Best Campgrounds near Newcastle, NE

Located south of Yankton, SD and part of the South Dakota State Park system, this is a nice place to camp in a beautiful grove of cottonwood trees (I think). There are many campgrounds in the vicinity. This campground has 146 camping sites and 10 cabins.  Bike/hike trails run through the woods and also along the water to Pierson Campground. There is a bandstand and 3 areas with playground equipment. Bathrooms have flush toilets and hot showers. There is a dump station along the road by the water. Individual sites have electricity but not water hookups. Hydrants are scattered throughout the campground. Wildlife in the area includes geese, ducks, turkeys, eagles, and beavers that I have seen. The sites are large and paved. No tent platforms, but two sites toward the back of the campground are designated for tents. I have visited 3 or 4 times and always in the Spring or Fall. This last trip was April and they just got the bathrooms/showers turned on. Other things to do: fishing, kayak or paddleboard, biking, and walking.

https://gfp.sd.gov/parks/detail/chief-white-crane-recreation-area/

We are staying at a basic tent camping site. There is available to us a pit toilet. Water is still shut down for the season.

Luckily, they do offer off-season rates. A Nebraska park permit is required for your vehicle.

Picnic table and fire ring are also here for us.

We are the only ones here in the entire park (mid-March 2025). Grounds are clean. Our site (site 5) is very large, and located on a small Bluff above the Missouri river.

Walking paths, frisbee golf, playgrounds, fishing, and boating are all available.

I have 4 bars of 5G cell service at my camp site. A WIFI hot spot is available at the camp office as well.

The campground is part of the town park in Pilger. There are five sites, all with electricity and two of them have water. The two sites with water had occupants but we did not see anyone when we were there. The camper pads and road are gravel. Sites have a picnic table and bbq grill.

The sites back up to Highway 15 and you will definitely hear (loud) road noise from cars and trucks. This park seems to cater more to the activities of the town– there is a ballfield, two covered picnic pavilions, and a pool. The pool looked very nice, but on a Monday before school let out, no one was there.

The restrooms/showers are near the pool and are open even when the pool is not. There is some ancient playground equipment and not sure why they left it (other than for nostalgia reasons) as there is new equipment in the same area. 

We were there on a Monday afternoon in June and although there were three employees in the pool area, there was no one in the park at all!

We found the Scenic Park RV Campground when we were looking for a spot to stay close to Sioux City, IA for a sports event for our sons. We were extremely happy with this city run campground.

The pads are in great shape. They offer full hookups. We did not have a full hookup site, but still had water, electric, and free cable tv. The view from our camper of the Missouri River and the Sioux City skyline was pretty great.

The staff is friendly and welcoming. The location is quiet and everyone staying there seemed very nice as well. Will definitely be back when we’re up that way again next year.

In another 4-5 years when the trees have grown and this is better maintained, it could be a nice campground.  Sadly, our trip there started with the Google directions leading us to the wrong side of the highway and a muddy, bumpy road.  I called and they gave me correct directions.  Once there, no office, no staff.  I called because the site I had reserved was occupied.  They said just pick any other.  We paid for lake side, but it was too muddy in the other available sites.  We were not offered a refund ($5).  We saw several dogs off leash and, while they were well-behaved, one never knows if they will stay where they belong.

It was quiet at night.  We stayed on a Saturday night.