The Dyrt is here to help plan your best camping near Ogallala. There's so much to see and do, from exhilarating hikes or bike rides to exploring the local dining and shopping. At The Dyrt, campers like you share their favorite spots, plus tips and photos. No matter where you're headed in Ogallala, you'll find the best spot for you and your camping crew.
Check-In is at 1pm Mountain Time (no early check-in's allowed). Make sure you note that we are in Mountain Time Zone. If you are traveling from the EAST you will change time about 20 miles before you arrive at our location. There are 2 KOA's in Ogallala. We are Tri-Trails KOA, While traveling through the Wild West make sure you hang your boots up for the night at the right KOA follow the directions to 120 Road East 85, Ogallala NE 69153
Location We are conveniently located just 1 mile south of I-80 (exit 126) in Ogallala, NE. We are just nine miles from Lake McConaughy, which offers fishing, boating, swimming, and lots of sandy beaches. Ogallala has a lot of history and was the end of the Great Western Cattle Trail. In addition, the Pony Express and Oregon Trail all ran through Ogallala - Nebraska's Cowboy Capital. There are many things to do within a 200-mile radius. Come and stay with us - we look forward to having you as our guest!
We are conveniently located just off I-80 in Ogallala. Our property runs right along I-80, which makes it very easy to get on and off the interstate. 2 truck stops are within walking distance for quick and easy fueling. We do not have propane on-site, but a local company (SAPP Brothers on Highway 30) offers propane during normal business hours. We are just nine miles from Lake McConaughy, which offers fishing, boating, swimming, and lots of sandy beaches. Ogallala has a lot of history and was the end of the Great Western Trail. Ogallala is known as Nebraska's Cowboy Capital. There are many things to do within a 200-mile radius. Come and stay with us - we look forward to having you as our guest!
$45 - $60 / night
Located at the west end of Lake McConaughy off Highway 92, this area features hard surfaced roads and 85 Electric Plus sites and 17 Basic sites. Water is available at nearly every camp site throughout the area and a shower and restroom facility is located in the center of the campground.
Nearly everything about Lake McConaughy is big. At 30,000 surface acres, it is Nebraska’s largest reservoir, its dam is among the largest of its type in the world and its fish grow to trophy proportions, accounting for several state records. Even its nickname, “Big Mac,” reflects its size.
Lake McConaughy State Recreation Area is known to most Nebraskans and residents of neighboring states as a great place for outdoor recreation. Lake Mac’s white-sand beaches and clear waters are a favorite with campers, boaters, windsurfers, swimmers, water skiers, picnickers, scuba divers, hunters, anglers, and others seeking outdoor fun.
Located at the west end of Lake McConaughy off Highway 92, this area features hard-surfaced roads and 85 Electric Plus sites, and 17 Basic sites. Water is available at nearly every campsite throughout the area and a shower and restroom facility is located in the center of the campground.
$10 - $35 / night
12 RV spots, 30' x 70' pull through, with full hook ups and shade trees in an open hay field. Each space has a choice of 50AMP, 30 AMP, or 20AMP to plug into so no adapters are needed. Water faucets are shared by 2 sites and T’s are provided for simultaneous use. There are also picnic tables that people just move around so feel free to grab one.
The campground is mowed about every 10 days. Pets welcome and need to be on a leash if outside and cleaned up after.
We now have 1 working restroom and shower! Laundry is next! 🤗
Call Luke for the access code to the shower trailer.
If you call and he doesn't answer make sure to leave him a message or text and he will call you back asap.
The Cafe no longer takes reservations or payments for the RV Park because they are owned by different individuals now but the new owners of both are very friendly with each other and the Cafe has really good food, essentials, liquor and gasoline, groceries, etc.
You can call the number 970-978-8186 with questions. To register a site, book online and then pay online with a card or you can drop cash/check in the safe by the American flag. You must call 970-978-8186 to see which spaces are available and get the code to use the shower/restroom/laundry
The highway traffic dies down to nothing at night but the train still goes by frequently. At the campground there are lots of various birds to watch and rabbits as well. Deer can be seen usually in the early morning or at twilight as well as wild turkeys, pheasants and migrating water fowl. Families can take a short walk to the convenience store for ice cream or something to drink. The store has drinks, essentials, alcohol and a cafe with good food.
