55 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Johnson Lake State Recreation Area anchors the camping landscape around Elwood, Nebraska, with multiple campgrounds offering lakeside sites for both RVs and tent campers. The Main Campground operates year-round while the Inlet Campground provides additional options with similar amenities, both featuring electric hookups, showers, and sanitary dump stations. Elwood Resort and Campground sits on the reservoir about 5 minutes from Johnson Lake, offering full-service sites with fire pits and picnic tables. Within a 30-mile radius, campers can find additional options at Phillips Lake State Recreation Area for more primitive experiences, or Sandy Channel State Recreation Area near Elm Creek for those seeking multiple fishing ponds and hiking trails.
Nebraska summers bring high temperatures that make electric hookups particularly valuable. As one camper noted, "Electric hookups are very nice in Nebraska summer." Most campgrounds in the area feature gravel or grass pads that become hard-packed during dry periods. Strong winds are common in this region, with one visitor reporting "wind in the 30 to 40 mph range" that prevented setting up awnings. Cell service varies throughout the area, with better coverage near highways and towns. Campers should be aware that Nebraska State Recreation Areas require entrance permits in addition to camping fees, with higher rates for out-of-state visitors. Many campgrounds are situated near water bodies that require special precautions for watercraft to prevent aquatic invasive species.
Shade trees represent a prized feature at many campgrounds in the region. "Nice to have a site that has plenty of shade. Nebraska SRAs are great and this is in my top 10," wrote one visitor to Johnson Lake. Fishing opportunities abound throughout the area, with multiple stocked ponds and lakes accessible from campsites. "Lots of fishing!" noted a camper at Main Area Campground. Families appreciate the quiet atmosphere at Elwood Resort, where one visitor mentioned their "kids enjoyed the quiet and loved being turned loose to enjoy the surroundings." Highway noise affects some campgrounds, particularly those closer to I-80, though many RV campers report the sound isn't noticeable once inside their vehicles.
"There are three campgrounds, one near the entrance off the state road and two on either side of the inlet of the reservoir. Again, the Dyrt coordinates were incorrect."
"Easy access to electrical. Pretty lake to sit by and have morning coffee. Only downside was that it isn't too far off the road so traffic can be heard late at night."
"Nebraska SRAs are great and this is in my top 10."
"I stayed at the Main camp ground with a great lake view on site 76. Sites 77-86 are pull through and the rest are back in for RV. There are also tent sites near the water."
from $30 / night
Check Availability"This friendly campground sits on The reservoir, and is about a 5 minute drive to Johnson Lake. We payed for a full access site, and had no leveling issues at all."
"Great bank fishing very nice boat ramp right next to one of the most productive fishing spots on the lake!"
"Had trees to climb, swing set, and tether ball for kids while we sat and watched the lake. Giant trees for great shade. Totally surpassed my expectations."
from $25 - $30 / night
Check Availability"Second site to the right coming from south is where i stayed, little hill and a spot overlooking the lake that was fine to get to in my outback."
"Lots of walking trails, so we and our dog got some great walks in. There can be noise from Interstate 80, depending on which way the wind is blowing."
from $7 - $195 / night
Check Availability"Broke down outside and Cozad and didn’t mind staying here. This place has electric, water, and a dump station for $15 a night. INSANE! It’s in a clean/well kept area."
"Train tracks are close by however."
"Convenient stopover driving through Nebraska. It's on the other side of town in a Park, away from the interstate. Traveling with a Labrador Retriever, the huge park was wonderful."
"Close by lake Helen which is a fishing lake. We were hoping to take a dunk but no luck, “No Swimming” Very nice couple run the place and she volunteers at the Sod House Museum which was fun."
"Great smaller campground with lots of good fishing walking distance from all campsites and lots of hiking trails to multiple ponds"
"We chose this place because getting away feom highway noise sounded like a great idea, and we did accomplish that!"
"There are about 10 spots around the pond. We took one of the3 pull through right next to I-80. Plenty of space, level, shade and if you just look at the lake: quit a nice view."
TravelerSemi hidden gravel drive. Very close to the highway and easy to get to. Gravel is fairly smooth for all vehicle types. Good stop for the night. Pretty quiet and plenty of spots for car or van.
