Best Campgrounds near Malcolm, NE

The Malcolm, Nebraska area encompasses multiple state recreation areas and developed campgrounds within short driving distances. Branched Oak Lake State Recreation Area stands as the most prominent camping destination, located approximately 8 miles northwest of Malcolm, with areas for tent camping, RV sites with hookups, and primitive camping options. Other nearby options include Camp A Way Campground in Lincoln, which offers cabin accommodations in addition to tent and RV sites, and Pawnee State Recreation Area with its Lakeview Campground. Most campgrounds in the region provide mixed-use sites that accommodate various camping styles, though availability varies by location and season.

Nebraska state recreation areas near Malcolm typically require entrance permits for vehicles, with additional fees for camping. Non-Nebraska plated vehicles face surcharges at state-managed properties. Campgrounds like Branched Oak Lake offer both reservable and first-come, first-served sites, with electric hookups available at many locations. Water access points for fishing and boating are common features throughout the region's recreation areas, though some lakes may have speed restrictions. Summer temperatures typically range from 70-90°F, while spring and fall bring milder conditions but more variable weather. Winter camping is available at some locations but with reduced services. A review noted that "Branched Oak is far enough from major roads that all you'll hear is nature and the crackle of your fire."

Lakeside camping represents a significant draw throughout the Malcolm area, with multiple recreation areas featuring water access for fishing, boating, and swimming. Pawnee State Recreation Area and Branched Oak Lake both offer shoreline camping options. Many campers mention enjoying the relative seclusion of these areas despite their proximity to Lincoln. Primitive camping areas tend to provide more privacy and natural settings, while developed campgrounds offer amenities like showers, electric hookups, and improved facilities. Several visitors highlighted the quality of star-gazing opportunities at campgrounds farther from city lights. Train noise affects some campgrounds in the region, particularly Louisville State Recreation Area, where a reviewer mentioned that "there is a train that goes very near the grounds and it needs to use its horn while passing through, which happens a lot."

Best Camping Sites Near Malcolm, Nebraska (95)

    1. Branched Oak Lake State Rec Area

    28 Reviews
    Malcolm, NE
    5 miles
    Website
    +1 (402) 783-3400

    $25 - $35 / 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."

    "Though this does not have flush toilets or showers they are very near in the adjacent campground."

    2. Camp A Way Campground

    31 Reviews
    Lincoln, NE
    9 miles
    Website
    +1 (402) 476-2282

    $35 - $67 / night

    "A fun pass is require and costa about $10 but kids get ice cream, Slushies, water balloons for water wars included with that plus access to trampoline basketball, a nice jump pad, pool, indoor hot tub,"

    "Next to highway. You can hear highway but that doesn’t bother me"

    3. Lakeview Campground — Pawnee State Recreation Area

    25 Reviews
    Malcolm, NE
    4 miles
    Website
    +1 (402) 796-2362

    $30 / night

    "Pawnee SRA is a well maintained family friendly SRA North West of Lincoln Nebraska. You’ll find powered and primative sites accommodating RV’s to tents."

    "The change machine was either broken or out of change but that seems to be the norm this year at Nebraska parks."

    4. Area One Campground

    6 Reviews
    Malcolm, NE
    3 miles

    "While Nebraska can't do much about the 90+ temps, they sure do make their campgrounds fun to be around when there's water involved."

    "Branched Oak-Area One Campground is 2 1/2 miles north of Malcom Nebraska. There are many different areas offering over 330 pads and tons of primitive camping."

    5. Conestoga State Recreation Area

    6 Reviews
    Denton, NE
    10 miles
    Website

    "Conestoga is entirely walk up with no reservations."

    "Sites with electric hook ups available, dump station on location. Will definitely stay here again when in the area."

    6. Area 3 Campground — Pawnee State Recreation Area

    3 Reviews
    Malcolm, NE
    4 miles
    +1 (402) 796-2362

    $30 / night

    "Good for an overnight stay when passing through, would be nice for multiple days if you want to visit the lake."

    "Lots of hiking trails, very nice weekend!"

    8. Eugene T. Mahoney State Park Campground

    47 Reviews
    Ashland, NE
    30 miles
    Website
    +1 (402) 944-2523

    $25 - $475 / night

    "Nestled between two major cities in Nebraska, you're never far away from anything you may want to do or see. RV and tent camping is obviously available with limited privacy."

    "We used to stop here as a midway point when driving to Colorado. We always stayed at the lodge for a night and had a pleasant time exploring the area."

    10. Area Three Campground

    2 Reviews
    Malcolm, NE
    5 miles

    "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."

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Recent Reviews near Malcolm, NE

517 Reviews of 95 Malcolm Campgrounds


  • AThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 11, 2025

    Fremont Lakes State Recreation Area Tent Campsites

    Great state rec area

    Impressive recreation area. Campsites on and off of the water, all very nice. Lots of walking and bike riding. Very woodsy feeling through the whole park and a nice bicycle trail that leaves the park and winds out to Hormel Park on the Platte River.

