Best Tent Camping near Louisville, NE

Tent camping options near Louisville, Nebraska include several established campgrounds within a short drive. Riverside Campground at Two Rivers State Recreation Area offers tent sites along the river with basic amenities including fire rings and picnic tables. Fremont Lakes State Recreation Area provides tent-specific campsites with drinking water and toilet facilities approximately 30 miles northwest of Louisville. Wirth Brothers Lake offers more primitive tent camping with basic facilities including drinking water, picnic tables, and toilets.

Most tent camping areas near Louisville feature drive-in access, though Wirth Brothers Lake also offers walk-in tent sites for those seeking more seclusion. Campgrounds typically provide fire rings and picnic tables, but amenities vary significantly between locations. Riverside Campground has tent sites directly adjacent to the river, while other locations may place tent campers in designated areas. Vault toilets are common at most locations, though shower facilities are limited to larger recreation areas like Fremont Lakes and Two Rivers. A camper noted that Wirth Brothers Lake is "off the beaten path and has camping spots that offer some seclusion from other people."

Tent campers at Two Rivers SRA can enjoy riverside sites with opportunities for water activities when river levels permit. A recent review mentioned, "We camped right by the river. Also a short walk to the outhouse and playground." Fremont Lakes offers multiple small lakes for fishing and swimming, though reviews indicate limited shade at most tent sites. Area Three Campground provides more primitive tent camping on a peninsula with access to disc golf and beach areas. Brownville Riverside Park offers basic tent camping with river access, though recent flooding has affected site conditions. Most tent camping areas experience moderate to high usage during summer weekends, with greater solitude available during weekdays or shoulder seasons.

Best Tent Sites Near Louisville, Nebraska (11)

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Tent Camping Reviews near Louisville, NE

575 Reviews of 11 Louisville Campgrounds


  • Joe R.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 1, 2018

    Wagon Train Primitive sites

    Wagon Train easy going camping

    This SRA about 25 minutes Southeast of Lincoln Nebraska is a favorite go to for me and my boys. Wagon Train is far enough from major roads that all you’ll hear is nature and the crackle of your fire. There are 28 pad/powered sites and 80 non powered, non pad sites for basic tent camping. If you want a sad spot reserve early. This SRA experienced a tornado a few years ago and many trees were lost. Those trees are in a pile near the non pad sites though, so claiming free fire wood is easy if you have a saw. Potable water is available and vaulted toilets are a short walk from the non powered sites. If you RV you’ll also have access to a dump station. There is a short hiking trail but nothing to write home about. Your camp sites will all have fire rings and picnic tables. I think the best part of this lake is the sand beach swimming area which is near a large covered picnic area. As with many Southeast Nebraska lakes, you can boat but there is a 5mph speed limit. If you don’t make reservations online you can show up and self register at the camp entrance. For me Wagon Train isn’t the prettiest lake in the area be a long shot but I love how quite it is and you’ll love the dark starry skies at night.

  • J
    Aug. 28, 2020

    Arrowhead Park Campground

    Peaceful Serenity

    I arrived just in time to see the beautiful sunset over the small lake near the primitive campground closest to the Park Office. It only cost $10 for tent camping and $3 for a vehicle pass. Campground and vault toilets were pretty clean. There is a fire ring and picnic table at each tent campsite and there are plenty to choose from near the water. You can bring your own kayak or canoe and even fish here. We had a nice encounter from the campground employee who explained how to put the stake out to claim our campsite. Right away, I saw abundant wildlife, including turkey, deer, black squirrels, woodpeckers, geese, ducks and bats. Come prepared for the mosquitoes but overall I would highly recommend this place!

  • Tarrah C.
    Apr. 5, 2023

    Waubonsie State Park Campground

    Nice Trails

    This is a great weekend spot not much to do around the park. The campsites are nice but close with not much space in between. There are 2 campgrounds, the one north of the highway is a horse campground but required. There are nice trails in this area. The campground on the south is more of a tent site. There are vault toliets, no showers. A lot of great trails o this side. All campsites include a picnic table and fire ring.

