If you're looking for a place to pitch your tent near Grand Island, look no further. With The Dyrt, it's easy to find Grand Island campgrounds for you and your tent. You're sure to find the perfect campsite for your Nebraska tent camping excursion.
Tooley Park is located at 2392-2398 North North Road Marquette, NE 68854. They can be contacted via phone for pricing, directions, reservations, and more.
2025 - the park is adding 21 designate camp pads with electric.
Cheyenne SRA does not offer designated campsites, but campers can pitch tents in the mowed areas around the lake and set up their RVs in parking areas. All camping is first-come, first-served for those who register in the self-service box (cash or check only) at the entrance.
$10 - $45 / night
Middle Loup River access and 20-acre lake. Excellent location for fishing, camping, picnicking and swimming. Tent camping only.
DLD is a former wayside area encompassing 7 acres of land. The area offers picnicking and 4 non-designated campsites. DLD is located 5 miles east of Hastings on U.S. Highway 6.
Guide
4 of us tent camped here over Labor Day weekend and there was only one other camper in the tent site. Bathroom was very clean and the space was well maintained. There’s a 1.1 mile loop trail that skirts the North side of the lake with the trail head right off the tent site. Water was extremely murky so depending on what you’re fishing for it may not be the best.
Overall we loved the campground and will be back!
Guide
Over the years this has been my get in spot for around 100 kayaking trips. I’ve never had any issues with anyone messing with my vehicle. People from Grand Island have ruined this park by partying. Now it’s closed half the time and no alcohol is allowed. When it reopens I will still use this as my main get in. Would be much higher rated if it had not been ruined from partying.
Guide
Great tent camping. An oasis in Nebraska. A lot of amenities including swimming pool. Very clean & well appointed bath house.
Traveler
There is not an option for tent camping, van camping, or anything but RVs. The owner was kind, but explained that he has not allowed tent camping for two years.
Legend
We stayed here in June. The tent sites are very close in proximity- your conversation quickly becomes your neighbors conversation. Tent sites are pull-up which is convenient. There are RVs behind and away from the tent sites (mostly RVs here with about 10 tent sites). We met some great tent neighbors & had nice conversation. One tent neighbor was extremely disruptive (left their dog tied up crying at the site- did not give the dog water the whole time they were there which was 12 hours- It was sad- they were also all around loud and inconsiderate). Other than those neighbors all was good. Laundry on site so bring quarters. Showers are clean enough. Bathrooms are a close walk to tent sites. Not much at the camp store (they were out of a lot of stuff their site says they have & we're not making food either), but they did get an ice delivery when we were there which was helpful. We planned to cook at our site anyway- but it was inconvenient for some families relying on their pizza for dinner. Great sunset views over the cornfield from the tent sites !!!
Legend
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 tent site that are free. You can camp there off season. Some of the site are on the river. There are also several hiking trails.
Legend
Pioneer Trails Recreatin Area is a new campground so there is no shade available, but the sites have lots of room between them and have nice level, long concrete pads with a picnic table and fire ring. There are 10 Rv sites with electric only and a separate area with 8 tent sites. The tent sites are walk up sites. There is a nice lake for fishing or boating, and the area is well kept and will be beautiful once the trees come into full maturity.
GuideGreat campground other that you are on top of your neighbors. Thought we might not be able to open our awning, only about 3 to 4 feet between sites. Loved a lot of restrooms. Pool was nice. If you are tent camping great sites.
Legend
There are 6 or 7 spots that are viable for tent camping. The other 5 or 6 spots are all gravel. Plenty of shade. The restrooms were plumbed but dirty like a typical park restroom. The showers are located at the pool.
TravelerSuch a lovely park with a playground, bathroom, and pavilion. There are limited spots for camping, but we arrived around 6 pm and had no issue snagging a spot. We’re here with mostly RVs, but we’re tent camping and it’s perfect for us too.
Legend
I grew up in the towns next to the Davis Creek Dam which is managed by the NRD. This is a great , once upon a time small campground right on Davis Creek Dam. You’ll enjoy this campground that is far away from road noise. Supplies can be purchased in North Loup, Scotia or Ord Nebraska, roughly 6 and 16 miles way respectively. This campground gets busy over summer holidays but other than that I’ve found that you can reserve same day spots without worry, especially if you are tent camping.
Scout
Smaller park with about 15 tent sites with fire pits and picnic tables. Outhouse facilities with no access to fresh water. There is no playground equipment. Access to 2 fishing ponds and a short hike to access river.
