Springfield, Nebraska provides multiple camping options within a 30-minute drive, with facilities ranging from basic tent sites to full-service RV campgrounds with cabin rentals. Walnut Creek Lake & Recreation Area offers electric hookups and spacious sites for RVs, while Louisville State Recreation Area provides over 200 modern campsites across a large property with multiple lakes. Several locations feature cabin accommodations, including Eugene T. Mahoney State Park Campground and Platte River State Park, which also offers glamping options and yurts. Most campgrounds in the area maintain year-round operations, though some seasonal facilities close between October and April.
Campground amenities vary significantly throughout the region, with most established sites providing electric hookups, picnic tables, and fire rings. Water access points are common but not always available at individual sites, particularly at Walnut Creek where campers need to fill tanks at communal spigots. Many campgrounds require advance reservations during peak summer months, while others operate on a first-come, first-served basis. Proximity to transportation infrastructure impacts some camping experiences. A visitor noted, "The train tracks run right along the park. There were trains going by all night long."
Campers consistently mention the open, spacious nature of sites at Walnut Creek, with concrete pads and good spacing between campsites. Several reviewers highlight the value of camping in this region, with Walnut Creek described as "cheap" with rates around $16-20 per night and weekly discounts available. Water features represent a major draw, with fishing opportunities at multiple lakes throughout Louisville State Recreation Area and paddling options on the Platte River. The campground hosts receive numerous positive mentions for their helpfulness and friendliness. While some campgrounds offer abundant shade, others feature more exposed sites. "Open campsites with not much shade. Easy setup for our campsite," reported one camper at Walnut Creek, while others appreciate the area's hiking and biking trails that connect to larger regional systems.
$25 - $485 / night
"Nestled between two major cities in Nebraska, you're never far away from anything you may want to do or see. RV and tent camping is obviously available with limited privacy."
"We used to stop here as a midway point when driving to Colorado. We always stayed at the lodge for a night and had a pleasant time exploring the area."
$35 - $340 / night
"We were passing through Nebraska and opted to stay the night here. The campground is new and will be even nicer when the trees are big enough to provide shade."
"Short walk in but a wagon is provided to help unload equipment. Picnic and fire pit near the teepee."
"Very close to the Nebraska crossing outlet mall! 😊"
"The campground itself was fine and very convenient in location to vIsIt famIly."
$15 - $35 / night
"A HUGE campground with around 250 total sites, with options ranging from walk-in camping tent-only sites to RV areas. There is a 3 decent-size lakes spread evenly across the grounds."
"I am sorry 😔 but I have nut yet been to any of Nebraska's Camping grounds your's well be the first."
$20 / night
"This is a nice campground located on the edge of Papillion, Nebraska. There are several trails nearby, some paved and others grass. The main trailhead is easily accessible from the park road."
"This is a very cool park in Papillion, Nebraska! It also has a sewer dump site for $5 (if you're not camping). See the camp host to pay."
$10 - $35 / night
"If you want to get away in Nebraska, this is the place. There’s no electricity or running water. The outhouses are kinda gross. There’s an awesome bar right outside the park, too."
"Great little stocked fishing lake with sites all fairly close to the long northern shore of the lake. Redwing blackbirds, geese, and lightning bugs tucked in between the corn fields."
$20 - $40 / night
"Lakeside locations are quite well spaced with a panoramic Lake view. small restroom and shower pair with unisex entry. Quite spartan, but relatively clean."
"Our confirmation email included precise directions from I-29, with an interstate sign confirming the turn for Lake Manawa State Park, and provided the gate code for access."
"This is actually the Windsor Cove Campground within Haworth Park in Belleview, Nebraska."
"Nice quiet campground away from the hustle and bustle yet close to city for anything forgotten."
$100 / night
"The fishing is easy in all the lakes and they have a pay fishing trout lake that nearly guarantees success. Our kid and her friends love the swimming beach."
"Whether I was riding a bike around the paved roads. Fishing in one of the sandpit lakes they have to offer, or the river. Walk around the nature trails, or lakes."
$10 - $50 / night
"We camp all the time at different locations, and I 100% recommend this campground! The hosts are so polite and helpful and they keep the place immaculate."
"The sites for tent camping are okay pretty close together and down a hill, no parking next to your site. There are also pack in sites available and depending on location very nice."
