Sitting on the south side of Maloney Reservoir just outside North Platte, Nebraska, Lake Maloney State Recreation Area divides into two distinct camping zones that function almost as separate campgrounds. At the main entrance, bearing right leads to open, grassy tent sites where campers pitch where they please, with pit toilets and older playground equipment nearby. Bearing left, or looping around to the north side via Kansas Point Campground, puts RVers closer to flush toilets, pay showers, and the electric, water, and sewer hookups the area provides.
Water access is the central draw here. Several sites sit directly on the lake's edge, and reviewers consistently note boats out early on hot mornings. The open terrain means little shelter during storms. Melissa K. describes retreating to a truck mid-night during a lightning storm, noting that "with the lake, open fields and few trees, the lightning was pretty scary." Shade is more available on the left side of the main loop than the right. Not all fire rings include cooking grates, so campers who cook over a fire should bring an alternative setup.
Crowd patterns vary considerably. Weekday visits tend to be quiet, with sites spread across roughly 250 spots and only a handful occupied. Weekends draw locals to the beach, and at least one reviewer noted noise from a nearby event facility after dark. Cleanliness gets mixed marks across reviews, ranging from functional to noticeably unkempt depending on the visit. A fee drop box handles payment when no camp host is present. Nightly rates run $10 to $35 depending on site type, with reservations available. Pets are allowed throughout.
This campground works well as an overnight stop on a cross-country route along I-80, with Holiday RV Park and I-80 Lakeside Campground among the nearby alternatives for those passing through. Campers who want hookups should head directly to Kansas Point on the north shore rather than the main entrance. The campground is open year-round, though summer brings the most activity on the water. It suits road-trippers, anglers, and RVers looking for a functional lakeside stop rather than a developed resort experience.
Description
Lake Maloney offers 56 Electric Plus and 200 Primitive campsites. Coin-operated showers, dump and fill station, drinking water, two boat ramps and primitive restrooms are on-site. Camping is all first-come, first-served and stays are limited to 14 consecutive days in a 30 day period.
Camping at Lake Maloney SRA is all first-come, first-served and campers register their nightly camping fees in a raised, locked box called an Iron Ranger. Self-service envelopes are provided at each Iron Ranger station. Check or cash only. Iron Rangers are generally located near the park entrance or in the campground area. On-site camping informational signs are provided to help guide campers with the self-registration process.
Fee Info
You need a park permit in order to enter the campground
RV Road Trip Guides
Map & DirectionsLake Maloney State Recreation Area is located in Nebraska near North Platte
Address
301 East State Farm Rd
North Platte, NE 69101
Coordinates
41.04698725 N
100.76607597 W
Connectivity
T-Mobile5GExcellent CoverageVerified by 2 usersLast on 7/31/26
VerizonLTESome CoverageVerified by 2 usersLast on 7/31/26- AT&TLTESome CoverageVerified by 2 usersLast on 6/15/26
Connectivity
- T-Mobile5GExcellent CoverageVerified by 2 usersLast on 7/31/26
- VerizonLTESome CoverageVerified by 2 usersLast on 7/31/26
- AT&TLTESome CoverageVerified by 2 usersLast on 6/15/26
Access
- Drive-InPark next to your site
- Walk-InPark in a lot, walk to your site.
- Boat-InSites accessible by watercraft.
Site Types
- Tent Sites
- RV Sites
- Standard (Tent/RV)
- Dispersed
Features
For Campers
- Market
- ADA Access
- Trash
- Picnic Table
- Firewood Available
- Phone Service
- Reservable
- Showers
- Drinking Water
- Electric Hookups
- Toilets
- Alcohol
- Pets
- Fires
For Vehicles
- Sanitary Dump
- Sewer Hookups
- Water Hookups
- Pull-Through Sites
- 50 Amp Hookups
Drive Time
- 2 hrs 3 min from Grand Island, NE
- 3 hrs from Cheyenne, WY
- 3 hrs 7 min from Lincoln, NE
- 3 hrs 20 min from Greeley, CO
