Tent camping options near Pleasant Dale, Nebraska include several established campgrounds with varying amenities within a 30-mile radius. Riverside Campground at Two Rivers State Recreation Area offers tent sites along the river with fire rings, picnic tables, and access to showers and toilets. Area Three Campground at Branched Oak provides more primitive tent camping on a peninsula with basic amenities and proximity to disc golf and beach areas.
Most tent campgrounds in the region offer basic amenities with limited facilities. Fremont Lakes State Recreation Area provides tent sites with drinking water, electric hookups, and access to showers and toilets, though many sites lack shade. Wirth Brothers Lake offers more rustic primitive camping with drinking water, picnic tables, fire rings, and toilets, but no hookups. Sites typically cost $5-15 per night, with some locations charging additional fees for out-of-state visitors. During summer weekends, popular areas fill quickly, particularly at water-adjacent locations.
The camping experience varies significantly between locations near Pleasant Dale. Areas farther from town provide more seclusion, while campgrounds near water bodies offer recreational opportunities like swimming, fishing, and boating. Tent campers at Riverside Campground can set up directly beside the river, with one visitor noting that "when the river is low, you can go play on the beach." At Area Three Campground, expect limited amenities and more isolation, especially during weekdays or shoulder seasons. Bruning Dam Recreation Area provides a truly primitive experience with only two small sites and basic facilities, described by one camper as "best suited for an outdoorsman that's hunting or fishing."
"Late October tent camping- low around 19f... we seemed to be the only souls in the place. Our site was a few hundred yards from the lake, and we had a great morning walk."
"Located near downtown Wahoo. $20 per night for full hookup. Appear to be approximately 40 sites."
"The lake was awesome, not much shade on most tent sites. make sure you ask when they dredged the lakes that you want to stay on."
"Lots of walking and bike riding. Very woodsy feeling through the whole park and a nice bicycle trail that leaves the park and winds out to Hormel Park on the Platte River."
from $5 - $10 / night
GuideA nice little area to park our RV for the night as we were passing through. Just put your $10 in the donation box. Yes, there is a train that blows its whistle, but it doesn’t come through too often.
TravelerI tried to drive out to the Timber Point campground on Road 29 on September 21, 2026, and got dangerously stuck in the mud! There were two signs at the end of the maintained section of this dirt road, which said "NO GRAVEL" and "MINIMUM MAINTENANCE ROAD". There should be a "ROAD CLOSED WHEN MUDDY" sign!
Just beyond these signs, the road descends, somewhat steeply, about fifty vertical feet, over about two hundred foot horizontal distance. If you start down that hill in any vehicle when it is muddy, you are likely to start sliding, as I did in our 22' RV, completely lose control of steering, and get stuck in the mud at the bottom of the hill. See the accompanying pictures as proof...
We later found a rickety 'ROAD CLOSED' sign in the grass by the side of the road near the two above signs, which we put back up...after we got towed out. I highly recommend LTR Towing in Lincoln, NB for their towing expertise! (see ltrtowing.com)
TravelerWe pulled into this camp site around 9pm for some overnight car camping. First of all, completely free which is amazing. There are toilets, but no running water. Near a standing lake, so there are a good number of flies around. We unfortunately did not end up staying the night as planned due to one of the other nearby campers, who unsettled both myself and my partner, but I believe it would have been a lovely campsite if not for that individual.
LegendNot a great campground but clean enough and conveniently located. Sites are way too close together and utilities are old and somewhat poorly placed because the sites are so tight.
Hopefully, you don't need to talk to any employees because we never found anyone working in the office.
ScoutTen dollars a night for a electrical hookup, green grass and peace of mind. Perfect, just pull in, find a vacant pedestal and make yourself at home. 510 Midland Street
LegendLittle Creek section site 42, August 31, 2026, 85 degrees at 7pm. Pad was asphalt and level, good angle for backing in. 20/30amp, T-Mobile 5G was great. Green grass everywhere, we saw deer , squirrels and turkeys. CG was empty, showers and toilets are in the same building, older but nice.
All of the sites were paved and level, the grass may not be level and the tables and pits were fine.
Some noise at night from the highway, but the frogs, crickets and peepers were louder than the road noise. Loud trains at night.
Trash and water spigot were close to site. All of the ADA compatible campsites were brand new concrete very nice
GuideHalf the campsites are gone as there’s a renovation underway. Those that remain are somewhat overgrown. Campground is still FFS and costs $25 for a site with electric hook up. Didn’t see any sites with water available. You also need a NE parks sticker to stay there. You can buy a 1 day pass for $14 so a non-NE resident pays $39 for a nights stay…cash only. Vault toilet near campground is pretty bad…short walk to vault toilet near lake which is much better. Should be a nice spot when renovations are complete. Plenty of grass to walk a dog.
