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Branched Oak Lake State Recreation Area features equestrian camping with dedicated trails and facilities in Area 2. The campground includes pull-through sites with full hookups specifically designed for horse owners. Equestrian trails connect directly to the camping area, allowing riders convenient access to explore the lake surroundings. The area is well known for being the equestrian camping area at one of the finest lakes in Nebraska. Campers can utilize corrals for their horses while enjoying the convenience of RV hookups. The equestrian trail system provides scenic routes around the lake and connects to other recreation areas. Non-horse owners also find the area appealing for its lakeside camping, boat docks, and proximity to beaches.
Trail riders at Branched Oak benefit from the extensive path network that circles the lake and extends to neighboring recreation areas. The equestrian trails offer varied terrain suitable for different riding abilities, from beginner-friendly flat sections to more challenging wooded areas. Horse owners appreciate the spacious layout that prevents overcrowding even during peak seasons. Water access points along the trails allow horses to cool off during summer rides. The campground's location provides strategic access to Malcolm, known for exceptional BBQ, and the town of Bee, which hosts popular Friday night fish fries. Trailer parking accommodates various sizes, and the campground layout ensures easy navigation for vehicles with horse trailers. The equestrian camping area remains somewhat secluded despite its proximity to popular recreation spots.
"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."
from $25 - $35 / night
Check Availability"This 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."
"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"
from $20 - $340 / night
Check Availability"Check out Blustem if you like to get away from RV heavy camps like I do. You’ll find clean raised toilets, trails, and archery range, boating, fishing and hunting here."
from $15 - $30 / night
Check Availability"It’s a bit off the beaten path but we got to enjoy the beautiful horses. Bonus!"
"Good hiking, horse rides, great hills for trail running."
from $340 / night
Check Availability"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."
"I am sorry 😔 but I have nut yet been to any of Nebraska's Camping grounds your's well be the first."
from $10 - $30 / night
Check Availabilityfrom $35 / night
Check Availability"Pleasant quiet environment other then nearby train. Location has 2 other RV campgrounds around the corner . It's a city park next to the expo center nice and clean . Pull in next to any hook up."
"The entrance was a little bit confusing. There is a pay box at the edge of the parking box. The bathrooms were locked, but being self contained, we wouldn't have used them."
from $10 / night
Check Availability"No people really, just a bunch of cows you pass as you drive down the gravelly/sandy roads to get to it. No mosquitoes, but bullfrogs aplenty throughout the night."
"My favorite campgrounds are the ones that are a little out of the way on unpaved roads in the middle of nowhere :-) there was a pretty lake, a bathroom, a dumpster, and a map of the hikes."
GuideA nice little area to park our RV for the night as we were passing through. Just put your $10 in the donation box. Yes, there is a train that blows its whistle, but it doesn’t come through too often.
TravelerI tried to drive out to the Timber Point campground on Road 29 on September 21, 2026, and got dangerously stuck in the mud! There were two signs at the end of the maintained section of this dirt road, which said "NO GRAVEL" and "MINIMUM MAINTENANCE ROAD". There should be a "ROAD CLOSED WHEN MUDDY" sign!
Just beyond these signs, the road descends, somewhat steeply, about fifty vertical feet, over about two hundred foot horizontal distance. If you start down that hill in any vehicle when it is muddy, you are likely to start sliding, as I did in our 22' RV, completely lose control of steering, and get stuck in the mud at the bottom of the hill. See the accompanying pictures as proof...
We later found a rickety 'ROAD CLOSED' sign in the grass by the side of the road near the two above signs, which we put back up...after we got towed out. I highly recommend LTR Towing in Lincoln, NB for their towing expertise! (see ltrtowing.com)
ScoutTen dollars a night for a electrical hookup, green grass and peace of mind. Perfect, just pull in, find a vacant pedestal and make yourself at home. 510 Midland Street
LegendLittle Creek section site 42, August 31, 2026, 85 degrees at 7pm. Pad was asphalt and level, good angle for backing in. 20/30amp, T-Mobile 5G was great. Green grass everywhere, we saw deer , squirrels and turkeys. CG was empty, showers and toilets are in the same building, older but nice.
All of the sites were paved and level, the grass may not be level and the tables and pits were fine.
Some noise at night from the highway, but the frogs, crickets and peepers were louder than the road noise. Loud trains at night.
Trash and water spigot were close to site. All of the ADA compatible campsites were brand new concrete very nice
TravelerCampsites are grassy and mostly level, though there were a few that had standing water from a thunderstorm earlier that morning. There is not any privacy between campsites and sites are right next to each other. We were lucky to come on a weekend that wasn’t very busy, and I could easily see this campsite get very crowded around holidays. The pit toilets needed a good clean, but other facilities seem maintained.
GuideThere were more people than I expected there on a Monday evening, but we were able to find a spot with 30A to set up. We didn’t even need blocks, as it was perfectly level. Just pulled into the grass next to the electric and had no issues. Great for a quick overnight, especially for just $10.
TravelerFound this spot last minute before the 4th of July, it was pretty much the only availability. It was perfect and I wish I would have found this place a lot sooner. Although it was busy it still was comfortable. And it's a straight shot to my work in Omaha. Is like staying longer.
