Best RV Parks & Resorts near Crawford, NE

We were here in early October. We rented an RV spot online. Caught a beautiful sunset and stayed right next to the beach and lake even though it was cold. All facilities closed. We paid for full hookup but electricity cut off at 8 in all campgrounds. Probably a glitch.

This isn’t the kind of spot you’d stay at long term, but if you want to see Carhenge, it’s the best option. We pulled up at night, and it was dark and difficult to manage — but made worth it by the awesome post -apocalyptic view by headlight of the car sculptures up the hill from Carhenge.

In terms of making your arrangements, the owner is accommodating and kind on the phone. There is a kiosk close to the entrance with envelopes for leaving payment by cash or check. (Also, Dyrt cards with 3 month free pro trials!)

Definitely recommend this stay, just know it’s no frills.

Pulling up to this campground, it is right next to carhenge. It is a fairly new camground and has no shade. It is a few miles from town and there really isn’t anything there. We decided not to stay here. It would be ok if you needed to pull over for the night. The sites were pull thru and on gravel. The sites went from full hook ups down to tent.

The park is located ~20 miles from Crawford, Ne. Many of those miles are gravel roads. 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. There is an outhouse style bathroom available and half dozen camping spots with fire rings.

This private campground directly overlooks Carhenge and is not too far from (small) downtown Alliance. Although tent prices were listed, I’m not sure it would appeal to tenters. Prices range from $17 for tents to $27 for water to $35 for full hookups. 50% off after the third day. Weekly and monthly rates listed and it appears that credit cards are accepted. I believe there were four full hookup sites. The day we were there, there were only two RVs there and I didn’t see anyone to talk to. (There was a phone number prominently displayed to call but I did not). Pit toilet. No shade at all. If you are passing through, it might be good for an overnight stay but other than Carhenge, not much to do in this area. Was suggested that it might be a good stop on the way to Sturgis (tent camping?)

This is a full hookup (electric/water/sewer) campground, appears to be recently updated. Concrete pad, fairly level. Picnic table and grill in each site. Few trees, mixture of shade and non shade sites. Decent amount of space between sites. Bathrooms and showers are available near the partial hookup campground. Good Verizon cell coverage. Campground is on site of old Fort Robinson. The old barracks and post buildings are available to reserve and stay in. This area is prime for equestrians with many trails to explore on horseback. Numerous trails aren’t quite as friendly for hiking on foot because of tall grass. There are a couple of scenic roads (1 unpaved/washboardy; 1 paved on canyon road) to drive and see local landscape. On site attractions: History museum, restaurant serving breakfast/lunch/dinner, indoor swimming pool, horse stables, general store, small library. Historical markers paying homage to Levi Robinson (the fort’s namesake) and the site on which Crazy Horse was killed.

This is a large park with a couple campgrounds.  One campground had full hookups and the other electric only with water hydrants on the loop.  There are lots of shade trees, a bathhouse with showers and flush toilets.  

This campground has many historical signs, a museum, an equine campground, longhorn cattle, horses, and a free-roaming buffalo herd penned into their area of course.

Many marked trails, some leading from the campground and others in the nearby bluffs and cliffs.  They are quite well marked.  In addition, there is fishing at ponds a short drive from the Fort and also golf nearby.

The area is often used for family reunions.  Reservations can be made to stay in cabins or the lodge.

This KOA is a great basecamp for visiting the Black Hills and is also in a very pretty location. The staff was great and quick to respond, but our site left somethings to be desired.

We where put into a tight and short pull-thru site that was fairly un-level. It took some work and a bunch of blocks to get things close to level. Our power pedestal had an electrical short and shorted out our Progressive 30-amp surge protector. Thankfully we had a surge protector and it took the electrical hit and not our trailer. As an aside, I gave Progressive a call, we walked thru the situation and they had a new unit at our house before we returned from our trip. Great customer service.

Gave the campground office a call and one of the staff arrived quickly on their golf cart, voltage meter in hand, to look at the power. Confirmed there was something wrong and but they were able to get us up and running in a short time. Our first impression was a little rough and the rest of the stay was okay. Since we were there to explore Black Hills we didn't spend much time at the campground. We would stay here again. Things can go wrong anywhere and at any campground.