TravelerI don’t know what else someone could want from free camping. Lake side, good vibes, decent pit toilets, picnic tables. Super nice spot. Only down side, it’s August and the flies are terrible
GuideI loved this site!!! My only real complaint is the flies. When I was there, they were absolutely horrific. I wanted to stay for 2 weeks, but I left after 2 nights instead. Nice park with families coming by to play in the water, and people bring their dogs here to play. Wonderful vibes. If the flies were not unbearable, I would have loved to have stayed.
They may have been worse from the rain, but I think there just aren't enough other animals around to eat them.
Tent camping options near Pleasant Dale, Nebraska range from rustic waterfront sites to more developed recreation areas with varying amenities. The region experiences hot summers with temperatures regularly exceeding 90°F from June through August, making water-adjacent camping particularly appealing. Winter camping is possible but limited, with temperatures frequently dropping below freezing from November through March and facilities often closing seasonally.
Fishing at multiple lakes: Wirth Brothers Lake provides primitive camping with good fishing access. According to a camper, "It has a few fire rings, and raised grills. There is drinking water, bathrooms, playground, archery, and a swimming beach. $5 a day or $15 for annual permit."
River tubing and swimming: Riverside Campground at Two Rivers SRA offers waterfront recreation. A visitor notes, "The river is decently safe and a good place to tube. There were not any other campers but I could see it getting pretty busy on the weekends. Definitely for relaxing on the river but not much else."
Wildlife watching: Wildlife is abundant throughout the region's camping areas. Bruning Dam Recreation Area provides primitive sites ideal for nature observation. One camper described it as "Best suited for an outdoorsman that's hunting or fishing."
Secluded spots: Wirth Brothers Lake offers more privacy than many area campgrounds. A visitor mentioned, "It is off the beaten path and has camping spots that offer some seclusion from other people. The campground was designed by boy scouts."
Quick access from urban areas: Many campers appreciate the proximity to Omaha and Lincoln. At Two Rivers SRA, one camper shared, "A short drive from Omaha, two rivers offers generally clean RV and tent camping sites across multiple campgrounds. Fun and quick trip if you're in the Omaha area."
Budget-friendly options: Several campgrounds offer affordable camping. Saunders County Fairgrounds Campground provides exceptional value according to one visitor: "Located near downtown Wahoo. $20 per night for full hookup. Appear to be approximately 40 sites."
Limited shade coverage: Many tent sites lack adequate shade protection. At Fremont Lakes State Recreation Area, a camper warned, "The lake was awesome, not much shade on most tent sites. Make sure you ask when they dredged the lakes that you want to stay on."
Noise considerations: Some campgrounds experience significant noise disruption. At Fremont Lakes, a camper reported, "There is a very busy set of train tracks that run about every 20 minutes all day and all night. Didn't get any sleep, even with earplugs. Plus, it's right next to a busy highway."
Cost variations for out-of-state visitors: Non-Nebraska residents often pay premium rates. At Area Three Campground, a camper noted, "Cost- $12 for out of state plates and $15 for a site without amenities is steep."
Look for playground access: Several campgrounds offer kid-friendly amenities. One parent at Riverside Campground shared, "I camped right by the river. Also a short walk to the outhouse and playground. My boys (4&7) loved it."
Consider weekday visits: For a quieter family experience with fewer crowds, camp Sunday through Thursday. A visitor at Bruning Dam Recreation Area noted there are "Only two small sites and one appears to have sewage. There's a bathroom available."
Educational opportunities: Some sites offer nature programming. At Two Rivers SRA, a Scout leader mentioned, "The park has many, many opportunities to earn badges. You can even take a short hike into a little outdoor nature classroom."
Fairground alternatives: When seeking full hookups near Pleasant Dale, consider county fairgrounds. At Saunders County Fairgrounds Campground, a reviewer rated it highly: "Great Find. Located near downtown Wahoo. $20 per night for full hookup."
Check facility maintenance: Bathroom and shower facilities vary significantly between campgrounds. At Fremont Lakes, a camper was impressed: "Facilities were very clean. Cleanest I have ever seen in a campground."
Value assessment: Consider amenities versus cost carefully. Regarding Area Three Campground, one RVer advised, "This is primitive camping on the peninsula of Branched Oak, so you get close access to Disc Golf, nice beach, and Showers just up the road. For $15 you can do better in Nebraska."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Pleasant Dale, NE?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Pleasant Dale, NE is Area Three Campground with a 3-star rating from 2 reviews.
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TheDyrt.com has all 11 tent camping locations near Pleasant Dale, NE, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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