The 5 Best Places to Camp in Nebraska this Summer

Written by Cindy Rasmussen
Published: August 22, 2022
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Are you planning a trip to Omaha, or want to get away? There are plenty of great places to camp in Nebraska this summer. Float down the Niobrara River to spend the night next to a water fall or camp right on the sandy beach of Lake McConaughy. Bring your fishing gear and your sunscreen for a fabulous camping trip in Nebraska. Here are the 5 best places to camp in Nebraska this summer!

1. Smith Falls State Park

Smith Falls State Park

One of the best places to camp in Nebraska this summer is at Smith Falls State Park where you can see the 70-foot falls!

©BJ Roshone/Shutterstock.com

A short hike down the boardwalk trail brings you to the tallest waterfall in the state! Smith Falls is a 70-foot high waterfall that cascades down from the Niobrara River. You can view the waterfall from the bottom to get some amazing photos. Just above the falls is a popular take-out spot for tubers and kayakers who travel down the river from upstream. Several outfitters will coordinate bringing your gear and arrange for a 2-6 hour float (or paddle) down the river. Then spend the night at the Smith Falls State Park Campground which has 36 basic campsites for tent camping. There are restrooms and pay showers on site as well as a visitor center and concession stand.

Smith Falls State Park Campground
LocationNorth central Nebraska, almost to South Dakota
Nearest CityValentine
RV Sites0
Tent Sites36 basic tent sites
Picnic SheltersYes
AmenitiesRestrooms, hot showers (pay), visitor center,
concession stand
Pet FriendlyYes
ReservationsYes
What makes it one of the bestCamping next to a 70-foot tall waterfall!

2. Lake McConaughy State Recreation Area

European Beachgrass (Ammophila arenaria)

If you want to camp right on the sandy beach then Lake McConaughy is one of the best places to camp.

©iStock.com/Edda Dupree

Nicknamed “Big Mac” Lake McConaughy is the largest lake in Nebraska. This 30,000 acre lake is an amazing recreational lake for swimming, boating, wind surfing and fishing. The campground has sites right on the beach, on the sand! Imagine falling asleep to the waves of the lake lapping against the shore and waking up to feel your toes in the warm sand. You probably don’t think of white sandy beaches when you think of Nebraska but that is what you will find at Lake McConaughy.

Lake McConaughy State Recreation Area
LocationWestern Nebraska, just north of
Hwy 80 and Ogallala
Nearest CityOgallala, NE
Martin Bay Campground40 grassy sites, some with water, picnic table,
grill, restrooms, showers
Little Thunder Campground8 full hookup sites, 34 electric plus sites,
hard surfaced pads, restrooms, showers
Lone Eagle Campground84 full hookup sites, hard surfaced pads,
restrooms, showers
Sandy Beach Campground16 grassy sites, water picnic table, grill,
vault toilets
Cedar View Campground85 electric plus, 17 basic, water, restrooms
and showers
Spring Park Campground14 basic campsites, more remote campground,
no water onsite but nearby, vault toilets
Otter Creek Campground10 basic campsites, closest to the concession
building, vault toilets
Beach Camping (Shoreline Road Beach Camping)16 designated beach camping areas with
950 total sites!
AmenitiesVaries by campground
Pet FriendlyYes
ReservationsYes, required from May 20 to Sept. 10, some
basic sites are first come first serve
What makes it one of the bestCamping directly on the white sandy beach,
feet from the water!

3. Buffalo Bill Ranch State Recreation Area

Largest Land Animal in North America - American bison walking and looking for food in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, USA.

Take a step back in time to the

Buffalo

Bill State Recreation Area.

©jack-sooksan/Shutterstock.com

Step back in time to the “Wild, Wild West”! Visit the ranch home of the famous Col. William F. “Buffalo Bill” Cody who lived in North Platte. The State Rec. Area is right next door to the Buffalo Bill State Historical Park where you can visit the home and barn site of the buffalo-hunter turned showman, touring the U.S. and Europe with the Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show. The campground has a variety of sites from full hookups for RV’s to primitive basic tent sites.

Buffalo Bill Ranch State Recreation Area
LocationJust NE of North Platte, NE
Nearest CityNorth Platte
RV/Tent Sites23 sites with electric, 8 basic non-pad sites
AmenitiesPrimitive restrooms, drinking water
Pet FriendlyYes
ReservationsNo, first come first serve
What makes it one of the bestRight next door to the famous “Buffalo Bill Ranch”!

4. Indian Cave State Park

Indian Cave State Park

Indian Cave State Park has a long boardwalk that you can follow to see the Native American petroglyphs.

©Charles G. Haacker/Shutterstock.com

Walk down the winding boardwalk stairway to view the length of the Indian Cave with prehistoric Native American petroglyphs etched along it. Stop by the restored schoolhouse and general store to see what life was like in this old river town. Hike on many of the rails or ride your mountain bike to explore the areas wildlife. Look for deer, wild turkeys, beavers and raccoons. Scan the trees for barred owls or whippoorwills.

For the campground, there are 134 campsites with 30-amp electric with 22 sites that have 50-amp. There are also tent sites in another area that have electric. All sites have a fire ring and grill and restrooms and showers are onsite. What makes this one of the best places to camp in Nebraska this summer is the campground overlooks the majestic Missouri River.

Indian Cave State Park
Location85 miles south of Omaha in the SE corner of the state
Nearest CityShubert, NE
RV/Tent Sites134 campsites, 22 of which have 50-amp, others all have electric
Picnic Tables at each siteYes
Fire Pit at each siteYes
AmenitiesRestrooms, showers, information center
Pet FriendlyYes
ReservationsYes
What makes it one of the bestCamping right by the Indian Caves and overlooking the Missouri River!

5. Lake Cunningham Campground

There are not any pygmy hippos in Lake Cunningham but if you camp there you will be less than 10 miles from the Omaha Henry Doorly Zoo where they do have

Pygmy Hippopotamus

!

©Tomasz Sienicki / Creative Commons

If you want to stay right near all that downtown Omaha has to offer, then camping at Lake Cunningham Campground is a great option. Only 10 miles north of the downtown area you are close to Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium where you can visit America’s largest indoor rainforest. Here you will see monkeys, macaws, gibbons and pygmy hippos! They don’t have any hippos in Lake Cunningham but they do allow fishing, catch and release, for catfish, bass and crappie. Camping in the park offers RV sites, tent sites, as well as 2 large yurts for a glamping experience.

Lake Cunningham Campground
LocationJust 10 miles north of downtown Omaha
Nearest CityOmaha
West C Campground41 RV pad sites with electric
Tent Campground7 sites with picnic table, fire ring, restrooms, playground
Glamping2 large glamping tents/yurts, lakeside
Picnic Tables at each siteYes
Fire Pit at each siteYes
AmenitiesRestrooms, showers,
Pet FriendlyYes
ReservationsYes
What makes it one of the bestSo close to everything downtown Omaha has to offer!

The photo featured at the top of this post is © iStock.com/LIKE HE


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About the Author

I'm a Wildlife Conservation Author and Journalist, raising awareness about conservation by teaching others about the amazing animals we share the planet with. I graduated from the University of Minnesota-Morris with a degree in Elementary Education and I am a former teacher. When I am not writing I love going to my kids' soccer games, watching movies, taking on DIY projects and running with our giant Labradoodle "Tango".

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