Best Campgrounds near Niobrara, NE

Niobrara State Park serves as the primary camping destination in the Niobrara, Nebraska area, offering a variety of accommodations where the Niobrara and Missouri Rivers converge. The park features three distinct camping areas: Modern Campground with electric hookups for RVs and tents, a dedicated Tent Camping Area with more secluded sites, and a Cabin Area with fully furnished accommodations. Additional camping options exist within driving distance, including Springfield Recreation Area and Wildwood Acres Park, providing alternatives for those seeking mixed-use campgrounds with various amenities and terrain features.

Campground facilities throughout the region remain open year-round, though services may be limited during off-seasons. "The water had been shut off in the off-season. We expected the $15 off-season price since there were no longer horse rides, pool or other activities but there were no showers or restrooms in the RV site," noted one visitor about winter camping. Most developed campgrounds require reservations, particularly on summer weekends when sites fill quickly. The Modern Campground area features paved campsites with electric hookups, while primitive tent sites offer more privacy but fewer amenities. Weather considerations include strong winds and mosquitoes during summer months, with temperatures varying significantly between seasons.

The confluence of the Niobrara and Missouri Rivers creates distinctive camping experiences with scenic overlooks and water recreation opportunities. Campers consistently mention the impressive views as highlights of their stay, particularly from sites near the cabin area and along scenic trails. Several visitors noted the excellent hiking opportunities and wildlife viewing potential throughout the park. "Beautiful views of the Missouri and Niobrara atop heavily wooded hills. Tent sites are either along the paved 1-way road or farther back in the trees of the hills via a short trail," reported one tent camper. While some RV sites are positioned near the highway entrance, others offer more seclusion and proximity to fishing areas. The park balances developed camping amenities with natural features, providing access to hiking trails, horseback riding, fishing opportunities, and historic attractions related to Native American heritage and Lewis and Clark exploration.

Best Camping Sites Near Niobrara, Nebraska (73)

    1. Modern Campground — Niobrara State Park

    14 Reviews
    Niobrara, NE
    2 miles
    Website
    +1 (402) 857-3373

    $30 - $35 / night

    "Little town of Niobrara, just a few miles away has limited shopping but a nice little grocery store, hardware store, museum, and fuel.

    Confluence of the Missouri and Niobrara Rivers."

    "Not to be mistaken as Fort Niobrara, Niobrara State Park , NE is near Niobrara and Verdel, NE."

    2. Tent Camping Area — Niobrara State Park

    4 Reviews
    Niobrara, NE
    2 miles
    +1 (402) 857-3373

    $35 / night

    "Park overlooks the confluence of the Niobrara river and the Missouri River. There was an old train bridge turned into a hiking trail, very cool being so close to the river."

    "Beautiful views of the Missouri and Niobrara atop hervily wooded hills. Tent sites are either along the paved 1 way road or farther back in the trees of the hills via a short trail."

    3. Cabin Area — Niobrara State Park

    3 Reviews
    Niobrara, NE
    3 miles
    Website
    +1 (402) 857-3373

    $160 - $170 / night

    "Designed for families, there is a playground and lots of open space for the kids to run around. Pets are welcome."

    "This park has so much to offer, it is located where the Niobrara and the Missouri River meet. Many amazing views beautiful clean water and miles of hiking trails."

    4. Paulson RV Park

    3 Reviews
    Niobrara, NE
    10 miles
    Website
    +1 (605) 670-7990

    $10 - $30 / night

    "No one else around could hook us up to water. Super cheap too. $200 per month for long term plus electric you are responsible for and $15 per day for short term."

    5. Big River Marsh RV Park

    2 Reviews
    Niobrara, NE
    10 miles
    +1 (605) 369-2924

    $30 / night

    "The convenience of this full hook-up RV Park and its close proximity to the Missouri river boat dock makes this park one of our favorites."

