Best Dog-Friendly Camping near Spencer, NE

More then once as a Dyrt Ranger I have searched in vain for a campsite listed on a map. I was completely surprised when I found the Tyndall City Park AND it had places to camp!

When you first drive to the park it looks like your typical city park, nice fishing pond for the kids , cemented walking path, ballfields, disc golf, etc. But then down at the very end next to the ballfields are electric hookups and parking for RVs! Mind you this is no luxury campground, it’s the basics. On further exploration of the immediate area I came to the conclusion that this site is probably mostly used by visiting participants in 4H. There is a 4H complex across the street from the hookups.

The park is located off the local neighborhood and quiet. There is no shade at the RV sites. No picnic tables or fire rings on the cement lot where the electric boxes are located. This is definitely an event oriented “campground” or overnight/visiting relatives pit stop. There is an honor box and small latrine near the sites. No privacy if it’s busy but we were totally alone and saw few people when we visited.

The dogs enjoyed the walk around the fishing pond and it was a very relaxed atmosphere, at least to me. I did not attempt to start a fire, no one to ask if I could and no fire rings. There was a grass area by the camp sites with picnic tables and shade, you could easily put a tent/hammock in that area but I don’t know if it’s permitted.

Overall a useful area, in town, near shopping and fuel but not a vacation destination in my opinion.

This was a very pleasant surprise. I normally do not go to campsites (that is put in for context) but was passing through on a business trip and needed a place with electric hookups. After a Harvest Host disaster I found this. Like I said, very pleasantly surprised. While there were a lot of campers who seemed to be setting up elaborate sites with everything you would need to live there for a year (laundry lines, flag poles, pens for their dog), I was able to get a spot that backed right up to the beautiful river and had plenty of space on all sides. The campsite was surprisingly quiet for how large it was. The sunset paddle boarding on the river was a real treat. Kinda cool to say you SUP'd from South Dakota to Nebraska with a beer on the board. 

Bathrooms were clean and had showers. Garbage and recycling on premises. AT&T signal was strong.

Leave no trace.

I would have given this nice little campground a 3-star rating, but I felt the 8 foot pads were a little bit too small. To be fair, they have placed a handful of larger pads throughout, but it would be insanely cramped for larger units to maneuver and even turn their rigs around. $15.00 per night for campers. $10.00 a night for tents. Cabins ran $35.00 a night. They did have a men's and women's toilet building (flush or hole?) the building was locked, and we couldn't use it. They have 30 amp electric, 1 location to obtain water (communal water spigot), 1 picnic table per site, and garbage buckets provided for nearly all sites. Oak trees provide shade from the sun. One has to look up, though. we saw several locations where larger dead and broken branches were just hanging on by a thread. They have 2 cabins that are available. The entire campground is an easy stones throw from the city swimming pool. There are 2 large picnic pavillions, and electricity is provided. Walking trails are available (we did not walk on them this trip). There is a lazy little creek that meanders around the outskirts of the campgrounds. Playground equipment in 3 locations for the kids. Large fields for others playing around. We didn't need a dump site, and I'm sorry, I didn't think to look to see if they had one. They may have one, and I think I would have noticed it if they had, but take this with a grain of salt. Town is just down the road a half mile or so, and most needs can be met there. Finally, I have to mention the highway ¼ mile away. Heavy semi traffic. Campgrounds are located at the bottom of a hill. Those semi's blast those Jake brakes. Over and over again. 2 days of that, and we left early and drove to a new campground. Enough was enough.

Nice camping for extended stay of 14 days. Different length back in sites with picnic table and fire ring with grill. Camp host available. Handicap pad sites. I would have given a five star except for the cost!

We think $30/day for just electric is expensive but we’d been boon docking so we sprung for the expense for 3 nights. Showers are extra😳. Laundry available.

Little town of Niobrara, just a few miles away has limited shopping but a nice little grocery store, hardware store, museum, and fuel.

Confluence of the Missouri and Niobrara Rivers.

Nebraska State Parks have walk up and reservable spaces. We usually risk it and easily found a walk up on a Monday afternoon after the weekend crowd left.

We stayed in the RV campground but took a bike ride around the rest of the park. We stopped at the park office and chatted with assistant superintendent Nate. Very nice guy with lots of good info.. He told us about a nice loop we could continue our bike ride and we went around the picnic and tent area. Some incredible exclusive sites and great views of the Niobrara.