Camper submitted image from Little Thunder Campground - 1

View Photos

Camper submitted image from Little Thunder Campground - 2
Nature
Camper submitted image from Little Thunder Campground - 3
Facilities
Camper submitted image from Little Thunder Campground - 4
Roads
Camper submitted image from Little Thunder Campground - 5
Buildings
Unlock Planning Tools in App

Established Camping

Little Thunder Campground

Warning 2 Alerts are In Effect

There are 2 alerts for this campground. Camp safely!

SAVE TIME, DON'T WAIT IN LINE! BUY YOUR PARK ENTRY PERMIT IN ADVANCE AND ENJOY MORE TIME IN THE PARK. PURCHASE HERE gooutdoorsne.com

The possession and consumption of alcohol is prohibited at Lake McConaughy and Lake Ogallala.

Little Thunder Campground is near Lake McConaughy, offering sandy shores and open water views. Temperatures range from lows around 20°F in winter to highs near 90°F in summer. Visitors can explore the nearby Lake McConaughy State Recreation Area, known for fishing and boating opportunities.

Description

Nebraska Game and Parks Commission

Lake Mcconaughy State Recreation Area And Wildlife Management Area

To create a safer, family-friendly environment, all camping at Lake McConaughy and Lake Ogallala State Recreation Areas will be by advanced reservation only. Reservations are available 180 days in advance for designated camp sites and 30 days in advance for beach camping. To learn more visit: http://outdoornebraska.gov/lakemcconaughy/

Nearly everything about Lake McConaughy is big. At 30,000 surface acres it is Nebraska’ largest reservoir, its dam is among the largest of its type in the world and its fish grow to trophy proportions, accounting for several state records. Even its nickname, “Big Mac,” reflects its size. Located eight miles northeast of Ogallala, Lake McConaughy State Recreation Area is known to most Nebraskans and residents of neighboring states as a great place for outdoor recreation. Lake Mac’s white sand beaches and clear waters are a favorite with campers, boaters, wind surfers, swimmers, water skiers, picnickers, scuba divers, hunters, anglers and others seeking outdoor fun.

The Lake McConaughy Visitor and Water Interpretive Center is one-quarter mile south of Kingsley Dam on Highway 61. The Visitor Center makes a great first stop upon arrival as it houses the park office, gift shop and public restrooms and offers a beautiful view of the lake. Nebraska Park Entry Permits, camping registrations, fishing and hunting licenses and more helpful information to enhance your visit are all available here. The Center also houses two 1,000 gallon aquariums as well as interactive educational exhibits depicting the story of water in Nebraska and the history, hydrology and geology of the North Platte River Valley and Lake McConaughy. Learn about the construction of Kingsley Dam made from original photos and 8mm footage in the Ethel S. Abbott Theater.

Looking for a location to host your next meeting? Lake McConaughy’s conference room and Ethel S. Abbott Theater are available to rent for meetings and special events.

Fishing has long been a favorite activity at Lake McConaughy, with its cool, clear, deep waters. Game fish species include walleye, channel catfish, Northern pike, wiper, smallmouth and white bass, among others. The area has three fish cleaning stations located at Martin Bay, Otter Creek and Cedar View. The area offers several boat ramps with docks, depending upon water level. Contact the Visitor's Center for ramp availability. Fuel and boat rental are available from vendors around the lake.

The area’s white sand beaches make it a popular destination for swimmers and those who want to hang out on the shore and soak up the sun. Swimming is allowed at beach areas unless otherwise posted. Lifeguards are not on duty.

The Park Naturalist hosts many events throughout the year. Check the Outdoor Calendar or call the Park Office at 308-284-8800 for up to date information.

CHECK-IN AND CHECK-OUT If you check out early, the unused portion of your payment will be forfeited. Campers with reservations must check in with staff either at a kiosk (fee booth) or at the Visitor Center. Check-In time is from 2 pm MST ¿ 9 pm MST. Please be prepared to provide your name and reservation number. Your reservation number can be accessed from your confirmation email, or by logging into your Reserve America account.

