Best Campgrounds near Crawford, NE

Camping near Crawford, Nebraska encompasses a mix of state park facilities, national forest sites, and small municipal campgrounds in the northwestern corner of the Nebraska Panhandle. Fort Robinson State Park offers the most developed camping experience with Soldier Creek and Red Cloud Campgrounds providing full hookups, showers, and laundry facilities. The Nebraska National Forest and Grasslands maintains several more primitive options, including Toadstool Campground with its distinctive rock formations approximately 20 miles from Crawford. Crawford City Park provides a convenient in-town option with electric hookups and a dump station, though campers note the occasional noise from nearby stockyards.

Most campgrounds in the Crawford area operate seasonally, with Chadron State Park (25 miles east) open from April 15 to November 15. Summer temperatures can be hot, while spring and fall offer milder conditions. Many access roads to the more remote sites are gravel, and some require careful navigation in larger RVs. Verizon cellular coverage is generally reliable throughout the area, though signal strength varies at more remote locations. Fort Robinson State Park requires a daily entry permit ($12) in addition to camping fees. Fire restrictions are common during dry summer months, with several campgrounds prohibiting open fires year-round.

The camping experience varies significantly between locations. Fort Robinson State Park provides numerous recreational activities including horseback riding, jeep tours, and a swimming pool, making it popular for families. According to reviews, "there are tons of hiking trails in the park, from easy up to hard." High Plains Homestead offers a more remote experience about 15 miles northwest of Crawford, with strong winds being a notable feature. Dispersed camping is available in certain areas of the Nebraska National Forest, providing more solitude but fewer amenities. The area's unique landscape features sandstone buttes, pine forests, and grasslands, with excellent stargazing opportunities noted by multiple visitors.

Best Camping Sites Near Crawford, Nebraska (38)

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Recent Reviews near Crawford, NE

126 Reviews of 38 Crawford Campgrounds


  • HThe Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 4, 2025

    Harrison City Park

    Safe and convenient

    The stockyard was busy so we could hear the country sounds of cows and dogs. The restroom had running water and sewer. I use the electricity to charge my Blue Eddie and it was a quiet location.

  • Tom D.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 16, 2025

    Red Cloud Campground — Fort Robinson State Park

    For Out-of-State Visitors with a MH and Towed… Over Priced.

    This is a decent enough state park with much history regarding the fort. The FHUs are a nice touch. The older loop is asphalt and the new loop is all concrete. All sites are level and all look to accommodate a 45’ MH. But for $63.00 per night (out of state) I expected a clean site and clean grill at a minimum. There was not a fire pit at our site. In Nebraska’s ignorance, they have decided to bill the motorhome and the towed vehicle. Paying the daily vehicle fee twice because it can be driven in the park. So MH owners end up paying either $28 per day or $105 for an annual pass( again, out of state charges)….that ends in December on top of the site fee. Pull behinds and 5th wheels are not charged.

  • Ryan S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 13, 2025

    Chadron State Park Campground

    Fur Trade Days

    We come here every year for the Chadron Fur Trade Days, and there were plenty of campsites open, which is awesome because Fur Trade Days draws a big crowd. You can reserve sites online but must be 3-4 Days out but we just show up each year and are always able to find a nice spot. Nice main pond to do some fishing, streams that run through the area, a nice park and playground for kids to play in, an indoor 3D archery facility, a community pool with two diving boards and it has a little kid pool for those not yet good swimmers, trails for those adventures and plenty more. You'll really enjoy the stay!

  • K
    Jul. 12, 2025

    Walgren Lake State Rec Area

    Great little empty campground

    Was worried I might not get a spot on a Friday night in July. Showed up at 8pm and had the entire place to myself. No ranger and no other campers. Nice place with spots around lake. Not level parking area and no hookups for campers but great primitive site and only noise was the occasional coyote. Vault toilets. Pack it in, pack it out. No trash or sewer dump. Cost $24 for out of state.

  • Truly W.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 2, 2025

    Limestone Butte Resevoir Dispersed

    Beautiful location, check weather!

    This spot is absolutely gorgeous. There is only 1 spot available from what I could see, and the road is a 2-track where I’d probably recommend medium clearance.

