Horse camping is limited near La Vista, Nebraska, with few dedicated horse facilities in the immediate area. While Lake Cunningham Campground offers various accommodation types including tent sites, RV spots with concrete pads, and glamping options, it does not feature dedicated horse corrals or equestrian-specific amenities. The campground provides electricity at most sites with some full hookups available, concrete pads for RVs, and picnic tables with fire rings at each site. Recent improvements include new East lots with ample space between campsites. The train tracks near Louisville State Recreation Area make overnight stays noisy for both humans and horses, with trains passing approximately every 17 minutes throughout the night.
For equestrian camping opportunities, travelers must venture farther from La Vista to access suitable facilities. The Louisville State Recreation Area offers camping with access to the Platte River and multiple lakes, though without specific horse amenities. The park features over 200 electrical sites with reasonable spacing between them, primitive tent camping areas, and trails along the Platte River that could potentially accommodate horses. Water access for animals exists through the park's multiple lakes, though the swimming area is seasonal. Visitors should note that parking permits, fishing licenses, and additional vehicle permits are required on top of reservation fees, with special considerations for out-of-state travelers.
$20 - $340 / night
"As full-time campers we stay at Mahoney quite often as it is close to the Omaha-metro and there are so many things to do within the park: swimming, golf, zip lines, arts & crafts, trails, nature, horses"
"Walking trails. Camping spots galore. Arts and crafts. Horse riding. Water park. Lodge. Viewing tower. And they just added a ropes course. cabins for rent as well."
$10 - $30 / night
"A HUGE campground with around 250 total sites, with options ranging from walk-in camping tent-only sites to RV areas. There is a 3 decent-size lakes spread evenly across the grounds."
"A HUGE campground with around 250 total sites, with options ranging from walk-in camping tent-only sites to RV areas. There is a 3 decent-size lakes spread evenly across the grounds."
$340 / night
"It’s a bit off the beaten path but we got to enjoy the beautiful horses. Bonus!"
"We were passing through Nebraska and opted to stay the night here. The campground is new and will be even nicer when the trees are big enough to provide shade."
$15 - $40 / night
"The lake is right there, with a nice bike path that comes all the way around."
"Lake Cunningham is a fun destination for getting outside if you only have an afternoon to escape! The lake itself is great for kayaking, paddle boarding, and sailing!"
$100 / night
"The fishing is easy in all the lakes and they have a pay fishing trout lake that nearly guarantees success. Our kid and her friends love the swimming beach."
"Whether I was riding a bike around the paved roads. Fishing in one of the sandpit lakes they have to offer, or the river. Walk around the nature trails, or lakes."
$25 / night
"It is right next to lake 4 with some beach access. There are both reservable and walk up sites here. The walk up process is a little strange."
"Very nice camp sites and playgrounds for children nice clean fishing lakes and river access."
$30 / night
"This is a small campground a little ways before you get to lakeside campground. These spots are electric with fire pits and picnic tables. It is near the road and the dump station is in view."
"Take your pick, river or lakeside. Some areas are more modern than others but all are nice. A few have water hookups"
"A few vault toilets are scattered around the park, but there are no shower facilities. Nearby is a small lake along with a nature center. Park is within a valley with lots of shade trees."
$25 / night
"It’s not close to water like some of the others but it has a nice amount of room between spots and lots of trees for shade. There is an old playground by a vault toilet."
$20 - $30 / night
"My first time camping in Nebraska. Ive been to several throughout the US. Loved the spot, I was right next to the lake, great swimming access. Downside drinking water access was difficult."
"Camping area 2 has a lot to offer, even if you don't own a horse. The area is well known for being the equestrian camping area at one of the finest lakes in Nebraska."
ScoutMy first time camping in Nebraska. Ive been to several throughout the US. Loved the spot, I was right next to the lake, great swimming access. Downside drinking water access was difficult.
LegendCamping area 2 has a lot to offer, even if you don't own a horse.
The area is well known for being the equestrian camping area at one of the finest lakes in Nebraska. Pull through sites with full hookups, equestrian trails, and corals. Yet few people realize that there is a nice RV and tent camping area, lovely inlet with lakesides slabs, Boat docks, and Boat ramps. Showers are not available at area #2 but are available at a closeby area #1.
The lake has some nice trails including the equestrian trail that comes from the park. The park has several beaches 2 of them very close. There are archery and shotgun ranges at the lake and a decent disc golf course.
At a popular lake, this is a nice yet secluded camping area that often gets overlooked.
