Campgrounds and RV parks near Clarkson, NE

Water and wildlife drive most of the recreation. At Dead Timber State Recreation Area, only electric and non-powered boats are permitted on the 50-acre oxbow lake, where anglers will find bullhead, bluegill, common carp, channel catfish, crappie, flathead catfish, freshwater drum and largemouth bass. Trails throughout the park lead to blinds and benches for wildlife viewing, hunting is permitted in parts of the park, and wildlife viewing blinds can double as hunting blinds in season. The surrounding Elkhorn River corridor is popular for float trips by canoe, kayak, or tube. Closer to Columbus, the Loup Power District parks anchor the Lake Babcock and Lake North reservoirs. The two 1,100-acre regulating reservoirs north of Columbus, known as Lake Babcock and Lake North, provide storage for generation at the Columbus Powerhouse and recreation for the public. Fishing is popular along the canal, but the banks are steep so care is needed.

The Loup Power District parks, including Powerhouse Park, are open to the public from May 1 to November 1 (weather permitting), with electrical hook-ups and primitive camping available during the summer at no charge. Outside that window, those sites are closed, so shoulder-season travelers should plan around state and private options instead. Dead Timber State Recreation Area has 17 electric campsites with 30-amp hookups, drinking water and primitive restrooms, but no dump and fill station. Due to flood damage, its four primitive campsites are not available at this time. Peak use runs Memorial Day through Labor Day, when weekends fill early. The catastrophic 2019 flood washed out four of its primitive campsites and submerged the stone shelter house, and access via Highway 275 was limited for months. In response, Game and Parks is creating a plan to redevelop the flood-prone Dead Timber State Recreation Area. Fall is a strong window for RV travel here. Cooler nights, lighter crowds, and bird migration through the Loup and Elkhorn valleys make September and October good bets. Winter camping is limited: expect cold, wind, and snow, and confirm that any chosen park still has water and electric turned on.

Facilities in this region skew rustic. At Powerhouse Park, expect graveled paths for short walks around the park, a playground area, picnic tables and grills, with swimming not permitted. There are no dump stations or direct water hookups, no lifeguards on duty, and all facilities are alcohol free. Dead Timber SRA has 17 electric campsites with 30-amp hookups, drinking water and primitive restrooms, but no dump and fill station. Each pad is large enough to accommodate RVs and campers up to 50 feet long, and there is a vault toilet and a hand pump hydrant for potable water in the middle of the campground. Cell coverage is generally usable but not guaranteed in the river bottoms. Some roads in the area are narrow with large trees and low-hanging branches, and the roads into the campground are gravel and can be a bumpy ride, so parking the RV at the site and walking is often best. Private parks like Highway 81 RV Park and Nebraska Mobile Home/ RV Park sit along main highways and are the easiest fit for big rigs needing full hookups.