Best Camping near Ashton, NE

Whether you're a tent camper, an RVer, or just passing through, Ashton, NE has a lot to offer. Aside from great camping spots, you'll find hiking and many more outdoor experiences. Thinking of traveling with kids? You're in luck—Ashton is surrounded by family-friendly activities. Search nearby campsites and find top-rated spots from other campers.

Best Camping Sites Near Ashton, NE (53)

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Showing results 1-10 of 53 campgrounds

Pet-friendly camping near Ashton

Recent Reviews in Ashton

215 Reviews of 53 Ashton Campgrounds


  • S
    Camper-submitted photo from Grand Island KOA
    Nov. 21, 2024

    Grand Island KOA

    Eek

    We ended up choosing this spot as I’m assuming we’re “off season” as many other surrounding places were closed to camping this time of year. This place looks like it has a lot of time time campers. The sites are tight, like right on top of each other. The office closed early but they had the information outside.

    The bathrooms were clean and warm. The playground was taped off with caution tape.

    This was an overnight stay, the traffic is loud but not overwhelming.

  • WThe Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from John D. Sims Memorial Park
    Oct. 9, 2024

    John D. Sims Memorial Park

    Perfect place with necessary amenities

    We love that lots of small towns in this area offer camping at ball fields, etc. There are bathrooms and showers! The hot water in ladies does work, just adjust NOT to hottest setting. Only ones camping. Trains were close and often, but you somehow get used to it.

  • MThe Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Fort Kearny SRA
    Sep. 24, 2024

    Fort Kearny SRA

    Quiet nice Campground

    Very inexpensive, convenient, nice place to stay for a layover. It's a first come basis with I believe 22 RV sites. They have a dump, clean bathrooms with hot showers(which super clean), a playground for the kids and a couple of walking/hiking trails nearby. The very long Cerro Gordo County trail is close to 50 miles long. Believe the cost was only $15 on our summer early September rate and drops to $10 basically in October for a few months, which includes a small fire pi, tabke, and electric! I'll just say a gem of a simple place.

  • Ken G.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Pioneer Trails Recreation Area
    Sep. 23, 2024

    Pioneer Trails Recreation Area

    nice, quiet campground near the highway

    We stayed there in late August on a weeknight.  The sites look new, possibly recently refurbished.  There is a small lake near which is an easy walk.  Everything was clean and recently mowed grass.  In the middle of corn fields, but a nice quiet place to spend one night.

  • Melia S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Blue Hole Wildlife Management Area
    Sep. 19, 2024

    Blue Hole Wildlife Management Area

    Sketchy

    My husband and I had a freaky experience here and I wouldn’t want it to happen to anyone else. Around 4:30 AM a car pulled in quietly and parked right next to our van (even though there were other camping spots available). The only reason we woke up was because our dog started barking and freaking out. A guy was outside smoking and putting some things in a bag. We started up the RV and dipped as fast as we could. It’s a shame because it was a nice, convenient, peaceful spot otherwise. Be careful!

  • Fred S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Streeter Park Campground
    Sep. 9, 2024

    Streeter Park Campground

    Really good overnight stop

    Streeter Park is a nice park with ball fields, walking paths, waterpark and a small campground. The campground has about a dozen or so sites set up in a gravel parking lot next to the waterpark. It's a place where you can pull in your camper & spend the night. It's free, although a donation is requested. The sites are small parking spaces, close together. Each site has a picnic table, electricity & water. Waste disposal is also available in the campground as well as trash dumpsters. You can use the restrooms at the waterpark & ball field; they were open all night. No shower facilty. The one negative is the road noise; it was loud at times. This campground is not a destination; it's a really good place for an overnight stop.

  • Justin S.
    Camper-submitted photo from Union Pacific State Rec Area
    Aug. 12, 2024

    Union Pacific State Rec Area

    Primitive but quaint

    It is more of a fishing area for the locals than anything but it is open and you can camp. There are no marked sites. A local told me when they come here they just park in the grass anywhere and pay the fee. There is a vault toilet and "modern restrooms" (thr vault toilet is cleaner) but no showers as The Dyrt describes. There is a water sticker at the brick building on your left as you enter. You'll get a little interstate noise and distant train horns, but nothing that earplugs cannot fix. Nice place to pull off and sleep for the nights without utilities.

  • Randall K.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Fort Kearny State Recreation Area
    Aug. 7, 2024

    Fort Kearny State Recreation Area

    Easy spot to stay!

    Pulled in at night - was easy to get a spot. Very relaxing campground set against old growth trees. Beautiful pastures and some fishing ponds. Sites seemed pretty level. Right off highway but peaceful and quiet. Needs a little upkeep in terms of mowing the grass and cleaning trash up from the ponds.

  • J
    Camper-submitted photo from Firefly Meadows
    Jul. 18, 2024

    Firefly Meadows

    Fine for overnight

    No frills camping for one overnight is exactly what we needed, and what we got. Bathhouse itself was nice and clean, but needed a little maintenance, at least on the women’s side. No playground or amenities besides the bathhouse and laundry. Some kids fishing at the pond were catching small fish. Right off of I-80, next to a large Pilot truck stop with Subway.

