Best Tent Camping near Papillion, NE
Tent camping options near Papillion, Nebraska include several established campgrounds within a short drive. Riverside Campground at Two Rivers State Recreation Area offers tent sites along the river, while Fremont Lakes State Recreation Area provides tent-specific campsites with varying amenities. Both locations are within 30 miles of Papillion and offer primitive tent camping experiences in eastern Nebraska.
Most tent sites in the Papillion area feature basic amenities with varying levels of development. Riverside Campground provides fire rings and picnic tables at their tent sites, with some located directly along the riverbank. Fremont Lakes offers drinking water, fires, and picnic tables, though reviews note limited shade at most tent sites. Wirth Brothers Lake provides more primitive backcountry tent camping with drinking water, fire rings, picnic tables and vault toilets, but no hookups or showers. Park entry permits are required at most locations, with campsite fees ranging from $5-15 per night.
The tent camping experience varies significantly between locations. Two Rivers SRA offers riverside tent sites that provide a quick nature getaway from nearby Omaha. One camper noted, "There are spots where you can tent camp right by the river. When the river is low, you can go play on the beach." Area Three Campground provides more secluded primitive tent setups on a peninsula with lake access, though facilities are minimal. Fremont Lakes features multiple small lakes for recreation but experiences noise from nearby trains and highway traffic. A visitor mentioned, "Big beautiful sites, BUT there is a very busy set of train tracks that run about every 20 minutes all day and all night."