If you get a chance to eat at the Tiger's Den Senior Center while you are here, please do! It is on the west side of town in the old 1 story high school. It is a non profit that is run by Garnet.
There is so much to do in this Area and so much history!
-Lewellen has an outdoor public pool that is free to use from 11:00am - 4:00pm
-Lake McConaughy is only 12 miles away and has white sand beaches all around. It can get pretty packed and crazy but its also a lot of fun. We like to stay here to get away from the crowds but still enjoy the lake.
- The town of Lewellen has a lot of history as well and:
-Ash Hollow is where Pioneers would stay the night when on the Oregon Trail and is 2 mikes south of us. They have a museum and activities all summer.
- Windlass Hill where they would lock out the wagon's wheels and slide it down the hill leaving deep ruts in the mud that are still visible today.
-Boot Hill is a famous name for cemeteries in the west. Many towns called their cemetery Boot Hill because it is where gunfighters who died with their boots on were buried. Boot hill cemetery is nearby.
-The battle of Blue Water/Battle of Ash Hollow. Sioux tribe members come here annually to commemorate the Battle of Ash Hollow.
-The Sand Hill Crane, Blue Crane Heron and many other birds migrate through this area every spring and if you are a bird watcher you will see many birds here that are not commonly seen elsewhere. Sometimes even a pelican!
-The Garden County Fair is held here in Lewellen; the first weekend of August and everyone shows up for it, you should too!
-Hunting in this area is excellent year round for white tail deer, mule deer, goose, duck, etc, a little north of us you can find antelope and elk.
-Fishing as well. Lake McConaughy is one of Nebraska’s largest lakes and many record setting fish have been caught in the area, the North Platte River is a block away from the RV park as well. There are a lot of Walleye and catfish, with the walleye circuit here starting as early as March.
The neighboring town of Osh Kosh has a coffee shop where the local owners have 100% Kona coffee beans and Kona blends. They grow in Hawaii and roast in NE. Mark Ferrari Coffee just 2 blocks off the highway and Main Street.
Ogallala has several cowboy related things to see and is full of history, including a cowboy museum.
We are close to everything yet far enough out to avoid the crowds.
$10 - $65 / night
Check-In is at 1pm Mountain Time (no early check-in's allowed). Make sure you note that we are in Mountain Time Zone. If you are traveling from the EAST you will change time about 20 miles before you arrive at our location. There are 2 KOA's in Ogallala. We are Tri-Trails KOA, While traveling through the Wild West make sure you hang your boots up for the night at the right KOA follow the directions to 120 Road East 85, Ogallala NE 69153
Location We are conveniently located just 1 mile south of I-80 (exit 126) in Ogallala, NE. We are just nine miles from Lake McConaughy, which offers fishing, boating, swimming, and lots of sandy beaches. Ogallala has a lot of history and was the end of the Great Western Cattle Trail. In addition, the Pony Express and Oregon Trail all ran through Ogallala - Nebraska's Cowboy Capital. There are many things to do within a 200-mile radius. Come and stay with us - we look forward to having you as our guest!
We are conveniently located just off I-80 in Ogallala. Our property runs right along I-80, which makes it very easy to get on and off the interstate. 2 truck stops are within walking distance for quick and easy fueling. We do not have propane on-site, but a local company (SAPP Brothers on Highway 30) offers propane during normal business hours. We are just nine miles from Lake McConaughy, which offers fishing, boating, swimming, and lots of sandy beaches. Ogallala has a lot of history and was the end of the Great Western Trail. Ogallala is known as Nebraska's Cowboy Capital. There are many things to do within a 200-mile radius. Come and stay with us - we look forward to having you as our guest!
