Richey Cove
Council Grove Lake — lakeside, fishing, hiking
Location: COUNCIL GROVE, KS, KS
Price: From $23 per night
Price range: $23–$130 per night
Rating: 4.4 out of 5 (128 reviews)
Season: May through October
Richey Cove Campground is located on the 3,310-acre Council Grove Lake in the green expanses of eastern Kansas.Council Grove Lake sits in the rolling, grassy Flint Hills. The lake is created by a dam built in 1964, and now offers recreational opportunities to hundreds of thousands of visitors every year. Historically this area is where the Osage Indians signed a treaty to establish the Old Santa Fe Trail.
Cell coverage (FCC estimate): strong signal. Actual signal may vary in remote areas. Best carrier: T-Mobile. Verizon 4G: 100%. AT&T 4G: 100%. T-Mobile 4G: 100%.
Amenities: Fire Rings, Picnic Tables, Flush Toilets, Electric Hookups, Fishing, Boat Launch
Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/richey-cove to be notified when sites open up.
Richey Cove offers excellent fishing for crappie and catfish on Council Grove Lake's 3,310 acres, with a boat launch on-site and highly-rated camper reviews (4.7/5 stars) praising peaceful lakeside camping and water recreation opportunities.
Wildlife alert: White-tailed Deer, Coyote, Common Snapping Turtle, Ring-necked Snake, and various bird species including Common Merganser and Eastern Phoebe documented in the area.
Insider tips for Richey Cove: Book early — this is a federal campground with high demand Request lakefront sites like #14, #17, or #35 for direct water access and views Electric hookups available on select sites only; confirm availability when booking
Skip Richey Cove if: You need full hookups — only electric available on select sites, no water/sewer hookups. You're visiting outside May-October — campground is seasonal. You prefer spontaneous camping — early booking is required.
Best time to visit Richey Cove: September-October — Google reviews highlight perfect weather conditions and ideal swimming/fishing conditions during this period. May-October — Campground operates seasonally during these months only.
Nearby campgrounds: Kit Carson (Council Grove, KS), Kanza View (Council Grove , KS), Neosho Park (Council Grove, KS), Santa Fe Trail (COUNCIL GROVE, KS).
Cell Phone Coverage at Richey Cove
Cell signal at Richey Cove (COUNCIL GROVE, KS): strong overall signal based on FCC broadband data. Best carrier: T-Mobile.
- Verizon 4G LTE: 100% coverage · Verizon 5G: 100%
- AT&T 4G LTE: 100% coverage
- T-Mobile 4G LTE: 100% coverage · T-Mobile 5G: 100%
Coverage data source: FCC Broadband Data Collection (BDC). Actual signal may vary due to terrain, tree cover, and distance from towers. Camper reports are more reliable than coverage maps in remote areas.
Richey Cove Campground is located on the 3,310-acre Council Grove Lake in the green expanses of eastern Kansas.Council Grove Lake sits in the rolling, grassy Flint Hills. The lake is created by a dam built in 1964, and now offers recreational opportunities to hundreds of thousands of visitors every year. Historically this area is where the Osage Indians signed a treaty to establish the Old Santa Fe Trail.
Verified facts
RIDB / Recreation.gov official databaseAmenities
RIDB /facilities /campsites · owner-verifiedStraight talk
CamperWatch intel · curated from camper reportsKnown issues, each with the workaround. Read before you book.
Insider tips & when to go
CamperWatch intel · hand-curated entryBook early
this is a federal campground with high demand
Request lakefront sites like #14, #17, or #35 for direct water access and views
Electric hookups available on select sites only; confirm availability when booking
Google reviews highlight perfect weather conditions and ideal swimming/fishing conditions during this period
Campground operates seasonally during these months only
Things to do nearby
RIDB /activities /recareas + intelConditions today
LiveCell signal
FCC BDC · quarterly datasetFCC maps are theoretical — camper reports confirm signal. Best carrier: T-Mobile.
Wildlife nearby
iNaturalist · research-grade · 8 kmLocation
Leaflet · OpenStreetMap tiles
Getting there →
From I-70, take Highway 177 south for 30 miles. Richey Cove entrance is located on the west side of the highway at the dam road.
Campground entrance
Google Maps APICommunity
#community · posts, photos & Q&A · AI-moderated (Claude Vision)Pro tips
- Book on recreation.gov exactly 6 months ahead at 10am ET — Council Grove Lake fills fast in peak season.
- Check current road conditions at Council Grove Lake before arrival — seasonal closures common.
Frequently asked questions
RIDB facts + intel · FAQPage schema, speakableHow much does Richey Cove cost per night?+
What season is Richey Cove open?+
Does Richey Cove have hookups?+
What is the maximum RV length at Richey Cove?+
How do I make reservations at Richey Cove?+
What is the cell service like at Richey Cove?+
What season is Richey Cove open, and what are check-in times?+
●Data sources on this page
CamperWatch never fabricates data. Where data is unavailable, it is not shown.
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