For those who want to experience Alma, but still want the creature comforts of home, consider glamping for your trip. The Dyrt lets you enjoy a unique, rustic Alma experience while glamping. The Dyrt's camping photos, reviews, and tips are an easy way to find the right Nebraska glamping spot for you.
This recreation area is part of Harlan County Lake
$75 - $100 / night
$150 - $250 / night
$150 - $250 / night
Traveler
Nice camp ground with helpful gate attendants, this Nebraska park represents the conundrum of many public campgrounds. Here, there are plentiful showers (yes, 75 cents for three minutes, woopdeedoo) but no water spigots and few usable pit toilets. There are primitive sites, 30 amp (yellow) and 50 amp (red) sites so no generator noise and all sites are near stocked ponds. A mix of overnight and long term visitors. Sandhills cranes can be viewed in the adjacent corn stubble in April. Limited cell service and no WiFi
TravelerAfter much deliberation, and with great regret, I am declaring myself a Nebraska State Parks campground anti. There are three interlocking reasons for this decision:
Both the campgrounds I have been to (this one and Rock Creek Station SRA) seem to treat tent sites as an afterthought: each park has a very small number of tenting spaces that are kind of on the margins of the campground. At Fort Kearny, the sites that were available were also either totally slanted or full of trash. It does seem like other parks might not share this problem, but it at least indicates a pattern to be aware of.
In addition to the campsite fee, there is a $12 DAILY out-of-state vehicle entrance fee. This means that a $15 campsite is actually a $27 campsite. I will say, in fairness, that the $12 also allowed my car to enter the Fort Kearny historical site next to the campground.
The showers are coin-operated. This isn’t a cost problem so much as it is a logistical one: who has quarters anymore? Also, because the showers are timed, you can’t turn the water off and back on again, which ruins my entire haircare routine.
Obviously, these reasons won’t apply to everyone. If you have a camper or RV, your calculus will be totally different. If you’re in-state, and you only have to pay $6 for your vehicle instead of $12, I could see these sites being worth it. And if you don’t have hair that you need to condition, the shower thing might not bother you. But if you are like me, a long-haired out-of-state yokel trying to cross the country with a Honda Accord and a backpacking tent, you might take these considerations into account.
I will say that this campground is beautiful to drive through, with all the little lakes and the cottonwood trees. Also, the camp hosts offer free bikes for guests to use around the campground and presumably on the nearby hike/ bike trail, which is very kind of them and which I wish I had time to take advantage of.
LegendWe’ve been camping at Patterson Harbor for the past 15 years off and on. It is a nice campground with 80 sites and also has cabins you can buy or rent. Camping is on a first come, first serve basis. The sites include electric and water and are on gravel sites. The beaches are nice and there is a marina which has bait, some food and supplies. There’s even a little bar. Patterson closes for the winter. You can drive your golf cart around(many other campgrounds don’t allow). Everyone is so nice and helpful. Define you check out if you are in the area.
Guide
Bathrooms need work or at least someone that cleans them at least daily. The park is nice but the bathrooms are embarrassing 26 dollars a night
LegendSo normally I wouldn't be harsh cuz I truly love nature, but we weren't even able to look around or take pictures. We were literally stuck in our camper and only spent the night and than left. When I did have to go out to take my dogs out to the bathroom, the bugs would fly up my nose and were all over me. I joked when I got back inside that this is the next place they should drop off for the show Naked and Afraid. Hopefully it was just a wet period or bad day😱
RangerThere are a number of loops here, we chose one with a lot of trees. There are some without water (fyi) and some that don’t allow RVs.
Yay: Lots of fishing, very short “trail” but nice for just simple relaxing on your road trip.
Nay: pretty much only prairie dogs to see here...
Surprise: crazy storms rolling over the plains! The caretakers were very nice and had recommendations for all kinds of things along our route (including amazing pie).
LegendI've been here twice now. Once in July and now at the very end of Oct. Better in Oct. No ticks or bugs and frankly of all the camping locations, there is a number of different choices, I had my section to myself. This place has swimming, a small hike, your choice of camping location, a frisbee golf course and miles one could hike or bike. I think it is kind of a jewel in the Kansas system.
Guide
Excellent for large RV’s. Pull thru sites with full hookups and overlooking Norton reservoir
GuideShaded RV spots with hookups. Good swimming
TravelerWe stayed in Prairie Dog State Park for one night on our way back home from Colorado and were pleasantly surprised with what a nice park this was. We stayed in a primitive site. The sites were spacious and had a wonderful shelter! The vault toilet, however didnt look like it had been swept in awhile as it had a LOT of bug carcasses. But otherwise a nice place to stay. Something for everyone, tents, RVs, campers. Beautiful views!
TravelerStayed here two nights in primitive site under a tree worked very well . But all services are there . Popular for fishing weekends. KS parks folk are organized and place is tip-top ! Good location off route 36 . Thanks for a nice stay
RangerFantastic state Park with full hookups... Beach, fishing and a delightful small City of prairie dogs to entertain the kids for hours
ScoutThis campground is beautiful and spacious, and it is fun to watch the deer wander around, but with deer come ticks. We camp in many places and have seldom seen so many ticks in one place.
