Tent camping options surrounding Stanton, Nebraska extend across a 40-mile radius with sites ranging from primitive parks to full-service state recreation areas. The area experiences cold winters with temperatures often dropping below freezing from November through March, making late spring through early fall the ideal camping season. Summer temperatures typically range from 65°F to 90°F with occasional thunderstorms.
What to do
Fishing opportunities: Powerhouse Park in Columbus offers canal fishing within walking distance of tent sites. As one camper notes, "Good fishing in the canal. Close to town yet far enough away."
Water recreation: Fremont Lakes State Recreation Area Tent Campsites provides multiple lakes for swimming, boating, and fishing. According to a reviewer, "There are at least a dozen small lakes part of the grounds. The new lakes are busy and full of RVs."
Biking and walking: The woodsy environment at Fremont Lakes includes trail options. One visitor commented, "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."
What campers like
Clean facilities: Campers consistently praise the maintenance at Fremont Lakes. One reviewer mentioned, "Facilities were very clean. Cleanest I have ever seen in a campground."
Peaceful settings: Centennial Park Campground receives high marks for its tranquil environment. A camper observed, "Small towns tend to be quiet areas anyway and this is surrounded by small towns. Therefore it has that ALL is welcome feel, quiet and beautiful grounds."
Spacious sites: Many tent campers appreciate the roominess at certain campgrounds. At Fremont Lakes, one reviewer noted, "Big beautiful sites" despite some noise issues from nearby transportation routes.
What you should know
Shade availability: Some tent sites lack adequate shade coverage. At Fremont Lakes, a camper warned, "Not much shade on most tent sites. Make sure you ask when they dredged the lakes that you want to stay on."
Noise considerations: Train traffic affects some otherwise pleasant camping areas. A Fremont Lakes visitor 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."
Site selection strategy: For the best tent camping near Stanton, Nebraska, consider which section of larger campgrounds to choose. One camper recommended, "If you want a less busy area, find the older section" when referring to Fremont Lakes.
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Powerhouse Park offers family-friendly amenities including "Nice playground, picnic tables, and charcoal grills. Clean restroom."
Water activities: Families seeking water recreation have options close to Stanton. Columbus features "Mammoth waterpark" near tent camping areas according to one reviewer.
Lake selection: When planning tent camping with children, consider lake characteristics. One Fremont Lakes visitor suggests asking "when they dredged the lakes that you want to stay on" to ensure suitable swimming conditions.
Tips from RVers
Campsite location preferences: RVers tend to congregate in certain areas. A camper at Fremont Lakes noted, "The new lakes are busy and full of RVs" while tent campers might prefer "the old lakes part of the campgrounds."
Seasonal considerations: The best tent camping near Stanton varies by season. Summer weekends see higher RV traffic at popular sites, while spring and fall offer quieter tent camping experiences.
Amenity differences: Tent campers should note variations between primitive and developed sites. At Madison County Fairgrounds, tent sites lack many amenities found at larger parks like Fremont Lakes, which offers "drinking-water, electric-hookups, showers, toilets" and other services.
