Openings · last 7 days
120
Booking reality
Campsite Sniper detected 120 site openings here in the last 7 days
01 · Detected Opening History · the openings record · file CS-233621
When Santa Fe Trail reopens
Santa Fe Trail's openings record: every site-date Campsite Sniper detected turning available, logged and time-stamped. Refreshed hourly.
Openings · last 30 days
181
Openings · last 90 days
181
Weekday pattern
Detected openings by day of week · 90dNo strong weekday pattern is evident in the openings Campsite Sniper has detected: 181 openings spread across the week.
Hour-of-day pattern
First detected by hour · local time · last 90 daysThe largest concentrations of detected openings were first detected during the 07:00 and 19:00 local-time hours. Those hours contained 111 of 181 detected openings (61.3%). Hours show when Campsite Sniper first detected each opening, in Central Time, not when the change was made upstream.
Lead-time profile
Days before stay date · percentilesHalf of the openings Campsite Sniper detected appeared at least 4 days before the stay date; the middle 50% land 3–4 days out. Set an alert if you want Campsite Sniper to monitor future openings.
Highest-churn sites
Most openings · 90d| Site | Openings | Share of all openings |
|---|---|---|
| 003 | 10 | 5.5% |
| 012 | 10 | 5.5% |
| 016 | 10 | 5.5% |
| 009 | 10 | 5.5% |
| 015 | 10 | 5.5% |
Site 003 had the most detected openings in the last 90 days: 10. One free watch covers every site here.
02 · Availability Outlook · Sep 18 – Oct 30, 2026 · of 33 monitored sites
Of the 1,419 tracked site-nights (Sep 18 – Oct 30, 2026): 606 open for online reservation · 345 reserved · 468 not yet released.
Where the open windows are
57.3% of tracked site-nights are not currently open for online reservation. 606 of 1,419 remain open; here is where they are.
Load status
Sep 18 – Oct 30, 2026Not open online57.3%
Open site-nights606 / 1,419
Reserved (of online inventory)345 / 951
Weekday openings354
Weekend openings252
Of the open site-nights on mapped sites, 354 fall on weekdays and 252 on weekends (Fri–Sun).
Open dates by month
Sep 2026 – Oct 2026September holds the most room. 312 of 429 site-nights are still open there.
Holiday windows
Sites open per night · of 33 sites| Window | Night | Sites open | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Labor Day | SAT Sep 5 | 0 | None open |
| SUN Sep 6 | 0 | None open | |
| MON Sep 7 | 0 | None open |
Labor Day: no online availability on any tracked night.
Best-availability sites
Most open site-nights · tracked window| Site | Open site-nights |
|---|---|
| S-1 | 43 |
| 026 | 39 |
| 029 | 33 |
| 018 | 32 |
| 022 | 29 |
The 5 sites with the most open site-nights in the current snapshot. Pair a bookable date with a free alert to cover everything else.
Next windows
As of Sep 18, 2026 snapshotNext open dateFri · Sep 18
Next open weekendFri · Sep 18
The next bookable night is Sep 18; the first open weekend starts Sep 18. Campsite Sniper can watch later dates for you.
Stays and site detail
606 open site-nights across 33 sites at Santa Fe Trail, from the same hourly snapshot as everything above.
Multi-night stays. 76 2-night, 62 3-night, 28 7-night openings where a single site is free for every night, per Campsite Sniper's current snapshot — soonest Sep 18 at site S-1.
RV length. Longest recorded site here is 102 ft. 32 sites take 25 ft, 32 sites take 35 ft, 31 sites take 40 ft. 1 site of 33 has no recorded maximum and is not counted.
