Winfield City Lake is a city-run fishing and camping lake northeast of Winfield in Cowley County, Kansas. Walleye, crappie, wiper and catfish draw anglers here; the north-shore beach and lakeside campsites also make it a place for a family day out. The most useful detail to know before packing the camper: sites are first come, first served. Paying online does not reserve a place.
- Winfield City Lake at a glance
- Getting there and choosing your destination
- Winfield lake permits and daily costs
- Camping and recreation
- Swimming and launching a boat
- Fishing Winfield City Lake
- Frequently asked questions
- How big is Winfield City Lake?
- Can you reserve a campsite at Winfield City Lake?
- Where is Winfield City Lake?
Winfield City Lake at a glance
- Size: about 1,200 acres in KDWP’s 2026 Fishing Atlas.
- Location: northeast of Winfield, in south-central Kansas.
- Lake office: 10348 141st Road, Winfield, KS 67156; 620-221-5635.
- Camping: primitive, electric and full-hookup sites; separate camping and vehicle fees.
- On the water: fishing, boating, kayaking and a public swimming beach.
Getting there and choosing your destination
The City of Winfield’s directions place the lake about eight miles northeast of town. From Winfield, follow U.S. 77 north, then 82nd Road east toward the lake. Use the office address for an initial destination, then the posted signs for your camping zone, ramp or beach. A pin in the middle of the reservoir is not a road entrance.
Winfield lake permits and daily costs
Winfield uses city lake permits. A Kansas state-park pass does not replace them. The city’s posted charges, checked September 10, 2026, separate the vehicle entering the recreation area, any boat being used and overnight camping.
| Permit | Daily | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Recreation vehicle | $10 | $45 |
| Canoe or kayak | $5 | $20 |
| Motorboat or sailboat | $10 | $55 |
Start at the city’s lake permit page for online payment or use a lake kiosk. Check the permit’s dates and enter the correct plate or boat details. The city’s June 2026 instructions require a credit or debit card; the kiosks do not accept cash. For help with a payment or incorrect plate, City Hall is at 620-221-5520.
Camping and recreation
Find an empty campsite before paying. The city does not take advance campsite reservations, and an online payment is not a vacancy check. The posted nightly camping fees are $10 for primitive camping, $20 for electric and $25 for full hookups, with the vehicle permit additional. Check the services at the particular site before choosing a permit category.
A towable camper does not need its own recreation vehicle permit; its towing vehicle does. Camping fees still apply. Checkout is noon, quiet hours are 10 p.m.–6 a.m., and campers must move to another zone after 14 days. Read the current rules at the site before extending a stay.
Swimming and launching a boat
The public beach is on the north side. The city closes it from midnight to sunrise and prohibits pets, glass and alcohol in the beach area. A vehicle recreation permit is required. For a boat or kayak trip, arrange the separate city boat permit and follow the marked ramp access; a campsite payment does not cover boating.
Before swimming, check local notices and the KDHE blue-green algae advisories. Stay out of visible blooms. A Warning means avoiding water contact for people and animals; a lake missing from the advisory list is not a guarantee of safe water.
Fishing Winfield City Lake
Walleye, crappie, wiper, channel catfish and largemouth bass are among the lake’s fish. The KDWP 2026 Fishing Atlas lists Winfield and flags additional local fees and aquatic invasive species. Check the lake’s fishing limits before choosing what to target. An old fishing report or drought announcement is not today’s lake level; the city links its water-level tracker from the lake page.
Kansas fishing-license requirements apply in addition to city recreation and boat permits. Winfield prohibits trotlines, jug lines, limb lines and ice fishing. Keep the city’s rules handy rather than relying on limits from a different Kansas lake.
Frequently asked questions
How big is Winfield City Lake?
KDWP’s 2026 Fishing Atlas lists about 1,200 acres; its lake fishing profile gives 1,250. These are approximate published size figures, not current water-level readings.
Can you reserve a campsite at Winfield City Lake?
No. Sites are first come, first served. Find a vacant site, then pay the appropriate camping fee and vehicle permit.
Where is Winfield City Lake?
In Cowley County, northeast of Winfield, Kansas. The lake office address is 10348 141st Road.
For other nearby choices, compare El Dorado Lake and Cheney Lake, browse more small lakes of Kansas, or return to the Kansas Lakes Database.
