Your Ultimate Guide To State Parks In Nebraska

Let’s get real for a moment: Nebraska is one of those states that very few people consider when planning their next vacation. But we think that might be a little hasty; as it turns out, Nebraska is a beautiful and interestingly diverse state with plenty of natural wonders, historical sites, archaeological sites, and more – not to mention all the museums, shops, and eateries you’ll find as well. Let’s explore a bit and check out all nine of Nebraska’s beautiful state parks. Some are perfect for hiking. Some are perfect for camping. All are perfect for everything.

Most Popular State Parks In Nebraska

Of the nine state parks in Nebraska, some are, perhaps obviously, more popular than others. Nebraska may not be #1 on anyone’s “to travel to” list, but maybe it should be – even if just for its incredible state park. What better place to start than at our most popular Nebraska state parks? No matter the season, these three state parks in NE will be there for you.

Eugene T. Mahoney State Park, 28500 W Park Hwy, Ashland, NE 68003, USA

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Location: Ashland, Nebraska

Wow Factor: Eugene T. Mahoney State Park is Nebraska’s most popular state park for a reason – or rather, many reasons! With an aquatic center, an indoor playground, cabins, camping, and more, there’s something for everyone here. Oh, and did we mention it’s gorgeous? Because it’s GORGEOUS.

Need To Know: Entry to this Nebraska state park is $10 for adults and $8 for children. Children 2 and under are free. Bring a swimsuit, because the pool is a blast. Entry to the aquatic center is an additional $10 for adults and $8 for children.

Located right between Lincoln and Omaha, the list of wondrous things to do at Eugene T. Mahoney state park often feels endless. Among these activities are delightful things like biking trails galore, kayaking, boating, and canoeing, cabin rentals, and so much more. Picnicking is also quite popular. Never let anyone tell you that Nebraska is not worth visiting – even just for this park alone, it’s worth it.

Platte River State Park, 14421 346th St, Louisville, NE 68037, USA

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Location: Louisville, Nebraska

Wow Factor: This stunning state park is everything people don’t realize Nebraska can be. It’s lush, green, and gorgeous, with waterfalls, ravines, and, of course, the beautiful Platte River. “Photogenic” only barely scratches the surface.

Need To Know: Entry is $7 a day for residents or $14 a day for non-residents. Bring water shoes, or shoes you don’t mind getting wet – it's all about the water ‘round here.

Not terribly far from Eugene T. Mahoney State Park is the incredible Platte River State Park, a stunningly beautiful respite from real life. Things to do at Platte River State Park include things like guided horseback riding, fishing, paddle boats, beautiful campsites, and so much more. Truly, none of our stunning state parks can be summed up in one, two, or even ten sentences. These parks – and especially Platte River State Park – are 100% worthy of a cross-country trip to experience them.

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Ponca State Park, 88090 Spur 26 E, Ponca, NE 68770, USA

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Location: Ponca, Nebraska

Wow Factor: This jaw-droppingly beautiful slice of paradise serves as the uncontested gateway to the Missouri River and the Missouri River bluffs. You’ll be amazed at the unusual landscape of Pona State Park – it certainly doesn’t FEEL like Nebraska, and we love that.

Need To Know: A daily permit is required. A permit is $7 for in-state residents, and $14 for out-of-state residents. Bring good shoes – hiking here is incredible!

Ponca State Park is another of Nebraska’s most popular state parks, and for excellent reason. It’s beautiful, yes, but it’s also an amazingly intricate landscape complete with woodlands, forest, epic overlooks, vistas, and some of the most beautiful sunsets you’ll ever see. In the summer, the wetlands provide respite for migratory birds (which is an awesome thing to witness). Things to do at Ponca State Park include adventurous things like archery, boating, and hunting, as well as popular activities like camping, a shooting range, and more.

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Best State Park In Nebraska To Camp

Camping in Nebraska is a huge pastime – not just for individuals, but for humanity in general. There’s something so very primal about pitching a tent and spending the night beneath the stars – and if there’s anything true in this world, it’s that Nebraska’s night skies are worth the effort alone. Imagine going to sleep under a blanket of thousands of stars just to wake up for sunrise over a lake. Perfect. All of our state parks are nice for campers, but our #4 park is a notch above the others:

Chadron State Park, 15951 Gold Rush Byway, Chadron, NE 69337, USA

Darin Schmidt/Google Local

Location: Chadron, Nebraska

Wow Factor: The Pine Ridge is unlike any other places in Nebraska, with gorgeous ponderosa pine forests and an elevation of almost 5,000 feet. And the views? INCREDIBLE. This is a far cry from the flat, boring nature Nebraska is always accused of... and it truly makes for a one-of-a-kind experience in the heart of our lovely state.

