Two Rivers State Recreation Area serves as the primary camping destination within Waterloo, Nebraska, situated at the confluence of the Elkhorn and Platte rivers. The campgrounds in this area experience temperature variations from winter lows around 20°F to summer highs reaching 90°F with high humidity. Most camping areas feature paved roads and electrical hookups, with varying levels of shade protection depending on the specific campsite near Waterloo, Nebraska.
What to do
Fishing opportunities: The area offers multiple fishing lakes with diverse options at Two Rivers State Recreation Area, including a dedicated trout lake. "Lots of fishing opportunities in the ponds and river. Even a trout lake," notes one visitor. Another camper adds, "The fishing is always as well as the kayaking is as well, (especially novice like myself)."
Paddling and water activities: Several lakes allow non-motorized boating while limiting motor speeds. At Walnut Creek Lake & Recreation Area, "The fishing is always as well as the kayaking is as well, (especially novice like myself). The birdwatching as well as the wildlife is abundant." Most recreation areas maintain speed limits around 5 mph, creating ideal conditions for beginners and families.
Wildlife viewing: The natural surroundings support diverse wildlife observation opportunities. A regular visitor to Walnut Creek mentioned, "The birdwatching as well as the wildlife is abundant. Honestly if not for the city noise you could forget your in a city." Many campgrounds feature hiking trails where visitors commonly spot deer, wild turkey, and various bird species.
What campers like
River proximity: Waterfront sites, particularly those along the Platte River, receive consistently positive reviews. At Cottonwood — Two Rivers SRA, one camper shared, "The Cottonwood camp area lays right on the Platte River and it is beautiful watching the sunset over the water." These sites typically book well in advance, especially for summer weekends.
Breakfast options: Several campgrounds offer food service, a feature many campers appreciate. At Two Rivers SRA, a visitor mentioned, "There is a convenience store ran by a very nice family and they make a great breakfast for a low cost. We like to get up early and walk across the park to breakfast and then walk back to our campsite."
Cleanliness: Campground maintenance and cleanliness regularly appears in positive reviews. At Goldenrod Campground — Two Rivers SRA, campers noted, "Very clean and well maintained camp sites" and "The park has beautiful views and the river is not far away." Most campgrounds feature regularly maintained restrooms and shower facilities.
What you should know
Train noise: Several campgrounds, particularly Louisville State Recreation Area, experience significant train disruptions. "Packing earplugs is a must. The train uses its horn very often. I was in campsite 11 another night, literally as far away from the tracks as possible and wore ear plugs and there was no avoiding it," reports one camper. Sites closer to Interstate 80 also experience traffic noise.
Reservation systems: Each recreation area has specific reservation procedures. At Walnut Creek Lake & Recreation Area, the process works differently: "Wednesday at 3pm there were 8 sites open. Nice city park. Electric hookups. Water spigot about the park. Dump station by the entrance." Two Rivers uses a waiting list system for non-reserved sites: "You get put on a waiting list and have to return to main office at 3. Then they start at beginning of list and people start choosing so get on waiting list early."
Weather considerations: Summer storms can impact camping experiences. One KOA visitor recounted, "There was a major storm that rolled though and upon arriving I asked about the weather, which I was watching closely at the radar. They didn't seem concert about it however news reports were saying other wise of his very storm system producing 90-100mph winds." Spring and fall typically offer milder conditions with less extreme heat and fewer storm risks.
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Multiple campgrounds feature play areas for children. At Eugene T. Mahoney State Park Campground, visitors note, "This campground is crowded with significant interstate noise. However there are many activities for kids including paddleboating, a wave pool, horse riding, ziplining, and playgrounds." Most recreation areas include at least basic playground equipment.
Swimming options: Dedicated swimming areas provide safer alternatives to river swimming. At Goldenrod Campground, a camper mentioned it "is right next to lake 4 with some beach access." Another camper at Two Rivers SRA noted, "The park has several lakes with a variety of different fishing options... A swimming beach for kids, and river access when the river is low enough."
Educational opportunities: Several parks offer nature education experiences. One visitor to Two Rivers SRA shared, "We have also used other campgrounds at Two River SRA for Cub Scout campouts. The park has many, many opportunities to earn badges. You can even take a short hike into a little outdoor nature classroom."
Tips from RVers
Site selection: RV campers recommend researching specific site dimensions before booking. At West Omaha / NE Lincoln KOA Holiday, one RVer cautioned, "We were given an inappropriate size space for the rig we stated, super narrow and we stuck over the road by 2 feet. If we go back to visit, we will insist that we are in a larger site as it was actually a nice campground."
Off-season benefits: Many campgrounds operate year-round with reduced crowds during shoulder seasons. One RVer noted, "We always stop here when we're traveling on I-80. It's the perfect distance for us to overnight before moving on. Clean campground, showers/bathroom. Courteous employees. We've stopped on a couple of holidays & a reservation is a must!"
Utility access: Water access varies between campgrounds and seasons. At Cottonwood, one camper explained, "Not water hookups but electricity ones work just fine! Water hook ups are in a different subdivision, but available." Most campgrounds provide electrical hookups, while water and sewer connections vary by location.