LegendCampground Review
I stayed in this Louisville Rec area a few nights, moving around to three different areas of this HUGE campground are nestled in Nebraska. My plan was to spend a few days taking advantage of the many amenities and activity options this area appeared to have, and I since this is a popular destination option many are considering, I sought to provide a review of the grounds from the perspective of someone who is considering staying in the west, central, or east area of the grounds. This review is for the west area.
General Info on this overall campground
This is a state-funded park, so non-Nebraska plated cars have an additional fee. A HUGE campground with around 250 total sites, with options ranging from walk-in camping tent-only sites to RV areas. There is a 3 decent-size lakes spread evenly across the grounds. Near the central lake ("Lake 2") there is a small shop which has a market where basic kick knacks and firewood are available. This is also where you can rent boats like canoes, kayaks, and stand up paddleboards for hrs, half and daily rates. There is a trail in the woods running parallel to the North Platte River. The path is in a heavily wooded area, so no lakeside views, just a nice, quiet hike with the very occasional hummm of a mosquito. There is a swim area along the beach of Lake 2. There is canoe access at the far west side of the park. In summer, it was common to see people wading across the river as it was neither a fast moving current nor deep. This is a Rec area, so day use is also an option. There are numerous locations for picnics, including Grills, and for fishing in the lakes from some roof-covered docks. Coin-operated showers (takes quarters, change machines take $1 and $5 bills) and full-service, ADA-friendly bathrooms scatter the park as well. There is a play area in the center which has a basic jungle gym. Each site has at least a picnic table and a fire pit. All tent sites are park and walk. If you want to have your car next to your picnic table, you need a padded spot. Each area of the park has these options, as well as electrical, then RV. Most sites are reservable and there are some allocated for first come, first serve. Gates will close at 10pm so make sure your road trip stops before they do. Also, packing earplugs is a must, but it won't completely help you. There is a train that goes very near the grounds - the track basically borders the south side of the campgrounds - and it needs to use its horn while passing through, which happens A LOT.
Central location-specific Info
The harsh part of being located here is if you are looking for any kind of spot that accommodates a flat plot, like sites 206 - 236, you are butted up against the train tracks and that train is LOUD! You will have no chance of a solid night's sleep since the train uses its horn very often. I was in campsite 11 another night, literally as far away from the tracks as possible and wore ear plugs and there was no avoiding it - I was waking up at 5am no matter what. This is the place you want to camp if you are tent camping. The reserve sites or tucked away from a lot of the more family-friendly activities, so you'll get some reprieve from that energy, plus can have some spots that are very close to the N Platte river's edge.
Ranger Review
I was given a pair of the Midland X-TALKER TV1P3 Walkie Talkies to test out from Midland. Since they come with a hands-free option with a compatible accessory, I also got a pair of the AVPH3 Surveillance headsets.
These came in handy (pardon the pun) when I was biking with a friend and skiing. By hooking in the headset to the side of the radio it allowed me to leave the radio in the bag, run a wire and clip a little mic with a talk on/off button to my jacket, then put a little earpiece in around my ear that was out of the way of my helmet. This also protected the radio from debris, as water is easy to collect on electronics when skiing and dust when biking.
These radios aren't big, but they're packed with a lot of features. I personally love the weather scan capability. It locks into the NOAA weather broadcasts to deliver you a forecast. This is very useful while you are on a backpacking trip or in my case doing some kayaking because it helps me plan my routes and assess risk for my activities. They also charge through micro USB if you don't want to pack the included charging cradle (AC powered), so recharging them on the go is pretty simple since you already pack those cables and a portable USB power bank for other electronics.
The 28 mile range is a bit of a stretch (pardon the pun) but this is up to 28 miles. It worked fine for me over some densely forested lakes 2 miles away and even further over open water. I had these up at my cottage in Northern Ontario with me and I was able to get reception on these when I kayaked from one family friend's cottage from ours 8 miles away. It was getting crackly at that point but there is A LOT of interference over that distance so I was shocked they worked at all.
They have 22 channels and 38 privacy codes, so it's easy to create your own network and stay uninterrupted. I also got these working with another pair of radios I had, so they work with other brands. There are some other features, and the product support on their site is great. hey have a reference guide and a user manual to learn how to operate things like the quiet mode - if so inclined.
Overall Pros
Overall Cons
RangerAs full-time campers we stay at Mahoney quite often as it is close to the Omaha-metro and there are so many things to do within the park: swimming, golf, zip lines, arts & crafts, trails, nature, horses, etc. Huge amount of walk up sites all year long. Little Creek campground is the best place to stay for amenities: laundry, hot showers but avoid any campsite located at the bottom of the hill so you are not washed away by rain water or have a site full of mud.
