99 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
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."
"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"
from $35 - $67 / night
Check Availability"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."
from $25 - $35 / night
Check Availability"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."
from $30 / night
Check Availability"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."
"Branched Oak is not the luxury park that Mahoney is but it is one of the premiere campgrounds at Branched Oak which is one of the premiere parks of Nebraska."
"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."
"Fun hiking trail around the whole place. It's probably good fishing if you have a boat but a very weed heavy lake."
"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!"
from $30 / night
Check Availability"Near Lincoln Nebraska, quiet area, reported good fishing. Big gravel parking lot, good for overnights, max 3 days, no fees. some local traffic on weekends. No open fires."
"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."
from $25 - $340 / night
Check Availability
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)
TravelerWe pulled into this camp site around 9pm for some overnight car camping. First of all, completely free which is amazing. There are toilets, but no running water. Near a standing lake, so there are a good number of flies around. We unfortunately did not end up staying the night as planned due to one of the other nearby campers, who unsettled both myself and my partner, but I believe it would have been a lovely campsite if not for that individual.
LegendNot a great campground but clean enough and conveniently located. Sites are way too close together and utilities are old and somewhat poorly placed because the sites are so tight.
Hopefully, you don't need to talk to any employees because we never found anyone working in the office.
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
GuideHalf the campsites are gone as there’s a renovation underway. Those that remain are somewhat overgrown. Campground is still FFS and costs $25 for a site with electric hook up. Didn’t see any sites with water available. You also need a NE parks sticker to stay there. You can buy a 1 day pass for $14 so a non-NE resident pays $39 for a nights stay…cash only. Vault toilet near campground is pretty bad…short walk to vault toilet near lake which is much better. Should be a nice spot when renovations are complete. Plenty of grass to walk a dog.
TravelerI don’t know what else someone could want from free camping. Lake side, good vibes, decent pit toilets, picnic tables. Super nice spot. Only down side, it’s August and the flies are terrible
GuideI loved this site!!! My only real complaint is the flies. When I was there, they were absolutely horrific. I wanted to stay for 2 weeks, but I left after 2 nights instead. Nice park with families coming by to play in the water, and people bring their dogs here to play. Wonderful vibes. If the flies were not unbearable, I would have loved to have stayed.
They may have been worse from the rain, but I think there just aren't enough other animals around to eat them.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 99 campgrounds and RV parks near Malcolm, NE and 3 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 Camp A Way Campground with a 4.6-star rating from 32 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Malcolm, NE?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 3 free dispersed camping spots near Malcolm, NE.
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