Campgrounds and RV parks near Bertrand, NE

Bertrand sits in Phelps County in south-central Nebraska, about ten miles south of the Platte River and Interstate 80. The village is small, so most RV travelers use it as a launch point for lakes and state recreation areas within a short drive north and west. Johnson Lake is the largest camping draw in the area, with a surface area of 2,068 acres and almost 11 miles of shoreline, located 10 miles south of Lexington, and provides three access points to the 2,068-acre lake. Johnson Lake SRA offers Electric Plus, Electric and Basic campsites. Sandy Channel is located near the Elm Creek interchange on I-80, with 30 non-pad sites without electricity available year-round on a first come, first serve basis. Gallagher Canyon is a 400-acre irrigation impoundment with 24 acres of recreation land in a secluded and beautiful setting, with outstanding scenery and some of the state's best fishing for crappies and line-busting flathead and channel catfish. For full-service RV stays, The 4 Seasons RV Park and Kearney RV Park and Campground provide hookup sites closer to town amenities. Together these options cover primitive, electric, and full-hookup camping within easy reach of Bertrand.

Nebraska state recreation areas use two systems. Campsites at Johnson Lake State Recreation Area can be reserved through the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission reservation system, and reservations may be made up to 180 days in advance during peak season (May 1 to Oct. 15) for half the campsites in the Main and South Inlet campgrounds. A park entry permit is required to visit state parks and may be purchased at the park, statewide Game and Parks offices and permit vendors. The rest are first-come, first-served. Gallagher Canyon primitive sites operate this way year-round, and Sandy Channel does the same. Campers register their nightly camping fees in a raised, locked box called an Iron Ranger, with self-service envelopes provided at each station that accept cash or checks only. Private parks like The 4 Seasons RV Park and Kearney RV Park and Campground take direct reservations by phone or website.