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Map showing campground location near Alma, Nebraska
Camper submitted image from COE Harlan County Lake Methodist Cove CampgroundView 20 Photos
FacilitiesMap showing campground location near Alma, Nebraska

COE Harlan County Lake Methodist Cove Campground

7 ReviewsAdd Review

Fishing enthusiasts and boaters will find direct water access at COE Harlan County Lake Methodist Cove Campground, which sits along Nebraska's second-largest lake. The Army Corps of Engineers manages this forested campground with 129 sites spread across several loops around the shoreline, accommodating RVs up to 120 feet with full hookups available.

Sites vary from primitive tent spots to full-service RV sites with electric, water, and sewer connections. Carly P. notes "several loops of sites are available around the lake within this campground," with some sites offering direct lakefront positioning. The campground includes a fish cleaning station with running water and grinder near the entrance, plus a playground and group picnic shelter. A large heated shower house serves the main area, with vault toilets distributed throughout other sections.

The main road uses hard surface paving, though secondary roads remain gravel and can become rough during wet conditions. Trees scattered throughout provide shade, while lake breezes help moderate summer temperatures. Campers report the facility stays well-maintained, with clean restrooms that include washers and dryers. The boat launch provides easy water access for anglers targeting walleye, wipers, and northern pike.

Open May through September, the campground accepts reservations for electric sites while maintaining first-come availability for others. For a smaller municipal option, Alma RV Park City Park offers basic amenities in town.

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Location

Public Campground

COE Harlan County Lake Methodist Cove Campground is located in Nebraska

Detail location of campground

Directions

From U.S. Highway 80, take Highway 183 south to Alma, Nebraska. Turn left on South Street and travel 2.5 miles. The park entrance is on south side of the road.

Address

70788 Corps Road A
Republican city, NE 68971-9742

Coordinates

40.0869444 N
99.3155556 W

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Connectivity

  • signal strength bars
    T-Mobile5G
    Excellent Coverage
    Verified by 2 users
    Last on 4/21/26
  • signal strength bars
    VerizonLTE
    Some Coverage
    Verified by 6 users
    Last on 4/21/26
  • signal strength bars
    AT&T5G
    Excellent Coverage

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Presented byHershey's

Connectivity

  • signal strength bars
    T-Mobile5G
    Excellent Coverage
    Verified by 2 users
    Last on 4/21/26
  • signal strength bars
    VerizonLTE
    Some Coverage
    Verified by 6 users
    Last on 4/21/26
  • signal strength bars
    AT&T5G
    Excellent Coverage

Access

  • Drive-In
    Park next to your site
  • Boat-In
    Sites accessible by watercraft.

Site Types

  • Tent Sites
  • RV Sites
  • Standard (Tent/RV)
  • Group

Features

For Campers

  • Trash
  • Firewood Available
  • Phone Service
  • Reservable
  • Drinking Water
  • Electric Hookups
  • Toilets
  • Alcohol
  • Pets

For Vehicles

  • Sanitary Dump
  • Sewer Hookups
  • Water Hookups
  • 50 Amp Hookups
  • Big Rig Friendly

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Reviews

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4.5

out of 5

7 Reviews

Visitors repeatedly highlighted the spacious lakefront sites and excellent facilities including clean bathhouses with hot showers. Many mentioned friendly staff and good amenities for families and pets. Most found ample space and privacy even during busy periods.

NThe Dyrt PRO User
Reviewed Aug. 26, 2021

Fishing Time

Harlan County Lake Near Alma, Nebraska Methodist Cove Park is located on the west side of Harlan County Lake by Alma, Nebraska. The 13,000-acre Harlan County Lake is the second largest lake in the state. The lake and surrounding land hold great appeal for sportsmen, birders, naturalists or anyone wanting to just get away.

  • • May 1– Sept 30
  • • Reservable May 1– Sept 30 (877-444-6777)
  • • Non-reservable Nov 1– April 30

• 48 Electric sites

• 50 amp available

• 81 non electric sites

• Dump station

• Picnic area

• Playground

• Full hookups

• Sewer hookup

• Electric

• Water

• Fire ring/grill

• Toilets/showers

• Boat launch

Methodist Cove Park offers variety campsites of individual, group, electric and non-electric sites. There is also one reservable group picnic shelter for day use. One large heated shower house with flush toilets is centrally located within the campground and several vault toilets are located throughout the rest of the park. The main road is hard surfaced, while others are gravel. A fish cleaning station with grinder and running water is located near the entrance. There two full service marinas on the east end of the lake. Located in South Central Nebraska, lands surrounding Harlan County Lake are primarily mixed grass prairie land. The campground is mostly forested, offering ample shade during the warmth of summer. 

This is a beautiful campground.  The site is flat and open.  Trees are scattered among the many campsites.  The sites are small but well maintained.  A bonus was a washer and dryer located in both the men's and women's bath/toilet facility.  That facility was very clean.

The Republican River Valley was once occupied by one of the greatest concentrations of buffalo on the Great Plains and was a favored hunting ground for the Pawnee, Sioux, Cheyenne and Arapaho Indian tribes. Harlan County Lake is popular for fishing, hiking, hunting and boating. Walleye, wipers, white bass, northern pike and channel catfish are the most sought after fish species. Game animals include pheasant, quail, prairie chicken, white-tailed and mule deer, turkey, waterfowl, rabbit and squirrel. The lake offers a variety of hiking trails of varying length and style, as well as one equestrian trail a short drive away. An off-road vehicle trail is located in nearby Republican City. Harlan County and an additional almost 18,000 acres of land that surround the lake is managed by the COE. There are six parks which provides the area with a plethor of recreation campsites.