$45 - $60 / night
Scout
We can’t say enough great things about Oregon Trail RV Park! While traveling through the area with our dogs, we had planned to stay at Lake McConaughy, but the campgrounds there weren’t as dog-friendly as advertised during the off-season. Thankfully, Luke, the owner of Oregon Trail RV Park, stepped in at the last minute and gave us a place to stay. This park was exactly what we needed—easy to find, impeccably maintained, and truly welcoming to both us and our pets. The RV spaces were clean and spacious, with plenty of room for our dogs to enjoy themselves. Luke’s friendly and accommodating attitude made the experience stress-free, which is priceless when you’re on the road. If you’re in the Lake McConaughy area and looking for a quiet, pet-friendly RV park with excellent service, look no further. Oregon Trail RV Park is a gem, and we’ll definitely be back!
Traveler
This is a perfect place to stop midway between the Missouri River and the Rocky Mountains. Extremely friendly staff. Not about the amenities, just terrific service in a perfect stop over spot
Guide
Great fall camping. Big sites well spaced. Our choice of shade or open sites. This time of year it’s first come, first served. We had very few neighbors.
ScoutWhen we arrived there were oil cans and trash right next to our camp site. Buckets with old oil in them also. Someone did come and pick them up during the night. Shower house was a little sketchy to say the least.
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.
Legend
We received a text the day prior welcoming us and asking us not to arrive before 1:00 PM Mountain Time plus let them know our estimated arrival time. This campground is just across the Mountain time zone as you head West. There were also instructions on where to park. We were met outside as we arrived and check-in was quick. We were escorted to a standard pull-through site 35 with FHUs. The first thing we noticed was how immaculate the campground(CG) was kept. Our site was plenty long enough for our 40’ 5th wheel and our F450. The utilities are in the middle with two sewer choices(nice!). The water pressure was good at around 50 psi. We were told at check-in that the Wifi was good enough to stream so we did not put out our Starlink for this overnighter and the Wifi performed well. We got 4 bars on Verizon. The sites are well-spaced especially for a KOA and their premium sites are really nice. Along with the regular fenced dog areas, they have several K-9 sites with private fenced dog areas. The CG is right off I-80, so you will have highway noise. Have to say this is one of the better laid out and managed KOA Journeys we’ve stayed. We would definitely stay here again.
Ranger
I stopped by after having discovered this free spot last year but they are now charging $15 a day, which is not worth it. I would have rather planned to drive farther into Wyoming to get one of the free spots. I understand why the town started charging a fee but it’s sad nonetheless.
GuideI like this KOA they have put a lot of effort and money into it. A couple of issues really close to I 80 and as of July 2024 have construction hard to get into the road.
Scoutwe left it was scary
Guide
Well maintained, easy access to restrooms and trash. Really close between campsites, pretty loud and really crowded but as to be expected being a June weekend. Would recommend for the price but might be able to do better in the area.
ScoutLots of rabbits nice n quiet everything worked like it should the resteraunt next door had good food great stay.
Scout
Nice place and easy to get to, visiter center close by.
RangerClean campground, level gravel sites. Easy on and off to I80, but road noise as a result all day and night. Verizon cell signal was strong. Clean bathrooms and showers. Laundry available. Playground for kids, dog park for furry friends. Most sites are in open, a handful of sites had limited shade. Campground itself was quiet. Staff was friendly, staff escorts you to your site and directs you in. Garbage dumpster across from bathhouse. Small store in main building.
TravelerEast campground Electric Plus Site. Looking for the plus. No RV fill/dump station. Water spigot available. Bath house with pay showers. Daily entry fee (had to purchase on internet), fill/dump station a few miles up the road to the big lake. Just not convenient. Host on site, but sign says off duty, and haven’t seen them. Several piles of dog poop on site and we didn’t bring a dog. Site does have a fire pit, picnic table and a good view of the lake. Not worth what an out of stater had to pay traveling through.
ScoutCampground had bathrooms/showers available, but unable to use it because you needed a code to get into it and no code was given to us. WiFi ??? No information/ password was given to us.
ScoutCampground was very well maintained, no trash, mowed down, everything worked.. the owner was a really nice guy and cared how the stay was going. I would stay here again for sure.