    "Nice simple RV Park very close to the boat ramp.  We like to waterfowl hunt and fish and this marsh and river is an excellent place to vacation."

    6. Springfield Recreation Area

    1 Review
    Niobrara, NE
    11 miles
    Website
    +1 (605) 668-2985

    $21 / night

    7. Sand Creek Recreation Area

    2 Reviews
    Niobrara, NE
    13 miles
    +1 (605) 668-2985

    $12 / night

    8. Mnisose Wicote (Wandering River)

    1 Review
    Niobrara, NE
    11 miles
    Website
    +1 (402) 857-2442

    9. Yankton — Lewis And Clark Recreation Area

    18 Reviews
    Homme Lake, ND
    28 miles
    Website
    +1 (402) 388-4169

    $15 / night

    "Nebraska is HORRIBLE!!! We quit the Nebraska State parks years ago! Putting in coins to take a shower?! Really?! South Dakota doesn’t do that!!! South Dakota State Parks ROCK!!!!!"

    "We had a wonderfull Campside with view of the Lake .The campground is very big and Quiet. Very clean Bathhouses .Lot of Beaches and Playgrounds for Kids. We come back ."

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Recent Reviews near Niobrara, NE

193 Reviews of 73 Niobrara Campgrounds


  • Morgan V.
    Sep. 15, 2025

    Modern Campground — Niobrara State Park

    Great little getaway

    We ended up having nearly the whole place to ourselves! Spots 43/44 were absolutely perfect! On the end which is always nice. Also far enough from the road so it wasn’t too noisy. It was downhill from the horse riding spot and there’s some dogs up there who were barking and came down to our camp twice. Level and spacious enough for our tent (some of the other spots were valleys). It was a short walk to the bathroom/shower.

    Right off of spot 43 is a path to a clearing right on the riverbank for fishing. You might not like that spot if it’s busy and people are walking through your camp set up to get to it.

    Showers and bathrooms were quite clean aside from bugs. Water had that icky egg smell lol.

    Lots of bugs around in general! Mosquitoes, gnats and spiders were especially bad for us.

    We drove around and looked at some of the other spots nearby. The primitive campsites looked super private and the cabins had some amazing views, I think cabin 10 would’ve been the best view but cost $170 per night.

  • W
    Jul. 25, 2025

    Bloomfield - Lewis and Clark SRA

    Quick Tour

    We recorded our last visit (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=umNkBK\_PPGQ) so that we would remember the site numbers for the RV spots. 

    They have 4-6 spots along the water.  This is one of my favorite campgrounds. Amazing views!

  • lThe Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 11, 2025

    Carney Park

    Very nice overnite spot

    Water and electric with pad and picnic tables and trees for $20! Also some tent sites. Nice place for an evening or morning walk to stretch legs around rodeo arena, between baseball fields and then around and small pond. Self serve payment envelopes. A handful of other campers around the CG that has about 16 (?) sites

  • HThe Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 10, 2025

    Modern Campground — Niobrara State Park

    Beautiful Park

    Great park. You do have to pay to shower though. Make sure you make it to the scenic overlook in the cabin area. There are beautiful views of the Missouri River!

  • Rob C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 14, 2025

    Riverside Park

    Great Campground

    Easy hook up, many sites with shade $20 per night. There is a shower and flush toilets but not very clean! That’s why only four stars!

  • Tori K.The Dyrt PRO User
    May. 30, 2025

    Osmond City Park

    Very tiny

    Located in a small city park with only 3 obvious sites. There is a pool nearby, tennis courts, playground, picnic shelter, and park. There are businesses right across the street so quite a bit of activity during the day. Stayed here previously a few years ago and happened to be passing through again.

  • Tori K.The Dyrt PRO User
    May. 30, 2025

    Fred Penn Park

    Small and primitive

    quiet in this remote area with fishing. Located next to the Elkhorn River and Fred Penn Lake, this park offers primitive camping for $5/Day - first come, first serve. It is a great location to enjoy a nice quite picnic with your family.

