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What kind of natural landscapes does Nebraska have?
- Boasting beautiful natural landscapes across the state, ranging from the towering dunes of the Sandhills to the vast prairies of the Great Plains, Nebraska offers excellent outdoor recreation.
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What outdoor activities can visitors enjoy in Nebraska?
- Activities include camping, hiking, backpacking, and mountain biking.
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What types of outdoor spaces are available in Nebraska?
- Home to a plethora of state parks, recreational areas, waterfalls, and national monuments, Nebraska has a camping site for every need.
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What are the camping options in Nebraska?
- Options range from primitive camping with nothing but a tent to deluxe RV parks with all the bells and whistles.
Best Time to Camp in Nebraska
- May to June – Pleasant temps, green prairies, and ideal conditions for hiking and wildlife viewing.
- September to October – Cooler weather, colorful foliage, and fewer bugs—perfect for peaceful fall camping.
- July & August – Hot and humid; good for lake camping and water activities, but watch for storms.
- Late April – Early access to parks with blooming wildflowers and minimal crowds.
- November to March – Off-season with cold temps; winter camping possible with gear in select areas.
Unique Camping Ideas
Branched Oak State Recreation Area
Go boating and camp lakeside during a relaxing weekend getaway.
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What is Branched Oak State Recreation Area?
- Branched Oak State Recreation Area is home to the largest of the Salt Valley Lakes and offers an array of recreational and outdoor activities.
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How large is Branched Oak State Recreation Area?
- The park covers 5,595 acres.
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What types of camping options are available?
- Camping is available in nine public use areas around the lake.
- Options range from primitive tent sites with non-electrical camper pads to deluxe RV sites with hard-surfaced campsites and electrical hookups.
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What amenities do the campgrounds offer?
- Campgrounds have modern restrooms with coin-operated showers, drinking water, and flushing toilets.
- Each site includes picnic tables and fire rings.
- The park has four dump stations.
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What recreational activities are available?
- Park amenities include boat ramps, fish cleaning stations, and several miles of hiking, biking, and horse trails.
- Equestrian camping with corrals is available.
- The park features a private marina and concession.
- A children’s playground is also available for families.
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Where is Branched Oak State Recreation Area located?
- 12000 W Branched Oak Rd, Raymond, NE 68428, Phone: 402-783-3400
Chadron State Park
Explore pine-covered trails and admire canyon views on a scenic trip.
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What is Chadron State Park?
- Nestled among the rugged buttes and canyons of Nebraska's Pine Ridge, Chadron State Park was founded in 1921 and was Nebraska's first state park.
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Where is Chadron State Park located?
- The park lies at an elevation of nearly 5,000 feet in the heart of the Nebraska National Forest.
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How large is Chadron State Park?
- The park covers 972 acres.
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What activities can visitors enjoy at Chadron State Park?
- Water-based activities on the picturesque lagoon include swimming, boating, fishing, paddle-boating, and kayaking.
- Other recreational activities include hiking, horseback riding, mountain bike rentals, tennis and sand volleyball courts, and picnicking.
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What camping facilities are available at Chadron State Park?
- The park’s campground is located in the beautiful Pine Ridge.
- It features sites for tents, vans, trailers, and RVs complete with electrical hookups.
- Amenities include picnic tables, fire grills, comfort stations with hot showers and flushing toilets, a playground for kids, and a dump station.
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Where is Chadron State Park located?
- 15951 Hwy 385, Chadron, Nebraska 69337-7353, Phone: 308-432-6167
Fort Kearny State Historical Park
Walk along historic sites and see restored buildings with the kids.
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What is Fort Kearny State Historical Park?
- Established in 1848 as an outpost and a stage station for gold prospectors, Pony Express riders, and Overland Trail travelers, Fort Kearny State Historical Park is dedicated to offering an insight into the life of remote settlement of the American West.
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What can visitors see at Fort Kearny State Historical Park?
- An interpretive visitor’s center features several exhibits.
- Walkways lead to the stockade where more information is available.
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Is camping available near Fort Kearny?
- Camping is available at the nearby Fort Kearny State Recreation Area.
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What camping facilities are available?
- Campsites include electrical and primitive camp pads.
- Amenities include modern restrooms with drinking water, showers, and flushing toilets.