All overnight campers must: Make a reservation in advance. Check in with park staff before proceeding to their campsite

Guests must be checked in by 9 pm. Lake McConaughy SRA has a gating system in place. Gates will close at 9 pm. Check-out is at Noon (12 pm MST) on the last day of your stay. Quiet hours are from 10 pm to 6 am.

See Reservation Policies details

Suggest an Edit

Location

Little Thunder Campground is located in Nebraska

Detail location of campground

Directions

Take Interstate 80 to the Ogallala Exit #126, then turn north onto Hwy 61 (or Spruce Street in Ogallala). Turn East (right) on Hwy 61 North and follow the road. The Visitor Center will be on the right-hand side of the road. 1 mile after the Visitor Center is the Kingsley Dam. After crossing the dam, take the first left for the Martin Bay entrance. You must check-in at the kiosk, or the Visitor Center, before proceeding to your camping spot.

Address

1475 Highway 61 North
Ogallala, NE 69153-5930

Coordinates

41.25117595 N
101.71155155 W

Open in Google Maps

Access

  • Drive-In
    Park next to your site
  • Walk-In
    Park in a lot, walk to your site.
  • Boat-In
    Sites accessible by watercraft.

Stay Connected

  • WiFi
    Good
  • Verizon
    Unknown
  • AT&T
    Unknown
  • T-Mobile
    Unknown

Site Types

  • Tent Sites
  • RV Sites
  • Standard (Tent/RV)
  • Cabins
  • Tent Cabin

Features

For Campers

  • Market
  • Picnic Table
  • Reservable
  • Showers
  • Drinking Water
  • Electric Hookups
  • Toilets
  • Pets
  • Fires

For Vehicles

  • Sanitary Dump
  • Sewer Hookups
  • Water Hookups
  • 30 Amp Hookups
  • 50 Amp Hookups

Contact

General Info

Reservations

Drive Time


Reviews

Add Review

5 Stars

4 Stars

3 Stars

2 Stars

1 Star

17%
50%
34%
0%
0%

4.0

out of 5

6 Reviews

Reviewed Dec. 30, 2024

Sandy beaches, starry skies, summer heat

We stayed one night at "Big Mac" on July 6th on our way out to Colorado in beach area 12. We were able to pull right up to the shore. There was a heat wave coming through so it was very hot. The bathrooms (In our spot they were just biffy's) are a bit of a walk from the spot we were at. 

We had 3 setups, a roof top tent, inside the 4runner and a ground tent. All parties slept pretty happily including a 6 year old. We cooked right on the beach and had a campfire. 

Towards midnight we saw some amazing stars that the pictures I included don't do justice. We would stay here again but I would caution anyone coming here to bring some sun screen and ensure you drink a lot of a water. There are some tent spots among the trees that provide more shade.

If you're from a state (Like we are from MN) with lots of beaches and Lakes, it's really "just ok". Don't get me wrong, It's cool you can camp right on the beach and it's probably the most exciting place to be in Nebraska, but that's not saying much.

Sitebeach Area 12
Month of VisitJuly
  • Review photo of Little Thunder Campground by Connor M., December 30, 2024
  • Review photo of Little Thunder Campground by Connor M., December 30, 2024
  • Review photo of Little Thunder Campground by Connor M., December 30, 2024
  • (4) View All
Reviewed May. 19, 2023

Late April Tent Camping

Cold evening, pulled in late, campground was empty, sandy spot, bathroom at boat launch was open in the morning.

Month of VisitApril
Reviewed Aug. 25, 2021

Love this place

Amazing view, nice bath house, close to the water. We will go back 💯

Site29
Month of VisitJuly
Reviewed Apr. 19, 2021

White Sandy Beaches

The campground is open all year, but the restroom isn't. The sites are not level but definitely doable. Not a lot of shade in the center of the loop. Most of the Lakefront sites do. There is a great playground. Showers are by token. Beautiful white sandy beaches close by. In Lake McConaughy RA you can camp anywhere within the state park for $12, it doesn't have to be an actual site!  So lots of people camped on the beach along the water. Probably very quiet and pleasant and budget friendly.

