3 campgrounds with availability next weekend
Branched Oak Lake State Recreation Area features an equestrian camping section with pull-through sites providing full hookups and adjacent corrals for horses. Located at Area 2, this campground accommodates tent, RV, and horse trailer camping near an inlet with lakeside access. The equestrian camping area often gets overlooked despite its quality facilities, making it less crowded than other sections of the park. Campsites include picnic tables and fire rings with ample space for horse trailers. The lake offers archery and shotgun ranges nearby, plus a disc golf course accessible to campers. Vault toilets serve the equestrian area, while showers are available at the nearby Area 1 campground.
The equestrian trail network connects directly to the campground, allowing riders immediate access to wooded paths circling portions of the lake. These trails accommodate various skill levels with minimal elevation changes typical of eastern Nebraska terrain. Trail maps are available at the park office, showing connections between riding areas and camping facilities. Horse owners typically bring their own feed and water buckets, as natural water sources may be seasonal. The nearby town of Malcolm provides access to a well-regarded BBQ restaurant where many riders stop after trail excursions. For Friday evenings, the small town of Bee hosts a popular fish fry that attracts campers from throughout the recreation area. Reservation requirements vary by season, with summer weekends typically requiring advance booking for equestrian sites.
"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."
Available next weekend
from $20 - $485 / night
"The park itself has beautiful trails. Bring your hiking shoes or fat bike and enjoy nature.
For younger children there is a very nice splash pad. $3/person, under 3 is free.""It’s a bit off the beaten path but we got to enjoy the beautiful horses. Bonus!"
Available next weekend
from $340 / night
"Campground 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."
"Louisville State Recreation Area is a nice large camping area offering over 200 sites with Electricity. There are also primitive tenting areas as well."
Campground full next weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $10 - $30 / 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."
Campground full next weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $100 / night
"We've even walked through the water to go play on the "islands". There is a convenience store ran by a very nice family and they make a great breakfast for a low cost."
"A short drive from Omaha, two rivers offers generally clean TV and tent camping sites across multiple campgrounds. I camped right by the river. Also a short walk to the outhouse and playground."
from $10 / 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"
Campground full next weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $30 / 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."
Campground full next weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $25 / night
"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."
"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!"
from $15 - $40 / night
"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
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 equestrian camping offers specialized sites equipped for horses and riders. Located within the larger recreation area, the equestrian section provides full hookup sites with adjacent corrals near an inlet with lakeside access. This less crowded section of the park includes picnic tables and fire rings with enough space for horse trailers, while trails connect directly to the campground for immediate riding access. Additional park features include archery and shotgun ranges, disc golf, vault toilets at the equestrian area, and shower facilities at the nearby Area 1 campground.
Fishing opportunities: Anglers can fish at the seven lakes of Two Rivers State Recreation Area where "lots of fishing opportunities in the ponds and river. Even a trout lake" are available according to Justin R. The different lakes accommodate various fishing preferences whether you prefer river fishing or lake fishing.
Hiking trails: The trails at Platte River State Park offer some of the best hiking experiences in southeast Nebraska. According to Jared J., "they have a wealth of amazing hiking/biking trails that traverse through some amazing scenery... you can pick between the less intensive paved walkways or you can walk along the hilly bluffs that contour the Platte River."
Water activities: During summer months, head to Eugene T. Mahoney State Park for family-friendly water recreation. Charlie B. notes it "has it all... paddleboating, frisbee golf, horseback riding, driving range, fishing, tennis courts, river views, cabins!" The wave pool is especially popular with younger visitors, though Jennifer M. mentions there are fees: "$10 for adults (even as a non-swimmer) and $8 for kids plus $3 to rent a tube for the wave pool."
Multiple camping styles: Campers appreciate the variety of accommodation options near Louisville. At Platte River State Park, "there are accommodations for every type of camper - cabins, RV, primitive - they even have teepees!" notes Jared J. This flexibility makes the area appealing to both traditional tent campers and those seeking more comfort.
Nature immersion with access: Many campers enjoy that Louisville State Recreation Area provides natural settings while maintaining accessibility. Daniel B. shares that it has "a trail in the woods running parallel to the North Platte River. The path is in a heavily wooded area... just a nice, quiet hike with the very occasional hummm of a mosquito." The combination of wooded areas with modern amenities creates an appealing balance.
Spacious sites: Campers consistently mention appreciating the campsite layouts at Oak Grove Campground. Shannon G. notes it "is one of the smaller campgrounds and is peaceful... 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." This spacing provides more privacy than more crowded campgrounds in the region.
Train noise: The railroad tracks near several campgrounds can significantly impact sleep quality. At Louisville State Recreation Area, Justin R. warns "at night the trains go by about every 17 minutes. The tracks run right along the park." Multiple reviewers mention this issue, with Bill M. simply stating "Train noise all night."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Louisville, NE?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Louisville, NE is Eugene T. Mahoney State Park Campground with a 4.2-star rating from 48 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Louisville, NE?
TheDyrt.com has all 18 equestrian camping locations near Louisville, NE, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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