All 33 sites with current availability
| Site | Max RV | Hookups | Open site-nights | Longest run | Dates |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| S-1 | 50 ft | Yes | 43 | 43 nights | Sep 18, Sep 19, Sep 20, Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 25, Sep 26, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29 +31 more |
| 026 | 72 ft | Yes | 39 | 19 nights | Sep 18, Sep 19, Sep 20, Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30, Oct 1 +27 more |
| 029 | 78 ft | Yes | 33 | 14 nights | Sep 18, Sep 19, Sep 20, Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 25, Sep 26, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29 +21 more |
| 018 | 46 ft | Yes | 32 | 12 nights | Sep 20, Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 25, Sep 26, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30, Oct 1 +20 more |
| 022 | 70 ft | Yes | 29 | 14 nights | Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 25, Sep 26, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30, Oct 1, Oct 2 +17 more |
| 028 | 68 ft | Yes | 27 | 10 nights | Sep 20, Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 25, Sep 26, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Oct 4, Oct 5 +15 more |
| 019 | 68 ft | Yes | 22 | 5 nights | Sep 20, Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30, Oct 1, Oct 4, Oct 5, Oct 6 +10 more |
| 025 | 63 ft | Yes | 20 | 5 nights | Sep 20, Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30, Oct 1, Oct 6, Oct 7 +8 more |
| 030 | 68 ft | Yes | 19 | 7 nights | Sep 18, Sep 19, Sep 20, Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30, Oct 14 +7 more |
| 024 | 60 ft | Yes | 18 | 4 nights | Sep 20, Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30, Oct 1, Oct 4, Oct 12, Oct 13, Oct 18 +6 more |
| 001 | 56 ft | Yes | 17 | 17 nights | Sep 18, Sep 19, Sep 20, Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 25, Sep 26, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29 +5 more |
| 002 | 54 ft | Yes | 17 | 17 nights | Sep 18, Sep 19, Sep 20, Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 25, Sep 26, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29 +5 more |
| 007 | 57 ft | Yes | 17 | 17 nights | Sep 18, Sep 19, Sep 20, Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 25, Sep 26, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29 +5 more |
| 008 | 39 ft | Yes | 17 | 17 nights | Sep 18, Sep 19, Sep 20, Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 25, Sep 26, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29 +5 more |
| 009 | 102 ft | Yes | 17 | 17 nights | Sep 18, Sep 19, Sep 20, Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 25, Sep 26, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29 +5 more |
| 011 | 49 ft | Yes | 17 | 17 nights | Sep 18, Sep 19, Sep 20, Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 25, Sep 26, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29 +5 more |
| 012 | 43 ft | Yes | 17 | 17 nights | Sep 18, Sep 19, Sep 20, Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 25, Sep 26, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29 +5 more |
| 013 | 49 ft | Yes | 17 | 17 nights | Sep 18, Sep 19, Sep 20, Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 25, Sep 26, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29 +5 more |
| 015 | 69 ft | Yes | 17 | 17 nights | Sep 18, Sep 19, Sep 20, Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 25, Sep 26, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29 +5 more |
| 016 | 44 ft | Yes | 17 | 17 nights | Sep 18, Sep 19, Sep 20, Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 25, Sep 26, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29 +5 more |
| 023 | 70 ft | Yes | 17 | 17 nights | Sep 18, Sep 19, Sep 20, Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 25, Sep 26, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29 +5 more |
| 004 | 50 ft | Yes | 15 | 15 nights | Sep 20, Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 25, Sep 26, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30, Oct 1 +3 more |
| 005 | 70 ft | Yes | 15 | 15 nights | Sep 20, Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 25, Sep 26, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30, Oct 1 +3 more |
| 010 | 47 ft | Yes | 15 | 15 nights | Sep 20, Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 25, Sep 26, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30, Oct 1 +3 more |
| 014 | Not recorded | None | 15 | 15 nights | Sep 20, Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 25, Sep 26, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30, Oct 1 +3 more |
| 032 | 55 ft | Yes | 14 | 5 nights | Sep 20, Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Oct 12, Oct 13, Oct 14, Oct 21, Oct 22, Oct 27, Oct 28 +2 more |
| 021 | 66 ft | Yes | 13 | 4 nights | Sep 20, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30, Oct 4, Oct 11, Oct 12, Oct 13, Oct 18, Oct 25, Oct 29 +1 more |
| 031 | 50 ft | Yes | 13 | 5 nights | Sep 20, Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 30, Oct 1, Oct 14, Oct 15, Oct 21, Oct 28, Oct 29 +1 more |
| 027 | 70 ft | Yes | 12 | 7 nights | Oct 8, Oct 11, Oct 12, Oct 19, Oct 20, Oct 21, Oct 22, Oct 23, Oct 24, Oct 25, Oct 29, Oct 30 |
| 020 | 67 ft | Yes | 10 | 4 nights | Sep 24, Sep 27, Oct 1, Oct 4, Oct 18, Oct 19, Oct 20, Oct 21, Oct 29, Oct 30 |
| 006 | 44 ft | Yes | 7 | 7 nights | Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30, Oct 1, Oct 2, Oct 3, Oct 4 |
| 017 | 50 ft | Yes | 5 | 5 nights | Sep 30, Oct 1, Oct 2, Oct 3, Oct 4 |
| 003 | 44 ft | Yes | 3 | 3 nights | Oct 2, Oct 3, Oct 4 |
About Santa Fe Trail
Recreation
Boating is a popular pastime at the lake, and a boat ramp is located in the campground for visitors' convenience.