  • Review photo of Little Thunder Campground by Nancy C., April 19, 2021
  • Review photo of Little Thunder Campground by Nancy C., April 19, 2021
  • Review photo of Little Thunder Campground by Nancy C., April 19, 2021
  • (7) View All
Reviewed Aug. 24, 2016

Ranger Review: Xero Umara Z-Trail Sport Sandal at Little Thunder Campground

Campground Review: A great place for beach goers and those that want to take advantage of the huuuge Lake McConaughy for boating and fishing, as most campers have something with them for their aquatic adventures. There's boat load ramps. The campgrounds are large too. 4 stars since ground plots for primitive camping didnt offer much cover. Primitive and electrical hook ups available. There's a combination restroom and shower facility and half of their 42 sites are reservable. There's also a basic jungle gym for kids in the center of the grounds. Within the State Rec Area, this is a good site for access to the lake and if you need the electrical hook ups, and probably the best bet for anyone with kids so bathrooms are close by. Of course, you are steps from beach, so if that's your thing you'd be well served here.

Gear Review: The Xero Umara Z-Trail Sport is designed to be a lightweight performance sandal and I wholeheartedly agree. As a Dyrt Ranger, I get products to test and review in the field, and I've had these on my feet for about 3 weeks now. They're so light you'll forget you're wearing them, and the comfort is hard to ignore. I've done everything in them from hikes in the Rocky Mountains to cruising the urban concrete. Performance: The tread has serious grip. Doing descents on mountain trails in these wont keep your feet from getting dirty, but it will keep them on the ground and not above your head because you slipped. The thin sole allows for you to massage your feet on curved rocks too, so yeah - Bonus. These aren't my first choice running shoes, but barefoot-style runners have totally found their holy grail. I ran along the beach with them in the morning and it was awesome because it felt like I was running on the sand but I knew I was getting better support at the same time.
Fit: I highly recommend using the size guide online. If you're going to be really active (runners and hikers), your feet will swell slightly so give yourself some room to play with. The straps against my skin were great (probably because they use a process where there's no edge seams rubbing against you), easy to adjust, and there's a flexible loop to put any excess strap through so you're not tripping over yourself. Clever design too because your foot sits in a slight footbed well, rather than on top of a total flat piece of material, so your foot is well 'cushioned'. Verdict: Great sandal for around camp and on the trails. I've hesitated about taking a second pair of shoes for use around campgrounds because of the weight it would add to my pack, but not only are these roll-able so it makes packing easy (or lash them to your pack with a caribiner) but now, my second-pair shoes are so light, why wouldn't I? The grip means foraging for firewood or exploring around camp are no concern. My belongings seem to be just as accident prone as myself, and so far they're up to the task. The value with the Xero Umara Z-trail Sport is totally there. Check out the sandals here. Men's and Women's sizes available. https://xeroshoes.com/shop/ready-to-wear-barefoot-sandals/ztrail-men/

  • Review photo of Little Thunder Campground by Daniel  B., August 24, 2016
  • Review photo of Little Thunder Campground by Daniel  B., August 24, 2016
  • Review photo of Little Thunder Campground by Daniel  B., August 24, 2016
  • (10) View All

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to camp at Little Thunder Campground?

Camping at Little Thunder Campground can cost between $25.00 and $30.00 depending on the site.

Does Little Thunder Campground have RV hookups?

According to TheDyrt.com, Little Thunder Campground has 30 amp and 50 amp electric hookups, water hookups and sewer hookups.

Are fires allowed at Little Thunder Campground?

Yes, according to campers on TheDyrt.com, fires are allowed at Little Thunder Campground, although make sure to check current fire restrictions in the area.

Does Little Thunder Campground have wifi?

No, according to campers on TheDyrt.com, Little Thunder Campground does not have wifi.