  • RThe Dyrt PRO User
    May. 17, 2025

    Bruce Park Campground

    Fine for an overnight

    I didn't camp here, but I stopped as I was passing through. There are two camping areas, one area has 3 spots, this area is a little more private if you are the only one in this area. There is a little bit of road noise, you can see the highway through the trees.

    The other area is a wider open space. It is farther from the highway and will have less noise.

    The sites have water and electric. I only saw a 30A plug on the one I checked but other sites may have 50A. 

    There is a downtown area a short distance away, probably a 5-10 minute walk.

    Verizon and T-mobile were pretty slow here, but usable. On Verizon I got about 6Mbit down and 3 up. On T-mobile I got 5 down and 1 up. Both were 4G signals.

  • B
    May. 13, 2025

    Sand Creek Recreation Area

    Retirement vacation

    Nice place to camp .Clean restroom clean campground. Fishing , eagle watching, quiet and peaceful


Guide to Niobrara

Niobrara, Nebraska camping options center around the confluence of the Niobrara and Missouri Rivers, with elevations ranging from 1,200 to 1,600 feet across the surrounding terrain. Summer temperatures typically range from 75-95°F with high humidity, while spring and fall offer milder conditions between 50-75°F. Campsites near Niobrara, Nebraska frequently experience strong winds due to their riverside location and limited natural windbreaks in certain areas.

What to do

Fishing opportunities: Multiple access points along both rivers provide excellent fishing locations. At Modern Campground, campers can take "a short walk to a clearing right on the riverbank for fishing" directly from spots like campsite 43, according to Morgan V.

Biking trails: The area offers extensive biking opportunities, particularly at Yankton — Lewis And Clark Recreation Area where "this beautiful campground has a bike trail that connects all the beaches" and includes "hiking trails, parks, and a georgous lake for swimming or boating," notes Courtney G.

Wildlife viewing: Birdwatchers can spot eagles and other wildlife throughout the region. At Sand Creek Recreation Area, visitors enjoy "eagle watching, quiet and peaceful" surroundings as part of their camping experience, according to Bruce G.

Swimming options: Several designated swimming areas exist throughout the region. Wildwood Acres Park is positioned "an easy stones throw from the city swimming pool" with "large fields for others playing around" and "playground equipment in 3 locations for the kids," notes reviewer Bibs O.

What campers like

Scenic overlooks: The elevated terrain provides exceptional viewpoints. At Tent Camping Area — Niobrara State Park, campers appreciate the "beautiful views of the Missouri and Niobrara atop hervily wooded hills" with sites either "along the paved 1 way road or farther back in the trees of the hills via a short trail," as described by West River J.

Clean facilities: Well-maintained amenities receive consistent praise. Modern Campground earns high marks because "bathrooms were cleaned everyday" and the entire facility is "very clean and put together. Everything is mowed well," according to Connor S.

Diverse site options: The region offers everything from primitive to full-service locations. The Cabin Area — Niobrara State Park provides fully-furnished accommodations where "the cabins are fully furnished back porch tv dishes all you need are good friends and family and your food to fill the fridge," reports Breanne L.

Water recreation: River and lake access points provide multiple recreation options. Big River Marsh RV Park offers "close proximity to the Missouri river boat dock" making it convenient for those who "waterfowl hunt and fish" since "this marsh and river is an excellent place to vacation," according to David B.

What you should know

Weather considerations: Mosquitoes can be intense during summer months. At Mnisose Wicote (Wandering River), one camper reported "there were so many mosquitos here we had a rough stay" despite the facility being "otherwise nice."

Reservation requirements: Many sites require advance booking, especially during peak seasons. At Springfield Recreation Area, visitors must "have reservations to stay. Weekends are typically booked during the summer but during the week can usually have any spot," explains Tara S.

Shower considerations: Some facilities charge for showers or have seasonal limitations. At Modern Campground, visitors should "bring your quarters for shower" despite the "updated shower and toilets," advises Julie M.

