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Where To Stay When Visiting Little Jerusalem Badlands State Park

One of the most remote state parks in Kansas is Little Jerusalem Badlands State Park in northwestern Kansas. Ever since I saw a single photo of the rugged terrain, I knew I wanted to go there. But the tricky thing about planning a trip there is its remoteness, and figuring out where best to stay overnight on a visit. 

A view of Little Jerusalem Badlands State Park from a trail
Little Jerusalem Badlands State Park

I visited the region in the spring and had the opportunity to visit several towns relatively close to the park. From that experience, I’ve gathered a list of places to stay near Little Jerusalem, just in case you are also wondering where you’re going to stay if you want to visit!

Disclosure: I was part of a media FAM trip hosted by Kansas Tourism and Northwestern Kansas. All thoughts, opinions and typos are my own. This post may contain affiliate links. 

Where is Little Jerusalem Badlands State Park?

First, let’s establish where exactly Little Jerusalem Badlands State Park. The park is near Oakley, in Northwestern Kansas.

Hikers go off-trail at Little Jerusalem Badlands State Park
Little Jerusalem Badlands State Park

This region of the state has a couple of unexpected scenic spots to add to your Little Jerusalem trip: Castle Rock and Monument Rocks. They’re located on privately-owned land, but are free to visit. Unlike Little Jerusalem Badlands State Park, they don’t have bathroom facilities or marked trails. I liked them for the wildness of them.

Monument Rocks has a popular Instagram spot — a keyhole in the rock — but it’s probably my least favorite of the three. All three awesome landmarks are made out of Niobrara chalk, and are dramatic when set against the farm and ranch land of Kansas.

A person walks in the distance at Monument Rock
Monument Rocks

Tip: Reservations are not needed to hike the two permanent trails, but if you want to go off-trail, you’ll need to reserve a guided hike.

Top places to stay near Little Jerusalem

There is no overnight camping at Little Jerusalem Badlands State Park (the park is open sunup to sundown daily). So, if you want to stay overnight, you’ll need to look at neighboring towns or parks. The two closest towns are Oakley and Scott City.

Lake Scott State Park

Lake Scott State Park, near Scott City, is 10 miles from Little Jerusalem Badlands State Park. It’s a more developed state park for visitors, and offers camping, RV camping, and a few cabin stays. There’s a small, sandy beach where you can rent kayaks. 

Colorful kayaks on the shore at Lake Scott State Park
Lake Scott State Park

Oakley

The town of Oakley is just under 30 miles from Little Jerusalem. It’s one of the closest towns to the state park. I stayed at Sleep Inn & Suites on our trip, a comfortable option if camping at Lake Scott isn’t your thing.

I like Oakley for a few reasons, one being the Fick Fossil & History Museum. Most of the fossils on display in the museum were found within 40 miles of Oakley, and it’s a good place to learn about the region before you go explore Little Jerusalem. It’s also got a fascinating collection of artwork by Mrs. Vi Fick. She was a bit of an eccentric and self-taught artist. She used fossils in a lot of her pieces. Oakley is in a good spot to also plan a visit to Monument Rock. 

More places to visit or stay in northeastern Kansas

Colby is about 50 miles away from Little Jerusalem Badlands State Park. It’s a good option, though, especially if you want to really dive into the history of the region and state.

A group of people stand in front of the largest barn in Kansas, located on the campus of Prairie Museum of Art and History in Colby, Kansas.
Prairie Museum of Art and History in Colby, Kansas

The Prairie Museum of Art and History is in Colby, a 24-acre site with several buildings, including the largest barn in Kansas. It’s a lot larger than the Fick Museum. The campus includes a sod house, an 1915 church, and a small preserved area of native prairie grass. There is RV camping spots near the museum.

Waukeney is in the region but a good 80 miles away from Little Jerusalem Badlands State Park. It’s worth pointing out, though, since you can stay at the Prairie Rose, an Airbnb motel with 16 uniquely-decorated rooms. Like, one room had a classroom three with repurposed gym floor on the wall. There’s a restaurant and coffee shop on site, too.

A motel room at the Prairie Rose, with two queen beds in the background and a sink in the foreground
Prairie Rose Motel in Waukeney, Kansas

Cedar Bluff State Park is near Waukeney and is another overnight option. There are primitive campsites, as well as five modern cabins.

Goodland is another town that’s just a tad further away (about 90 miles), but has the Holiday Inn Express & Suites, a comfortable hotel for overnight stays. If you’re a fan of “World’s Largest” stuff, you’ll like Goodland since it’s the home of the World’s Largest Easel. A giant Van Gogh painting sits on it. The town has some tasty dining options, like Good Grounds Coffee and Tequilas, a Mexican restaurant with a delicious chips and queso appetizer.

Kim holds up her hands in front of the World’s Largest Easel in Goodland, Kansas
World’s Largest Easel in Goodland, Kansas

Hays is more than a 100 miles away, but worth mentioning for its abundance of things to do there and good restaurants. Check out the Sternberg Museum of Natural History and Fort Hays State Historic Site if you’re into history, natural history, or dinosaurs.

Restaurants I recommend include Defiance Brewery (try the cheese curds with caramel, I promise it’s ridiculously tasty) and Pheasant Run Pancake House.

Fun fact: Hays has a considerable amount of Vulga German in the population, so you’ll find a little bit of German influence on quite a few restaurant menus. Fan of Runzas? Those are essential bierocs (mean and cabbage-stuffed bread), which you’ll find in Hays.

A glamping tent at C2T Ranch and Campground near Plainille, Kansas
C2T Ranch and Campground near Plainville

The furthest option on the list is C2T Ranch and Campground, near Plainville, Kansas. While it’s 120 miles away, it’s the most unique place you could stay on your trip. It’s a regenerative farm with glamping and primitive camping spots in a beautiful swath of land to hike along the Saline River. It’s well worth booking an ATV farm tour to learn about progressive farming techniques used on the ranch, as well as the history of the area (Buffalo Soldiers fought there in 1867). 

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If you’ve visited the region, I’d love to know where you’d recommend other travelers stay. Leave a comment with your suggestion!

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