PSA - When things go wrong it is always good to slow down, take a break before moving on to tackle other things. In a moment of frustration and distraction, I had leaned our sway bars vertically on the frame by they propane tanks. Well the at some point they had slid along the frame towards the front cap of the trailer.... after the issue of with electrical, I returned to lower the front of the trailer to level and punched a 2" square hole in the diamond plate and fiberglass on the lower front area of the trailer. Totally my fault.  I learned several good lessons that day, always use a surge protector, never sit anything in an any area where things could slide, always double check the area if you leave to work on something else before starting to work on the area you returned to, things can change while away. I also learned the value of FLEX TAPE great product and wouldn't leave home without it.

We would stay here again in the future.

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, made it worth it.  Also, you can use the Dairy Sweety's rest room, WiFi and the close proximity to the highway, and a convenient store all must count for something.  But as a campsite itself, it has hookups and is affordable, otherwise it is a parking area behind a Cafe.

Crawford has so much going for it.  We went to camp and catch trout.  Unfortunately, due to COVID and wet weather, even grassland boondocking was forbidden.  A local pointed us to the dairy sweet.  Behind the Dairy sweet she has 4 hookups and room for about 6 campers.  We set up late and just got food there- WOW!

This is one of those places that aren't anything to look at but put amazing food on your plate!  The beef is locally raised.  The Ruben I had had thick slabs of corned beef they process themselves.  The BBQ I had on my last day could have fed a small village.

While their visit Fort Rob, but don't miss Sowbelly Canyon, Toadstool SP, and the Museum of the Fir Trader in Neighboring Chadron. AND if you can, enter Crawford from the South, you will be glad you did.

One of my favorite towns in Nebraska is Harrison.  It is the largest town in Sioux County which is itself larger than the state of Delaware.  Do you want to guess the second largest town in Sioux?  There is no other town in Sioux County!  That is how remote this area is…enjoy.

Soldiers Creek Campground is fairly quiet but so close to neighbors even the most general conversation is easily overheard. Just hope your neighbor doesn't build a big fire because you are going to enjoy the smoke. Lots to do in the park (history, hiking, fishing). Fairly level asphalt parking pads with electric hookups, fire ring and picnic table. Decent shade throughout

Tlat sites. Lots of shade. No water hookup but fine for overnight. Does have electric. Nice bike trail runs along camping areas. Good for walking along water. Stayed in Cascade section.

We're in the midst of a week in our 26' travel trailer along this beautiful 1.5 mile-long dirt Forest Service road 714-A, directly above Chadron State Park. We're guessing that most folks who stay in the State Park campground below are unaware that dispersed camping is indeed permitted within 300 feet of the center line of this road, for even though the popular State Park campground remains closed for another day due to a delayed COVID-19 opening, and is booked solid thereafter, there's absolutely no one else camping up here!

You actually have to drive through the State Park to access FR-714-A, and the park does not lock their gate overnight so access remains unrestricted. The road is in excellent shape and negotiable by any trailer or motorhome, but is only a single lane wide. We're 700 feet of elevation above the plains below, with stunning views stretching off to the horizon. Much of this area has burned in the past, but the area where we're camping is lush and grassy with some stately pines around. This isn't the Nebraska that you know!

Cell service on Verizon is a solid 3+ bars - 54ms ping, 13.6 Mbps down, 3.5 Mbps up. The Verizon tower is visible about 5 miles to the south of our campsite.

There are numerous hiking trails that depart from either end of FR-714-A, including some in the State Park. Fresh water, an RV dump and a camp store are all located within the park, along with an archery range, sledding hill, fishing pond, playgrounds, picnic areas and more.

One star is deducted only because:

• There are only a couple of sites that would work with a vehicle, for there's a well-hidden drainage ditch dug on each side of the road; and
• There's a bit of daytime traffic due to people accessing the hiking trailhead at the end of the road. Vehicles are forced to camp right along the road, as any side spurs visible on satellite imagery have been marked "No motor vehicles" by the Forest Service. For tent campers, though, it's a short walk right to the rim of Pine Ridge for even more spectacular views.

The phone number provided is for the Nebraska National Forest Pine Hill Ranger District in Chadron, in whose jurisdiction this road resides.

I found this campground on Google Maps and it looked pretty intriguing. It’s a very remote campground a half mile down from the Agate Fossil Beds National Monument Visitor Center. It looks like a boondock site, but they have 30/50 amp hookups and water as well as a dump site. We spent 4 nights here.

