McCook is an ideal place for camping adventures of all kinds. McCook is a great camping destination for everyone. There are tons of nearby hikes, adventurous activities, and sights to see. Find the best campgrounds near McCook, NE. Read helpful reviews and tips to find the perfect camping option for you and your crew.
Red Willow Reservoir SRA offers campers Electric Plus, Electric, Basic and Primitive campsites. There are 48 camping pads with 30- and 50-amp electrical hookups, with access to showers and a dump and fill station. Willow View Campground also offers a panoramic view of the lake.
Red Willow offers numerous Basic and Primitive camping for those that don’t need electricity or modern facilities.
All camping is first-come, first-served and campers register their nightly camping fees in a raised, locked box called an iron ranger. Self-service envelopes are provided at each iron ranger station. Check or cash only. Iron rangers are generally located near the park entrance or in the campground area. On-site camping informational signs are provided to help guide campers with the self-registration process.
$10 - $35 / night
Facilities:
64 camp sites at 50amp, 8 sites at 30amps and 2 showerhouse/restrooms. 34 designated basic camp sites with vault toilets. 3 boat ramps and 2 fish stations.
Cabins
Medicine Creek State Recreation Area has four lakefront cabins on the east side of the lake in the Shady Bay Campground, Trail 4. Each two-bedroom cabin is approximately 532 square feet, has air conditioning, a full bathroom, furnished kitchen and a covered deck overlooking the lake. Linens and utensils are provided. Camping
Medicine Creek SRA offers campers Electric Plus, Electric, Basic and Primitive camping, with 72 all-weather camping pads with electricity. Along with electrical sites, Medicine Creek SRA offers numerous Basic and over 200 Primitive campsites in several campgrounds.
All campers have access to modern restrooms, showers, dump and fill station, vault toilets and nearby concession.
$30 / night
Tent camping
An additional 150 or so primitive sites are available on the sandy beach surrounding the lake. Camping areas include Trail 3, Trail 4 and Trail 7. The beaches are kept well-groomed, a sand volleyball court is also available. Two dump stations are on site, and firewood is provided.
Swanson Reservoir State Recreation Area offers 64 camping pads with 20-, 30- and 50-amp electrical hookups spread over two campgrounds. Seventeen are at Macklin Bay campground and 47 are located at Spring Canyon campground. Both campgrounds offer modern restrooms and showers. Two dump stations are on site, and firewood is provided.
Traveler
Sites with either electric or not. The electric sites were fairly full (note these are located near the highway) I went for the primitive. Not overly maintained. Some sites were hard to see. There are pit toilets, but from the primitives it is several hundred yards away. Down in the primitive there were no other campers.
GuideStayed one night in a tent. Was able to find a site tucked in the trees that felt separate from the other campsites and it was perfect! Had a range of sites from primitive (picnic table and fire ring) to full hook up. Huge, busy campground but not overwhelming—there’s enough space to accommodate. Verizon works great.
Legend
I've been here twice now. Once in July and now at the very end of Oct. Better in Oct. No ticks or bugs and frankly of all the camping locations, there is a number of different choices, I had my section to myself. This place has swimming, a small hike, your choice of camping location, a frisbee golf course and miles one could hike or bike. I think it is kind of a jewel in the Kansas system.
Guide
Gravel, level sites. Short walk to the convenience store to get key to unlock the utilities box and pay for the site (check or cash only). Beautiful lake with walking path just over a mile around.
Guide
There’s about 11 or 12 campsites here there’s a dump station, water available and electric it’s free they suggest a donation It is real sheltered with all the big trees 
GuideGood place to speaks the day and night, $12 for out of state $6 for local. My advice park closer to the lake , less road noise.
Traveler
Everything was well maintained and beautiful. There are free electrical hookups.
Guide
Excellent for large RV’s. Pull thru sites with full hookups and overlooking Norton reservoir
Scout
Not sure how you are suppose to access the electric boxes all had a lock tag on them. I was able to check which boxes were hot and found two boxes hot but was only able to use the 110 plug. Did not find any potable water all faucets were marked as non potable. There is a sign that says to call city hall on Wednesday between 8 and 5 to active electric. Today it is 101 degrees.
GuideBathrooms need work or at least someone that cleans them at least daily. The park is nice but the bathrooms are embarrassing 26 dollars a night
ScoutCamping for anyone arriving at anytime. Don’t expect the best when arriving late, but most of you will have reservations, right? Then you will have the best. (Pause; Coyotes calling) this place has everything for any State Park you could ask. Expansive open grasslands a lake full of fish and fowl. Turkeys and whitetail deer and the coyotes call in the distance. A photographer could get lost in the pure wilderness available in the prairie. I’ve visited here during every season. The heat and bugs of mid July to the frozen autumn morings, always beautiful and teaming with wildlife. A great place to stay no matter your style. Just please be quiet, Mother Nature is listening.
