Cabin camping options near Seward, Nebraska span a 50-mile radius with varying amenities and natural features. Located in eastern Nebraska's transition zone between tallgrass prairie and agricultural land, the area experiences four distinct seasons with summer temperatures often exceeding 90°F. Most cabin rentals operate year-round, but availability and rates fluctuate dramatically between peak summer months and off-season periods.
What to do
Kayaking and fishing: Lake Wanahoo State Recreation Area offers excellent paddling and fishing opportunities around the 662-acre reservoir. "Great fishing and kayaking lake! Bike path goes all the way around the lake. Sites are large and spaced out. I prefer the ones along the water but you have to book early to get one," reports one visitor.
Hiking and biking: Platte River State Park Campground maintains several miles of forest trails varying in difficulty. "I love Platte River State Park; there are accommodations for every type of camper - cabins, RV, privative - hell they even have teepees! On top of the excellent camping offered, they have a wealth of amazing hiking/biking trails that traverse through some amazing scenery," notes one camper.
Seasonal activities: Many cabins near Seward offer different amenities by season. "This campground had amazing staff, was clean, and had great amenities. The sites are very small however, and to do anything besides swim and play on the playground you need to drive. It's a great place to stay when visiting family!" mentions a camper at West Omaha/NE Lincoln KOA Holiday.
What campers like
Train caboose cabins: Union Pacific Cabooses — Two Rivers SRA offers unique accommodations in converted train cabooses. "If you enjoy some extra comforts, rent one of the train cabooses which feature a small kitchen, bathroom, AC and beds with mattresses. Our kids loved the lofted full sized bed (but we kicked them to the bunk beds)," shares one family.
Year-round availability: Some cabin sites operate during winter months when tent camping isn't feasible. "This is a very nice park! Not as crowded as neighboring Mahoney State Park but very similar activities," notes a visitor at Platte River State Park.
Site amenities: Double Nickel Campground offers thoughtful extras at each site. "Each site, along with a picnic table and fire pit has a bench swing. There's a decent-sized dog park on the south side and larger one on the north side," mentions one reviewer who appreciated these touches.
What you should know
Reservation timing: Most cabins require advance booking, especially during summer. "We'd passed through this area a few years ago when traveling I-80 and noticed there was a campground and golf course here in Waco, NE. We added this CG to our list and finally got a chance to stay here," explains a camper who planned ahead for Double Nickel Campground.
Off-season considerations: Memphis Lake State Rec Area offers different pricing and atmosphere during shoulder seasons. "We went on a nice weekend the first of April so it was 'off season'. The price was $10 a night. The game warden drove around often checking to see if anyone needed anything and people were following the rules," reports one visitor.
Interstate proximity: Highway noise affects several cabin locations. "Lake Wanahoo is a fairly new lake in Saunders county Nebraska. The lake is part of the local NRD and was originally managed by the state parks department. You used to be able to use your state park permit to gain entry, but now you need to either buy a day pass or a yearly pass from the NRD," notes a camper explaining access requirements.
Tips for camping with families
Kid-friendly activities: Eugene T. Mahoney State Park Campground offers numerous children's options. "This place has it all....but books up months in advance and the crowds can get a bit annoying! Hiking trails, frisbee golf, horseback riding, driving range, fishing, tennis courts, river views, cabins!" shares an enthusiastic visitor.
Pool availability: Several campgrounds feature swimming options during summer months. "The pool is awesome. It was, however, expensive. $10 for adults (even as a non-swimmer) and $8 for kids plus $3 to rent a tube for the wave pool," notes a visitor regarding Mahoney State Park's water features.
Playground quality: Families should research playground options when booking cabins. "We took our boys out to Memphis SRA for a quick overnight camp. We are still in the middle of some bird migrations, so the geese were really loud but that is just due time of year. The boys did some fishing, but nothing was biting when we were there," shares one parent about their experience.
Tips from RVers
Site selection: Prairie Oasis Campground & Cabins offers both cabins and RV sites with varying features. "We were at a sight closest to the pond, which I loved because I could walk my pups down to the pond and sit at the yard swing and just relax. I thought the interstate would be really noisy but the trees muffle the sound and you really don't hear it," explains one RVer.
Leveling considerations: Many cabin and RV sites in the area require minimal leveling. "Great camp area, host are the owners, even drove us to our site, all sites are nice and level, didn't even have to level the RV. There are no long term campers which is a plus for us," notes a Prairie Oasis visitor.
Dump station locations: Some campgrounds have inconvenient dump station placement. "When pulling your RV out here the water fill is in an awkward spot in a parking lot of the campground. To get to the dump station you have to leave the campground, get on the highway and drive to the opposite side of the lake to the day use area," warns a camper about Lake Wanahoo's facilities.
