Camper submitted image from Martin Bay Campground — Lake McConaughy SRA - 1

View Photos

Camper submitted image from Martin Bay Campground — Lake McConaughy SRA - 2
Camping
Camper submitted image from Martin Bay Campground — Lake McConaughy SRA - 3
Water
Camper submitted image from Martin Bay Campground — Lake McConaughy SRA - 4
Nature
Camper submitted image from Martin Bay Campground — Lake McConaughy SRA - 5
Roads
Unlock Planning Tools in App

Established Camping

Martin Bay Campground — Lake McConaughy SRA

Warning 3 Alerts are In Effect

There are 3 alerts for this campground. Camp safely!

SAVE TIME, DON'T WAIT IN LINE! BUY YOUR PARK ENTRY PERMIT IN ADVANCE AND ENJOY MORE TIME IN THE PARK. PURCHASE HERE **gooutdoorsne.com**

The possession and consumption of alcohol is prohibited at Lake McConaughy and Lake Ogallala.

The Nebraska Game & Parks Commission maintains the right to establish "black-out" dates and reserve facilities or lodging for Special Events and maintenance related needs.

CAMPER SUMMARY PRESENTED BYFord

Martin Bay - Lake McConaughy SRA, near Ogallala, Nebraska, is a fantastic spot for those who love beach camping and stunning lake views. With designated sites and easy access to the sandy shores, it’s perfect for a relaxing getaway or a fun-filled weekend.

This campground is known for its unique beach camping experience, where you can actually drive your 4WD vehicle right onto the sand. Visitors rave about the gorgeous sunsets and the opportunity for star gazing at night, making it a great place to unwind after a day of activities. One camper shared, “Car camping on the beach? Yes please!”

Fishing, swimming, and water sports are popular here, with plenty of room for everyone to enjoy the lake. Campfires are allowed, so don’t forget to bring your own wood for those cozy evenings by the fire. Some campers have even enjoyed watching kite surfers, adding a lively vibe to the beach scene.

While the campground can get busy on nice weather weekends, there’s enough space to keep things comfortable. Just be mindful of the noise from nearby boaters if you’re looking for a quiet night. Whether you’re here for a quick stop or a longer stay, Martin Bay offers a memorable camping experience right by the water.

Suggest an Edit

Location

Martin Bay Campground — Lake McConaughy SRA is located in Nebraska

Detail location of campground

Directions

Take Interstate 80 to the Ogallala Exit #126, then turn north onto Hwy 61 (or Spruce Street in Ogallala). Turn East (right) on Hwy 61 North and follow the road. The Visitor Center will be on the right-hand side of the road. 1 mile after the Visitor Center is the Kingsley Dam. After crossing the dam, take the first left for the Martin Bay entrance. You must check-in at the kiosk, or the Visitor Center, before proceeding to your camping spot.

Address

1475 Highway 61 North
Ogallala, NE 69153-5930

Coordinates

41.25376603 N
101.68969197 W

Open in Google Maps

Is Martin Bay Campground — Lake McConaughy SRA sold out?

Quickly grab cancellations!

Learn More
Presented byT Mobile

Drive Time

Presented byToyota Trucks

Access

  • Drive-In
    Park next to your site

Connectivity

Presented byT-Mobile SatelliteT-Mobile is introducing T-Satellite to extend coverage in the outdoorsLearn More
  • signal strength bars
    T-MobileLTE
    Some Coverage
  • signal strength bars
    Verizon5G
    Excellent Coverage
  • signal strength bars
    AT&TLTE
    Some Coverage

Site Types

  • Tent Sites
  • RV Sites

Features

For Campers

  • Market
  • Picnic Table
  • Reservable
  • Showers
  • Drinking Water
  • Electric Hookups
  • Toilets
  • Pets
  • Fires

For Vehicles

  • Sanitary Dump
  • Sewer Hookups
  • Water Hookups
  • 30 Amp Hookups
  • 50 Amp Hookups

Contact

General Info

Reservations


2025 Detourist Giveaway

Presented byToyota Trucks

Review Campgrounds. Win Prizes.

Enter to Win

Reviews

Add Review

5 Stars

4 Stars

3 Stars

2 Stars

1 Star

50%
50%
0%
0%
0%

4.5

out of 5

6 Reviews

Reviewed Jul. 13, 2023

Beach Camping, in the middle of Nebrat

Extraordinary location given that you are in the middle of Nebraska. I didn’t expect to be camping on a beach! Beautiful scenery. You can camp anywhere on the beach, so I was able to find a quiet spot. Expensive given basic facilities. Coin operated shower. No potable water

Sitecamping area A
Month of VisitJuly
Reviewed Aug. 29, 2021

Nice one night stay

We stopped there on a Wednesday as a one night stop while traveling so the campground was pretty empty. It was fun camping on the beach and the views of the lake were gorgeous! Highly recommend 4WD and airing down your tires if you are going to drive out onto the beach.

