Looking for an adventure where you can explore Alliance and then fall asleep in your tent? The Dyrt is an easy way to find tent camping spots near Alliance. You're sure to find the perfect tent campsite for your Nebraska camping adventure.
Legend
Open May 1– October 1. Got the second to last site on a Wednesday in July(you can reserve sites after the campground opens on May 1). We chose this campground for its proximity to Scottsbluff. Although there is a tent site area, the campground was filled mostly with large RVs. The hosts were very friendly and welcoming and even though it was not a large campground, the host escorted us to our site. He offered several times to deliver firewood to us if we wanted. Reasonable cost for sites($10 tent camping,$20 water and electric,$25 for full hook-up). Best sites are the ones at the end of the rows as they have a nice patch of lawn. Alcoholic beverages are permitted but must be consumed inside your rig/tent. WiFi is available but not a strong signal; using our own data worked much better. Restrooms were reasonably clean(accessed via a code) and there are showers. This campground is located within a city park and there are other facilities(fitness trail, dog park, and supposedly a zoo). I did a little exploring but rain was imminent so I didn’t wander far, however, the facilities outside the campground looked like they could have used a little TLC. Of course, there is a nearby train!
Legend
This private campground directly overlooks Carhenge and is not too far from (small) downtown Alliance. Although tent prices were listed, I’m not sure it would appeal to tenters. Prices range from $17 for tents to $27 for water to $35 for full hookups. 50% off after the third day. Weekly and monthly rates listed and it appears that credit cards are accepted. I believe there were four full hookup sites. The day we were there, there were only two RVs there and I didn’t see anyone to talk to. (There was a phone number prominently displayed to call but I did not). Pit toilet. No shade at all. If you are passing through, it might be good for an overnight stay but other than Carhenge, not much to do in this area. Was suggested that it might be a good stop on the way to Sturgis (tent camping?)
Guide
Not many campsites, but all very accessible for any sized rig. There are tent sites as well. All sites are messed against the Cottonwood trees for afternoon shade.
Ranger
Stayed here for an event in Chadron at the cabins and they served their purpose, but they were fairly outdated. Really pretty campground though and I would like to go back tent camping. Typical nice and clean amentities, some small wildlife sightings, overall a really enjoyable experience.
GuideWe tent camped here on the last night of a road trip after stopping at the national monument. It was a nice, quiet campground. The tent area was a nice open, grassy area. There weren’t many of us tenting so we didn’t have anyone close! We explored down by the river for a little bit then had to run back as a storm was threatening! Hosts very kind and accommodating. They only take cash, though, so just be prepared.
GuideSupposed to be good birding here but nothing special. Reservoir was low but ppl fishing, tubing and having fun. Some sites close together along reservoir. We camped near tent sites at far end of campground in cottonwoods. No neighbors so peaceful. Clean pit toilets and water. Campground lights drowned out the stars :(
Guide
Our family of four tent-camped two nights on the way home from the Black Hills. It's rural Nebraska at its best! A very social campground with flocks of kids biking, playing hide-and seek, and just running free. With several lodging options, this hidden gem seemed to be a place where family and friends meet up to get away. During our stay we enjoyed an interactive rodeo, swimming in the indoor pool, and a history lesson including Native American culture as we toured the grounds. At night the stars were spectacular, and the morning chuck-wagon breakfast was treat. We would love to go back for the annual pow-wow! If you are touring western Nebraska or South Dakota and don't mind beautiful open drives and busy friendly campgrounds stay here!
TravelerI tent camped and booked online earlier on the same day (use this link, the one listed above is incorrect: https://www.campspot.com/park/riverside-campground-scottsbluff-ne). For only $10, I certainly had everything I needed. The restroom had an access code, which should be provided at check-in. The only downside was that there were a few pesky bugs, but it is “Riverside” after all. If you’re going to Scotts Bluff, I highly recommend this spot!
Guide
We originally were planning on staying at West Wind, but our GPS couldn’t locate it at first and since it was late we just settled here. The reservable sites aren’t too bad being paved and somewhat near the bathrooms. However, the camping on the beach is not very well maintained. There was trash everywhere. People also pulled in at all hours of the night and when you are tent camping it’s not the best. The staff was friendly which is a plus. The showers cost $$$ which after paying $$ to both camp and park seems outrageous. If we go back we will more than likely try to stay at a different campground around the lake.