  • Trav S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 10, 2025

    Walnut Creek Lake & Recreation Area

    Sewer Dump Available

    This is a very cool park in Papillion, Nebraska!

    It also has a sewer dump site for $5 (if you're not camping). See the camp host to pay.

  • Travis A.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 3, 2025

    Yankee hill wildlife management area

    Good over night spot

    Situated in the middle of corn fields. The WMA has a large marshy, stagnant pond, so bring mosquito repellent. The parking area is clean. There is a dumpster and vault toilet. I didnt inspect it, I'll leave that up to you. No potable water, but Lincoln Nebraska is only 17 miles away.

  • wThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 25, 2025

    Smiths Creek Recreational Area

    Perfect

    It was not far off the highway but no road noise. Great place for a free overnight camp.

  • JThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 24, 2025

    Smith Creek Recreation Area

    Quick overnight stay

    We had a quick one night stay as a van camper. Parked in the stone parking area adjacent to the toilets. A single bright light lit the entire parking lot. We arrived at 9:00 and quickly set up for sleeping. It was dark, our interior car lights immediately attracted numerous bugs. Late in the evening, a vehicle can't in and did a couple of "doughnuts" in the parking lot. It was a nice place overall for a single night.

  • MThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 22, 2025

    Wagon Train State Recreation Area

    Pricey!

    Nice campground with reasonable camp fees, however, they require day use fees as well, which makes it pricey. The lake does not have any water in it either. Only stayed 1 nite, but would probably not stay again.

  • Allison B.
    Aug. 20, 2025

    Pine Grove RV Park & Campground

    Fantastic campground in ideal location

    We have camped here for the past three summers and will continue to come back for as long as we can.  Word to the wise: ignore any reviews prior to July 2023. That's when the new owners took over and have been making updates and improvements from day 1. We love the friendly staff, the onsite cafe, and the beautiful pool.  The owners take great care of the pool, so our grandkids come out and swim with us whenever they can.  So. many campground pools are a bit scary, but not this one.  

    We also love the front row seat to fabulous sunsets.  Some people complain about the I-80 noise, but it really varies. We never hear it when we are inside our motorhome.  Some evenings it is pretty loud outside and others we can barely hear it. It's worth it either way because we can hop on the interstate so quickly and be in Lincoln or Omaha in a snap.  

    Love this place!

  • Austin B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 15, 2025

    Area 5 Campground

    Simple and quiet

    Features:

    • self service
    • primitive camp sites
    • fire pits
    • picnic tables
    • vault toilets
    • plenty of shade
    • hand pump well water drinking fountain
    • a very dry lake
    • a boat ramp that leads to a dry lake bed overtaken by weeds
    • bugs bugs bugs
    • okay night skies

    This little spot is well maintained with mowed camping sections that each have numbered picnic tables and a fire pit. The picnic tables have a little placard to display your camping permit, which is just gotten from a board at the entrance to the campground. There are vault toilets that are definitely not the worst I've seen. And there's a cute little hand pump well water drinking fountain that I wouldn't trust drinking from, but it was fun to pump the water out for a minute or two! The lake was, unfortunately, extremely dry during my visit. There was no direct path to the water bank without cutting through a jungle of a dry lake bed covered in, likely tick infested, weeds. But at least the boat ramp would've served as a great foot/wheelchair ramp to walk down to the water...if there was a path through all the weeds. Lastly, bugs and mosquitoes were torture, but that's to be expected in Nebraska in August. Just be sure to bring your bug spray, and maybe wait to come by until some year when the lake is full.

  • RThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 14, 2025

    Yankee hill wildlife management area

    Dumpster on site

    This place has a dumpster available and it also has a three-day limit in a six-day period.

    The sites aren't technically sites. They're just little places off the side of the road that you can park. So just find a spot park there and you're good to go.

    The road coming in has some big ruts, but the rest of the park seems to be rut free. I had no issues taking my 12 foot tall short bus through there.


Guide to Malcolm

Camping opportunities near Malcolm, Nebraska provide a mix of prairie vistas and lakeside recreation within 15 miles of the small town. The region sits at approximately 1,280 feet elevation with clay soil that can become muddy after rain. Most campsites near Malcolm, Nebraska operate from April through October with reduced wintertime facilities, though some offer year-round accessibility with electric hookups maintained during colder months.

What to do

Disc golf course access: The Area Three Campground at Branched Oak Lake features a disc golf course near the peninsula with primitive campsites starting at $15 per night. "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," notes reviewer Charles C.

Kayaking and paddleboarding: Branched Oak Lake State Rec Area offers extensive no-wake zones ideal for non-motorized watercraft. "There's a huge no-wake area of the lake for kayaking and paddle boarding. They also offer boat rentals," according to Jordan H., who gave the park five stars.

Archery range: Both Pawnee and Branched Oak recreation areas maintain public archery ranges open to campers. "We enjoyed the archery range and took plenty of walks. The shower facilities need a lot of updating and the RV spots are pretty dated with narrow roads," mentions Pat V. about their stay at Branched Oak.