GuideMixed reviews for this campsite, but I can say that it’s really good and well worth staying there … first of all, it’s $5 for tent camping, which is the cheapest I’ve ever paid, in the USA, the UK, anywhere! Facilities are basic, but like I say, it’s $5. The train track is close by, but it didn’t bother me. In the tent area there is a large shelter, which is handy if it’s raining. Did I mention it was $5?! Highly recommended
GuideWhen arriving the first thing I noticed was how tucked back away from the roads the camping areas are. Clean bathrooms. Lots of new tree growth. I did not end up getting my boat on the water but caught a carp from shore. Each site has plenty of room and a newer picnic bench. Running water and shelter available at tent sites.
Traveler
The TENT sites are closed for COVID-19 social distancing, but the RV sites are OPEN. The concrete pads are well maintained, spaced accordingly, and easy to pull into for a variety of RV hook-ups.
The restroom by the main entrance was the ONLY open bathroom. It is wheelchair accessible & clean!
There are pump well water stations in the park. Many places to picnic and enjoy the fall weather.
Legend
This campground is located north of the interstate at the Henderson exit. We came to just get out for the first time this year because of Covid-19. We requested a site closest to the pond because I just love to look at the water and wildlife. The campground restrooms were closed due to Covid and she had everyone spread to every other site. No tent camping or cabins open at this time. Had a great time frog hunting and boy were they big. Also paddle boated around the pond
Legend
The park is very nice lots of little ponds and a small lake for swimming, large beach with nets for volleyball and a play ground. The tent sites are a mix on being right in the middle of everything or far away. If you stay at K,M,N you will have a nice quiet stay, if you stay at the other be prepared for a noisy area. The shower and bathrooms are pretty well kept and the water temp is not bad at all.
TravelerIf you want a spot where the hookups are, go early on Thursday or Friday. It fills up very quickly. The tent sites are off to the side, but plenty of room. Loup PPD takes very good care of this place! A large pond to swim or kayak in, and great fishing in the canal. There is a four wheeler course on the other side, which can get loud, but if you can ignore that, this is a great little place!
ScoutStopped on our way through to Wisconsin. We ended up coming in late so they left our information in an envelope for us. The reason for 4 stars instead of 5 was because we got a tent site with electricity but didn't know we were going to get a site with only gravel. It may have been user error on my part...as I did make the reservation online. Beautiful site, but we just didn't stay long enough to enjoy all that was available to us. We had Soo much fun catching frogs/toads at our site!!
GuideI’m on a cycling trip across the USA, and I’ve stayed at 60 campsites and this was the best so far, by a long way. For the following reasons: the whole park is beautifully landscaped and maintained. The tent area is spacious, lots of shade, very soft grass, and a few picnic tables and BBQ stands. It’s $15 for tent camping. Excellent shower with lots of hot water. Finally, it’s very quiet and peaceful. A few things to note: the pay station and registration place is half a mile from the tent area in the RV area. There is only one shower, which is near to the RV area and takes quarters ($1 for 6 minutes). There’s an automatic gate that closes at 20:30, after which I don’t think you can get in to the park (but no 100% sure about that). Overall, highly highly recommended!
Legend
3 miles East of Loup City is Trade Winds campground. It is privately owned so you don’t need a state pass. It has 12 cabins and 20 Rv/tent sites with electricity and shared water. The sites are very close together but have shade trees. Each site is back in with picnic bench and fire rings. There is a nice marina for food,bait, supplies. And it has a grill open on weekends. There is a coin operated shower house and laundry mat area. The Marina also has kayak, boat slip, and storage for rent. Everyone there seems to be nice. They even had a huge firework display.
LegendThis campground is a really nice campground right off Interstate 80. The owners live on site and take pride in their business and it shows. The campground is well kept, and the bathrooms/shower house has been remodeled and was immaculate. The sites are gravel, level, and good size. They offer tent camping, Electric and water, or full hook-ups. The sites are pull thru which is always nice. There are fire rings and picnic tables scattered throughout the sites.
We were at a sight closest to the pond, which I loved because I could walk my pups down to the pond and sit at the yard swing and just relax. I thought the interstate would be really noisy but the trees muffle the sound and you really don't hear it. There was even free paddle boats to use for the pond. We also played horseshoes. They also had many other Yard Games to play, a Sand Volleyball Pit, a Sand Box with toys, and a swing set.
The owners were very sweet and Patty brought us fresh baked cookies-something no other campgrounds has ever done and something I will never forget. They also give you your first bundle of firewood free. They go out of their way to make you feel welcome and we did. We will definitely be coming back here.
TravelerAfter much deliberation, and with great regret, I am declaring myself a Nebraska State Parks campground anti. There are three interlocking reasons for this decision:
Both the campgrounds I have been to (this one and Rock Creek Station SRA) seem to treat tent sites as an afterthought: each park has a very small number of tenting spaces that are kind of on the margins of the campground. At Fort Kearny, the sites that were available were also either totally slanted or full of trash. It does seem like other parks might not share this problem, but it at least indicates a pattern to be aware of.