SiteBeach Area 5
Month of VisitAugust
  • Review photo of Martin Bay Campground — Lake McConaughy SRA by Claire W., August 29, 2021
  • Review photo of Martin Bay Campground — Lake McConaughy SRA by Claire W., August 29, 2021
  • Review photo of Martin Bay Campground — Lake McConaughy SRA by Claire W., August 29, 2021
Reviewed Aug. 28, 2016

Fun weekend getaway location

Stayed at this campground a few weekends during college as a getaway. College was in northern Colorado and it was very conveniently located for a quick weekend getaway, not to mention it felt good to lake the big lake access again, as I miss that living in Colorado! Great camping and beaches. Campground was "ye same old campground" so I recommend it knowing you shouldn't be disappointed with the amenities, but it was such a fun couple weekends for me that I can't recommend visiting enough.

Reviewed Aug. 24, 2016

Awesome Beach Camping

Heads up - 4WD or AWD vehicles necessary. I had my first opportunity to drive my car onto a beach, and it was the coolest experience. What's also a cool experience? Car camping on a beach! Although the campground shows on a specific part of the map, our experience would be similar to anyone camping along the beach of huge Lake McConaughy. The way it works here is there's a main entrance to the State Recreation Area, then you choose between a few designated campgrounds. One would simply access the beach from different points along the road, probably at each designated campground. We found access to this gem by the Little Thunder campground, via a 4WD beach access road. Campfires, fire ban permitted, are allowed. You'll want to bring your own wood, but there's kindling. Visibility here for star gazing is supreme. For the lake's size, there's accommodation for a lot. That said, there can be a lot of people on a a nice weather weekend. That's not as much a privacy concern since it's easy to give each campsite plenty of space, but at night if there's people with their boats out on the water partying or chatting, the sound will carry so bring some ear plugs for the night. Great place for regular beach stuff. I also saw a lot of water sports being enjoyed, from paddle boarding to water skiing. A cool thing one family did was they had used the main entrance to the state park area to load their boat into the water and had driven the boat and anchored it close by their beach side campsite. Well done Nebraska.

  • Review photo of Martin Bay Campground — Lake McConaughy SRA by Daniel  B., August 24, 2016
  • Review photo of Martin Bay Campground — Lake McConaughy SRA by Daniel  B., August 24, 2016
  • Review photo of Martin Bay Campground — Lake McConaughy SRA by Daniel  B., August 24, 2016
  • (10) View All
Reviewed Jul. 15, 2016

fun people watching

This beach was tons of fun not only to go swimming in, but there was also great fishing, as well as camping near the lake. The people watching was also great, because there were many kite surfers, which i rarely see anywhere else. such a great place to both camp, or simply just day trip.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to camp at Martin Bay Campground — Lake McConaughy SRA?

Camping at Martin Bay Campground — Lake McConaughy SRA can cost between $10.00 and $30.00 depending on the site.

Does Martin Bay Campground — Lake McConaughy SRA have RV hookups?

According to TheDyrt.com, Martin Bay Campground — Lake McConaughy SRA has 30 amp and 50 amp electric hookups, water hookups and sewer hookups.

Are fires allowed at Martin Bay Campground — Lake McConaughy SRA?

Yes, according to campers on TheDyrt.com, fires are allowed at Martin Bay Campground — Lake McConaughy SRA, although make sure to check current fire restrictions in the area.

Is there cell phone reception at Martin Bay Campground — Lake McConaughy SRA?

According to campers on TheDyrt.com, there is some coverage for AT&T, some coverage for T-Mobile, and excellent coverage for Verizon.

How hard is it to get a campsite at Martin Bay Campground — Lake McConaughy SRA?

Some campers book as far as 6 months in advance, so on high-demand weekends it can be very difficult to get a campsite at Martin Bay Campground — Lake McConaughy SRA. If you want to get a last-minute campsite at Martin Bay Campground — Lake McConaughy SRA, try setting up a text message Alert atTheDyrt.com/alerts

Why is it so hard to get a campsite at Martin Bay Campground — Lake McConaughy SRA?

There are 40 campsites at Martin Bay Campground — Lake McConaughy SRA and over 80 million Americans who camp! Try snagging a cancellation by setting up a text message Alert atTheDyrt.com/alerts