Campgrounds and RV parks near Chadron, NE

Chadron sits in the Pine Ridge of northwest Nebraska, a region of ponderosa pine buttes, canyons, and mixed-grass prairie. The town is at roughly 3,400 feet, while surrounding buttes and park uplands climb higher. It is the largest town in Dawes County and a practical base for RV travel across the panhandle, with US Highway 20 running east to west and US Highway 385 heading south into Chadron State Park. Most overnight options are state-run. Chadron State Park, nine miles south on U.S. 385, has a modern electric campground and cabins. Fort Robinson State Park, about 25 miles west near Crawford, holds the Soldiers Creek and Mare Barn campgrounds along with equestrian facilities. Water-based camping is available at Box Butte Reservoir State Recreation Area southwest of town and at Walgren Lake State Recreation Area to the southeast. The area also borders the Nebraska National Forest and Pine Ridge National Recreation Area, which add primitive Forest Service sites and long trail networks for hikers, mountain bikers, and horseback riders.

State park sites in this area are handled through the Nebraska Game and Parks reservation system on ReserveAmerica, online or by phone. At Chadron State Park, reservations are accepted for half of the campsites, and all other camping is first-come, first-served. Reservations are accepted for cabins, lodge rooms, and group lodges up to one year in advance of the arrival date, and camping reservations are accepted up to 180 days in advance. Box Butte Reservoir State Recreation Area offers Electric and Basic sites, with fees at first-come sites typically collected on-site through a self-service Iron Ranger station. Walgren Lake camping is primitive and first-come, first-served. A Nebraska park entry permit is required on any vehicle entering a state park or recreation area and is separate from the nightly camping fee.