Legend
Was not interested in staying one night at Chadron State Park. Nice state park, but the campground was a little too crowded for my liking. It was also expensive. Stayed at Red Cloud Campground instead. Glad we did. As stated in previous reviews, this campground is clean and well maintained. I wouldn't recommend amy rig larger than a truck camper. Concrete picnic table, grill, metal fire ring, almost level gravel parking spot. Partial shade. In pine forest. Gravel campground road, ends in small loop. Sites not quite level but most not bad. Tent camping posible. Dirt & grass sites; mowed. Some are large, some with some privacy. Single vault toilet, clean with tp. Campground is in the woods next to US Hwy 385. Noisy, especially with truck traffic. Noise decreased about 10pm. Otherwise, really nice campground. Would recommend for overnight stay. AT&T data service good; bad T-Mobile service.
Guide
Grounds just outside of Alliance off Hwy2. Quiet area, grounds maintained nicely with trees in most lots. Owner is very nice and a pleasure to talk to. Assisted with getting 40’ class A into spot. Full hook-ups in all sites. 30/50 amp. Overall nice place to stay a few days.
LegendLocated in the Northwest corner of the Nebraska panhandle this 98 year old state park has it all for a great family get-away of road tripping stop. Chadron State park offers 70 electric and 18 primitive camping sites. The bulk of the primitive sites are walk up so be sure to get there early for the sites that have the best shade trees. There are a few non-reservable electric sites but to be safe I’d book online well in advance or call ahead. You can also book cabins at this park and during my stay the cabins looked to be entirely in use. Enjoy miles of hiking and mountain biking trails that range from level to steep inclines through rouged terrain. Activities such as swimming in the well maintained pool, horse back riding have extra fees which are reasonable. There is a great fishing pond and several playgrounds scattered throughout the park. If you plan on horseback riding, and you should it was the highlight of our trip, tours begin at 9am and leave every hour except noon until 3pm. I recommend the 9am or 10am ride to avoid the heat. You register at the visitor center located at the front of the park for this 45 min guided ride. Other features of this park include an archery range, paddle boats, tennis, horseshoe pits, sand volleyballs and outdoor events (check the Nebraska state parks calendar).
On this multi family campout we had 8 kids with us and 6 adults. We camped in sites 16 and 14 which are electric sites. We chose these sites for the plentiful shade trees and proximity to the water pump and the shower building. The sites are deep and mostly flat. We had a little tent city going with large tents and we all found level, shaded ground.
Observations: the grounds are well kept with regular rounds from camp hosts and park staff to check trash and make sure the guests are happy. If you are hoping for some downed wood for fire you’ll be out of luck at this park. You can bring in local wood and find wood for purchase on site and in nearby Chadron just a 12 minute drive North of the park. You may want to bring your bike to the park. Most of the attractions are a quick although hilly ride from the campsite. I would like to see walking and riding paths separate from the roads at this park. When driving be on the look out for pedestrians and bike riders on the road. This was a quite campground with many short stay visitors during our stay. Quite hours start at 10pm and end at 8am. I have to say were were easily the loudest group a bit in violation of the 10pm quite time as we played games around the campfire but we were not visited by any neighbors or the camp host. If you are a fan of view spectacular night skies this a a great park. You can see brilliant stars, planets and the Milky Way. On hikes you’ll see sandstone buttes and valleys. We also saw many bird species and more woodpeckers than I’ve seen in any other location. You’ll also see white tail and mule deer around the park. The camp host told us that in the fall you can observe big horn sheep in the area. On your hike bring binoculars and enjoy a peak at the black hills of South Dakota.
The visitor center offers camping essentials you may have lost of forgotten, souvenirs, ice, wood and a vending machine. You can also visit the trading post on site and order from a small menu of breakfast and lunch/dinner items.
Nearby Chadron State park you can visit the Nebraska state forest and grasslands, Agate fossil beds, fur trading museum, Box Butte state recreation area/lake, Black Hills of South Dakota, and Fort Robinson state park. All in all this is a must see state park for a short or long stay with family, friends, or a solo trip. 5 stars in my book.
Ranger Review, Wenzel Portico 6 tent:
As a ranger for The Dyrt I have the opportunity from time to time to review camping products. I was fortunate to be able to review the Wenzel Portico 6 tent on this multifamily 3 night, 2 day campout.