ScoutThis park offers something for everyone! Although the campsites are average this big beautiful park makes up for it in other ways. From the aquatic park, to the stables, hiking and biking trails, a small marina with fishing and paddle boats, and a nature center, you won’t have to leave to be entertained. Recommend staying at the lakeside campground for better views.
ScoutI called because there was no link to book and the RV park has closed. There is RV parking if you want to stay in the hotel, but the park with hookups is closed.
TravelerBeautiful city owned campground. 50 and/or 30 amp electric at all sites. No water hookups, but spigots are located throughout the park. No shower house, only pit toilets. However, at $20 a night a steal!
GuideDid some backcountry camping at the Badger Ridge location, overall the stay was great! The park has multiple hike-in backcountry locations, tent camping spots near the road, RV pads with water and electric, as well as a few small cabins. The scenery is amazing! The shower house was also clean and well maintained.
TravelerThis is actually the Windsor Cove Campground within Haworth Park in Belleview, Nebraska. It is an older campground but near the river, walking trails, and close to all the amenities of Nearby Omaha (aprox. 25 minutes to downtown). I visited in Mid May and the park was about 25 percent full. The camp host is great and I would definitely visit again.
GuideWe stayed 1 night in our way to Utah. We got a nice spot right next to the river with a cemented area and a newer picnic area. Met the park ranger on our way in who was so thankful we picked there to stay. The Elf and Buffalo were fun to watch. Only downside was a train at 1 in the morning and no showers at the south campsite. Highly recommend this spot!!
LegendDodge County Fairgrounds has four or five spaces on grass. The ground is fairly level, but it is bumpy and rutted. When I visited in May, the grass was not mowed and was very tall. It was so bad that I was itchy after leaving.
There are bathrooms on site, but they were locked when I tried them. It wasn't clear how to pay for your site, I did not see a sign with instructions or a drop box. The nightly rate, according to the website is $30 which seems high to me for this location.
There are two playgrounds available, including a modern one and a really old one. There is a pool located nearby, but it was not open in May and I am not sure when it opens for the season. The fairgrounds is located next to highway 275 so there is some road noise, but I didn't find it so much to be bothersome. I had a very good Verizon signal here with 200 Mbps download on 5G.
There's really nothing within walking distance, maybe a gas station about 10 minutes away. I would stay here if I need a place to park overnight while traveling, but other than that I would skip it.
LegendI stopped by this campground and found it was nearly empty, with only one other camper in the lot. The entire area is one giant gravel parking lot with no shade. The spots are located very close together, but it's rarely full (except during events at the Main Arena next door) so you'll have room to spread out. Each site has electric and water hookups. I read somewhere that there is a dump station here but I didn't see it.
There are no showers or flush toilets. The only bathrooms available are port-a-potties located in the middle of the lot. There is some kind of agriculture equipment nearby that creates a constant humming sound which some might find annoying. The campground is very close to the airport, but I did not notice any airport noise.
While there is nothing within walking distance, there are several commercial restaurants and stores that are an easy drive from this location.
I would only stay here if I needed an overnight spot while traveling.
TravelerStopped here for the night. Property has concrete pads, but shower rooms are inadequate. Won't stay here again.
Camping spots near Springfield, Nebraska range from riverside settings to lake-focused recreation areas across varied terrain. The region experiences distinct seasons with hot, humid summers reaching 90°F and winters dropping below freezing, influencing camping availability at certain locations. Many campgrounds offer primitive tent sites with basic amenities alongside developed options with electrical hookups.
Archery practice: At Hitchcock Nature Center, campers can access dedicated archery facilities alongside hiking trails. "This spring/summer I am planning to take our boys for a nice hike in camp!" notes one visitor who frequents the archery range.
Fishing in no-wake zones: Memphis Lake State Recreation Area provides excellent fishing opportunities in a quieter setting. "This lake has great fishing and has peace, and quiet. The lake is a no-wake zone, so kayaks, and canoes are great," reports a camper who appreciates the tranquility.
Hiking the Loess Hills: The unique geological formations at Hitchcock Nature Center offer rare hiking terrain. "Hitchcock is smack dab in the loess hills which is one of only two places in the world with the hill formations. The other place is in China," explains one hiker who visits regularly.
Paddleboating and swimming: Platte River State Park offers water recreation options beyond just fishing. "You can hike the many hiking trails to the mini waterfall, or Platte river. They have paddle boat and Kayak rentals. There is a splash park, shooting, archer ranges, horseback riding," writes a camper who visits frequently.
