These 15 Amazing Camping Spots In Nebraska Are An Absolute Must See
It’s time to dust off the tent and brush up on your fire-making skills because camping season is upon us. We’ve all got our favorite special places to camp, and we don’t tend to stray from them – why fix what’s not broken, right? But if you’ve never been camping in Nebraska, or if you’re looking for a new spot, you might be overwhelmed with the seemingly endless campground choices. Only In Nebraska to the rescue! If you’ve ever been curious about the best camping in Nebraska, well, here you go:
The top-rated campground in the state is Enders Reservoir, located just outside of Enders. The site offers primitive and electrical camping all year, with modern restrooms and showers.
It's no surprise that Eugene T. Mahoney State Park, one of Nebraska's most beloved state parks, is one of its most popular campgrounds. You can rent cabins here or camp on the hard surface pads, all with restrooms, showers, drinking water, and laundry facilities nearby.
Eugene T. Mahoney State Park, 28500 W Park Hwy, Ashland, NE 68003, USA
Sandpit lakes and 100-year-old cottonwood trees make Fort Kearny State Recreation Area a truly wonderful place to spend a night or two. You'll find both modern and primitive tend camping along with modern restrooms and showers.
Fort Kearny State Recreation Area, Gibbon, NE 68840, USA
Get here early to avoid disappointment, because Fremont Lakes State Recreation Area is an extremely popular camping spot, particularly among the RV crowd.
Fremont Lakes, 3120 State Lakes Rd, Fremont, NE 68025, USA
Between Kearney and Grand Island, Windmill State Park campground is full of beautiful restored windmills. It offers primitive as well as modern campsites.
Windmill State Park, 2625 Lowell Rd, Gibbon, NE 68840, USA
9. Box Butte Reservoir State Recreation Area, Hemingford
This truly beautiful location in Northwest Nebraska known as Box Butte Reservoir State Recreation Area offers year-round camping on 14 modern pads and 40 primitive non-pad sites.
A lovely spot on the Republican River, Swanson Reservoir is open from the beginning of May to the beginning of October. You can camp in your RV here, but why pass up the opportunity to pitch your tent right on the sandy beach?
Swanson Reservoir State Recreation Area, Trenton, NE 69044, USA
There's some great fishing to be had here, and after a long day of angling you can simply walk back to your tent or RV. Showers, restrooms, water, and a playground are all available to campers. Some see why this is one of the best campgrounds in Nebraska.
Louisville State Recreation Area, Louisville, NE 68037, USA
Right on the second largest lake in the Salt Valley, Pawnee State Recreation Area has 68 modern camping pads with electrical hook-ups as well as 34 non-electric pads and 97 non-electrical, non-pad sites.
Pawnee State Recreation Area, 3800 NW 105th St, Lincoln, NE 68524, USA
One of Nebraska's most beautiful lakes also offers some of the best camping. Their modern facilities include 122 pads with electrical hookups and 55 non-pad campsites. You'll find modern restrooms and showers here, too.
Calamus Reservoir State Recreation Area and Wildlife Management Area, 42285 York Pt Rd, Burwell, NE 68823, USA
You can always rent one of the cabins at Chadron State Park, but the modern campground is really beautiful and well-maintained. You have to reserve well in advance or get there early, though - these spots fill up fast.
Chadron State Park, 15951 Gold Rush Byway, Chadron, NE 69337, USA
Johnson Lake State Recreation Area is a favorite among anglers, boaters, and all types of outdoor enthusiasts in Nebraska. The recreation area offers primitive and modern camping along with modern restrooms and showers.
Johnson Lake State Recreation Area, 1 Drive 25A, Elwood, NE 68937, USA
What do you think – did we get it right? These rankings seem pretty accurate based on personal experience and your comments! But these ones just scrape the surface of ALL of the magnificent camping spots across the state. What other camping facilities are not to be missed in Nebraska in your opinion? Let us know!
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The OIYS Visitor Center
Best Camping in Nebraska
April 14, 2023
Tori Jane
Where can I find the best camping in Nebraska?
If anyone ever tells you there’s nowhere fun to camp in Nebraska, stop talking to them. You don’t need that in your life. There just so happens to be plenty of awesome options for camping in NE; some of our all-time picks for the best campgrounds in Nebraska are:
Eugene T. Mahoney State Park – Three words: water. Park. Campground.
Victory Lake and Pathfinder Campgrounds – These campgrounds in Nebraska are located quite literally side-by-side, so they’re both worth mentioning.
Branched Oak Lake – This hidden gem is home to some amazing views and relaxing times. Oh, and it’s equestrian-friendly.
Looking for a more rustic, old-school experience? Primitive camping in Nebraska is all the rage, and it does an amazing job of reconnecting us with our roots. Some of the best tend camping in Nebraska can be found at:
Smith Falls State Park – This park has plenty of formal campsites, but it’s also got 39 primitive sites on which to pitch a tent.
Calamus State Recreation Area – Another park with plenty of modern options, you’ll find some of the coolest spots for your setup here.
Chadron State Park – This park offers 18 primitive tent sites just waiting for your next adventure.
What are some other wonderful places to go camping in Nebraska?
Obviously, the two lists above are nowhere near complete. There are hundreds of amazing camping sites in Nebraska peppered all over the state. Some other notable campgrounds in Nebraska that everyone should check out include:
Platte River State Park – If you’ve never gone “glamping”, this is an excellent introduction to it.
Ponca State Park – Easily one of the most scenic state parks in NE, this amazing place has some of the most enchanting campgrounds in the entire state.
Get more information about camping in Nebraska and all the awesome options there are!
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As a lifelong Nebraskan, Delana loves discovering the many hidden treasures of her state. She has worked as a writer and editor since 2007. Delana's work has been featured on more than a dozen websites and in Nebraska Life Magazine.
