US lakes & ponds
Kansas › Osage County › Olivet › Melvern Lake

Melvern Lake

Olivet, Kansas — Osage County.

Share:TextEmailFacebookX
6,290Surface acres
6Public access sites

Surface area: The USGS National Hydrography Dataset outline (NHD Permanent ID 167439065).

Location & fast facts

Where Melvern Lake is in Kansas

The red circle marks Melvern Lake.

Fast facts

About Melvern Lake

  • County: Osage
  • Nearest city: Olivet (about 0.3 mi from the lake)
  • Mapped as: Lake or pond (USGS National Hydrography Dataset)
  • Distance: about 38 mi from Topeka and 73 mi from Kansas City, straight-line (not driving distance)

Towns and counties: U.S. Census Bureau boundaries overlaid on the USGS lake outline (Kansas: incorporated places touching the lake, otherwise the nearest one).

Fishing in Kansas

Official KDWP pages. Rules and fees change; check before you go.

Good for & watch for

Good for

  • Boating. 6 public trailer launches listed (see access)
  • Camping. 40 campgrounds within 15 mi, 9 on the shore (list)

Watch for

  • Non-native/invasive species. Zebra mussel recorded. Clean, drain and dry your boat and gear.
  • Boat traffic. A public trailer launch means motorboats share the water; expect more traffic on summer weekends.

Built only from the data on this page: official access lists, OpenStreetMap beaches and trails, campground listings, state and USGS invasive-species records. We don't rate crowds or water quality.

Lake map

Melvern Lake shoreline, boat launches & beaches

Arrow Rock Park Campground (campground)Coeur D' Alene Park Campground (campground)Turkey Point Park Campground (campground)Blackjack Campground (campground)Cowboy Campground (campground)Doud Campground (campground)Fivestar Campground (campground)Sailboat Beach Campground (campground)Westpoint Campground (campground)Outlet Park B Loop Campground (campground)Boat ramp (Boat launch)1Boat ramp (Boat launch)2Boat ramp (Boat launch)3Boat ramp (Boat launch)4Boat ramp (Boat launch)5Boat ramp (Boat launch)61 mileN

Numbers on the map match the list at rightbelow.

Boat launch Campground
  1. 1Boat ramp
    Boat launch
  2. 2Boat ramp
    Boat launch
  3. 3Boat ramp
    Boat launch
  4. 4Boat ramp
    Boat launch
  5. 5Boat ramp
    Boat launch
  6. 6Boat ramp
    Boat launch

Shoreline: USGS National Hydrography Dataset (NHD Waterbody, Permanent ID 167439065), public domain. State outline: U.S. Census Bureau TIGERweb. Points: OpenStreetMap boat ramps (no statewide agency ramp layer used) and OpenStreetMap boat ramps (ODbL). Interactive map: Leaflet with © OpenStreetMap contributors. Not for navigation.

Campgrounds near Melvern Lake

We found 40 campgrounds and RV parks within 15 miles of Melvern Lake, 12 of them within 5 miles. 9 are right on the shore. Distances are straight-line from the nearest point on the shoreline, so driving distance is longer.

14 more within 15 miles

All campgrounds & RV parks in Kansas

Green tent icons on the lake map mark campgrounds near the shore, and the interactive map shows the closest 12. Amenities are listed only where a source records them; call or check the campground's website before you go, since seasons and rates change every year.

Campground data: Recreation.gov (RIDB) · OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Pulled Oct 12, 2026.

Nearest airports

The closest airport with scheduled passenger flights to Melvern Lake, plus larger airports within about 150 miles:

Compare car rentals near this lake

Car rental links go to our partner Discover Cars; LakeRipple may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Affiliate disclosure.

Airports with scheduled airline service from OurAirports (large and medium airports); larger airports are FAA large, medium and small hubs by FAA CY2025 enplanements ("major airport" = FAA large hub). Distances are straight-line from the lake's center, not driving distance; road routes are longer.

Conditions right now

Air temperature & conditions (nearest NWS station)Loading…
Fetching the latest National Weather Service observation…

Live from the National Weather Service API for the lake's coordinates (38.5046, -95.7415). The nearest station may be several miles away. NWS forecast for Melvern Lake. No live water-temperature sensor is shown because we haven't found a public one for this lake.

Sun, moon & best fishing times

Sun & moon at Melvern Lake

Best fishing times

Major periodMinor periodDaylight

    Based on solunar theory, an estimate. Major periods (about 2 hours) center on when the moon is directly overhead or underfoot; minor periods (about 1 hour) center on moonrise and moonset. The 0–100 activity score rises during those periods and gets a boost near sunrise and sunset and around the new and full moon. Weather, water temperature and pressure often matter more. Sun and moon times are calculated in your browser from the lake's coordinates with standard astronomy formulas, shown in CT (America/Chicago), and accurate to within a few minutes.

    Boat launches & access sites

    6 public access sites listed, 6 with a boat ramp or trailer launch.

    SiteTownOwnerTypeParkingFeeUsesMap
    Boat ramp——Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp——Boating38.4974, -95.7473
    Boat ramp——Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp——Boating38.5010, -95.7128
    Boat ramp——Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp——Boating38.4835, -95.8619
    Boat ramp——Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp——Boating38.4962, -95.7917
    Boat ramp——Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp——Boating38.5219, -95.7543
    Boat ramp——Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp——Boating38.5176, -95.7329

    OpenStreetMap boat ramps (no statewide agency ramp layer used) and OpenStreetMap boat ramps (ODbL)

    Fees, hours and rules change; confirm with the site owner before you go.

    Non-native/invasive species

    Reported on or near Melvern Lake

    Clean, Drain, Dry. Remove plants and mud, drain all water, and dry your boat, trailer and gear before moving to another water.

    USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species database

    USGS records matched to this water by location (within about 150 m of the outline) or by the place name in the record. A record shows a sighting was reported; it doesn't prove the species is still there. As of Oct 10, 2026.

    Contact & official info

    Questions about Melvern Lake

    How big is Melvern Lake?

    Melvern Lake covers about 6,290 acres in Olivet, Kansas (Osage County).

    Is there a public boat launch on Melvern Lake?

    Yes. 6 public trailer launches are listed: Boat ramp, Boat ramp and Boat ramp. Check posted fees and parking rules.

    Are there campgrounds near Melvern Lake?

    Yes. We list 40 campgrounds and RV parks within 15 miles, 12 of them within 5 miles.

    What towns are on Melvern Lake?

    Melvern Lake touches Olivet in Osage County, Kansas.

    Share a tip or fishing report

    Know Melvern Lake? Tell us about the launch, parking, where they're biting or anything a first-time visitor should know. Tips go privately to the LakeRipple editor; nothing is posted automatically. Helpful tips may be featured on this page (we'll use your first name only if you give one).

    Lakes & ponds nearby

    Straight-line distance between lake centers. All Kansas lakes & ponds · All waters in Olivet