  • D
    Sep. 16, 2020

    Memphis Lake State Rec Area

    Camping Right on the Lake

    It is a nice spot a bit off of the main roads. Many of the tent sites allow you to camp right next to the lake. It's generally pretty quiet and people respect the 10 pm quiet hours rule. Each site has a picnic table and fire ring.

  • C
    May. 5, 2024

    Czechland Lake Recreation Area

    Great first come first serve campground

    This is a nice small campground that is well taken care of. We stayed at site number 8 which may be one of the more unlevel spots. The passenger side of our 5th wheel was about 7" lower than driver side and rear of fifth wheel was about 3" lower than front before we levelled out. 

    Pros:

    -Well maintained walking trails that are perfect for dogs

    -Most sites have 30 and 50 amp hookups

    -Fire rings and picnic tables at most sites

    -$18 a night for electric hookups

    -Quiet

    Cons:

    -Some sites are very unlevel  

    -No water or dump station

  • Jennifer T.
    May. 28, 2024

    Branched Oak Lake State Rec Area

    Beautiful spot

    We spent Memorial weekend here in 2022. We had to park in a designated parking spot and walk in to set our tent. The site was shady and came with a picnic table, fire ring and We were right on the shores of the lake. It was a beautiful and very relaxing to hear the waves, although the wind coming across the lake was mighty fierce and destroyed the canopy that we had over the picnic table. And the beating of the tent all night long was a little hard to get some decent sleep. But the area was nice and close to the restrooms and spacious campsites

  • Kyla B.
    Sep. 19, 2025

    Czechland Lake Recreation Area

    Peaceful

    Has fishing, kayaking, hiking, 3 covered picnic areas with electricity, wildlife watching, no-wake boating, 11 (50 amp) RV/tent pads/sites at $20 per night, 3 free non-electrical RV/tent pads/sites, & free tent camping area by the dock. No park permit required. Can pay for pads/sites with cash or with mobile phone. Sites have trash cans, picnic tables and fire rings. Primitive bathrooms available. Water spigots available and working. No dumpsite. Dogs welcome but must be leashed.

    May be difficult parking for larger rigs (35ft+) due to the one way entrance and curvature of the campground. Also note that you will need to bring leveling blocks for nearly every site since the campground is build on a hill.

    https://lpnnrd.org/outdoor-recreation/czechland-lake-recreation-area/

  • LThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 11, 2025

    Lake Manawa State Park Campground

    Nice metro campground

    Large concrete pads with patio and permanently mounted mesh steel picnic table with a fire pit grill on the corner.. Lakeside locations are quite well spaced with a panoramic Lake view. small restroom and shower pair with unisex entry. Quite spartan, but relatively clean. Trees surround the campground, but none provide any campground shade. Entry gate code required, which provides some security. all amenities are available within a limited distance. Some lake activity noises during the day, and depending upon wind, some aircraft traffic, otherwise very quiet.

  • Sarah H.
    Aug. 7, 2016

    Arrowhead Park Campground

    Easy Family Camping Near Omaha

    Our family and another family shared a primitive tent site near the back of the park. We were first and foremost impressed with the freedom we had in choosing our site. Tent camping here is non-reservable, but once you enter the park, you may choose from any spots containing a fire pit outside of RV loops. Tent sites range from lake-front, to playground side, to more private sites on the outer rim of the park. We chose a large, private site at the back of the park. This site was well maintained and had enough space to easily accommodate two families of four. We even had a picnic shelter all to ourselves. Our site was lined by woods and farmland and had a good view of a small pond. The night was full of exciting animal noises from both the nearby farm and pond. Vault toilets were a short walk away with clean shower facilities just a few loops away. The kids enjoyed riding bikes up and down gravel roads, looking for frogs, and playing on the playground. Canoe and paddle boat rental is extremely reasonable. Hiking trails near the park entrance are rugged. The staff was incredibly kind and easy-going, yet attentive. Just a short drive from neighboring towns, this is a good starter campground for families with younger kids. We hope to return in winter to check out the camping cabins.


Guide to Louisville

Tent camping opportunities near Louisville, Nebraska include primitive and established sites with varying amenities within a 30-mile radius. The area experiences hot summers with temperatures regularly exceeding 85°F from June through August, while spring and fall provide milder conditions for camping. Most campgrounds in the region experience periodic closures due to Missouri River and Platte River flooding, requiring campers to check current conditions before planning trips.

