Best Campgrounds near Seward, NE

Join the fun near Seward. With tons of outdoor activities and scenic camping, this is an excellent vacation spot for all kinds of travelers. Seward is a great camping destination for everyone. There are tons of nearby hikes, adventurous activities, and sights to see. You're sure to find the perfect campground for your Seward camping trip.

Best Camping Sites Near Seward, Nebraska (94)

    1. Branched Oak Lake State Rec Area

    28 Reviews
    Malcolm, NE
    12 miles
    Website
    +1 (402) 783-3400

    $25 - $35 / night

    "My first time camping in Nebraska. Ive been to several throughout the US. Loved the spot, I was right next to the lake, great swimming access. Downside drinking water access was difficult."

    "The area is well known for being the equestrian camping area at one of the finest lakes in Nebraska. Pull through sites with full hookups, equestrian trails, and corals."

    2. Lakeview Campground — Pawnee State Recreation Area

    25 Reviews
    Malcolm, NE
    12 miles
    Website
    +1 (402) 796-2362

    $30 / night

    "Pawnee SRA is a well maintained family friendly SRA North West of Lincoln Nebraska. You’ll find powered and primative sites accommodating RV’s to tents."

    "The change machine was either broken or out of change but that seems to be the norm this year at Nebraska parks."

    3. Camp A Way Campground

    31 Reviews
    Lincoln, NE
    20 miles
    Website
    +1 (402) 476-2282

    $35 - $67 / night

    "A fun pass is require and costa about $10 but kids get ice cream, Slushies, water balloons for water wars included with that plus access to trampoline basketball, a nice jump pad, pool, indoor hot tub,"

    "Next to highway. You can hear highway but that doesn’t bother me"

    4. Smith Creek Recreation Area

    14 Reviews
    Seward, NE
    14 miles
    Website
    +1 (402) 362-6601

    "Nice quiet spot on a creek fed lake. Boat/fishing dock. Newly constructed restrooms on a concrete pad. Only one drive up spot 4 or five spots for tents on grass a short carry from the parking."

    "There’s several spots available to pitch a tent near the shelter or down the hill. Multiple ring fires, picnic tables and grills available for use. There’s also trash bins which is nice."

    5. Smiths Creek Recreational Area

    8 Reviews
    Seward, NE
    14 miles

    "Not far from the highway but not too loud. Lots of picnic tables and fire pits, space for tents next to the lake and below the dam (walk over the knoll behind the playground)."

    "It was not far off the highway but no road noise. Great place for a free overnight camp."

    6. Beaver Crossing City Park

    7 Reviews
    Seward, NE
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (402) 532-3925

    "Clean flush restrooms within walking distance. when I first arrived and saw the ballfields and pool I thought it might be noisy but by 8:30 pm all was quite. Donation suggested."

    "A little hidden gem of a campground tucked off the interstate. Nice play park, swimming pool, ball fields for families. A few sites with water and electric for RVs."

    7. Area One Campground

    6 Reviews
    Malcolm, NE
    12 miles

    "While Nebraska can't do much about the 90+ temps, they sure do make their campgrounds fun to be around when there's water involved."

    "Branched Oak-Area One Campground is 2 1/2 miles north of Malcom Nebraska. There are many different areas offering over 330 pads and tons of primitive camping."

    8. Double Nickel Campground

    16 Reviews
    York, NE
    20 miles
    Website
    +1 (402) 728-5558

    $45 - $75 / night

    "Campground Review

    We pulled into The Double Nickel Campground off of I-80 at the Waco exit(360) in Nebraska and were pleasantly surprised. We had a pull-thru site with Electric and Water."

    "An oasis in Nebraska. A lot of amenities including swimming pool. Very clean & well appointed bath house."

    10. Area 3 Campground — Pawnee State Recreation Area

    3 Reviews
    Malcolm, NE
    11 miles
    +1 (402) 796-2362

    $30 / night

    "Good for an overnight stay when passing through, would be nice for multiple days if you want to visit the lake."