ScoutVery clean facility. Easy access. Super friendly staff. Nice level concrete pads. Close to interstate but inside the camper you would never know it. Bish RV sales repair within a mile and super friendly place also. Will definitely stay here again when visiting family.
GuideWe stopped here on our way back from Colorado to the east coast in our camper van. We arrived in the dark which made finding a good spot difficult. There are a lot of ruts in the roads which made getting around somewhat difficult. Highly recommend 4WD and a higher chassis. It's also not a great place for trailers or long rigs. We eventually found a small mowed field to camp in (see map). Exploration during the daylight offered a better site near the water (see map). It is a beautiful space but there were a LOT of bugs at night in the high grasses and it feels pretty remote. We drove surrounded by corn fields for miles before even getting there.
Takeaways:
ScoutEenjoy our stay ,it was very quiet and peaceful and the people around were very kind.
GuideThis is not my kind of camping experience but it’s a great place to- friendly and helpful at check in - full hook ups, a pool and mini golf -would be fun for a family
ScoutThis is one of at least 3 NE a Water Management Areas along I80. There are only 3 spots at Coot Shallows and a turnaround at the end so you can face the lake. Definitely a good amount of road noise but can’t beat free for quick overnight.
GuideSites are grass with a little gravel. Some are somewhat level and others are not. Some sites are very short. Lakes were pretty mossy when we were there. Shady spots for the most part. Some nice picnic shelters if you had a larger group. Not well mowed. I didn't use the RR or shower house, but someone in our group did and she was not impressed. They have modern RR right next to the pit toilet and no other pit toilet in other areas of the campground. Signage could be better as we had to drive around the whole campground because we missed the turn due to no sign telling us where our sites were. Didn't see the campground host at all over the weekend. There was a fire ring with a grill that you could move up and down but not off. Some sites on top of each other while others more room between them. It just depends where you are.
TravelerDecent spot to stop at if you want a little more secluded sleep than the walmart in Lexington. Did a quick overnight car camp on the way to CO/UT and had no issues. Road right up to the sites was a hard pack clay road decently uneven and tight, big rigs beware might not be ideal. Second site to the right coming from south is where i stayed, little hill and a spot overlooking the lake that was fine to get to in my outback. Didn’t explore at all, not sure of number or quality of other sites. Felt safe, decent amount of garbage and a firepit left from others (pack out!!). Site was pretty uneven but was able to make it work.
TravelerIt was hot and I needed A/C. It's close to I-80 with few and far between. Other than the washboard gravel road leading there, it was easy to find. Really nice folks with horses, wooly cows and a river on the backside of the property. Perfect if all you really need is power and a place to park for the night. Dog friendly too.
Camping sites near Elwood, Nebraska range from developed state recreation areas to primitive lakeside spots scattered across the central Nebraska plains. Located in Gosper County at an elevation of 2,654 feet, Elwood experiences hot, humid summers with daytime temperatures frequently reaching the 90s and relatively mild winters. Annual rainfall averages 23 inches, concentrated mostly from May through September, creating ideal camping conditions from late spring through early fall.
Fishing at multiple lakes: Sandy Channel State Recreation Area offers excellent fishing opportunities with multiple ponds within walking distance of all campsites. "Great smaller campground with lots of good fishing walking distance from all campsites and lots of hiking trails to multiple ponds," reports one visitor to Sandy Channel State Rec Area.
Swimming in clear water: The small designated swimming area at Sandy Channel provides a cooling spot during hot Nebraska summers. "There is a small 'beach' area designated for swimming in one of the ponds. The water was nice and cooled us down nicely," notes a camper who visited in August.
Kayaking access: Many campsites offer direct water access for small watercraft. At Sandy Channel, campers appreciate the easy lake access: "The spot is just a short walk from the small sand pit lake. Makes it ideal for early morning fishing and a quick kayak launch site," writes a reviewer who stayed in October.
Disc golf course: Lafayette Park in Gothenburg includes a disc golf course alongside other recreational facilities. A visitor to Lafayette Park Campground mentioned discovering "this really large, open space park next to the grounds also had a disc golf course" during their stay.