  • Mary T.
    Camper-submitted photo from Grand Island KOA
    Jul. 15, 2024

    Grand Island KOA

    On top of neighbors

    Great campground other that you are on top of your neighbors. Thought we might not be able to open our awning, only about 3 to 4 feet between sites. Loved a lot of restrooms. Pool was nice. If you are tent camping great sites.

  • Kalab R.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Fort Kearny State Recreation Area
    Jun. 30, 2024

    Fort Kearny State Recreation Area

    An escape thats worth it

    First time at this park. 6/30/24. You roll in the staff are friendly to help. The park is quiet, plenty of room for your site. Its deffinetly a good stay if traveling through.

  • Jennifer T.
    Camper-submitted photo from Ravenna Lake State Recreation Area
    May. 28, 2024

    Ravenna Lake State Recreation Area

    Pleasant Stay

    The only way to reserve a site is through camp spot and we have a little trouble with that because it did not let me pick my site number. We arrived Friday evening on Memorial weekend and it was crowded. The campsite is great on the pocketbook but you have to pay a $10 fee to lock in your site and I am so glad we did! There was only three other empty spots in the entire campground and they were all marked reserved when we got there. The campground was pretty busy We were a little disappointed in our site because it was very small and kind of sandwiched between two big campers so not a lot of privacy and not a lot of room. There were a lot of people fishing and kayaking and a lot of dogs. There are showers and bathrooms but they are up near the entrance to the campground although they did have porta potties near the campsites. Although the grounds were well maintained the grass was mowed there was volleyball net setup disc golf available a pet exercise area the fountain was beautiful and shady in most areas. We would probably return on a non-holiday weekend when it's not so busy.

  • Gabriel H.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Coot Shallows WMA
    May. 11, 2024

    Coot Shallows WMA

    Good for a day

    It's a small park with a pond that you can fish at. We were the only campers in for the day and honestly probably wouldn't be great for tents. There are 3 pull outs that you can put in an RV or camper but not much else to this place.

  • John D.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Bassway Strip State Wildlife Area
    Feb. 22, 2024

    Bassway Strip State Wildlife Area

    Does the job but not nice.

    Like others have said, it’s right next to the interstate so you hear traffic and truckers all night. I spent 2 nights here in February in a tent. It wasn’t nice but it was a place to sleep while in town for a class.

  • Teresa T.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Windmill State Rec Area
    Oct. 27, 2023

    Windmill State Rec Area

    Clean well maintained and easy stop

    Nice trail around the outside that wove in and out of the trees for dog walking. Otherwise, I'm in an RV so no road noise. One caution for Verizon users who want to work during the day, the wireless is slow. Great after traffic slows but completely unworkable otherwise.

  • BThe Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Blue Hole Wildlife Management Area
    Oct. 10, 2023

    Blue Hole Wildlife Management Area

    Ok for a free overnight

    This is a small area with a pond just off the interstate. A little sketchy but not quite as sketchy as some of the other wildlife management areas on this stretch of I-80 (and I stopped at 3 before this one and decided to keep moving until I got here). A bit trashed, but not horrible. Constant sound of the interstate. Some light local use of the road and of the pond for fishing. I wouldn't make this a destination, but for a one night needed rest stop it's ok.

  • Hillary J.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Wood River West State Wildlife Management Area
    Oct. 6, 2023

    Wood River West State Wildlife Management Area

    Great overnight spot when traveling cross country!

    We stopped here just to sleep when traveling across the country. It was easy to find and a relatively quiet spot. You could hear some road noise but I didn’t find it to bad. Nice views in the full moon! There is a pretty strong farm smell so just be prepared for that!

  • BThe Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Blue Hole Wildlife Management Area
    Sep. 13, 2023

    Blue Hole Wildlife Management Area

    Good for a night

    Stayed for a night passing through on the way to Colorado. There were a few spots. I took the first one across the pond. I was the only one on a Tuesday night. Super close to a gas station. Can hear and see cars from highway which didn’t bother me. Some trash in the woods and a few carcasses.

  • Landon C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Fort Kearny State Recreation Area
    Aug. 22, 2023

    Fort Kearny State Recreation Area

    Peaceful camp just off the interstate

    This is a great campground with lots of shade and amenities. The showers require coins to operate, so make sure you bring $1 bills for the coin machine if you don’t have quarters. Half of the campsites are first come first serve, but we had no problem getting a site late at night.

    Note that you have to pay for both the campsite itself and for a motor vehicle permit. It seemed a little steep to me because we had to stay for two nights, and the total came out to $74. Maybe I’m just cheap.

    There are lots of playgrounds for kids. Also the campground host is situated next to a free bike rental stand. You can take a bike for free and ride around the whole campsite at any time. Pretty cool!

  • GThe Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Wood River West State Wildlife Management Area
    Aug. 22, 2023

    Wood River West State Wildlife Management Area

    Super Convenient

    Stopped here to sleep for the night on a cross-country road trip. It’s a gravel road right off I-80; farmland surrounded the camping spot and it was pretty private. No facilities so be prepared to pack out what you pack in.

