Norfolk, Nebraska offers camping options along the Elkhorn River and nearby lakes, with elevations ranging from 1,500 to 1,650 feet in the gently rolling plains. Summer temperatures average 75-85°F with occasional thunderstorms, while spring and fall provide more moderate camping conditions. The region features a mix of prairie landscapes and riverside forest areas that support diverse wildlife.
What to do
Hiking the Cowboy Trail: The historic Cowboy Trail begins at Ta-Ha-Zouka Park and extends toward Valentine, offering miles of converted rail-trail perfect for walking. "The Cowboy Trail starts here and continues to Valentine, NE," notes reviewer Tim S., making it ideal for day hikes from camp.
Mountain biking: Maskenthine Lake Recreation Area offers dedicated mountain bike trails surrounding the lake. A recent visitor shared, "Great trails for hiking or mountain biking. Super quiet place and some pretty great sunsets!" These trails vary in difficulty and are well-maintained.
Fishing opportunities: Local lakes provide good fishing opportunities year-round. At Newman Grove City Park, you'll find "a wonderful location right by a creek" with nearby golf course access as well. The smaller water bodies typically contain bass, catfish, and panfish species suitable for anglers of all skill levels.
Swimming: Several campgrounds offer swimming facilities during summer months. Chilvers Park in Plainview features a public swimming pool adjacent to the camping area. As one camper mentioned, "I would assume that campers would have use of the shower facility at the pool, but if not, you could just spend a few bucks and swim all day and shower at the end."
What campers like
Clean facilities: Willow Creek State Recreation Area receives consistent praise for its maintenance. "Clean restrooms and showers. Some sites have lake access. Well wooded," reports Chris C., highlighting the importance of well-maintained facilities for campers.
Affordable rates: Many city parks in the region offer camping at extremely reasonable prices. At Osmond City Park, you'll find "5 RV/trailer pads with water and electric hookup. Suggested donation of $10/night," according to Roberta P., making it an economical option for travelers.
Spacious sites: Campsites throughout the Norfolk area typically provide good spacing between neighbors. At Riverside Park in Neligh, one reviewer noted, "Level sites. Will accommodate rigs of all sizes. 50amp electric. Water hook up. Dump station. All for $15 per night," highlighting the value and roominess available.
Wildlife viewing: The areas around Norfolk's campgrounds support diverse wildlife. The Maskenthine Lake area has "various water spigots throughout" and offers "a pretty lake" with good bird watching opportunities, according to multiple reviewers who appreciated the natural setting.
What you should know
Seasonal water restrictions: Algae blooms can affect swimming access at certain lakes. At Willow Creek State Recreation Area, one camper warned, "The only issue I have is when the algae bloom happens every year, then there is no water activity permitted." Check conditions before planning water activities.
Road conditions: Some campgrounds have challenging access routes. Maskenthine Lake visitors warn, "The west road in is 2 miles of gravel then 3 miles on dirt. Wont make it if it rained. Don't even try. The east entry is 4-5 miles of 5 mph washboard."
Limited availability: Many smaller city parks have very few camping spaces. Osmond City Park has "only 3 obvious sites," according to Tori K., so arriving early is recommended, especially during summer weekends when local families also use the parks.
Varying shower facilities: Shower availability differs significantly between campgrounds. At Willow Creek, Julie M. noted, "Make sure you have quarters to get a shower!! We only found one shower house for over 100 campsites," so prepare accordingly.
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Many city parks include playground equipment near camping areas. Riverside Park in Neligh features "a neat little bridge" and is "well kept" with "plenty of room between sites," making it family-friendly according to Shannon G.
Educational opportunities: Consider day trips to nearby attractions. Willow Creek makes a good base for visiting Ashfall Fossil Beds, which Nate R. describes as "a must see for anyone with kids, and is only a 30 minute drive from campsite."
Swimming options: City parks often include swimming facilities adjacent to camping areas. At Newman Grove City Park, families appreciate the "huge park with playground equipment, big swimming pool and golf course" that provides entertainment for different age groups.
Pet-friendly activities: For pet friendly camping near Norfolk, Nebraska, Ta-Ha-Zouka Park includes "a large fenced dog park" that's perfect for families traveling with pets, allowing dogs to run safely while maintaining required leashing elsewhere in the park.
Tips from RVers
Site leveling considerations: At Riverside Park, "The sites are grass and some of them are on some slopes. It took a few moves to get leveled out," warns Jared C., suggesting RVers bring leveling blocks.
Hookup availability: City parks often provide surprisingly good hookups for minimal cost. At Newman Grove, RVers find that "some have full hook ups and some have just water and some have just sewer and some have just electric," so check specific site amenities when selecting your spot.
Dump station locations: Not all parks with hookups have on-site dump stations. At Willow Creek, one RVer noted, "There is no dump station available at the park, you have to drive to town to dump your tanks at the courthouse," requiring planning for longer stays.
Concrete pads: Some parks offer concrete parking pads that improve stability for larger RVs. At Ta-Ha-Zouka Park, "The concrete pads made it nice to park the RV on for easy set up," providing a solid foundation regardless of weather conditions.
