Camping areas around Ashland, Nebraska range from developed state parks to modern RV facilities within a 30-minute drive. Eugene T. Mahoney State Park offers full amenities for tent campers, RV users, and cabin seekers, while Platte River State Park provides tent sites, RV hookups, and glamping options including yurts. The Ashland RV Campground serves travelers with electric hookups in a more compact setting. Memphis Lake State Recreation Area accommodates tent campers, RV users, and cabin visitors with basic facilities and water access.
Permits and reservations are essential for most developed campgrounds in the region, especially during summer weekends when facilities reach capacity. Many campgrounds remain open year-round, though winter camping requires preparation for Nebraska's cold temperatures. Eugene T. Mahoney State Park maintains full services throughout the seasons, while some recreation areas may reduce amenities during winter months. Interstate 80 proximity provides easy access to most camping areas, though highway noise can affect the camping experience at certain sites. As noted in one review, "You will hear interstate road noise at night but if you've camped right you will be too tired to care."
The camping experience varies significantly across the area's mixed-use campgrounds. Sites at Eugene T. Mahoney State Park feature electric hookups with some full-service options, though campers mention the proximity of sites to one another can feel crowded during peak periods. Most developed campgrounds provide shower facilities, drinking water, and fire rings. Recreational opportunities include fishing access at Louisville State Recreation Area, mountain biking near Ashland RV Campground, and numerous water activities at Mahoney State Park. A camper described the Ashland RV Campground as being "close to main street Ashland, which offers gourmet coffee and a couple of restaurants," highlighting the convenience of being near town amenities while enjoying outdoor recreation.
$25 - $485 / night
"Nestled between two major cities in Nebraska, you're never far away from anything you may want to do or see. RV and tent camping is obviously available with limited privacy."
"We used to stop here as a midway point when driving to Colorado. We always stayed at the lodge for a night and had a pleasant time exploring the area."
"Very close to the Nebraska crossing outlet mall! 😊"
"The campground itself was fine and very convenient in location to vIsIt famIly."
$35 - $340 / night
"We were passing through Nebraska and opted to stay the night here. The campground is new and will be even nicer when the trees are big enough to provide shade."
"Short walk in but a wagon is provided to help unload equipment. Picnic and fire pit near the teepee."
$15 - $35 / night
"A HUGE campground with around 250 total sites, with options ranging from walk-in camping tent-only sites to RV areas. There is a 3 decent-size lakes spread evenly across the grounds."
"I am sorry 😔 but I have nut yet been to any of Nebraska's Camping grounds your's well be the first."
$10 - $35 / night
"Great little stocked fishing lake with sites all fairly close to the long northern shore of the lake. Redwing blackbirds, geese, and lightning bugs tucked in between the corn fields."
"If you want to get away in Nebraska, this is the place. There’s no electricity or running water. The outhouses are kinda gross. There’s an awesome bar right outside the park, too."
$20 / night
"This is a nice campground located on the edge of Papillion, Nebraska. There are several trails nearby, some paved and others grass. The main trailhead is easily accessible from the park road."
"This is a very cool park in Papillion, Nebraska! It also has a sewer dump site for $5 (if you're not camping). See the camp host to pay."
$27 - $55 / night
"Close (but not too close) to I-80, we stayed here as a way point cruising across Wyoming/Nebraska/Iowa. Clean facilities, quiet vibe, it was just what we needed after a long day of driving."
"Convenient location right off the highway, but with that you do get the noise. Has a playground and pool as will as a convenience store. Bathrooms and showers were clean."
$35 - $67 / night
"A fun pass is require and costa about $10 but kids get ice cream, Slushies, water balloons for water wars included with that plus access to trampoline basketball, a nice jump pad, pool, indoor hot tub,"
"Next to highway. You can hear highway but that doesn’t bother me"
$100 / night
"The fishing is easy in all the lakes and they have a pay fishing trout lake that nearly guarantees success. Our kid and her friends love the swimming beach."
"Whether I was riding a bike around the paved roads. Fishing in one of the sandpit lakes they have to offer, or the river. Walk around the nature trails, or lakes."
$45 - $55 / night
"It is close to main street Ashland, which offers gourmet coffee (Fariner Bakery was my favorite), and a couple of restaurants (Cheri-O's seemed to be the hot spot). "
"Brand new clean quiet campground walking distance from downtown. Site wasn’t level front to back and the host offered to move us."
GuideDid some backcountry camping at the Badger Ridge location, overall the stay was great! The park has multiple hike-in backcountry locations, tent camping spots near the road, RV pads with water and electric, as well as a few small cabins. The scenery is amazing! The shower house was also clean and well maintained.