Spacious, shaded campsites: Many campgrounds in the region feature mature trees providing essential shade during hot Nebraska summers. "This park is water and electric only. Has a dump station at the entrance. All sites are on grass or gravel and very close together. The park is well kept with plenty of mature shade trees," notes a camper at Lafayette Park.
Lakeside camping spots: Main Area Campground at Johnson Lake offers premium sites along the water. "There were plenty of sites during my stay in October, and the site I stayed at was right next to the lake. In the morning, the trees were beautifully lined along the campsites," shares one visitor who gave it a 5-star rating.
Early season tranquility: Spring and fall visitors often find uncrowded conditions. "We arrived here on March 1st and it was very silent, just one other camper. Spots are clean, squirrels running around, tables and firepits," reports a March visitor to Main Area Campground.
Evening wildlife viewing: Fireflies are a highlight for summer campers in this region. A visitor to Sandy Channel mentioned, "I do remember the fireflies fondly. There were tons." Another camper noted, "Wonderful bullfrog chorus very peaceful" when describing the nighttime experience.
State Recreation Area permits: Nebraska requires entrance permits for State Recreation Areas in addition to camping fees. At Sandy Channel, a camper noted, "$15 to camp, $12 to enter if you're out of state." These fees apply to most state recreation areas in the region.
Limited facilities at primitive sites: Phillips Lake State Recreation Area and similar primitive camping areas lack modern amenities. Sandy Channel campers should prepare accordingly: "There is no modern amenities so you will have to rough it for a few days," states one reviewer.
Highway noise impacts: Some campgrounds sit close to Interstate 80, creating consistent background noise. At Cozad Lake Wildlife Management Area, a camper observed, "The noise from I-80 is always there (about 200') but it's constant and was ok for us (rather than trains every 30 minutes)."
Water availability varies: Not all campgrounds provide drinking water access. A Sandy Channel visitor warned, "The state map of the campground shows hand pump well, BUT THE WELL HAS BEEN REMOVED." Always bring sufficient water when visiting primitive sites.
Quiet recreation areas: Elwood Resort and Campground offers a peaceful environment away from busier recreation areas. "This friendly campground sits on The reservoir, and is about a 5 minute drive to Johnson Lake. Our kids enjoyed the quiet and loved being turned loose to enjoy the surroundings," shares a family who stayed there.
Playground equipment: Some campgrounds include play areas for children. At Inlet Campground — Johnson Lake State Recreation Area, one family reported, "Had trees to climb, swing set, and tether ball for kids while we sat and watched the lake."
Swimming access: When temperatures rise, having water access becomes essential for families. At Inlet Campground, a visitor noted, "Stopped here for just a night. Amazing! Here at end of August, beautiful views quiet and tranquil. Host was so kind. Had trees to climb, swing set, and tether ball for kids while we sat and watched the lake."
Early arrival recommendation: Popular family-friendly spots fill quickly on summer weekends. "Like I said in the title, if possible arrive early on the weekend or even a little earlier during the week to get the best spot in the area," advises a Sandy Channel camper who visited in October.
Easy access sites: Main Area Campground provides straightforward RV access. "Large well kept campground! Very easy to get in and out off and all facilities are top notch!" reports one RV camper.
Dump station availability: Some campgrounds have limited dump facilities that can become congested. A Main Campground visitor observed, "There's only one RV dump site which made for a huge line in the morning."
Electric hookups essential: Summer temperatures make electricity valuable for running air conditioning. Lafayette Park campers appreciate the amenities: "Water, electric for $25 a night. Dump station."
Wind protection considerations: Nebraska campgrounds experience significant winds that can impact RV awnings and outdoor equipment. Having trees or positioning your RV strategically helps mitigate this regional challenge.
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Elwood, NE?
According to TheDyrt.com, Elwood, NE offers a wide range of camping options, with 55 campgrounds and RV parks near Elwood, NE and 5 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Elwood, NE?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Elwood, NE is Main Area Campground with a 4.5-star rating from 10 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Elwood, NE?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 5 free dispersed camping spots near Elwood, NE.
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