LegendCampground Review
I stayed in this Louisville Rec area a few nights, moving around to three different areas of this HUGE campground are nestled in Nebraska. My plan was to spend a few days taking advantage of the many amenities and activity options this area appeared to have, and I since this is a popular destination option many are considering, I sought to provide a review of the grounds from the perspective of someone who is considering staying in the west, central, or east area of the grounds. This review is for the east area.
General Info on this overall campground
This is a state-funded park, so non-Nebraska plated cars have an additional fee. A HUGE campground with around 250 total sites, with options ranging from walk-in camping tent-only sites to RV areas. There is a 3 decent-size lakes spread evenly across the grounds. Near the central lake ("Lake 2") there is a small shop which has a market where basic kick knacks and firewood are available. This is also where you can rent boats like canoes, kayaks, and stand up paddleboards for hrs, half and daily rates. There is a trail in the woods running parallel to the North Platte River. The path is in a heavily wooded area, so no lakeside views, just a nice, quiet hike with the very occasional hummm of a mosquito. There is a swim area along the beach of Lake 2. There is canoe access at the far west side of the park. In summer, it was common to see people wading across the river as it was neither a fast moving current nor deep. This is a Rec area, so day use is also an option. There are numerous locations for picnics, including Grills, and for fishing in the lakes from some roof-covered docks. Coin-operated showers (takes quarters, change machines take $1 and $5 bills) and full-service, ADA-friendly bathrooms scatter the park as well. There is a play area in the center which has a basic jungle gym. Each site has at least a picnic table and a fire pit. All tent sites are park and walk. If you want to have your car next to your picnic table, you need a padded spot. Each area of the park has these options, as well as electrical, then RV. Most sites are reservable and there are some allocated for first come, first serve. Gates will close at 10pm so make sure your road trip stops before they do. Also, packing earplugs is a must, but it won't completely help you. There is a train that goes very near the grounds - the track basically borders the south side of the campgrounds - and it needs to use its horn while passing through, which happens A LOT.
Central location-specific Info
I personally this this area has the best spots on the grounds. I was loving campsite 11. I had a river-side view to a nice sunset and sat at my picnic table and watched fireworks go off on the other side of the river (4th of July long weekend). These sites are also furthest from the train, which isn't really helping all too much because it's loud anyway, but you're also away from all the noise of the main rec area and central market. Less kids in this area for that reason as well.
Ranger Review
As a Ranger for The Dyrt, I am sometimes given products to test and this time I am testing the FlatPak Toiletry Bottle and the NanoDry Shower Towel (large).
The NanoDry Shower Towel
I have other travel towels, but nothing this size that is this light, this packable, and this quick drying. It's a total keeper. Well, I actually forgot it at a different campground a few days later, but it's something I am happy to pay to replace. I would wake up, have a shower, lay out the towel on the picnic table, and 10 min later it was dry. Speaking of really cool, let me take a sec to talk about the carry case. It's this silicone thing that comes with a carabiner, so I can hook it outside my bag if it's still wet to keep it away from other stuff but also let it air dry a bit.
Overall Positives
Overall Negatives
The FlatPak Toiletry Bottle
I decided to get a few of these guys to solve a few pain points. Usually 'travel size' anything is a little pricier compared to the 'economy size' option, so now I just leave bigger bottles of things like shampoo at home and fill up one of these. Secondly, it's a case that's crazy light so you're pretty much taking whatever liquids, gels, and pastes you use with you with as little added weight possible. It's a travel accessory, so it should be TSA approved, and it is.
Overall Positives
Overall Negatives
GuideThis is a great state park and possibly the busiest since it’s between Omaha and Lincoln. Walking trails. Camping spots galore. Arts and crafts. Horse riding. Water park. Lodge. Viewing tower. And they just added a ropes course. cabins for rent as well.
The only minus besides it’s always busy is the road noise from Interstate 80.
LegendThis is really two large primitive campgrounds each capable of holding crowds of campers. Though this does not have flush toilets or showers they are very near in the adjacent campground.
This campground is on the peninsula of Branched Oak Lake and is close to area 6 which has all the fun stuff. See the review of area 6!
Nearby Malcolm has one of the best BBQ joints in the state, and people throughout the area go to a little town called Bee, close by, for an awesome fish fry every Friday night.
LegendThis free camping area is low on amenities, but os well kept and close to the Oak Creek Trail which extends from Valparaiso to Brainard Nebraska.
The Lake is lovely with such good trails it is often used as a cross-country race site. This NRD lake has 3 gravel slabs close to a vault toilet and water hydrant. It is just up the hill from the boat ramp.
ScoutIf you don’t mind lugging your stuff to your tent spot, it’s primitive, no frills camping at its finest! We chose the closest spot to the vault toilets. There are only 4. It’s a bit off the beaten path but we got to enjoy the beautiful horses. Bonus!