    "Lots of hiking trails, very nice weekend!"

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Recent Reviews near Seward, NE

521 Reviews of 94 Seward Campgrounds


  • AThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 11, 2025

    Fremont Lakes State Recreation Area Tent Campsites

    Great state rec area

    Impressive recreation area. Campsites on and off of the water, all very nice. 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.

  • Travis A.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 3, 2025

    Yankee hill wildlife management area

    Good over night spot

    Situated in the middle of corn fields. The WMA has a large marshy, stagnant pond, so bring mosquito repellent. The parking area is clean. There is a dumpster and vault toilet. I didnt inspect it, I'll leave that up to you. No potable water, but Lincoln Nebraska is only 17 miles away.

  • wThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 25, 2025

    Smiths Creek Recreational Area

    Perfect

    It was not far off the highway but no road noise. Great place for a free overnight camp.

  • JThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 24, 2025

    Smith Creek Recreation Area

    Quick overnight stay

    We had a quick one night stay as a van camper. Parked in the stone parking area adjacent to the toilets. A single bright light lit the entire parking lot. We arrived at 9:00 and quickly set up for sleeping. It was dark, our interior car lights immediately attracted numerous bugs. Late in the evening, a vehicle can't in and did a couple of "doughnuts" in the parking lot. It was a nice place overall for a single night.

  • MThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 22, 2025

    Wagon Train State Recreation Area

    Pricey!

    Nice campground with reasonable camp fees, however, they require day use fees as well, which makes it pricey. The lake does not have any water in it either. Only stayed 1 nite, but would probably not stay again.

  • Allison B.
    Aug. 20, 2025

    Pine Grove RV Park & Campground

    Fantastic campground in ideal location

    We have camped here for the past three summers and will continue to come back for as long as we can.  Word to the wise: ignore any reviews prior to July 2023. That's when the new owners took over and have been making updates and improvements from day 1. We love the friendly staff, the onsite cafe, and the beautiful pool.  The owners take great care of the pool, so our grandkids come out and swim with us whenever they can.  So. many campground pools are a bit scary, but not this one.  

    We also love the front row seat to fabulous sunsets.  Some people complain about the I-80 noise, but it really varies. We never hear it when we are inside our motorhome.  Some evenings it is pretty loud outside and others we can barely hear it. It's worth it either way because we can hop on the interstate so quickly and be in Lincoln or Omaha in a snap.  

    Love this place!

  • Austin B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 15, 2025

    Area 5 Campground

    Simple and quiet

    Features:

    • self service
    • primitive camp sites
    • fire pits
    • picnic tables
    • vault toilets
    • plenty of shade
    • hand pump well water drinking fountain
    • a very dry lake
    • a boat ramp that leads to a dry lake bed overtaken by weeds
    • bugs bugs bugs
    • okay night skies

    This little spot is well maintained with mowed camping sections that each have numbered picnic tables and a fire pit. The picnic tables have a little placard to display your camping permit, which is just gotten from a board at the entrance to the campground. There are vault toilets that are definitely not the worst I've seen. And there's a cute little hand pump well water drinking fountain that I wouldn't trust drinking from, but it was fun to pump the water out for a minute or two! The lake was, unfortunately, extremely dry during my visit. There was no direct path to the water bank without cutting through a jungle of a dry lake bed covered in, likely tick infested, weeds. But at least the boat ramp would've served as a great foot/wheelchair ramp to walk down to the water...if there was a path through all the weeds. Lastly, bugs and mosquitoes were torture, but that's to be expected in Nebraska in August. Just be sure to bring your bug spray, and maybe wait to come by until some year when the lake is full.

  • RThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 14, 2025

    Yankee hill wildlife management area

    Dumpster on site

    This place has a dumpster available and it also has a three-day limit in a six-day period.

    The sites aren't technically sites. They're just little places off the side of the road that you can park. So just find a spot park there and you're good to go.

    The road coming in has some big ruts, but the rest of the park seems to be rut free. I had no issues taking my 12 foot tall short bus through there.

  • cThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 13, 2025

    Pioneer Trails Recreation Area

    Idyllic Spot amidst the cornfields

    Just happened upon this small camping area off of Rte 14. So peaceful. Perfect for us as we needed sun for our solar panels but not much shade otherwise. Surrounded by cornfields. Pulled in on a Tuesday and only 3 other RV’s here. Such a lovely surprise. Tent camping available further down from the RV area.


Guide to Seward

Camping near Seward, Nebraska, offers a great mix of outdoor fun and relaxation. With several campgrounds in the area, you can find the perfect spot for your next adventure.

What to do:

  • Hiking and Trails: Many campgrounds have beautiful walking trails. For example, at Eugene T. Mahoney State Park Campground, visitors enjoy "nice walking trails and facilities" that cater to families.
  • Water Activities: If you love water, check out Platte River State Park Campground. Campers can rent paddle boats and kayaks, making it a fun spot for a day on the water.
  • Wildlife Watching: At Branched Oak Lake State Rec Area, you might spot deer and other wildlife. One camper mentioned, "We saw a couple of white-tailed deer wandering through in the early morning hours."

What campers like:

  • Clean Facilities: Campers appreciate clean restrooms and showers. At Camp A Way Campground, one visitor said, "Everyone that works here is so friendly. They have nice shower and bathrooms along with laundry facilities."
  • Family-Friendly Activities: Many campgrounds offer activities for kids. At West Omaha / NE Lincoln KOA Holiday, a reviewer noted, "Looked like a lot to do for the kids."
  • Scenic Views: Campers love the beautiful scenery. A visitor at Grand Island KOA mentioned, "Clean and friendly campground. Very clean bathrooms. Surrounded by cornfields."

What you should know:

  • Noise Levels: Some campgrounds are near busy roads or train tracks. For instance, at Louisville State Recreation Area, one camper said, "With a large amount of active train tracks... this place is the opposite of peaceful."
  • Site Proximity: Campsites can be close together. At Platte River State Park Campground, a camper noted, "The sites are very close together which I thought would be more of an issue than it was."
  • Fees: Be prepared for additional fees. At Pawnee State Recreation Area, one visitor mentioned, "It costs nearly as much as a site in a national park with the out-of-state permit."

Tips for camping with families:

  • Playgrounds: Look for campgrounds with playgrounds for kids. At Two Rivers State Recreation Area, a parent shared, "A short walk to the outhouse and playground. Fun and quick trip if you’re in the Omaha area."
  • Activities for All Ages: Choose campgrounds that offer diverse activities. At Camp A Way Campground, one reviewer said, "Tons of fun activities for the kids!"
  • Safety First: Always keep an eye on younger kids, especially near water. A camper at Branched Oak Lake State Rec Area mentioned, "The area was nice and close to the restrooms and spacious campsites."

Tips from RVers:

  • Level Sites: Look for campgrounds with level sites for easier setup. A visitor at Grand Island KOA noted, "Our back in site had a patio, fire pit and nice patio furniture."
  • Full Hookups: Choose campgrounds that offer full hookups. At Camp A Way Campground, one reviewer appreciated the "good internet" and "very helpful staff."
  • Convenient Locations: Opt for campgrounds that are easy to access from highways. A camper at West Omaha / NE Lincoln KOA Holiday mentioned, "Good stop if you’re passing through."

Camping near Seward, Nebraska, has something for everyone, whether you're looking for family fun or a peaceful getaway.

Frequently Asked Questions

What camping is available near Seward, NE?

According to TheDyrt.com, Seward, NE offers a wide range of camping options, with 94 campgrounds and RV parks near Seward, NE and 2 free dispersed camping spots.

Which is the most popular campground near Seward, NE?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Seward, NE is Branched Oak Lake State Rec Area with a 4.1-star rating from 28 reviews.

Where can I find free dispersed camping near Seward, NE?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 2 free dispersed camping spots near Seward, NE.