RangerThere are a number of loops here, we chose one with a lot of trees. There are some without water (fyi) and some that don’t allow RVs.
Yay: Lots of fishing, very short “trail” but nice for just simple relaxing on your road trip.
Nay: pretty much only prairie dogs to see here...
Surprise: crazy storms rolling over the plains! The caretakers were very nice and had recommendations for all kinds of things along our route (including amazing pie).
RangerSuper flat landscape, very short walking trail, main attraction is fishing, less wildlife than I expected. Quite a few campsites to choose from, some with more trees than others. We chose a primitive one. Also some new modern cabins. Ok place to stop over, I wouldn’t return but others seemed happy with it. And yes, you will definitely see prairie dogs :)
Rangerran into this cute little guy while here
ScoutCamping for anyone arriving at anytime. Don’t expect the best when arriving late, but most of you will have reservations, right? Then you will have the best. (Pause; Coyotes calling) this place has everything for any State Park you could ask. Expansive open grasslands a lake full of fish and fowl. Turkeys and whitetail deer and the coyotes call in the distance. A photographer could get lost in the pure wilderness available in the prairie. I’ve visited here during every season. The heat and bugs of mid July to the frozen autumn morings, always beautiful and teaming with wildlife. A great place to stay no matter your style. Just please be quiet, Mother Nature is listening.
Guide
Road noisy kept this from being a 5. Good facilities all around. Concrete pads, all drive through.
GuideIf you don’t mind hwy noise (we slept in a roof top tent) after a long day of driving no issue sleeping. Nice level pads. Easy check in (after hours) called ahead and paid and they left us a camp map and our site info. Bathrooms were nice with laundry and “storm shelter”
RangerVery nice campground. Plenty of room between sites. Nice little beach areas. Plenty of room to walk the dog. And the dog park is big enough for the dog to run & play in. Wi-Fi is excellent. Cell service too. Now you wonder why not a 5. Being right next to the  highway very bad road noise. Had to turn the fan on high to drown it out. Other than that, this is a great campground.
ScoutThe park was mostly gravel lot. It was all FHU throughout that I saw the staff was nice at check in. Didn’t have any other interaction with them after that. The park was clean. I just really to comment on the very odd bath house. The showers were separate shower rooms. Two were just shower. There were two other that had a toilet in them. The wasn’t any place to set your bath items or clothes. The were hooks, but some were missing one hook leaving only one. You had to be able to hangs items from a hook and also your bath towel. The toilets were separate rooms one toilet to a room. That’s it. Just a toilet and a trash can. Then the sink/mirror was out in the open room and just two sink-a. No place to set anything if you wanted to blow dry hair after shower. No trash can at sink area. The only place you found a trash can was in the separate toilet room. Very odd layout and any other camper we talked to said the same thing. Trees at sites were only in one area of campground. Our site didn’t have a tree. All sites were concrete pads which is nice. Hook ups were easy to reach without needing to add lengths of hose or cord. LOTS of highway noise. We just did an overnight on way from Montana to Florida. It’s was just okay and would have gotten. More stars from me if not for the odd bath house. I didn’t use the laundry facility, which was also housed in same open floor plan building as toilets, showers and sinks.
TravelerThey took ok in as an emergency stop because our truck had DEF issues. Campground is nice level concrete pads and a reasonable distance between sites. There is a stocked pond you can fish without a license. It is catch and release only. It is right on a bike/walking path that goes into the city and to the archway that is super convenient. The park is clean and the staff is awesome! We would definitely stay again.
TravelerWe arrived late and they had a map and packet ready for us inside the lobby. Great wifi and the cleanest/ nicest bathroom and shower area!
TravelerWe stayed here on the way to Colorado. It is a nice easy in and out campground that has great concrete pull through sites and it makes it easy to get in, go to sleep and wake up and head out. I wouldn't stay here for anything other than that but for a quick stop, it is a great alternative. Great easy location as well.
GuideRight off 80. Close to a few museums, specifically the archway museum. Nothing fancy about the sites. Gravel and sunny. A lake for swimming where there was a fire pit. Beautiful bath house and laundry.
GuideVery large concrete pads with full hook ups. The lake was very nice and our kids enjoyed playing in the water. The staff was very nice, and helpful. We got in after hours and their process was super easy, and the directions were simple to follow. Close to attractions and town. You could hear the highway noise outside, but we didn't hear anything inside our trailer while we slept.
GuideClean well kept, mostly pull through spots I think. Ours was both times. Cement spots on gravel near a small pond. Easy access. Nice owners. Cleanest bathrooms/sowers ever.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular glamping campsite near Alma, NE?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular glamping campground near Alma, NE is Fort Kearny State Recreation Area with a 4.2-star rating from 17 reviews.
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