Lake McConaughy, Nebraska's largest reservoir at 30,000 acres, creates a unique desert-like environment with white sandy beaches in the middle of the Great Plains. Camping near Ogallala, Nebraska offers a mix of lakeside spots and prairie campgrounds with summer temperatures often reaching the 90s. The area experiences significant seasonal water level fluctuations that can affect beach camping conditions throughout the year.
What to do
Fishing opportunities: Lake Ogallala State Recreation Area provides excellent fishing spots with easy shore access. "Nice grass to pitch your tent on right next to the lake. Not too close to neighbor sites. Quiet," notes Bruce K. about the lakeside camping experience.
Water sports: Little Thunder Campground offers direct lake access for various activities. "The lake itself is pretty small (large pond) especially compared to its neighbor Lake McConoughey. Morning catfishing right off the banks is excellent!" shares one camper about the fishing conditions.
Hiking trails: A 9-mile trail system connects various parts of the lake area for day hikes. "Lake Ogallala Trail is a 9 mile lightly trafficked out and back trail located near Ogallala, primarily used for hiking," notes a visitor who enjoyed exploring the area on foot.
What campers like
Beach camping access: Sandy Beach Campground allows vehicles to drive directly onto the shoreline. "Backed the Jeep up to the water and called it home for the night. It was a little windy the day I stayed there...hopefully it is calmer most days," explains Jim H. about his lakefront experience.
Shaded sites: Cedar View Campground offers treed areas for natural cooling. "We were able to find a primitive spot near some beautiful cedar and cotton trees that even had a walking path to the beach and water," shares Jessica C. about finding relief from the summer heat.
Quiet weekday atmosphere: Many campgrounds are significantly less crowded Monday through Thursday. "We camped here in Mid-July 2018. These were nice sized sites and we had a great spot a few steps from the beginning of the beach," reports Kristi B. about finding a prime location during peak season.
What you should know
Weather challenges: Strong winds can develop quickly across the open lake. "Real calm at dusk on this reservoir, it picked up real fast into a certified windstorm by 2AM when I felt like my tent was about to be blown away into oblivion," warns Dan X. about the unpredictable conditions.
Weekend crowds: Martin Bay Campground can become extremely busy on weekends. "This place was great up until around 10pm when I noticed a strange pick up in cars coming through. Later I realized these are all the people who don't want to pay and come in after the gate attendant leaves," explains Kayla M. about late-night arrivals.
Vegetation hazards: Several campgrounds have sticker burrs in grassy areas. "Ok so first off this was a pretty site BUT... we had a tent. There was some kind of thorny thing all over the ground it made it very hard for my kids to play or even have a blowup mattress," cautions Amy H. about tent camping challenges.
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Several lakeside campgrounds feature playground equipment for children. "There is a playground for kids. All outer loop sites face the water," mentions Chris G. about the family-friendly setup at Lone Eagle Campground.
Varied bathroom facilities: Ogallala/I-80 KOA Journey maintains clean restrooms year-round. "This was a wonderful KOA that we arrived to at 11:15 at night too with no reservations. It was quick and easy to grab the after hours pack and find a spot. Bathroom and showers very clean," notes Hank F. about the late-night arrival experience.
Swimming areas: The white sandy beaches provide natural swimming spots for children. "We enjoyed the lake to paddleboard around. Tent camping one side and RV on the other. Bath house, boat launch, playground," shares Kim B. about the family-friendly activities available.
Tips from RVers
Hookup configurations: Ogallala Tri-Trails KOA offers full hookup sites for larger rigs. "Very well maintained RV park. They take pride in keeping it clean," mentions Tom S. about the overall campground condition.
Water pressure concerns: Several campsites have shared water connections between sites. "Take note. Water is shared and not at every site. Bring several hoses as it's 40 - 50 feet away," advises Phillip about managing hookups at Lone Eagle Campground.
Road access considerations: Some beach camping areas require 4WD vehicles for RVs. "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," warns Rico B. about navigating sandy terrain with larger vehicles.