TravelerThis is actually the Windsor Cove Campground within Haworth Park in Belleview, Nebraska. It is an older campground but near the river, walking trails, and close to all the amenities of Nearby Omaha (aprox. 25 minutes to downtown). I visited in Mid May and the park was about 25 percent full. The camp host is great and I would definitely visit again.
LegendDodge County Fairgrounds has four or five spaces on grass. The ground is fairly level, but it is bumpy and rutted. When I visited in May, the grass was not mowed and was very tall. It was so bad that I was itchy after leaving.
There are bathrooms on site, but they were locked when I tried them. It wasn't clear how to pay for your site, I did not see a sign with instructions or a drop box. The nightly rate, according to the website is $30 which seems high to me for this location.
There are two playgrounds available, including a modern one and a really old one. There is a pool located nearby, but it was not open in May and I am not sure when it opens for the season. The fairgrounds is located next to highway 275 so there is some road noise, but I didn't find it so much to be bothersome. I had a very good Verizon signal here with 200 Mbps download on 5G.
There's really nothing within walking distance, maybe a gas station about 10 minutes away. I would stay here if I need a place to park overnight while traveling, but other than that I would skip it.
LegendI stopped by this campground and found it was nearly empty, with only one other camper in the lot. The entire area is one giant gravel parking lot with no shade. The spots are located very close together, but it's rarely full (except during events at the Main Arena next door) so you'll have room to spread out. Each site has electric and water hookups. I read somewhere that there is a dump station here but I didn't see it.
There are no showers or flush toilets. The only bathrooms available are port-a-potties located in the middle of the lot. There is some kind of agriculture equipment nearby that creates a constant humming sound which some might find annoying. The campground is very close to the airport, but I did not notice any airport noise.
While there is nothing within walking distance, there are several commercial restaurants and stores that are an easy drive from this location.
I would only stay here if I needed an overnight spot while traveling.
TravelerDead Timber is a quiet and fairly out of the way, yet still accessible state recreation area. It is an hour or so, depending on how you drive, from Omaha, near Scribner, Nebraska. The roads from the highway are paved up to the entrance, but the rec area is all dirt/gravel. The area has not been "upgraded" like so many of the state recreation areas have in the past few years and it feels like a good thing.
There is a small oxbow lake that all of the campsites, both electric (17) and primitive (4), are on one side of it. Unlike so many Nebraska recreation areas you will not typically hear trains or road noise, another good thing. A cell signal was present for me on Verizon, but insufficient for streaming without a booster. Tree coverage varies within the small camping area, but most sites will have enough of an open view of the sky for Starlink.
Dead Timber is my normal go to spot when I need a quick camping trip that is relaxing and not challenging. Or if I have a piece of equipment that I want to test the functionality of. I have camped here in summer (hot muggy a bit buggy), fall (generally my favorite especially in October), and winter (about what you would expect) and aside from Halloween it has usually been very open. Halloween there was a decorating contest and the place was completely full. The pictures I am including are from my mid October 2025, trip. In February there were no leaves and the lake was frozen but those were the only real differences since there is no running water in the camping area.
TravelerStopped here for the night. Property has concrete pads, but shower rooms are inadequate. Won't stay here again.
RangerAnother for-profit patch of dirt that doesn’t have much to offer. It has all the inconveniences of camping in an urban areas with none of the advantages. You have the noise from the road and trail, the numerous people coming through the site…yet no grocery stores or other services in the town. The port-o-potty was disgusting and full of wasps, the trash was full, there is no water, and there weren’t even any envelopes for paying the fee. Not sure what campers are paying for.
RangerThe areas for tent camping are poorly situated and not worth paying for imho. They have a pit toilet and a water spigot nearby, but that doesn’t make it worth the noise and amount of random local traffic circling my through the campground.
RangerThe sighs were on site give scant info, the info on the city website gives outdated info, and it is impossible to know what exactly the rules are for camping - especially whether or not tent camping is still allowed. For the prices they are charging you can just go to a hotel - at least then you know you won’t have any issues. I saw prices on the website were between $30 and $40 per night. Absurd.
Nebraska camping sites around Ashland sit at about 1,140 feet elevation where the Platte River valley meets the eastern plains. The area experiences hot summers with temperatures often reaching 90°F and cold winters that can drop well below freezing. Campgrounds in the region typically remain accessible April through October, with a handful maintaining year-round operations during Nebraska's changing seasons.
Fishing access points: Memphis Lake State Recreation Area features multiple shoreline spots for anglers. "This lake has great fishing and has peace, and quiet. The lake is a no wake zone, so kayaks, and canoes are great," mentions Tony B. in his review of Memphis Lake State Rec Area.