The Portico 6 is a 74” heigh dome style tent using 3 lightweight shock corded poles. The footprint is 10’x9’ and advertised as a 6 person tent. I’d cut that in half for occupancy in reality. I’m 6’2” and my sons are 6’ and 5’6”. I’d say with sleeping bags and a couple of back packs we would consume the entire floor space. We tested this tent with 2 cots and two 12 year old boys for 3 nights. The tent was intuitive and easy to set up from the box without looking at directions. Total set up time was roughly 17 minutes from initial unboxing to completion. This is definitely a two person job in order to get the poles upright but not difficult. The Portico has some great highlights including a dry entry awning although a bit short, plastic pole holders at the corners, and a large D shape entry. The door zipper worked very well with no snagging which was a very pleasant thing as tents go. The Portico also has 3 very useful storage pockets on the outside of the tent. The boys used the pockets to hang their wet swim trunks. I can see these pockets being useful for storage of bug spray, sun screen and other like items. It is curious why the storage pockets aren’t located on the inside of the ten however where I can see them being more useful. There is ample head room in the tent and with the rain fly off the tent if very breathable while offering a view of the sky. There is good privacy with the mesh starting a bit higher on the tent which I think is a great feature. You’ll also enjoy the pre-attached guy lines on the rainfly. Speaking of the rainfly, this may be the tent’s best feature. We did see a good amount of rain during this campout with a long lasting low wind thunderstorm. The rainfly held up great and keep the boys dry the hole time.
Before I go in to the concerns it should be noted that this is not a tent designed for outback and rouged camping. This is a tent for the back yard or well established camp sites. If that is where you keep this tent then I think you’ll really enjoy the tent for a long time. Potential concerns come from the light weight fiberglass poles, thin floor, plastic pole holder corners and plastic tent stakes. We layed down a second tarp in the tent and used cot foot prints to help protect the floor. I’d defiantly never use this tent without a good think tarp under the tent to protect from puncture. I’d upgrade the tent stakes if you plan on camping on hard ground or ground with any rocks. These yellow low end stakes will not last long. Much care is also needed when pounding in the stakes to the plastic tent pole holders. One missed swing could potentially break the corners or the stake. The awning did do it’s job keeping some small camp chairs dry but I’d like to see a bit deeper awning. The only complaint the boys had about the tent was that it didn’t move air very well with the rainfly on. The tent didn’t have any condensation in it however. All in all this is a nice backyard camping tent for a maximum of 2 people with cots or 3 people in sleeping backs with a couple of packs. It is light weight and easy to store. Set up with two people and tear down with one will take around 15 minutes both ways. Check out more here: https://wenzelco.com/portico-6/
Legend
We had some difficulty locating this park and eventually asked a local where it was (Google maps will not direct you to the right place; the “campground” is located on East 11th Street and First Avenue). It is located uphill from the downtown area so don’t confuse it with another city park closer to downtown. Now, to review the campground. Western Nebraska campgrounds are unlike other places we are used to – perhaps it is because of summer heat (and biting flies) but most seem to be geared toward RVs. This one has three "sites", although they are not separated in any way save for the electrical and water hook-ups. Just room for three rigs on a gravel area. No tents for sure. Across the street from these “sites” is a nice lawn area with lots of trees and a covered picnic pavilion, which could make your stay more pleasant, as long as a group isn’t using it. There was a persistent barking dog nearby while I was checking it out. About the only redeeming thing I can think of for this place is the price: free for the first two nights but you would need to pay$10 per night after (I guess to discourage people from living there). Close to Chimney Rock and about 25 miles from Scotts Bluff but otherwise not much in the area.
Guide
We're in the midst of a week in our 26' travel trailer along this beautiful 1.5 mile-long dirt Forest Service road 714-A, directly above Chadron State Park. We're guessing that most folks who stay in the State Park campground below are unaware that dispersed camping is indeed permitted within 300 feet of the center line of this road, for even though the popular State Park campground remains closed for another day due to a delayed COVID-19 opening, and is booked solid thereafter, there's absolutely no one else camping up here!
You actually have to drive through the State Park to access FR-714-A, and the park does not lock their gate overnight so access remains unrestricted. The road is in excellent shape and negotiable by any trailer or motorhome, but is only a single lane wide. We're 700 feet of elevation above the plains below, with stunning views stretching off to the horizon. Much of this area has burned in the past, but the area where we're camping is lush and grassy with some stately pines around. This isn't the Nebraska that you know!
Cell service on Verizon is a solid 3+ bars - 54ms ping, 13.6 Mbps down, 3.5 Mbps up. The Verizon tower is visible about 5 miles to the south of our campsite.
There are numerous hiking trails that depart from either end of FR-714-A, including some in the State Park. Fresh water, an RV dump and a camp store are all located within the park, along with an archery range, sledding hill, fishing pond, playgrounds, picnic areas and more.
One star is deducted only because:
The phone number provided is for the Nebraska National Forest Pine Hill Ranger District in Chadron, in whose jurisdiction this road resides.