- Picnic tables, grills, day-use shelters, and a dump station are also available.
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What recreational activities are available?
- Visitors can enjoy hiking, swimming, mountain biking, and fishing.
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Where is Fort Kearny State Historical Park located?
- 1020 V Rd, Kearney, NE 68845, Phone: 308-237–3178
Family Camping Ideas
Fremont State Recreation Area
Fish calm waters and enjoy nature on a retirement day outdoors
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What is Fremont State Recreation Area?
- Fremont State Recreation Area is located along the Platte River and is one of the popular recreation areas in eastern Nebraska.
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Where is Fremont State Recreation Area located?
- It is located three miles west of Fremont.
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What outdoor activities can visitors enjoy?
- Activities range from camping, hiking, and mountain biking to boating, fishing, swimming, and water skiing.
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What types of camping options are available?
- Several campgrounds in the park offer hard-surfaced pads shaded by mature trees.
- Primitive camping is also available in the park.
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What amenities are provided at the campgrounds?
- Modern restrooms with drinking water, showers, and flushing toilets.
- Picnic tables and firepits.
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Are there additional recreational facilities?
- Picnicking areas and a safe swimming beach are available.
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Where is Fremont State Recreation Area located?
- 4349 West State Lakes Road, Fremont, NE 68025, Phone: 402-727-2922
Indian Cave State Park
Hike bluff trails and look at prehistoric carvings in the fall.
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What is Indian Cave State Park?
- Indian Cave State Park is a historic preservation area and public recreation area along the Missouri River that preserves a cave with prehistoric petroglyphs.
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Where is Indian Cave State Park located?
- The 3,052-acre park lies between Nemaha and Richardson counties in the southeast corner of the state.
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What outdoor activities are available at the park?
- Visitors can enjoy hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, camping, picnicking, and cross-country skiing and sledding in winter.
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What types of camping options are available?
- The park has several campgrounds with sites for tents, vans, trailers, and RVs with full electricity and water hookups.
- Primitive camping and an equestrian campground with corrals are also available.
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What amenities are available at the campgrounds?
- Amenities include picnic tables, fire rings, restrooms with showers, flushing toilets, and potable water.
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Where is Indian Cave State Park located?
- 65296 720 Rd, Shubert, NE 68437, Phone: 402-883-2575
Lake Minatare State Recreation Area
Visit the lighthouse and relax by the shore on a peaceful spring outing.
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What is Lake Minatare State Recreation Area?
- The scenic Lake Minatare State Recreation Area is a 2,970-acre park that is a federal waterfowl refuge and home to Nebraska's only lighthouse.
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Where is Lake Minatare State Recreation Area located?
- It is situated close to Scotts Bluff National Monument and Chimney Rock.
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What camping options are available at Lake Minatare?
- Lake Minatare Campground has camping pads with electrical hookups and over 100 non-pad sites.
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What amenities are available at the campground?
- Modern restrooms with potable water, vault toilets, and showers.
- Laundry facilities, picnic tables, shelters, and fire pits.
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What other facilities are available in the park?
- Boat ramps and fish cleaning stations.
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What recreational activities can visitors enjoy?
- Hiking, mountain biking, boating, fishing, swimming (unsupervised), and kayaking.
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Where is Lake Minatare State Recreation Area located?
- Minatare, NE 69356, Phone: 308-783-2911
Romantic Camping Ideas
Lake Ogallala State Recreation Area
Go fishing or paddle the lake on a calm family retreat.
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What is Lake Ogallala State Recreation Area?
- Lake Ogallala State Recreation Area is based on the shores of the small Lake Ogallala, also known as ‘little lake,’ compared to its larger counterparts nearby, the Kingsley Dam and the enormous Lake McConaughy.
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What makes Lake Ogallala a popular destination?
- The quiet 320-acre lake is a well-known fishing destination, particularly renowned for its rainbow trout.
- Its protected shoreline wards off winds and offers excellent swimming, paddling, and picnicking.
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What camping facilities are available at Lake Ogallala?
- Lake Ogallala East Campground offers 82 campsites with electricity and water hookups.
- Primitive campsites can be found on the west side of the lake.
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What amenities are available at the campgrounds?
- Public restrooms with four unisex private coin-operated shower cubicles.
