Open April 1 – October 31Sister location: Milford Lake KOA Online RV booking closes at 7 PM
785-238-5864
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Aerial view of Thunderbird's cove on Milford Lake, with RV loops among trees and the covered docks reaching into the water
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Milford Lake guide

The largest man-made lake in Kansas, at your back door

Fishing, boating and easy day trips, from the south end of Milford Lake where Thunderbird sits near the dam.

Where Thunderbird sits

The south end, near the dam

Thunderbird is on the south end of Milford Lake in the West Rolling Hills area, right next to the Army Corps of Engineers' West Rolling Hills park. Close to the dam, a short drive to Junction City and Fort Riley, and a quick run by boat to the rest of the lake.

  • The largest marina on Milford Lake, with a fuel dock and card reader
  • Two boat ramps and a fish cleaning station on A dock
  • 184 bookable units on CampLife, including RV sites and slips
Aerial of the Westbank RV sites lining a shoreline road, with the lake and docks beyond
Milford Lake by the numbers

A lot of lake to explore

Milford Lake was built by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on the Republican River. Impoundment began in 1967, and today it is the largest man-made lake in Kansas.

15,700acres

of water, the largest man-made lake in Kansas

Source: Wikipedia, citing USACE

163miles

of shoreline to fish, cruise and explore

Source: Recreation.gov

1967

the year the Corps began filling the lake on the Republican River

Source: Wikipedia

No. 1

the local nickname: “The Fishing Capital of Kansas”

Source: Junction City-Geary County EDC

Fishing Milford Lake

The Fishing Capital of Kansas

The Junction City-Geary County EDC calls Milford “The Fishing Capital of Kansas”, and the species list explains why. Here is what swims in it, and where anglers look.

Crappie in the coves

Coves in the Rolling Hills area, Thunderbird's own end of the lake, are known crappie water.

Smallmouth at the dam

Smallmouth hold along the dam face and rocky points in the lower lake, a short run from the marina.

Hot-spot notes: lakelubbers.com. Check Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks rules before you fish.

Calm cove with covered boat slips along the far shore and campers on the hill
  • Walleye
  • CrappieLook in the coves
  • Largemouth bass
  • Smallmouth bassRocky water near the dam
  • White bass
  • WipersHybrid striped bass
  • Blue catfish
  • Channel catfish
  • Flathead catfish

Species: Wikipedia, Junction City-Geary County EDC, lakelubbers.com.

Things to do nearby

Your backyard, mile by mile

Thunderbird is a quiet lake base that is still close to town. Distances are straight-line from the resort, as the crow flies; driving distances are longer.

Around the lake

  • Milford State Park, on the lake's southeast shore
  • Milford Nature Center, below the dam
  • Milford Fish Hatchery, also below the dam
  • Junction CityThe resort's mailing town
    ~5.6 mi
  • MilfordTown on the lake's east shore
    ~6.9 mi
  • Fort RileyMain Post, home of the 1st Infantry Division
    ~7.3 mi
  • Wakefield
    ~11.3 mi
  • Manhattan & K-StateCollege town and Kansas State University
    ~20 mi

As the crow flies from 4725 West Rolling Hills.

When to come

Open April 1 – October 31

Thunderbird's RV sites and boat slips run for the season, from the first spring bite through the last warm weekends of fall. Seasonal sites and slips book by phone, so call early.

Plan your stay
Season April 1 – October 31

Fish the morning, sleep by the water

Book a nightly RV site online, or call 785-238-5864 for seasonal sites and boat slips on Milford Lake.

Check availability 785-238-5864

Online RV booking closes at 7 PM. Seasonal sites and slip leases are by phone. No per-site link — choose the site by name in CampLife.