Horse campgrounds near La Vista, Nebraska are limited in the immediate area, with most equestrian facilities requiring travel outside the city limits. The region sits at approximately 1,150 feet above sea level in the rolling hills of eastern Nebraska, where the terrain transitions from the Missouri River Valley to prairie uplands. Temperatures range from summer highs around 90°F to winter lows below freezing, creating seasonal camping considerations.
Trail riding along the Platte River: At Louisville State Recreation Area, campers can access trails that follow the Platte River. "I've been coming here since I was very little. Whether I was riding a bike around the paved roads, fishing in one of the sandpit lakes they have to offer, or the river... I have always felt at home at this park," notes Tony B. The park offers diverse outdoor activities beyond horseback riding.
Water recreation options: Eugene T. Mahoney State Park provides multiple water-based activities for visitors. "This place has it all....paddleboating, a wave pool, horseback riding, ziplining, and playgrounds. Modern restrooms with showers and power are available," shares Jennifer M. The wave pool is particularly popular during summer months.
Archery and shooting sports: For those interested in target sports, Branched Oak Lake State Rec Area offers facilities. "We enjoyed the archery range and took plenty of walks," reports Pat V. The recreation area provides dedicated spaces for these activities away from camping areas.
Multiple fishing environments: Many campgrounds near La Vista feature both lake and river fishing access. At Two Rivers SRA, visitors appreciate the variety. "Take your pick, river or lakeside. Some areas are more modern than others but all are nice," explains Angie P. The park includes dedicated fishing lakes including a trout lake.
Spacious camping layouts: Recent improvements at Lake Cunningham Campground have enhanced the camping experience. "Love the new East lots. Full access with concrete pad. Tons of room between spots," notes Connor S. This spacing contrasts with more crowded options in the region.
Natural hiking trails: Platte River State Park offers exceptional hiking options. "On top of the excellent camping offered, they have a wealth of amazing hiking/biking trails that traverse through some amazing scenery. Just like the camping, you can pick between the less intensive paved walkways or you can walk along the hilly bluffs that contour the Platte River," describes Jared J.
Train noise disruption: Many campgrounds in the area experience significant train noise. At Oak Grove Campground, a camper warns, "This has the capability to be a great little state park, but and a huge one at that is at night the trains go by about every 17 minutes. The tracks run right get along the park."
Reservation requirements: Most popular campgrounds fill quickly, especially during summer months. "This campground is crowded with significant interstate noise. However there are many activities for kids," explains Jennifer M. about Eugene T. Mahoney State Park. Advance reservations are strongly recommended.
Additional permit costs: Nebraska state parks require entrance permits for vehicles. "You also have to pay for the state park fees which is absurd!" notes Timothy about Two Rivers SRA. Non-Nebraska residents pay higher fees for these permits, adding to overall trip costs.
Cabin alternatives: For families seeking more comfortable accommodations, consider unique options. "If you enjoy some extra comforts, rent one of the train cabooses which feature a small kitchen, bathroom, AC and beds with mattresses. Our kids loved the lofted full sized bed," recommends Carla D. about the Union Pacific Cabooses at Two Rivers SRA.
Water parks and splash areas: Several parks offer water features designed specifically for children. "This lake is one of the very few in Omaha that offers camping. They also offered rental boats for the lake, a really nice walking trail, and fishing," shares Tony B. about Lake Cunningham.
Playground access: Most campgrounds include playground facilities, though quality varies. "There is an old playground by a vault toilet," notes Shannon G. about Oak Grove Campground, highlighting that facilities may be dated at some locations.
Site selection strategy: When booking at Louisville State Recreation Area, consider the train track proximity. "The harsh part of being located here is if you are looking for any kind of spot that accommodates a flat plot, like sites 206-236, you are butted up against the train tracks and that train is LOUD!" advises Daniel B.
Utility connections: RV campers should verify hookup availability before arrival. "The sites have concrete pads with power, but no water or sewer. There is a fill station on the way in. You can pay $1 for a hot shower in the comfort station, which is very clean," explains Alana R. about Lake Cunningham Campground.
Campground layout considerations: At Branched Oak Lake, the design affects privacy and views. "The camp sites are forked out like the cul-de-sac properties, each facing the road and having a large portion of the lake or greens to themselves on the back," describes Patheeka, providing useful insight into the campground layout for RV positioning.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near La Vista, NE?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near La Vista, NE is Eugene T. Mahoney State Park Campground with a 4.2-star rating from 46 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near La Vista, NE?
TheDyrt.com has all 16 equestrian camping locations near La Vista, NE, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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