  • JThe Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Pressey State Wildlife Area
    Aug. 19, 2023

    Pressey State Wildlife Area

    1 night stay

    Very peaceful location and almost all “primitive” camping spots are right along the water. Did see about 5 trailers there as well and saw two spots with electricity.

    The “primitive” spots were well maintained and a lot of them had fire pits and tables as well as left over firewood. They were all well shaded as well.

    There are two outhouse style bathrooms, a swing set, merry-go-round and monkey bars.

    Great place for young kiddos.

    Signs posted stated free camping for up to 14 days.

    We stayed at the last spot at the end of the road and didn’t have a single neighbor so it was nice and secluded.

    There is an integrity stand where you can buy bundles of wood for $5.

  • MThe Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Fort Kearny SRA
    Aug. 18, 2023

    Fort Kearny SRA

    Overpriced and subpar campground

    I've stayed 3 times at the Fort Kearney SRA for convenience only.  Nebraska Game & Parks has a punitive price model that charges out-of-state visitors $12/day to enter a park with a campground (no Senior discounts either) and then $15/day for a primitive campsite (no water or electric) that is a looong ways for the dirty and rundown restrooms.

  • Mary
    Camper-submitted photo from George H Clayton Campground (Hall County Park)
    Aug. 17, 2023

    George H Clayton Campground (Hall County Park)

    Fantastic!

    It is as described by everyone else. I updated the RV price. Also to clarify; there is NO water at individual sites, only power. The water filling station is the first pull out on the left as entering the RV section. Look for the sign. If you miss it you'll need to have another drive around this beautiful city park. Abundant walking and cycling opportunities as well.


Drive Time


Guide to Ashton

Camping near Ashton, Nebraska, offers a mix of beautiful scenery and convenient amenities. Whether you're looking for a quick stop or a longer stay, there are several campgrounds that cater to different needs.

What to do:

  • Fishing: Many campers enjoy fishing at places like Mormon Island State Recreation Area. One reviewer mentioned, "Mormon island is just right if the interstate at the Grand Island exit. The sites are a little too close to each other but people are friendly and park is well kept and clean."
  • Hiking: Explore trails at George H Clayton Campground. A visitor shared, "Abundant walking and cycling opportunities as well," highlighting the park's beautiful landscaping.
  • Water Activities: At Ravenna Lake State Recreation Area, you can enjoy kayaking and swimming. One camper noted, "Great smaller campground with lots of good fishing walking distance from all campsites."

What campers like:

  • Clean Facilities: Campers appreciate well-maintained amenities. A review for Fort Kearny State Recreation Area states, "The showers require coins to operate, so make sure you bring $1 bills for the coin machine if you don’t have quarters."
  • Friendly Atmosphere: Many visitors feel welcomed. One camper at Kearney RV Park & Campground said, "Friendly staff, nice laundry and bathroom facilities that are handicapped accessible."
  • Convenient Locations: Campgrounds like Windmill State Rec Area are easy to access from major highways. A reviewer mentioned, "Very easy access off I80 so it makes for a good stop for the night."

What you should know:

  • Noise Levels: Some campgrounds are near busy roads, which can be noisy. A visitor at Bassway Strip State Wildlife Area noted, "It's right next to the interstate so you hear traffic and truckers all night."
  • Limited Amenities: Not all campgrounds offer full amenities. For instance, Sandy Channel State Rec Area has no drinking water or electric hookups, as one camper pointed out, "The state map of the campground shows hand pump well, BUT THE WELL HAS BEEN REMOVED."
  • Reservation Policies: Some campgrounds, like George H Clayton Campground, do not allow reservations. A visitor mentioned, "There is only one shower, which is near to the RV area and takes quarters."

Tips for camping with families:

  • Playgrounds: Look for campgrounds with kid-friendly amenities. Fort Kearny SRA has playgrounds for children, making it a great spot for families.
  • Pet-Friendly Options: Many campgrounds allow pets, like Mormon Island State Recreation Area. One reviewer said, "Pets allowed, picnic table, reservable."
  • Safety: Always check for nearby facilities. A camper at Kearney RV Park & Campground appreciated the "storm shelters available in the bathhouse."

Tips from RVers:

Camping near Ashton, Nebraska, has something for everyone, whether you're a family looking for fun or an RVer seeking convenience.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What camping is available near Ashton, NE?

    According to TheDyrt.com, Ashton, NE offers a wide range of camping options, with 53 campgrounds and RV parks near Ashton, NE and 6 free dispersed camping spots.

  • Which is the most popular campground near Ashton, NE?

    According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Ashton, NE is Grand Island KOA with a 4.2-star rating from 28 reviews.

  • Where can I find free dispersed camping near Ashton, NE?

    According to TheDyrt.com, there are 6 free dispersed camping spots near Ashton, NE.

  • What parks are near Ashton, NE?

    According to TheDyrt.com, there are 2 parks near Ashton, NE that allow camping, notably Harlan County Lake and Conestoga Lake.