Best Campgrounds near Lewellen, NE

We were only going to stay one night at this convenient campground with full hook-ups after a visit to the first Cabela's.  But in the store we learned from an employee of a side trip we could take and extended our stay another day.  Beware of the sprinklers, they will definitely leave water spots. Cabela's also has a very large parking lot if you are inclined to park overnight.  I do not know if Cabela's charges.

Chimney Rock is a landmark that rises high above the prairie and was a landmark for those traveling the Oregon, Mormon, and California Trail.  Chimney Rock historic site is only 60 miles from the Cabela's campground. A paved trail leads to great views of the rock and opportunity for pictures.  There is a museum on site that was very educational.  We tend to spend more time than most, taking about 2-3 hours in the museum.  It was educational to learn how much weight and what they carried in the wagons as they worked their way west.  We walked the trail first (carry water) then cooled off in the museum.

Another stop near Chimney Rock is the historical markers of Courthouse and Jail Rocks. These landmarks were visible from Oregon Trail. There are no facilities nor buildings at Courthouse and Jail Rock, just a few story boards.  There is about one mile of gravel to reach the viewing area. 

We were very happy to have spent a day visiting these two landmarks.

We stayed one night at "Big Mac" on July 6th on our way out to Colorado in beach area 12. We were able to pull right up to the shore. There was a heat wave coming through so it was very hot. The bathrooms (In our spot they were just biffy's) are a bit of a walk from the spot we were at. 

We had 3 setups, a roof top tent, inside the 4runner and a ground tent. All parties slept pretty happily including a 6 year old. We cooked right on the beach and had a campfire. 

Towards midnight we saw some amazing stars that the pictures I included don't do justice. We would stay here again but I would caution anyone coming here to bring some sun screen and ensure you drink a lot of a water. There are some tent spots among the trees that provide more shade.

If you're from a state (Like we are from MN) with lots of beaches and Lakes, it's really "just ok". Don't get me wrong, It's cool you can camp right on the beach and it's probably the most exciting place to be in Nebraska, but that's not saying much.

We can’t say enough great things about Oregon Trail RV Park! While traveling through the area with our dogs, we had planned to stay at Lake McConaughy, but the campgrounds there weren’t as dog-friendly as advertised during the off-season. Thankfully, Luke, the owner of Oregon Trail RV Park, stepped in at the last minute and gave us a place to stay. This park was exactly what we needed—easy to find, impeccably maintained, and truly welcoming to both us and our pets. The RV spaces were clean and spacious, with plenty of room for our dogs to enjoy themselves. Luke’s friendly and accommodating attitude made the experience stress-free, which is priceless when you’re on the road. If you’re in the Lake McConaughy area and looking for a quiet, pet-friendly RV park with excellent service, look no further. Oregon Trail RV Park is a gem, and we’ll definitely be back!