GuideSouth of Omaha, on the Platte River. 200+ rv and tent sites. $30/night with electrical. Water and dump in the park. 5 lakes for fishing, kayak, hiking trails, rc track, access to the river, convince store, swimming beach, blowup obstacles course, and shower bathroom locations.
ScoutThis park offers something for everyone! Although the campsites are average this big beautiful park makes up for it in other ways. From the aquatic park, to the stables, hiking and biking trails, a small marina with fishing and paddle boats, and a nature center, you won’t have to leave to be entertained. Recommend staying at the lakeside campground for better views.
Branched Oak Lake State Recreation Area offers specialized equestrian facilities beyond the standard camping amenities. The park maintains separate equestrian camping areas with dedicated access to riding trails throughout the property. Located approximately 30 miles northwest of Lincoln, the park spans over 1,800 acres with multiple camping options for horse owners and non-horse owners alike. The surrounding terrain features rolling hills and mixed grasslands typical of eastern Nebraska.
Kayaking and paddleboarding access: At Branched Oak Lake State Rec Area, visitors can enjoy water sports in designated areas. "There's a huge no-wake area of the lake for kayaking and paddle boarding. They also offer boat rentals," notes Jordan H.
Fishing opportunities: The lakes near Lincoln provide excellent fishing spots for both experienced and novice anglers. "Campers can utilize free showers as well. This is one of our favorite places to 'get away' to for fishing, camping, etc," reports Jen K. about her experience at Branched Oak.
Archery range: Some recreation areas include specialized facilities for target practice. Pat V. mentions that during their stay at Branched Oak, "We enjoyed the archery range and took plenty of walks."
Stargazing: The relative distance from city lights makes many campgrounds ideal for night sky viewing. "Nighttime is great for stargazing and they have pretty stellar sunrises," reports Pat V. about their camping experience.
Lakeside camping access: Many campers appreciate sites with direct water access. Jennifer T. at Branched Oak Lake notes, "Loved the spot, I was right next to the lake, great swimming access."
Family-friendly atmosphere: Recreation areas near Lincoln often cater to families with various amenities. Skylar S. shares, "I've been coming to Branched Oak since I was a kid. I love the vibe of the park."
Wildlife viewing: The natural settings provide opportunities to observe local fauna. At Timber Point Wetland, Abigail H. describes, "No mosquitoes, but bullfrogs aplenty throughout the night...Nice quiet area with lots of fireflies, seemed well maintained."
Cross-country running trails: Some parks maintain trail systems suitable for running events. Charles C. notes that Timber Point "is lovely with such good trails it is often used as a cross-country race site."
Weekend crowds: Popular recreation areas fill quickly during peak times. Jen K. cautions about Branched Oak: "VERY BUSY campground as it is super close to a highly populated city. Plan ahead and reserve a spot or go early in the week otherwise you won't get a pad!"
Train noise: Several campgrounds near Lincoln experience railroad disturbances. Chrisne E. warns about Louisville State Recreation Area: "We liked everything about this area but the train tracks! Be selective on where you pitch the tent. It can get loud."
Water access challenges: Some campsites have limited drinking water facilities. Jennifer T. notes about her Branched Oak stay: "Downside drinking water access was difficult."
Shower facilities: Quality of shower facilities varies significantly between parks. Kevin A. mentions about Branched Oak: "Negatives are disgusting showers; felt like I was in prison as you must pull on a chain to get water."
Water recreation options: Family-oriented water activities are available at several parks. At Eugene T. Mahoney State Park, Angie G. recommends: "There was tons to do such as mini golf and a water park which were the biggest hits with the kids."
Playground access: Many campgrounds include play areas for children. Patheeka notes about Branched Oak: "It has plenty of greenery and is very well-maintained. It has a very clean beach area, a boat and kayak landing area and many children parks."
Activity planning: Some parks offer structured activities for various age groups. Camden O. shares about Eugene T. Mahoney: "There are so many activities from your typical hiking experience to spending the day at the water park to being able to take the family mini golfing."
Off-season benefits: Consider visiting during less crowded times. Jayden K. reports about Branched Oak: "We went in the off season so we had a lot of space to ourselves."
Leveling considerations: RV campers should be prepared for the terrain. Lynn J. from Syracuse City shares: "The whole area is very flat. Leveling was a breeze."
Electric hookup reliability: Check the amperage offerings at your chosen campground. Tim D. notes about Syracuse City: "Sadly, the 30A plug I plugged into kept tripping the breaker, but I always have a backup 20-30A converter."
Campground navigation: Some parks have challenging layouts for larger vehicles. Pat V. explains about Branched Oak: "The RV spots are pretty dated with narrow roads. We were glad it wasn't a weekend with a full campground and we think it would be pretty hectic during their peak season."
Site selection strategy: Campsite layout can significantly impact your experience. Crystal R. advises about Syracuse City: "Pull in next to any hook up. Donation box is $10."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Lincoln, NE?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Lincoln, NE is Branched Oak Lake State Rec Area with a 4.1-star rating from 28 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Lincoln, NE?
TheDyrt.com has all 15 equestrian camping locations near Lincoln, NE, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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