Riverfront camping spots: At Louisville State Recreation Area, waterfront sites provide scenic views and quick water access. "We had a river-side view to a nice sunset and sat at my picnic table and watched fireworks go off on the other side of the river," reports one camper who stayed at site 11.
Budget-friendly options: Walnut Creek Lake & Recreation Area offers affordable camping with decent amenities. "Wednesday at 3pm there were 8 sites open. Nice city park. Electric hookups. Water spigot about the park. Dump station by the entrance. All grounds are clean. Very friendly camp host," notes a visitor who found the park to be a good value.
Kid-friendly facilities: Eugene T. Mahoney State Park provides numerous family activities. "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!" writes one enthusiastic camper.
Primitive camping with views: Memphis Lake State Recreation Area offers more secluded options. "It is a nice spot a bit off of the main roads. Many of the tent sites allow you to camp right next to the lake. It's generally pretty quiet and people respect the 10 pm quiet hours rule," explains a tent camper who appreciated the lakeside setting.
Train noise impacts: Louisville State Recreation Area experiences significant railroad disturbances. "Nice park, but... trains always seems to fly through town several times at night," explains one camper who otherwise enjoyed the park's amenities.
Booking requirements: Some campgrounds fill quickly, especially during peak season. "This place has it all....but books up months in advance and the crowds can get a bit annoying!" warns a visitor to Eugene T. Mahoney State Park.
Weather considerations: The KOA Holiday in West Omaha has experienced severe weather events that campers should prepare for. "We stayed for only a night while passing though. The campgrounds were very clean, sites well maintained bathroom and showers were clean as well. Only complaint I have is there was a major storm that rolled though," reported a camper who weathered a significant storm.
Site spacing variations: Different campgrounds offer varying levels of privacy and spacing. "This is the Walmart of camping grounds. The campsites are stacked on top of each other and are always packed!" cautions one camper about Eugene T. Mahoney State Park, highlighting the importance of researching specific sites before booking.
Playground access: Lake Manawa State Park features excellent recreational facilities for children. "About 150 yards from our site was the popular Dreamland playground, which draws families with young kids to that side of the CG," notes a family that stayed at the park.
Water activities for kids: Memphis Lake offers calm waters ideal for young ones. "There appears to be an option for canoe rentals available. Boat ramp and dock. Multiple bathroom locations within the campground. Picnic tables near the water," reports a visitor who enjoyed kayaking on the lake.
Educational opportunities: Hitchcock Nature Center provides learning experiences alongside camping. "The nature center is a nice place to cool down in the summer and learn about the loess hills," mentions a camper who appreciates the educational aspects of the park.
Cabin alternatives: For families not interested in tent camping, Two Rivers State Recreation Area offers unique accommodations. "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," suggests a family who enjoyed this alternative camping option.
Site selection strategies: At Louisville State Recreation Area, RVers should research site locations relative to train tracks. "If you want to have any kind of spot that accommodates a flat plot, like sites 206 - 236, you are butted up against the train tracks and that train is LOUD!" advises an RV camper who experienced the noise firsthand.
Hookup availability: Walnut Creek Lake offers RVers important amenities at affordable rates. "Great back-in site w/30 amp electrical plug in, no water at site. Site is overlooking a small lake. Very quiet, dump station. All for $20 a night," reports a satisfied RVer.
Arrival timing: At the KOA Holiday in West Omaha, late arrivals should plan accordingly. "We pulled in just after dark and there was a note on the door stating staff was limited due to Covid. We pulled into a very large pull through on the west side of the campground," shares an RV camper who arrived after office hours.
Access considerations: Some campgrounds have challenging entry points. "The entrance/exit is difficult and it looks like it's not their fault as they have been trying to get permits to fix it but the NE transportation is not being cooperative," explains an RVer about accessing a local campground.
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Springfield, NE?
According to TheDyrt.com, Springfield, NE offers a wide range of camping options, with 107 campgrounds and RV parks near Springfield, NE and 1 free dispersed camping spot.
Which is the most popular campground near Springfield, NE?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Springfield, NE is Eugene T. Mahoney State Park Campground with a 4.1-star rating from 47 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Springfield, NE?
According to TheDyrt.com, there is 1 free dispersed camping spot near Springfield, NE.
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