 When you turn off the main highway there is a liquor store and just down from that is a bait shop where I would guess you could pick up some supplies. There is a market in Alma, Nebraska. Make sure you purchase your supplies before arriving. 

Notice to all that bring watercraft. All watercraft pose a threat of AIS Aquatic Invasive Species to the waterways in Nebraska and waterways in other states. Watercraft is the primary source of AIS they must be prepared with an accepted means of ensuring no AIS will enter local waterways. CLEAN DRY Non residents must obtain the AIS decal and apply to watercraft. If a boat is launched from a Nebraska boat facility a AIS decal must be obtained.

 Latitude 40° 5' 12.9998" N Longitude 99° 18' 56.0002" W 

From U.S. Highway 80, take Highway 183 south to Alma, Nebraska. Turn left on South Street and travel 2.5 miles. The park entrance is on south side of the road.

Need to Know• Only one camping unit allowed per site• All campers must check in when arriving at park• Maximum of six people allowed per site• An attendant is on duty during the peak season of May through September• Secure coolers and boating equipment each night to prevent thefts• Off-road vehicles are not permitted

• Don't Move Firewood: Protect your forests from tree-killing pests by buying your firewood locally and burning it on-site. Visit Dontmovefirewood.org for further information.

Contact Information Mailing Address 70788 Corps Road A REPUBLICAN CITY, NE 68971-9742 Phone Number For campground inquiries, please call: 308-799-2105

LNT

Better than when you found it

Stay safe - Happy Travels

Month of VisitAugust
Tori C.
Reviewed Sep. 24, 2020

pretty views, nice owners

snagged a lake front spot on a Wednesday night, drove right in. when we went to check out the next morning the lady said we didn’t have to worry about paying. bathrooms are clean + have pretty hot water. I would camp here again

R
Reviewed Jul. 21, 2020

Nice campground

We came in late and the campground was almost full. They found a place for us to park a Jeep with a roof top tent. All places are flat and good parking and good grass for tents. Set up well. Showers could have been cleaner but ok. The wind blew hard across the lake.

C
Reviewed Jul. 10, 2019

Huge Campground with Many Options

There are many RV and tent sites at this campground with water access to the Harlan reservoir. Several loops of sites are available around the lake within this campground. Electric RV sites and some tent sites can be reserved online while there are also a set number of first come first served sites. Dogs and campfires are allowed. There is a fish cleaning station for those who are interested in fishing. There is also a playground in the main loop for kids. Due to the overwhelming amount of rain in the area, some of the sites are unavailable right now, but there are still more than enough for everyone. We were there on a busy holiday weekend and still had plenty of space, shade, and privacy. Dogs are allowed on lease at all times. There are also two group campsites and a covered picnic facility that would be great for reunions.

Site440
Month of VisitJune
  • Review photo of COE Harlan County Lake Methodist Cove Campground by Carly P., July 10, 2019
Barb C.
Reviewed Aug. 9, 2018

Most relaxing vacation my husband and I have ever had.

Located on Harlan County Lake. We chose campsite #63, just back from the shoreline. It was an extremely large site with plenty of room to play with our dogs without bothering anyone else. Plenty of places to walk or hike along the shoreline. While the temps were in the 90's and humid out in the sun, our site stayed between 78 and 80 due to the cooling breezes coming from the lake. The campground water supply was pristine. There were plenty of nice outhouses spread throughout the park. The main bathhouse is huge and the showers are great. The boat ramp was very nice. The campground hostess was very nice and comes around to introduce herself in case you have any questions.

Site63
Month of VisitAugust
  • Review photo of COE Harlan County Lake Methodist Cove Campground by Barb C., August 9, 2018
Showing results 1-7 of 7 reviews

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a map available for Methodist Cove Campground?

Maps for Methodist Cove Campground are available through the Army Corps of Engineers, who manage Harlan County Lake. The campground features several loops of sites arranged around the lake shoreline. For the most up-to-date and detailed campground map, check the official Army Corps of Engineers website or contact the park office directly. Maps are particularly helpful for identifying the location of lakefront sites, which are highly desirable and allow you to see the campground's layout across its various loops.

Are there photos available of Methodist Cove Campground facilities?

Yes, photos of Methodist Cove Campground facilities can be found on various camping platforms including The Dyrt, as well as the official Army Corps of Engineers website. These images typically showcase the campground's large sites, lake views, shower facilities, and camping areas. Photos help illustrate the flat terrain, grassy tent areas, and proximity to the shoreline. For the most current visual representation of the facilities, check the official Corps of Engineers page for Harlan County Lake.

What camping options are available at Harlan County Lake besides Methodist Cove?

Harlan County Lake offers several other camping areas beyond Methodist Cove. These include North Shore, Gremlin Cove, and Hunter Cove campgrounds. The lake has a variety of camping styles to accommodate different preferences, from more developed sites with amenities to more primitive options. Each area provides unique access points to the 13,000-acre lake and surrounding recreational opportunities. For specific information about facilities at each alternative campground, check with the Army Corps of Engineers who manage the Harlan County Lake recreation areas.

Where is Methodist Cove Campground located at Harlan County Lake?

Methodist Cove Campground is located on the west side of Harlan County Lake near Alma, Nebraska. The campground sits along the shoreline of Harlan County Lake, which at 13,000 acres is the second largest lake in Nebraska. Its position provides easy water access and scenic lake views. The location is ideal for water recreation activities and offers numerous lakefront camping opportunities.

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