  • Delanie J.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 21, 2025

    Soldier Creek Campground — Fort Robinson State Park

    Busy CG, Gorgeous SP

    Busy, like 20 family reunions happening at once busy.  Facilities have only three stalls and stink.  By the road, but not much traffic so it isn't a big deal.   Sites 25-30 are the best even though they don't seem as so as they are closer to the road.  SP itself is beautiful and full of things to do.  If you want to stay near by but a more private CG look to the soldier creek CG hosted by the USDA shortly up the road from Ft Robinson


Guide to Crawford

Camping near Crawford, Nebraska offers a blend of prairie, pine forest, and butte terrain at elevations ranging from 3,600-5,000 feet. Summer temperatures can reach the high 90s while overnight temperatures often drop below 60°F even in July. Wind is a consistent feature across many campsites, with several campgrounds noting particularly strong gusts that can challenge tent campers.

What to do

Hiking to trout ponds: At Soldier Creek Campground, a trail leads to excellent fishing spots. "If you like to hike and fish there is a trail that goes west from the campsites 1.3 miles to 3 ponds filled with brown trout," notes Ryan S.

Outdoor archery: Chadron State Park offers indoor 3D archery facilities alongside traditional camping activities. "A nice main pond to do some fishing, streams that run through the area, a nice park and playground for kids to play in, an indoor 3D archery facility," according to Ryan S.

Bass fishing: Roberts Tract Camping Area provides secluded fishing opportunities about 15 miles east of Crawford. One camper reports, "We caught some awesome bass here. We stayed 2 nights and had a blast. Worked well with my roof top tent."

What campers like

Stargazing opportunities: Toadstool Campground offers exceptional night sky viewing. A visitor mentions, "At the right time of the moon phase this would be a good dark sky area to observe the Milky Way since there is no town or development for several miles."

Unique rock formations: The 1-mile interpretive trail at Toadstool showcases distinctive geological features. "The park is full of a lot of very neat rock formations. There is a ~1 mile long looped hiking trail inside the park that has markers so you can read about the land and how the rock was formed," writes Billy B.

Off-season solitude: Several campgrounds remain accessible when others close for winter. Q's Dairy Sweet RV spots behind the restaurant offer an option during off-season periods. One camper explains, "I rated this high because of the activities, wilderness, and beauty around Crawford and the food and the availability of the campground when all else is closed."

What you should know

Rough access roads: Some campgrounds require navigating unpaved roads. For High Plains Homestead, "This camp is out of the main stream. Miles down a dirt road. We are in a 35ft Motorhome/ pulling a car - take it slow!"

Strong winds: Multiple campgrounds report significant wind issues. At Toadstool, a camper warns, "SUPER FREAKIN WINDY. Legit do not even try if you have a tent you will not stay on the ground."

Bridge weight limits: When staying at Crawford City Park, be aware of the "5 ton weight limit on bridge to get in!!" as noted by Joel L. The campground offers both powered and primitive spots with water access from spigots.

Tips for camping with families

Swimming options: Chadron State Park offers swimming facilities for different age groups. "A community pool with two diving boards and it has a little kid pool for those not yet good swimmers," says Ryan S.

Playground facilities: Crawford City Park includes play areas for children. A camper mentions, "Great playground for kids. Walking Trail nearby."

Spacing between sites: Some campgrounds provide better separation between campsites. At Red Cloud Campground, "Decent amount of space between sites. Picnic table and grill in each site."

Tips from RVers

Double vehicle fees: Nebraska State Parks charge separate fees for motorhomes and towed vehicles. A camper at Red Cloud Campground explains, "Paying the daily vehicle fee twice because it can be driven in the park. So MH owners end up paying either $28 per day or $105 for an annual pass that ends in December on top of the site fee."

Utility hookups: Several campgrounds offer varying levels of hookups. At High Plains Homestead, "There is no dump and they charge for water - there's a state park close by - dump and fill there - if you out of state it's an $8.00 day pass charge."

Noise considerations: When staying at Crawford City Park, be prepared for potential noise. Daniel C. notes, "The noise is from the 4-BNSF trains per hour coming from/going to the Wyoming coal fields."

Frequently Asked Questions

What camping is available near Crawford, NE?

According to TheDyrt.com, Crawford, NE offers a wide range of camping options, with 38 campgrounds and RV parks near Crawford, NE and 5 free dispersed camping spots.

Which is the most popular campground near Crawford, NE?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Crawford, NE is Crawford City Park with a 3.8-star rating from 6 reviews.

Where can I find free dispersed camping near Crawford, NE?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 5 free dispersed camping spots near Crawford, NE.