Best Tent Camping near Valentine, NE

Nice State Park with the highest waterfall in nebraska. Offers hiking, canoe/kayaking, boating, and tubing. Also has concession stand, pay showers, picnic shelters and restrooms. Campground is located 18 miles from Valentine and has reservable sight. There’s about 50 sites and was packed. If you like crowds you will do fine here. If peace and quiet is your thing I suggest a different area

This lake is awesome for water sports since it is so large. It’s about 26 miles from Valentine. There are numerous campgrounds scattered offering different views of the beautiful valley

I have camped in this campground multiple times in different configurations including tent camping in a lager group of friends, with a small group of friends in a pop-up camper, and tent camping with small children and pets in tow. Camping here is primitive, so expect to get dirty and be ready for mosquitoes.That said, every time I have visited, I have had a blast. The area is beautiful Nebraska sand hills and prairie. You can even hear coyotes at night. The main attraction of course is tubing/canoeing the river. Local outfitters work with you to ride the shallow Niobrara river to the campground, and then will pick you up further down the river the next day. There are other campgrounds in the area, but I prefer to stay here because of the waterfall. The campground can be busy, but that has never disrupted our stay. Bathrooms and pay showers are basic, but clean. There is a general store at the main entrance and staff are helpful.

I have been going to Sharps for 15+ years. We tent camp and the sights are always clean. Best spots along the river! We will continue to go for years to come and wont stay anywhere else. Great staff...great location...great outfitter!!!

Willow Cave area is the RV/tent campground closest to the Marina and cabins. Some sites overlook lake and there is some shade. This area is across from the dump, has electric, a fish cleaning station, picnic benches, and fire rings. These spots are nice and spacious.

This campground stretches along the Niobrara River, so the sites are also spread out.

There is a "family friendly" side, a "party" side, and a woody/secluded area. My group tent camped in the wooded area. Our sites were right along the river, but up a 10Ft embankment.

Lots of wildlife. They do patrol to check for passes and people breaking rules.

There is a concession hut. There are porta-potties dispersed throughout, but there is also a toilet/shower facility near the check-in area.

We went August 2020 and no one except my group were wearing masks. Not even the staff.

They also do tubing and kayaking.

Some sites had tables and fire pits.

Rocky Ford is one of many outfitter and private campground choices in stunning Northwest Nebraska on the Niorbrara River. We chose to tent camp here for it’s club house amenities and location on the river down stream from Smith Falls State Park. You’ll have close neighbors at this camp but every one is there to enjoy a float down the river and respectful of the 11pm quite time. Honestly we stayed up later than that playing music at a reasonable level and the river drowns out any noise from nearby campers. You’ll sleep like a baby with the rapids creating wonderful soothing sounds. We had beautiful sunny skies and some famous midwest thunderstorms on each of our two day, two night stays here. Be ready to get sandy here, you will be way up in the Sandhills and the 7 eccosystems in the area. There are basically minimum maintenance roads in and out of the camp so we had our fingers crossed getting out of really sloppy roads pulling a trailer with a Nissan Rogue but we made it. The club house is really close. Expect typical restroom conditions with lots of sand. You’re on a river float trip if you are staying here, not a 5 star resort. They charge $8 per person to camp but children 9 or younger are free. You must be using them for a booked float down the river to stay here. They offer many choices for how you float and for how long. They will drop you off up steam and you just get out at the camp at the end of your float. Pay attention to the bus driver for directions on the river to must see nature opportunities and where to get out at. I’d definitely stay at Rocky Ford again.

I was heading to Merritt Reservoir and saw a sign for camping (Big Alkali WMA) and thought I could review a new site for the Dyrt. It was so nice, I changed my plans and stayed!

The campground is nestled in the Valentine Wildlife Management Area in Cherry County Nebraska. Cherry County is about the size of Connecticut.  It is so sparsely populated it is known for its endless sandhils and clear night sky's. The Nebraska Star gazing festival is held in Cherry County annually.

The camp site is south of the 16B about 10 miles west of highway 83 and about 25 miles south of Valentine NE.

The 8 camping sites are well marked. At least one is handicapped accessible, though there is no paved way to the campsite's vault toilet. each has 15 and 30 Amp hookups, BUT NO WATER!

There are about 20 other primitive sites with firepits or grills and picnic tables. I assume unlimited camping if you just wish to throw up a tent. There is no charge for the sites, no entrance fee, no cost for electric, FREE.

The lake is so glassy, peaceful, and of course it is sandy bottom for great swimming. It would be awesome for peaceful Kayaking or Canoeing. Of course, the Niobrara National Scenic River is just half an hour up the road, so this might be a great base camp for all things Kayak. 

I assume that fishing is the main attraction. There is a nice boatramp. I see a large pontoon boat pushed up on the shore and I actually saw folks out on water skis when I arrived. 

I may try to bike some of the trails in the Valentine WMA. These Sandhills are steep and beautiful. 