TravelerWe stayed in Prairie Dog State Park for one night on our way back home from Colorado and were pleasantly surprised with what a nice park this was. We stayed in a primitive site. The sites were spacious and had a wonderful shelter! The vault toilet, however didnt look like it had been swept in awhile as it had a LOT of bug carcasses. But otherwise a nice place to stay. Something for everyone, tents, RVs, campers. Beautiful views!
Legend
Drove by to test connectivity. No T-Mobile, little ATT. Verizon 2.5 down 3.5 up
One water spigot for whole campground. Has facilities but did not use
LegendGreat little campground in small town America. Run by the Lions Club, they’ve done a great job.
No reservations. Just take a vacant spot and head over to the convenience store. Some sites more shaded than others.
WiFi is great, but herewith ATT. 32 down, 3 up T-Mobile 5G 79 down, 15.3 up Visible: 11 down. 17 up
Ranger
As avid outdoor lovers, fishermen and bow hunters this is our favorite place to be! The scenery is beautiful year round, wildlife is abundant and the park is so well kept and clean. The camp hosts, rangers, biologists are wonderful, friendly people! We love that the majority of the electrical sites are walk-up. Note: summertime is definitely busy time so plan ahead of you are staying through the weekend. Week day stays are much calmer and if you go before/after peak busy season, you will only have to share the entire park with a small handful of campers
Guide
But not near the water and no water view
GuideShaded RV spots with hookups. Good swimming
TravelerThe sites are tiny and made for RVs. There is no exclusive tent or primitive camping area. The reservoir is primarily used by jet skis and a few power boats. You can swim, but the water is murky brown.
GuideCool little park that is free to stay. No showers or this place would have gotten 5 stars (for what it is). You can’t really ask for much more from a free site. It includes electric hookups, but make sure you check to make sure your site works before you get all set up like me 😂
Guide
Super clean bathrooms (no sinks but do have hand sanitizer) easy lake/reservoir access. Nice fire pits, well kept sites, swings for kids, pet friendly !
GuideThis evening, my husband and I are camped out on the beach at Champion Lake in Enders State Recreation Area, Nebraska.
We chose the campground at the left of the major Reservoir campground, which is the Dam Campground. It has 2 sections to it. You can actually camp on the beach at this one, but it is primitive camping. $10 a night. There is a dump station, and a potable water pump.
Permits are required, but your money envelope (deposit receipt) is your permit, if you are not local. We are staying 2 nights.
Oh yes . The golfing. Well, there is a golf course across the road from the campground. I didn't get to check it out, but you can, if you are interested. I'll update if I can. Internet isn't that great on Verizon here.
TravelerState park ran by local city of Oberlin. Beautiful, well maintained grounds. The drive in leads one to wonder are we there yet? The answer is well kind of. We were sitting in a field in a spot that provided electrical hookups but if you keep going (don’t pull off into the field as we initially did) you will find more. $10 night fee provided us with 30/50 amp service, there was a water station to fill up. Frisbee golf, playground, lots of open space. We were able to get our electric bikes out and explore. Geocache located near and inside park.
RangerWe had a wonderful 2 night stay here we will be back. Find a spot close to water
Ranger
This is a great little spot for remote camping.
RangerWe found ourselves the best little shaded spot. We had a very nice afternoon and night here. We had a fire ring and a great tent area.
Ranger
This was a small little lake we found on our trip. Caught a few bass. Drank a few beers and had some laughs. It was a good spot for 1 night camping.
RangerThis state park/campground is definitely.. unique. Following GPS directions to this camping area led us into the park and to a locked gate. Drive beyond the gate and there's an open field to the left with one official 'campsite'. Continue to drive past, following the road around for about 1-2 minutes, and you arrive to the "campground" / "Frisbee golf course", where there's 10 spots, I believe, and a donation based toilet.
There was someone set up at the single site in the open field, but the campground was empty. There were hookups that didn't look like they functioned. Since there were blue signs with "camping" written on them, and arrows pointing to the open field, we pulled our van along the back behind some trees, where there was a cute spot with a picnic table, and access to "Lake Bottom Trail" which really looked like a mowed path around a hunting ground. There was also another trail or two in the area, but we did not explore them.
The air was filled with tiny black flies (though harmless) but dozens and dozens got caught in my arm, head, and leg hairs, and it was quite frustrating, but again they were quite small and harmless, but that was my main issue with the location.
Locals drove by a few times, as it seemed farmland and some houses are accessed through the park. The town of Oberlin has very limited food/supplies.
Camping near McCook, Nebraska, offers a mix of beautiful landscapes and unique experiences. Whether you're looking for a quiet spot to unwind or a place to enjoy outdoor activities, there are several campgrounds to choose from.
Camping near McCook, Nebraska, has its quirks and charms. With a little planning, you can enjoy a great outdoor experience!
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular campground near McCook, NE?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near McCook, NE is Karrer Park with a 4.3-star rating from 4 reviews.
What parks are near McCook, NE?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 2 parks near McCook, NE that allow camping, notably Harlan County Lake and Wilson Lake.
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