The lake is known for its fishing opportunities, with crappie and catfish being the most abundant. Council Grove was also the first lake in Kansas to receive stocking of Saugeye.
Hunters will find populations of quail, prairie chicken, wild turkey and deer on the nearly 2,700 acres of hunting lands surrounding the lake.
Hiking trails wind along the lake shore and into the forest. Pioneer Nature Trail is known as the most scenic trail, with plenty of wildlife, greenery and wildflowers creating a beautiful background.
Council Grove is also a starting point for the Flint Hills National Scenic Byway. This byway travels through the best of the remaining remnants of the Tallgrass Prairie Ecosystem in North America.
Along the byway and 25 miles south is the National Tallgrass Prairie Preserve, where visitors can spot colorful wildflowers in the spring and array of autumn colors in the fall.
Facilities
Santa Fe Trail Campground offers 35 reservable campsites, including one group camping area that can accommodate up to 75 guests. Electric hookups, flush toilets and other modern amenities are provided.
The campground has plenty of shade, along with open grassy areas for games and recreation.
Natural Features
Council Grove Lake sits in the rolling, grassy Flint Hills. The lake was 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. A marker in the town of Council Grove indicates the place where the treaty was signed.
Nearby Attractions
The town of Council Grove, located about 2 miles southeast of the lake, is a National Historic District, with seven Santa Fe National Historic Trail sites in the community.
33 monitored sitesRVs up to 102 ft32 with hookups31 shadedWaterfrontLakefrontPets OKFire pitsMax party 75
Getting there
From I-70, take Highway 177 south for 30 miles. Continue west across the dam road, then right onto City Lake Road. After a mile turn right into the campground entrance.
1026 Lake Rd, Council Grove, KS 66846-9322620-767-5195
BoatingCampingFishingHikingHunting
View on Recreation.gov ↗ Get directions ↗
03 · Field Photos · roll CS-233621 · facility
Photo gallery
Roll CS-233621 · Santa Fe Trail · Council Grove KS12 frames · facility
FAQ
How do I get a reservation at Santa Fe Trail?
Reservations for Santa Fe Trail are made through Recreation.gov. 606 of 1,419 tracked site-nights are currently open (42.7%). Campsite Sniper has also detected 181 site openings here in the last 90 days, so further dates may appear. Pick a site on the map to see its calendar, or set a free Campsite Sniper alert. You complete the reservation yourself on Recreation.gov.
Does Campsite Sniper book this campground for me?
No. Campsite Sniper sends alerts and direct Recreation.gov links. It never books, pays for, holds, hoards, or resells reservations.
How current is this availability data?
Campsite Sniper re-checks public Recreation.gov availability for this facility every hour and republishes whenever anything changes. This facility's data last changed at Sep 18, 2026 14:17 UTC; an older timestamp means nothing has changed since that time, not that checking stopped. Always confirm final availability on Recreation.gov when you book.
How often do new openings appear at Santa Fe Trail?
Campsite Sniper detected 120 site-date openings at Santa Fe Trail in the last 7 days, 181 over 30 days and 181 over the last 90.
Can I get a multi-night stay at Santa Fe Trail?
62 three-night openings are showing, counting only runs where the SAME site is free for all three nights. The soonest starts Sep 18 at site S-1. Confirm and book on Recreation.gov.
Which sites at Santa Fe Trail fit a 35-foot RV?
32 of the 33 sites that support RV analysis have a recorded maximum of 35 ft or more; the longest recorded is 102 ft. 32 of those 33 sites have a recorded maximum length and 1 does not; it is not counted as fitting.
Which month has the most availability at Santa Fe Trail?
September 2026, with 312 open site-nights in the current snapshot of 429.
How far ahead of a stay do openings appear at Santa Fe Trail?
Half of the openings Campsite Sniper detected appeared at least 4 days before the stay date; the middle 50% landed 3-4 days out. Campsite Sniper can monitor future changes for dates you select.
When is the next open date at Santa Fe Trail?
As of the Sep 18, 2026 snapshot: the next open date is Fri, Sep 18 and the next open weekend starts Fri, Sep 18. Detected openings can add earlier dates at any time; a free Campsite Sniper alert catches those the moment they appear.
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