Best Campgrounds near Hickman, NE
Campgrounds surrounding Hickman, Nebraska provide a mix of recreational opportunities at several state-managed areas within a short drive. Wagon Train State Recreation Area, located directly in Hickman, offers primitive tent sites and RV camping with electric hookups along the shoreline of a small lake. Nearby Stagecoach Lake State Recreation Area and Bluestem State Recreation Area expand the camping options with additional mixed-use campgrounds featuring both tent and RV sites. Most facilities operate seasonally from May through September, though some remain open year-round with limited winter services.
Access to most camping areas requires a Nebraska state park permit, with both daily and annual options available. The majority of campgrounds operate on a first-come, first-serve basis with no reservation system in place. Gravel roads connect most sites, which can become dusty during dry periods. Electrical hookups (20/30/50 amp) are available at select locations, while primitive camping areas offer more basic amenities like vault toilets and picnic tables. Water access points are scattered throughout the recreation areas but not necessarily at each campsite. As one visitor noted, "Wagon Train is far enough from major roads that all you'll hear is nature and the crackle of your fire."
Campers consistently mention the fishing opportunities as a primary draw to these recreation areas. The lakes support various water activities, though most enforce a 5mph speed limit, making them better suited for kayaking and canoeing than motorized watersports. Facilities typically include vault toilets, picnic tables, and fire rings, with shower facilities limited or unavailable at most locations. Several campgrounds feature hiking trails, though they tend to be relatively short and unchallenging. A camper described Bluestem as a place to "get away from RV heavy camps" with "clean raised toilets, trails, and archery range, boating, fishing and hunting." Noise levels vary by location, with some campgrounds experiencing train noise or traffic from nearby roads, while others offer more secluded settings.