Star-gazing opportunities: Clear nights at Area One Campground provide excellent celestial viewing away from city lights. "Nighttime is great for stargazing and they have pretty stellar sunrises," reports Pat V., who camped during a mountain bike race weekend.

What campers like

Lakeside tent camping: Many campers favor sites directly adjacent to water for easy swimming and fishing access. "My first time camping in Nebraska. I've been to several throughout the US. Loved the spot, I was right next to the lake, great swimming access," writes Jennifer T. about her Branched Oak Lake experience.

Family camping tradition: Many reviewers note returning to the same campgrounds year after year. "I've been coming to Branched Oak since I was a kid. I love the vibe of the park. It's usually packed and the beach's are always full but it's always a really good time," shares Skylar S., who rates the campground 5 stars.

Winter camping solitude: Conestoga State Recreation Area offers a quieter experience during off-season months. One winter camper noted, "Pros: closest to downtown Lincoln amenities, electric hook-ups with a few different terrain options for a site, lake view approx 100 yds, no one else camping during winter here (except one van for a night)."

Newly renovated facilities: Recent improvements at some local recreation areas have enhanced the camping experience. "Conestoga SRA is an increasingly popular campground following major renovations that were completed in 2018. Improvements to the picnic tables, restrooms, added shelter area and most importantly a complete overhaul of the lake have made this a much improved campground," notes Joe R.

What you should know

Campground crowds: During peak season, especially weekends, securing a site without reservation can be challenging. "This is one of our favorite places to 'get away' to for fishing, camping, etc. Be warned: 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!!!" cautions Jen K. about Middle Oak Creek campground.

Highway noise impacts: Camp A Way Campground in Lincoln sits near Interstate 80, creating ambient traffic sounds. "Its pretty quiet at night from other campers HOWEVER the highway is so close you can see the cars going by. Its extremely loud and constant highway sounds," reports Heather A., though she still rated the campground 4 out of 5 stars.

Water quality concerns: Some lakes in the area experience seasonal algae blooms that affect recreational use. "The lake was closed due to a toxic algae bloom which meant that is was a little quieter than normal," noted Bran P. about Pawnee Lake during their stay.

Bathroom facilities: Quality and cleanliness of restrooms varies significantly between campgrounds and seasons. "The bathrooms were super clean and have locks with code to keep them safe. The shower head could use replacing, but it was a hot shower, so we appreciate it," writes Heather A. about Camp A Way.

Tips for camping with families

Kid-friendly activities: Eugene T. Mahoney State Park Campground offers multiple recreational options for children. "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," says Camden O., who gave the park a 5-star rating.

Swimming beaches: Several campgrounds feature designated swimming areas with varying amenities. "This lake is a great place for boats! If you're looking to take out a tube or just power around this area is good as it is larger than most lakes around Lincoln/Omaha. There is also a swimming beach which is nice," reports Kwin K. about Branched Oak Lake.

Playground facilities: Multiple campgrounds maintain playground equipment for younger visitors. "Middle Oak Creek campground has a row of 10-12 electrical spots that are perfect for shore fishing, kayak launch, lakeside views! Nice playgrounds at both camp areas," mentions Jen K.

Family-oriented campgrounds: Some sites specifically cater to families with special amenities. "Very nice campground. Kid friendly with tons of activities. Nice pool & hot tub. Clean laundry facilities and they even have a dog park," writes Tracy A. about Camp A Way Campground.

Tips from RVers

Dump station locations: Lakeview Campground — Pawnee State Recreation Area offers convenient dump facilities. "The nice dump station is located a couple of miles down the road near the Park Office," notes Bran P., who gave the campground 5 stars.

Water access points: Many campgrounds lack direct hookups at sites. "The only water supply is by hand pump on the way to your site so that is a negative. Good for an overnight stay when passing through, would be nice for multiple days if you want to visit the lake," explains Jeff H. about Area 3 Campground at Pawnee.

Electric hookup availability: Sites with reliable power make good stopover locations. "We had a great weekend in Area 3 of the Pawnee Recreational Area. Big spots, good working power for 30 and 50 amp, but no water at the sites. The camp host had 200 feet of hose and we filled the clear tank from that," shares Russ G.

Overnight convenience: Multiple campgrounds provide easy access from I-80 for travelers passing through. "It's fairly easy access from I-80, and made for a relaxing getaway from the interstate," mentions Dennis P. about Area 3 Campground at Pawnee State Recreation Area.

Frequently Asked Questions

What camping is available near Malcolm, NE?

According to TheDyrt.com, Malcolm, NE offers a wide range of camping options, with 95 campgrounds and RV parks near Malcolm, NE and 2 free dispersed camping spots.

Which is the most popular campground near Malcolm, NE?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Malcolm, NE is Branched Oak Lake State Rec Area with a 4.1-star rating from 28 reviews.

Where can I find free dispersed camping near Malcolm, NE?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 2 free dispersed camping spots near Malcolm, NE.