Guide
This is a fantastic Journey KOA. The hosts were friendly and helpful. We stayed for an evening and were able to get all of our needs fulfilled. The layout was effective for departure in the morning as well. We even walked to the DQ about a 15 minute walk away.
ScoutStop by to rest and it’s now 15 dollars to stay. City passed 4/24
Guide
Nice small campground next Buffalo Bill Ranch Historic Site. 50/30 amp available. Water is confusing. Water at site 6 and 20. Also water available at tent site at end of campground. Water spigot is located at the back of both sites and tent site so confused how everyone else can get water. Just plan ahead. Only one other camper was here so we parked in site 6. 🤷♂️🤷♂️. Verizon was 5G.
Legend
You access the westside by entering the south camping site and following the road to you left all the way back. There are tables and rings at some sites but not all. There is a vault toilet at the end of the ring. All sites are next to the lake.
Legend
I entered the south side camping which is much like other sites with close camping, there is electric and a vault toilet. If a person follows the small road at the end of the south side camping it takes you to the west side camping which is random spots along the road to camp next to the water. Some have tables and fire rings other do not. There is a vault toilet at the end of the loop.
$30 for electric sites $7 daily vehicle fee for NE license $14 daily vehicle fee for non- NE $15 tent sites
GuideI stayed at a tent site and it was small and very close to other campers (it’s like a parking lot in size and closeness), but I liked feeling a part of a community. If you want some space though, it may not be for you (with tent camping that’s all they have). Big plus for me since it was so cold and windy, was that the restrooms and office were right next to me. They also offered to leave firewood that I wanted in my site, and in case of rain ended up setting it inside at the registration lobby since I came after office hours. One staff member checked to make sure I found everything okay and I appreciated that. They have a K-9 enclosure for a bit of pupper exercise, a playground, and a pool when it is in season. Not much of a view anywhere but they have cool old pioneer wagons all around so that was neat. No complaints and if it weren’t so windy I would have really enjoyed having a cozy site near possible new friends.
TravelerWe just stopped for the night, but this spot was perfect! We loved the lake and the little town right by!
Guide
We camped right on the water. The spot was beautiful. Wake up walk into the lake. At night little frogs like to reveal themselves from the sand. Dog loved it. Kids loved it. It was very hot but the East access to the lake made it better. Canopy needed this time of year for sure. Gets hot in September. Be careful coming down to the beach. If you drive the wrong way you will get stuck taking an rv down and you can pay for a bulldozer to pull it in if you need it.
Scout
Stayed there for 3 days and staff was very courteous. I had a pull through spot that had plenty of shade. The store had your basic needs. I would definitely return again. Filling your propane thanks on your way out is so convenient.
GuideEasy in/easy out. Nice looking sites. Some soft gravel in sites. Water pressure okay. Electric solid. Road noise from I-80 is very very loud and should be expected. If you're a light sleeper, stay away.
ScoutVery basic, very small but suitable for overnight. Picnic table available for each site. Tricky to figure out how to get to the sites.
Camping near Ogallala, Nebraska, offers a mix of beautiful landscapes and unique experiences. Whether you're looking for a peaceful retreat or a fun family adventure, there are plenty of campgrounds to choose from.
Camping near Ogallala, Nebraska, has something for everyone, from families to RV enthusiasts. Just remember to check the amenities and plan for the weather!
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Ogallala, NE?
According to TheDyrt.com, Ogallala, NE offers a wide range of camping options, with 55 campgrounds and RV parks near Ogallala, NE and 1 free dispersed camping spot.
Which is the most popular campground near Ogallala, NE?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Ogallala, NE is Lake Ogallala - Lake McConaughy State Rec Area with a 3.7-star rating from 20 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Ogallala, NE?
According to TheDyrt.com, there is 1 free dispersed camping spot near Ogallala, NE.
What parks are near Ogallala, NE?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 2 parks near Ogallala, NE that allow camping, notably Nebraska National Forests and Grasslands and Harlan County Lake.
