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."
Traveler
