manitou Springs. If you're a hiking enthusiast, you should explore awesome trails like the Mount Princeton and Turquoise Lake Trails. And during winter, you can partake in activities like ice climbing, snowmobiling and cross-country skiing.
Stretching across the mighty Rocky Mountains, Pike National Forest combines with San Isabel National Forest, and the two areas are recognized as one massive unit. The pristine forest, which is in Colorado, five hours west of Colby, is home to an incredible collection of towering peaks with 23 different mountains reaching higher than 14,000 feet. All kinds of outdoor activities are possible within the forest, including rock climbing, hiking, biking, fishing, bird-watching, geocaching and winter sports.
Motorhomes are divided into Class A, B, and C vehicles. On average expect to pay $185 per night for Class A, $149 per night for Class B and $179 per night for Class C. Towable RVs include 5th Wheel, Travel Trailers, Popups, and Toy Hauler. On average, in Colby, KS, the 5th Wheel trailer starts at $70 per night. Pricing for the Travel Trailer begins at $60 per night, and the Popup Trailer starts at $65 per night.
Do you need to be a certain age to rent an RV in Colby?Yes. The minimum age is 25 to be eligible to get an RV Rental in Colby from RVshare.
Does RVshare have emergency roadside assistance?Yes. Every RV rental booked through RVshare receives 24/7 emergency roadside assistance.
Does RVshare offer one way RV rentals in Colby?Yes. Prior to renting any RV, check with the owner since not all will offer this particular option.