What to do

Fishing opportunities: Fremont Lakes State Recreation Area features multiple small lakes stocked with catfish, bass, and bluegill. According to one camper, the recreation area offers "impressive" options with "campsites on and off of the water" and "a nice bicycle trail that leaves the park and winds out to Hormel Park on the Platte River."

Disc golf access: Area Three Campground provides primitive camping with direct access to disc golf courses. As one visitor notes, "This is primitive camping on the peninsula of Branched Oak, so you get close access to Disc Golf, nice beach, and Showers just up the road."

River activities: When water levels permit, camping near rivers allows for tubing and swimming. A Two Rivers camper mentioned, "The river is decently safe and a good place to tube. There were not any other campers but I could see it getting pretty busy on the weekends. Definitely for relaxing on the river but not much else."

What campers like

Wildlife viewing: Two Rivers State Recreation Area offers opportunities to spot deer, wild turkey, and various bird species. A camper observed that "the park has deer and turkey and many birds. There is also fishing. It's far enough outside of Omaha to feel like a getaway and get back to nature."

Secluded spots: Wirth Brothers Lake provides more isolated camping options away from crowds. One visitor appreciated that "it is off the beaten path and has camping spots that offer some seclusion from other people. The campground was designed by boys scouts."

Clean facilities: Several campgrounds maintain well-kept restrooms and common areas. A visitor to Two Rivers noted, "Friendly staff and a very nice and clean campground," while another at Fremont Lakes mentioned, "Facilities were very clean. Cleanest I have ever seen in a campground."

What you should know

Train noise: Fremont Lakes campers should prepare for significant railroad noise. One camper warned, "There is a very busy set of train tracks that run about every 20 minutes all day and all night. Didn't get any sleep, even with earplugs. Plus, it's right next to a busy highway."

Flooding impacts: Brownville Riverside Park continues to recover from flood damage. A recent visitor reported, "The 2019 floods took a toll on this park... the park needs a lot of maintenance and repairs," while another noted in July 2024 that "the river has flooded it out as of June 28, 2024 and it will likely be unusable for at least the remainder of this season."

Limited shade: Many tent sites lack adequate tree coverage. At Fremont Lakes, a camper noted "not much shade on most tent sites," recommending that you "make sure you ask when they dredged the lakes that you want to stay on."

Tips for camping with families

Playground access: Two Rivers offers family-friendly amenities near camping areas. A father shared, "A short drive from Omaha, two rivers offers generally clean TV and tent camping sites across multiple campgrounds. My boys (4&7) loved it."

Educational opportunities: Riverside Campground provides nature learning experiences for children. A camper described, "You can even take a short hike into a little outdoor nature classroom. The park has many, many opportunities to earn badges," making it ideal for scout groups.

Morning activities: Family routines can include walks to nearby facilities. One regular visitor explained, "There is a convenience store ran by a very nice family and they make a great breakfast for a low cost. We like to get up early and walk across the park to breakfast and then walk back to our campsite."

Tips from RVers

Fairground options: Budget-conscious RVers can utilize county fairgrounds for basic accommodations. A visitor to Saunders County Fairgrounds reported, "Located near downtown Wahoo. $20 per night for full hookup. Appear to be approximately 40 sites."

Off-season camping: Late fall camping offers solitude but requires cold-weather preparation. A tent camper at Area Three Campground shared, "Late October tent camping- low around 19f... we seemed to be the only souls in the place. Our site was a few hundred yards from the lake, and we had a great morning walk."

Cost considerations: Compare value across different sites before booking. A camper noted about Area Three, "For $15 you can do better in Nebraska" given the limited amenities, explaining that "other than the regular old picnic table, burn pit and rather dirty vault toilet, there is nothing else here."

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Louisville, NE?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Louisville, NE is Riverside Campground — Two Rivers SRA with a 3.8-star rating from 5 reviews.

What is the best site to find tent camping near Louisville, NE?

TheDyrt.com has all 11 tent camping locations near Louisville, NE, with real photos and reviews from campers.