Legend
Captain Critter Country campground is located right off of highway 26 between Mitchell and Scottsbluff Nebraska. There is a set of train tracks on the other side of highway,and the trains blow there horns when they come through. Scared the crud out of me because they were so loud. When you pull into the campground it is obvious real quickly that it is in need of some TLC. There are spray painted tires around saplings throughout the campground. Along with spray painted numbers on the electrical boxes and in need of some clean up. There are bright yellow buckets over the water spigots. One of the reasons we stopped was because it advertised a fruit orchard and veggie garden that we could pick from to eat. So I set off walking to find these. The fruit orchard is non existent. On brochure given said it was coming. And the veggie garden was very overgrown with weeds couldn’t tell if anything was planted in most of it. I passed by a once swimming pool that is beyond repair. With that being said the owner is super nice and the campground has 36 full hook up sites with more being made. We paid $35 for the night. The lanes are cutely named -Bunny Blvd,Critter Court, Deer Drive, Fox Fairway, and Gopher Gateway to name a few. The dog park is a nice size and has water bowls for the pups and deflated balls to play with. There is a small backyard swing set for kids and areas with trees that provide shade. The bathroom and showers are closed due to Covid. A lot of the campers look like full timers, and I did not see any tent areas.
Ranger
We caught some awesome bass here. We stayed 2 nights and had a blast. Worked well with my roof top tent.
GuideThis park is wonderful. Every spot has some shade, and the grounds are well kept. The bathrooms and showers are super clean and well stocked. I’ve never explored this part of Nebraska before, and it exceeded all expectations.
GuideHad reservations as Nebraska Travel Guide listed so figured was ok. River is close by but not at campground. I did not read Dyrt reviews first...lesson learned. It was dirt, dead grass snd I felt in unsafe area. We did not stay!!!
Guidesite: stayed in a cabin, would have preferred a tent (outdated, not well maintained, not very clean)
amenities: n/a
attractions: pool. lake. hiking.
I would not go camping (or stay in a cabin) here again.
TravelerThis is a beautiful area in Northwest Nebraska. The bathrooms are clean and well maintained. There's a couple good hikes and a swimming pool. We were there in September 2017 and pretty much had the place to ourselves! The view is great if you stay in the even # sites 38-48.
Guide
We arrived to find that the site we had reserved was not only occupied by another RV, but the people had essentially taken off for days. We were given a different, worse site, and had no options, since the campground was full. The person in charge of the campground was less than helpful. We had chosen that site MONTHS in advance so we could accommodate a screen tent. The bugs are horrendous (mosquitoes primarily, with flies coming in a close second). We were unable to put up the screen tent due to how small the site was, and how close to the water we were...like a few feet from stagnant, buggy water. To say it was NOT a good experience is an understatement. We left after one unpleasant night. We will not go back, and instead re-route to go to a better rated campground next time.
Guide
Google maps will lead you right to the area. It's next to a busy road. Nebraska 20, Bridges to Buttes Byway. Enough parking for several rigs if parked close. I was the only rig there on a Thursday. It's only a few miles from a Super Walmart and a Safeway, in Chadron.
LegendPulling up to this campground, it is right next to carhenge. It is a fairly new camground and has no shade. It is a few miles from town and there really isn’t anything there. We decided not to stay here. It would be ok if you needed to pull over for the night. The sites were pull thru and on gravel. The sites went from full hook ups down to tent.
LegendWe stopped here after a long day in the car. This campground is nice and well maintained with beautiful view. The sites were level for tents and the facilities were well maintained and clean. We only stayed one night but the campground was quiet and peaceful.
Legend
This is a park for small rvs or tent campers. There are a few pull through just after the gun range but the rest of the sites down the road are very small. All sites are very close together. Pit toilet and waste containers.
GuideChadron State park is located just a few miles south of Chadron, NE. There are many nice picnic areas throughout the park, some big enough to host large groups. They also offer cabins to rent if you plan on staying the night. Drive through the park and you can enter in to Nebraska national forest which has amazing views out to the prairies and farm land below. One of the best places to watch the sunset!
RangerThis was our first time here and we are already planning our next trip. The park is nestled inside the Nebraska National Forest and provides breathtaking views all around. We stayed in a small cabin for this trip, but next trip will be bringing our camper. There are so many activities here including archery, horseback riding, hiking, and fishing just to name a few. The scenic drive or hike to see the large buttes is really something. I highly recommend this state park for anyone!
Tent camping near Alliance, Nebraska offers a chance to immerse yourself in nature while enjoying the tranquility of the outdoors. With a variety of well-reviewed spots, you can find the perfect place to pitch your tent and unwind.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Alliance, NE?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Alliance, NE is Smith Lake State Wildlife Area with a 4-star rating from 2 reviews.
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