- Vault latrines, potable water, and fire pits.
- Primitive campsites on the west side include portable restrooms and fresh potable water at various locations around the site.
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Where is Lake Ogallala State Recreation Area located?
- 1475 NE-61, Ogallala, NE 69153, Phone: 308-284-8800
Louisville State Recreation Area
Swim, hike, or relax under the sun during a fun summer day.
© dzimin/stock.adobe.com
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What is Louisville State Recreation Area?
- The scenic Louisville State Recreation Area is a 192-acre park on the south bank of the Platte River in Cass County that features five sandpit lakes, one of which offers swimming.
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What kind of camping facilities are available?
- The campground is open year-round and includes an excellent complex for Recreational Vehicles.
- There are 223 camping pads with electricity and water hookups.
- Additionally, there are 13 all-weather pads without electricity and 75 units on primitive, non-designated sites.
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What amenities are available at the campground?
- Picnic tables, fire rings, drinking water, and modern restrooms with showers.
- A playground for children.
- A dump station for RVs.
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What recreational activities are available?
- Visitors can enjoy hiking, swimming, mountain biking, and fishing.
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Where is Louisville State Recreation Area located?
- 15810 NE-50, Louisville, NE 68037, Phone: 402-234-6855
Eugene T. Mahoney State Park
See bison and explore hiking trails with the kids.
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What is Eugene T. Mahoney State Park?
- Eugene T. Mahoney State Park is a public recreation area located on the Platte River, about four miles east of Ashland, that offers year-round accommodations and recreational use.
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How large is Eugene T. Mahoney State Park?
- The park covers 700 acres along the Platte River.
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What types of accommodations are available?
- The park offers accommodations ranging from traditional campsites in the Little Creek and Lakeside campgrounds to overnight cabins and lodges.
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What amenities are available at the campgrounds?
- Little Creek and Lakeside campgrounds have shaded, hard-surfaced pads near Owen Marina Lake.
- Modern restrooms, drinking water, showers, and flushing toilets.
- Picnic tables and firepits.
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Are there cabin accommodations?
- Rustic cabins are available in secluded spots on wooded ridge tops.
- Cabins include air conditioning and heating, fireplaces, modern conveniences, outdoor decks, and grills.
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What recreational activities does the park offer?
- A large waterpark with several swimming pools.
- Hiking and mountain biking trails.
- Tennis courts.
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Where is Eugene T. Mahoney State Park located?
- 28500 W Park Hwy, Ashland, NE 68003, Phone: 402-944-2523
Mormon Island State Recreation Area
Camp lakeside and go wildlife watching on a quiet retirement stop.
© clairelucia/stock.adobe.com
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What is Mormon Island State Recreation Area?
- Mormon Island State Recreation Area (SRA) is a beautiful scenic area that was named after the winter stopover used by Mormon emigrants heading westward.
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What makes Mormon Island SRA unique?
- Forming part of Nebraska's unique Chain of Lakes, Mormon Island SRA hosts hundreds of thousands of sandhill cranes each spring who come to rest and court in the tranquil waters around the island.
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What wildlife can be seen at Mormon Island?
- In addition to sandhill cranes, other birds such as geese, ducks, and other waterfowl gather on the island each spring.
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What recreational activities are available?
- Visitors can enjoy fishing, non-powered boating, and boats with electric motors.
- Other activities include swimming, picnicking, and camping.
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What camping facilities are available?
- The area has several campgrounds with sites for tents, vans, trailers, and RVs.
- Amenities include picnic tables, fire rings, restrooms with hot showers and flushing toilets, and potable water.
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Where is Mormon Island State Recreation Area located?
- 7425 US-281, Doniphan, NE 68832, Phone: 308-385-6211
More parks, permits and reservations
Plan Your Trip
Table of Contents:
- 1. Branched Oak State Recreation Area
- 2. Chadron State Park
- 3. Fort Kearny State Historical Park
- 4. Fremont State Recreation Area
- 5. Indian Cave State Park
- 6. Lake Minatare State Recreation Area
- 7. Lake Ogallala State Recreation Area
- 8. Louisville State Recreation Area
- 9. Eugene T. Mahoney State Park
- 10. Mormon Island State Recreation Area