Camping options near Hickman, Nebraska include state recreation areas and private campgrounds within a 30-mile radius. Located in Lancaster County at an elevation of 1,345 feet, Hickman experiences typical Nebraska continental climate with hot summers reaching 90°F and cold winters. Cell service remains strong at most campgrounds, though reception can vary at sites farther from Lincoln.
What to do
Fishing opportunities: Bluestem State Recreation Area offers decent fishing with some lakeside spots. "Not a bad lake to camp at; offers decent fishing, decent kayaking, and a swim beach," notes one visitor to Bluestem State Rec Area.
Explore downtown Lincoln: Camp A Way Campground puts you within 3 miles of Historic Haymarket in Lincoln. A camper reports it's a "clean laundry facilities. They also have large washer and dryer if you need to do bed covers... Highly recommend if you need an overnight site with laundry and short drive for a few beers and good meal downtown."
Mountain biking trails: Access the Oxbow Trail System from Ashland RV Campground. "It is also right by a killer mountain biking trail (lookup Oxbow Trail System on Trailforks if you are into that)," mentions a repeat visitor who stayed multiple times.
What campers like
Clean facilities: Victorian Acres RV Park maintains exceptionally well-kept grounds. "We stayed here 1 night while passing through. The staff and other campers were very friendly. Large sites, many with trees. Well landscaped with lots of green space," shares one camper at Victorian Acres RV Park & Campground.
Family activities: Camp A Way offers extensive recreation options for children and teenagers. A returning visitor notes, "We were here years ago when the kids were all a little younger. They had such fond memories that we made it work to swing thru Lincoln again and they had a blast even as teenagers. So many fun activities for the kids."
Quiet camping options: Winter months provide peaceful camping experiences at less crowded parks. At Bluestem State Recreation Area, a winter camper reports, "Really nice and clean place to relax for a couple days. And it's not busy if you like winter camping like I do."
What you should know
Highway noise factors: Many Hickman area rv parks sit near major roads, causing varying noise levels. At Pine Grove RV Park & Campground, a camper notes: "We also love the front row seat to fabulous sunsets. Some people complain about the I-80 noise, but it really varies. We never hear it when we are inside our motorhome. Some evenings it is pretty loud outside and others we can barely hear it."
Seasonal popularity: Fall football weekends create high demand for campsites. One camper mentions Camp A Way gets particularly busy during Husker games: "During the week it makes for a fun atmosphere. There were a lot of kids while we were there mid week."
Recent ownership changes: Check recent reviews as ownership transitions affect campground quality. At Pine Grove RV Park, a camper advises: "Word to the wise: ignore any reviews prior to July 2023. That's when the new owners took over and have been making updates and improvements from day 1."
Tips for camping with families
Geocaching activities: Find family-friendly treasure hunting near campgrounds. A visitor to Ashland RV Campground shares, "To entertain my kids (ages 6-12), there were several geocaches to find within walking distance, and the town has a splash pad and pool during the summer months."
Kid-friendly amenities: Look for campgrounds with dedicated play areas. "This campground had amazing staff, was clean, and had great amenities. The sites are very small however, and to do anything besides swim and play on the playground you need to drive," reports a camper at West Omaha / NE Lincoln KOA Holiday.
Pool quality considerations: Some campground pools receive better maintenance than others. A Pine Grove RV Park visitor notes: "The owners take great care of the pool, so our grandkids come out and swim with us whenever they can. So many campground pools are a bit scary, but not this one."
Tips from RVers
Site leveling challenges: Check reviews for information about uneven sites. At Victorian Acres, a camper observed, "Sites are nice with trees and vegetation but not very level. Came after hours and name was left on board with check in info."
Access considerations: Some rv parks near Hickman have challenging entrance designs. At Camp A Way Campground, a reviewer mentioned, "The entrance/exit is difficult and it looks like it's not their fault as they have been trying to get permits to fix it but the NE transportation is not being cooperative so I recommend patience on this section."
Site size matching: Request appropriate site dimensions for your specific RV length. One camper advised: "We were given an inappropriate size space for the rig we stated, super narrow and we stuck over the road by 2 feet. They had larger sites all around us but were told we could not change."