Did I mention FREE, even with 30amp hookup???

I found the gravel access r road off of 16B to be well maintained if slightly narrow. Two pickups meeting is an inconvenience, but two large rigs might pose a problem.

Arrived late in our camper van and woke up to a charming quiet campground. Steady moving creek with clear-ish water and cool bridges going over the creek. Mature trees kept us cool from the sun and allowed us to sleep in a little longer in the morning. If you park by the creek then get ready to pick a lot of stickers of our your dog’s paws because they’re everywhere. There was a 5th wheel and some tent campers nearby but we never heard them. Great area for dog to run and throw the frisbee. Lots of area to take a walk. Trash cans appear to be emptied regularly. We didn’t use the restrooms but they’re there. Valentine is honestly one of the cutest towns we’ve driven through. It’s like what America is supposed to look like in the movies.

We visited in May of 2017, and we stayed at Cedar Bay campground site AA. The area offers great views and close to unity to regional sites auch as Snake Falls, Niobrara, Valentine and more. The site sits right on the edge of the southern edge of the reservoir and is close to two boat ramps. There are. Number of beaches which offer good wading and places to cool off. Kayak access is everywhere and there is a lot of shade at each site. Our site was pretty close to showers and had electricity. Some things to look out for are cliffs which are about 10-20 ft high that lead to a drop towards the reservoir. If you are a paddler, the boats coming and going to both ramps give off some wakes which are not a big deal if the wind is not blowing. This is a great site in the Nebraska Sandhills which offers clear water and good fishing.

Snake River Area Campground near Valentine, NE is on the Merritt Reservoir State Recreation Area.

Can you say sand! And fishing. The nice thing about this entire area is one: you don’t see much of the park employees, it’s pretty much all honor system based. Which means if you occupy an entire campground you can stay up as late or early as you want. You can also be as loud or quiet as you like too. Two: This is definitely a water based vacation. The reservoir offers plenty to do and the campground is shaded and did I mention sandy. Dark at night, like pitch black. Critters are around so secure your food. Picnic tables, pit toilets, fire pits and a trash receptacle.

There is the Niobrara River nearby which is the major attraction of the area for float trips. Valentine, NE has food and fuel plus events throughout the year.

Full hook ups at this campground and the spaces were fairly easy to get into. Reason I only gave it four stars was because it’s pretty close to the road with a lot of traffic noise. Husband said the showers were very nice. Sites were nice and level. Close to Valentine, if you needed to pop in to get anything. we were there the first part of October and there was still about six or seven other campers there.

At Merritt Reservoir State Recreation Area near Valentine, NE you have some choices to make. There are Merritt Main, Willow Cove , Lone Tree, Cottonwood , Pines, Cedar Bay , Beeds and Board Campgrounds to choose from. Each has sites near the Reservoir or further back in the scrub that have fire rings and picnic tables. Some have electric options, showers and boatramps. All have at least a pit toilet and dumpster. (And sand)

The state employees were a little scarce when I visited and the weather was not real inviting. I decided to not float on the Reservoir due to the low temperatures, but it would seem that the Nebraskans are a little hardier and used to the cold temperatures then me because there were a few out on the water fishing.

This area would be ideal for a large group get together and out in the middle of nowhere so any noise shouldn’t be an issue. I heard coyotes and it was pitch black at night, had the sky been clear the stars would have been amazing.

Valentine, NE is nearby for resupply and entertainment and there are some other recreation areas that offer hiking and of course floating on the Niobrara River.

I stayed an extra night in Valentine so I could do a float down the river. And I saw that you could camp. I asked one of the guides and he said to stay here. It was right after the Fourth of July I stayed for three nights there was hardly anybody there. Got a great spot right on the river. The bathrooms are clean there’s a shower everyone is super friendly. You can hike to the fall or jump in the river Whenever you want because it does get hot. There’s plenty of trees for shade. You can walk around barefoot it’s so clean. I saw fire flies and song birds it was heaven.

Merritt Reservoir Main Area Campground in Merritt Reservoir State Recreation Area, NE is one of many camping options throughout the area.

This is the largest of the campgrounds in the State Recreation Area. There is a fish cleaning area nearby with camper dumpsite. A pit toilet and dumpster are available and each site has a fire ring and picnic table. In addition there is A LOT of sand;) If you are a fisherman this area is ideal for you! If your looking for hiking and land past times not so much.

About 30 minutes down the road is Valentine, NE for your food, fuel and supply needs. Otherwise this area is dark and quiet at night…..except for the wildlife of course.Bring your stargazing gear for additional entertainment and don’t forget lots of bug repellent:)

Perfect hiking areas. Primitive camping. Wonderful and well built trail up to the tallest waterfall in Nebraska

Perfect for staying in a tent. The campsites were very close together. Bathrooms were clean. The road to get here was a little bumpy! Watch out for cattle.