Mormon Island State Recreation Area Campground and Fort Kearny State Recreation Area are the main camping destinations near Doniphan, Nebraska. Located in the Platte River Valley at approximately 1,860 feet elevation, this area experiences hot summers and cold winters with camping available year-round. The region lacks dedicated horse facilities, making equestrian camping near Doniphan challenging without advance arrangements.
What to do
Fishing opportunities: Multiple small lakes at Mormon Island State Recreation Area Campground provide good fishing spots. "Caught some Bass and Bluegill, but were not bragging size," notes Kenny M., who enjoyed "Kayak and bank fishing, hiking and just relaxing in general."
Biking trails: The recreation areas connect to extensive trail systems. At Fort Kearny State Recreation Area, "There's a bike trail that goes to the Fort at the historical park," according to Susan L. Another visitor mentioned that camp hosts "even have bikes for the kids."
Wildlife viewing: Spring visitors can observe the sandhill crane migration. As one camper at Mormon Island noted, "Don't forget to visit sandhill cranes in March/April." Deer are also common in the area, with Jessica C. reporting, "We even saw some deer in the field next to the campground."
What campers like
Easy interstate access: The convenient location makes these campgrounds popular for travelers. "This campground is only 6 miles off I80," writes Maggie C. about Fort Kearny. Mormon Island campers appreciate the accessibility too, with David R. noting it's "a good stopping point for transient campers as they pass."
Shaded sites: The mature trees provide welcome relief during hot Nebraska summers. At Coot Shallows WMA, there are "3 pull outs that you can put in an RV or camper" according to Gabriel H., though he adds it "probably wouldn't be great for tents." At Mormon Island, Kelly D. praised the "glorious trees" and "great one night spot" with "shade and variety of trees."
Cleanliness: Many visitors comment on well-maintained facilities. One Mormon Island visitor reported, "The facilities were very clean." At Fort Kearny, a camper highlighted "clean bathrooms with hot showers (which super clean)."
What you should know
Additional fees: Nebraska state park permits apply to these recreation areas. At Fort Kearny, Maggie C. noted, "In addition to the camping fee ($25 for elec only) there is a $14/day fee to drive into the recreation area."
Weather considerations: The area can experience severe weather. One Mormon Island camper described "one of the worst storms! 85 to 90 mile an hour winds with hail!" They advised that there was "no prior warning of the storm from anybody at the campground."
Noise factors: Being near Interstate 80 means traffic noise is noticeable. As one Mormon Island camper explained, "This does cause an issue with noise from I-80 just outside of the grounds, but the trees and a dirt berm help to keep that down to just a low drone." Another mentioned early morning disturbances: "At approximately 5am, I started hearing the air/fan boats from a local launch on the Platte River."
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Fort Kearny State Recreation Area offers recreational facilities for children. Tarrah C. noted, "This is a nice site with electric and tent sites. Each site has fire ring and there are vault toilets around the site... There are also several hiking trails."
Swimming options: Look for designated swimming areas at the lakes. One Mormon Island visitor mentioned that the lake "has a swim area as well as fishing. Well maintained and the camp host was friendly and helpful."
Pet considerations: While pets are allowed, be aware of site conditions. At Mormon Island, one camper warned that "we could not even let our dog out in our camp site because of an abundance of stickers and burrs! She at one point just laid down because of her paws filled with burrs and could not walk any more."
Tips from RVers
Hookup availability: Mormon Island offers various hookup options. "The Rv area has Electric and the sites are evenly spaced on black top and are level. Each site has a fire ring and picnic table," notes Shannon G.
Site selection: At Fort Kearny, Susan L. advises about site sizes: "I was camped backed up to Lake 4 at site 57. This site wouldn't accommodate anything longer than 26'. It was also right next to site 58, so it would be great for 2 families looking to camp together."
Shower facilities: Plan for pay showers at Mormon Island. "This was my first encounter with the pay showers though, and I had to scrounge around for quarters to feed into it," one camper mentioned. "7 minutes for $1.50 if memory serves me right."