Noise factors: Some campgrounds experience traffic noise. Wildwood Acres Park is located near a highway where "heavy semi traffic" and "those semi's blast those Jake brakes. Over and over again" led one camper to leave early after two days, according to their review.

Tips for camping with families

Playground access: Multiple campgrounds feature dedicated play areas. Paulson RV Park is equipped for families with various accommodation types including "RV, tent, and mobile homes" with affordable rates where families can expect to pay around "$15 per day for short term. Cheaper if you are just going to park or pop a tent," according to William P.

Water safety: Rivers have varying current strengths depending on location and season. Cabin Area at Niobrara State Park provides family-friendly features as it's "designed for families, there is a playground and lots of open space for the kids to run around. Pets are welcome. There is a small pond stocked for fishing right in the middle of the tent camping area," explains Carly P.

Activity planning: Scheduled programs often run only on weekends or during peak season. Rick J. notes about Cabin Area that "being there during the week so early in the season we missed all of the activities that they have on weekends but enjoyed having the park to ourselves."

Tips from RVers

Site dimensions: Some locations have limited space for larger vehicles. At Wildwood Acres Park, "the 8 foot pads were a little bit too small" and while "they have placed a handful of larger pads throughout, it would be insanely cramped for larger units to maneuver and even turn their rigs around," cautions reviewer Bibs O.

Hookup availability: Electric connections are more common than full hookups. Modern Campground provides "paved camper lots" but some visitors noted that "the lots are kind of close. Not a huge deal but would have been nice to have a little extra space," according to Connor S.

Long-term options: Some parks offer monthly rates for extended stays. Paulson RV Park accommodates extended visits with rates at "Super cheap too. $200 per month for long term plus electric you are responsible for," notes William P.

Frequently Asked Questions

What amenities are available at Smith Falls State Park on the Niobrara?

Smith Falls State Park offers essential camping amenities including potable water, vault toilets, picnic tables, and fire rings. The park has designated tent camping areas, river access for kayaking and tubing, and hiking trails that lead to Nebraska's highest waterfall. While the park itself doesn't offer electrical hookups, nearby Willow Creek State Recreation Area Campground provides more developed options. The park is typically open May through September with peak accessibility in summer months. Visitors should bring sufficient supplies as store options are limited, though basic items may be available at the park office during regular hours.

What are the best times of year to visit the Niobrara National Scenic River?

The prime time to visit the Niobrara National Scenic River is late spring through early fall (mid-April through mid-October). The Cabin Area — Niobrara State Park is typically in full operation during this period, with summer being most popular for water activities when temperatures reach 80+ degrees. For a less crowded experience, consider visiting in May or September when temperatures are milder but still pleasant for river activities. Winter visits to Mnisose Wicote (Wandering River) offer a tranquil, snow-covered landscape but require cold-weather preparation as many facilities close seasonally.

Do I need a permit for tubing or kayaking on the Niobrara River?

Yes, you need a permit for recreational activities on the Niobrara River. When visiting Cottonwood Campground, note that the river is managed by the National Park Service and requires a launch permit for tubing, kayaking, or canoeing. These permits are available at authorized outfitters and visitor centers. For areas near Miller Creek - Lewis and Clark SRA, you'll also need a Vehicle Entry Permit ($6 daily or $30-45 annually depending on residency). Always check current regulations before your trip as requirements may change seasonally.

Where are the best spots to camp along the Niobrara River?

Niobrara State Park offers exceptional camping with panoramic views where the Niobrara and Missouri Rivers meet. The park features multiple camping areas with electrical hookups, clean facilities, and easy river access. For a more rustic experience, Tent Camping Area — Niobrara State Park provides wooded sites along the hills with vault toilets and water spigots. Many sites offer stunning views of both rivers, and there are trails connecting to points of interest, including a converted railroad bridge trail that offers unique river perspectives.