Mountain biking trails: The Oxbow Trail System near Ashland offers technical riding for various skill levels. "It is also right by a killer mountain biking trail (lookup Oxbow Trail System on Trailforks if you are into that)," notes Andrew D. about the Ashland RV Campground.
Paddle sports options: Several area lakes permit non-motorized watercraft. "We have kayaked the lake! So much fun," reports Jerry B. about Memphis Lake. Rental options for canoes and kayaks exist at Louisville State Recreation Area where "you can rent boats like canoes, kayaks, and stand up paddleboards for hrs, half and daily rates."
Nature trails: Platte River State Park offers hiking through varied terrain. "Just like the camping, you can pick between the less intensive paved walkways or you can walk along the hilly bluffs that contour the Platte River," explains Jared J. about Platte River State Park Campground.
Multiple camping environments: Area campgrounds provide diverse settings from riverfront to wooded areas. "Tent camping sites. No electrical hookups but you can still camp in campers if you want. Beautiful Campground with lots of trees and shade," describes Jerry B. about Memphis Lake.
Swimming options: Several recreation areas maintain designated swimming zones. At Louisville State Recreation Area, "There is a swim area along the beach of Lake 2," and Two Rivers SRA campers note "Our kid and her friends love the swimming beach."
Shade availability: Most campgrounds feature mature trees providing relief from summer heat. "Very shaded," notes John K. about Eugene T. Mahoney State Park Campground, while Memphis Lake offers "many mature trees to camp under."
Town proximity: Several camping areas provide easy access to local services. The Ashland RV Campground is "close to main street Ashland, which offers gourmet coffee (Fariner Bakery was my favorite), and a couple of restaurants (Cheri-O's seemed to be the hot spot)."
Train noise: Several camping locations experience railroad noise. At Louisville State Recreation Area, "Train noise all night," reports Bill M., and other reviews mention, "We liked everything about this area but the train tracks! Be selective on where you pitch the tent. It can get loud."
Interstate sound levels: Campgrounds near I-80 experience traffic noise. At Pine Grove RV Park & Campground, "Easy on, easy off means some highway noise from I-80."
Weekend crowds: Popular areas fill quickly during summer weekends. "It's a very busy campground with significant interstate noise. However there are many activities for kids," explains Jennifer M. about Eugene T. Mahoney State Park.
Reservation requirements: Most developed campgrounds require advance booking. "This is a state-funded park, so non-Nebraska plated cars have an additional fee," notes one camper about Louisville State Recreation Area. Out-of-state vehicles typically pay $8-14 daily entrance fees beyond camping costs.
Water play options: Several campgrounds feature kid-friendly water access. At Camp A Way Campground, "Awesome playground, pool, water slide and more! Super cute place to stay with family," says Samantha S.
Playground facilities: Most family-oriented campgrounds maintain play areas. "They have a play area in the center which has a basic jungle gym," at Louisville State Recreation Area, while Walnut Creek Recreation Area offers "nice fishing accesses, playgrounds and picnic areas."
Family-friendly activities: Eugene Mahoney State Park offers structured recreation. "This place has it all....hiking trails, frisbee golf, horseback riding, driving range, fishing, tennis courts, river views, cabins!" shares Charlie B.
Tent site selection: For families seeking quiet camping, consider Memphis Lake State Rec Area. "It is a nice spot a bit off of the main roads. Many of the tent sites allow you to camp right next to the lake," says David L.
Site width considerations: Some campgrounds have tight spacing for larger rigs. At West Omaha / NE Lincoln KOA Holiday, "sites are very close together" and one camper noted, "We were given an inappropriate size space for the rig we stated, super narrow and we stuck over the road by 2 feet."
Electrical options: Most area RV sites offer 30-50 amp service. Walnut Creek "has electric hookups," but water is only available at community spigots.
Dump station locations: Not all campgrounds provide full hookups. "Clean, open spots. Not a lot of shade. Nice playground and fishing was super fun," notes Kati H. about Walnut Creek, adding "No showers," which may affect self-contained camping plans.
Easy access campsites: Several locations cater to travelers needing convenient highway access. Pine Grove RV Park is "convenient location right off the highway, but with that you do get the noise," according to Jennifer S.
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Ashland, NE?
According to TheDyrt.com, Ashland, NE offers a wide range of camping options, with 102 campgrounds and RV parks near Ashland, NE and 1 free dispersed camping spot.
Which is the most popular campground near Ashland, NE?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Ashland, NE is Eugene T. Mahoney State Park Campground with a 4.2-star rating from 46 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Ashland, NE?
According to TheDyrt.com, there is 1 free dispersed camping spot near Ashland, NE.
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