In addition to the campsite fee, there is a $12 DAILY out-of-state vehicle entrance fee. This means that a $15 campsite is actually a $27 campsite. I will say, in fairness, that the $12 also allowed my car to enter the Fort Kearny historical site next to the campground.
The showers are coin-operated. This isn’t a cost problem so much as it is a logistical one: who has quarters anymore? Also, because the showers are timed, you can’t turn the water off and back on again, which ruins my entire haircare routine.
Obviously, these reasons won’t apply to everyone. If you have a camper or RV, your calculus will be totally different. If you’re in-state, and you only have to pay $6 for your vehicle instead of $12, I could see these sites being worth it. And if you don’t have hair that you need to condition, the shower thing might not bother you. But if you are like me, a long-haired out-of-state yokel trying to cross the country with a Honda Accord and a backpacking tent, you might take these considerations into account.
I will say that this campground is beautiful to drive through, with all the little lakes and the cottonwood trees. Also, the camp hosts offer free bikes for guests to use around the campground and presumably on the nearby hike/ bike trail, which is very kind of them and which I wish I had time to take advantage of.
Legend
This park is right off I-80 off one of the Grand Island exits. This park was actually a surprise to me. It was pretty clean, especially for as packed as it was. The spacing between camp site were pretty good. The lakes for swimming, fishing,, and nonpowered boats were clean. The trees, and grass areas were pretty as well, and had modern restrooms and showers. There are playgrounds, volleyball court, disc golf and nature trails available. There are camping for rvs, tent, and generator camping. And honestly if it weren't for the interstate noise (which was not bad) I would of forgot I was next to one.
LegendCampground Review: Bader Park is located in Merrick County a few miles from Marquette Nebraska. It has 24 Rv sites with Electric at $20/night and over 15 tent sites at $10/night, along with lots of day use areas. Everyone also needs to purchase a $6/day vehicle pass. It is a smaller campground with acres of prairie wetlands and miles of trails. There are picnic areas with grills scattered throughout and a group picnic shelter. The showers are coin operated, make sure you bring shower sandals. We were the only campers there except the campground hosts. It was quite chilly in the evenings, but enjoyed sitting out by the campfire looking up at the full moon and stars. You only heard nature around you…the leaves rustling as they blew in the wind, the crickets and frogs singing and the coyotes chattering in the distance. So very relaxing.
Bader Park has a swimming beach with a sandvolleyball net, and multiple fishing ponds. During the year they have fun activities for children and adults including Bird/Nature hikes, a Haunted forest, and Haunted Halloween Campgrounds.
Product Review: As a Ranger for The Dyrt, I get products to test from time to time and I tested the Primus Trailbottle at Bader Park. What I love about the 1.0L(33.8 oz) Trail bottle:
4. I love that it is light weight and easily fits in the pocket of my backpack. It also comes with a. a strap on lid so it doesn't get lost and you can strap it on to your backpack.
I give The Primus Trail Bottle 5 stars as it meets and exceeds my expectations. Take a look at all the Primus products at https://www.primus.eu/
LegendMormon Island is a nice, clean State campground along Interstate 80 at the Grand Island exit. There is a store right before the entrance in case you forgot anything or need to purchase firewood. There are 3 different areas for campers, a tent area, a Rv area, and an area for generator use. 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. There is also plenty of day use areas. The restrooms are clean and have water fountains. There is a separate shower house and laundry that is also well kept. The grounds are maintained and are attractive.
There is a playground for children, a fishing pier, biking, and nice trails to explore. This is a nice area with lots to explore including the Platte River. Just beware of deer ticks. Spray,Spray,Spray..my husband left with 32 visitors that needed to be pulled out.
LegendWe pulled into George H Clayton(Hall County Park on a Saturday night and we're lucky enough to get the last of 19 sites for RVs. We were greeted by a very friendly camp hostess who showed us our site #12. The campground is 3.5 miles from the Grand Island Ne exit 312. The Rv spots had Electric, paved, and level. The cost was $20 per night. There were picnic tables at each site and fires were allowed only in a raised grill and alcohol was not permitted. They also a tent area which was $15 a night. The camping areas and park were very well kept.
There were playgrounds scattered throughout the park, along with walking and biking trails. Some were on the backside of scenic Stuhr Museum where you can see the historical buildings. They also had outside workout stations to use. Picnic shelters were full of families coming to the park for day use. We also saw a flock of wild turkeys waddling around the area.
Tent camping near Grand Island, Nebraska offers a variety of scenic spots for outdoor enthusiasts looking to immerse themselves in nature. With options ranging from serene lakes to lively rivers, there's something for everyone.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Grand Island, NE?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Grand Island, NE is Tooley Park Campground with a 2.5-star rating from 2 reviews.
What is the best site to find tent camping near Grand Island, NE?
TheDyrt.com has all 7 tent camping locations near Grand Island, NE, with real photos and reviews from campers.
Keep Exploring