The surface is gravel and we had to do some leveling when we parked. There are hookups for 8 RVs but it would best accommodate 3 - 4 big rigs. I called to make sure they had a spot and talked to the owner, Donna Skavdahl who was very nice and told us there was plenty of space. There was only one other camper when we arrived and a couple others came and went while we were there.

We had a great time one evening sitting around our propane fire pit talking with some other campers. This is a very interesting area being on a huge 16,000 acre ranch which raises cattle, corn and alfalfa. This campground is in a field with some interesting rock formations behind. The skies are very dark at night. The Skavdahl’s built the campground for the 2017 solar eclipse and have kept it going ever since.

You can hike in the hills and area all around the campground but watch out for snakes!

We rode our bikes to Agate Fossil Beds and took the Fossil Hills Trail. It’s a great place to visit and the Visitor Center has a very interesting display of beautiful items which Chief Red Cloud gave to James H. Cook.

We will definitely stay here again if we are out this way!

Chose to stay two nights here to allow us to visit Agate Fossil Beds National Monument and Fort Robinson.
Sites are basically two parking stalls on a concrete pad. The only way to fit two RVs at a time would be if they were both vans, and that would be tight.
We were the only people staying, so we could put out our slides and camp in comfort. Have 30 and 50 amp hookups, along with water. Parked is very nicely kept and amazingly quiet at night. There are two bathrooms right next to the camp site. Stay is donation based with deposit right next to camp sites.

Pros

-Wifi

-Sewer hookups

-Water

-Pull through sites

-Nice owner

Cons

-Unlevel sites

My friends and I stayed here for a night as we were headed out towards Yellowstone. The owner was great and one of the employees helped make an extra accommodation for us since all of the spots were full. We stayed in June of 2023 and as of that time they were still in the process of hooking electricity up to about 20 or so new sites. He mentioned putting a stage in as well for entertainment. I think this is going to be a great place to stay once he has everything completed.

Booked an “Electric” (30amp), backin site for a few days to explore Fort Robinson. We’ll maintained and a nice shady site with decent privacy. We arrived Labor Day afternoon and discovered that most of the attractions closed for the season after Labor Day. But, still enjoyed touring the area and buildings learning of the history. Good Verizon cell signal.

Factoid: When I stayed here I learned that the Nebraska National Forest is manmade! It is the largest hand planted forest in the US. it felt like a green oasis in the “desert" of Western Nebraska!

I spent 3 days hiking in this Forest and enjoyed every minute on each trail. This area has such differing geography. I’d begin the hike in the Forest, climb up to the ridge and catch views all the way into the vast, flat Buffalo National Grasslands area. 

My home base was in Chadron State Park where I camped. The park itself has 6 miles of hiking trails which connect with several other trails in the Nebraska National Forest. The video is a section of the Black Hills Overlook Trail in the National Forest. A definite must! There was evidence of old wildfires on the western slopes, but otherwise the lodgepole pine trees were beautiful. Steamboat Butte Trail is another good hike.

Chadron State Park is located in the Nebraska National Forest off Hwy 385 south of the town of Chadron which has a Walmart for supplies.The park has pretty much everything: a fishing pond, A trading post for basic camp supplies and some food, swimming pool, seasonal horseback trail rides, archery range, tennis court, disc golf, sand volleyball, horseshoe pits, softball field, playground, AC/heated cabins, group camping with a group lodge,  and campsites with 30 amp HU, no water so fill up at the bathrooms and there’s a dump station on site. 

The site I was in was level, but there was no shade. Shade trees are sparse in the area where I was camped. It was quiet and the stars were great at night, and made for a good home base from which to hike in the Nebraska National Forest.

Small, peaceful camping spot. Great birds! Gravel road in is in good shape (about 5 miles). Just before the final climb to the campground there is a creek that needs to be crossed. It is paved but heavy rains might make it difficult. Just before the creek crossing on the east side of the road there is a camping/picnic area that is a possible location.

Once you enter the park there are 2 sites in a large grassy area to the right with picnic tables, fire pits and garbage (recycling too!). We stayed in #1 and it was very pleasant with a beautiful view of the surrounding area. Turn left at the T following the horse/motor home signs. There are 3 more sites here. Pump water and very clean pit toilets here. This is the horse area. There is another site down the road to the right with table, fire pit and pit toilet.