Need To Know: Only one camping unit is allowed per campsite. Reservations can be made up to one year in advance. The entry fee for Chadron State Park is $7 for in-state residents and $12 for out-of-state residents per day stayed, plus camping fees that range from $40 to $85, depending on which cabin or campsite you choose.

Founded in 1921 as Nebraska’s first state park, Chadron State Park is incredibly popular among campers and hikers as well as lovers of the outdoors in general. Hidden within the beautiful Nebraska National Forest, things to do at Chadron State Park include more than 100 miles of hiking trails and some of the best camping in Nebraska admiring the buttes and canyons of Pine Ridge. Camping here goes on year-round, and it makes for a lovely getaway even if just for a weekend. With electrical hookups, showers, laundry, and more, you’ll wonder why you have never camped here before.

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Best State Park In Nebraska To RV

Fun fact: Nebraska is fairly popular with RVers. Folks even come from out of state to get a look at our wilderness, and they tend to show up in RVs more often than visitors to other states. With a plentiful supply of RV-friendly campgrounds, many of which are within state parks, it’s not secret as to why! The top most popular state parks in Nebraska for RVing are, of course, the most popular parks in the state, followed closely by the hidden gem that is:

Windmill State Park, 2625 Lowell Rd, Gibbon, NE 68840, USA

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Location: Gibbon, Nebraska

Wow Factor: The beauty of this hidden gem of a state park cannot really be overstated. Everywhere you turn, there’s lush greenery and some sort of body of water. Often also referred to as the Windmill State Recreation Area, you’ll also most certainly see a windmill or ten.

Need To Know: With 69 beautiful campsites to pick from, Windmill State Park is awesome for RVers. Take your pick from 20-, 30- and 50-amp electrical hookups, as well as 20 non-pad Basic campsites (no electric). Reservations can be made online ahead of time. Fees range from $15 to $30 depending on time of year and type of campsite booked.

Windmill State Park (also listed as the Windmill State Recreation Area) is named thanks to the numerous old-school windmills situated around the park. The oldest of these windmills dates back to the 1880s, and you’ll be amazed at how diverse and beautiful windmills can be. On top of that, the landscape is to die for and this beautiful park is an excellent place to take part in an all-American pastime: RV camping (or glamping... whatever you want to call it) is awesome here! Things to do at Windmill State Park include biking, boating, camping, a playground, and swimming, among other things. Bring out the RV and enjoy!

Best State Parks In Nebraska For Hiking

Have you ever wanted to simply disappear? Perhaps you’d get ready for a nice, long hike… and then just vanish into the woods to live as a hermit with no laws. What, too specific? Okay, maybe that’s just us (maybe), but the great news is that every single one of Nebraska’s nine state parks are excellent for hikers and hiking. With more than 300 awesome hiking trails in Nebraska to pick from, where do you begin? Easy – check out the best state parks in Nebraska for hiking. If you’re not sure what to bring along, no worries – check out our epic hiking trip packing list for all the inspiration you need.

Indian Cave State Park, 65296 720 Rd, Shubert, NE 68437, USA

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Location: Shubert, Nebraska

Wow Factor: As if the surprises with Nebraska’s landscape weren’t numerous enough, now we’ve got a sandstone cave to explore! Cool, right? Nestled right up along the Missouri River, this place turns into a veritable paradise during the transition from summer to winter, making this one of the best state parks in Nebraska in fall. Gorgeous is an understatement.

Need To Know: Bring good shoes – you will need them for hiking and exploring! As with most of Nebraska’s state parks, there’s a $7 entry fee for in-state residents and a $12 entry fee for out-of-state visitors.

Indian Cave State Park is a wonderland that’s so totally awesome that we wouldn’t be surprised to see it crowned a National Park someday. It’s a place of living history, complete with some fascinating petroglyphs and never-ending trails to check it all out. The list of things to do at Indian Cave State Park is a moderately lengthy one, but everything on it is worth doing, from 22 miles of hiking trails to six miles of equestrian trails, an old restored schoolhouse and general store, river access, wildlife viewing, incredible fall foliage, and – as we’ve been saying – lots more. This is one state historical park worth writing home about.

Fort Robinson State Park, Soldier Creek Rd & US Hwy 20, Crawford, NE 69339, USA

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Location: Crawford, Nebraska

Wow Factor: Living history reigns supreme at this fascinating little time capsule complete with beautiful scenery. With 60 miles of hiking trails, this place is also an outdoorsy person’s dream come true. It’s not every day you get the best of both worlds... unless you come to this Nebraska state park every day, anyway. With 22,000 incredible acres to explore, the WOW is strong with this one.

Need To Know: Entry is $7 for in-state vehicles and $14 for out-of-state vehicles. Wear good shoes, especially if you plan to hike. Be sure to also bring fishing gear – this is one of the most popular fishing destinations in Nebraska.

Fort Robinson State Park is a Nebraska state park steeped in history. It was here in May 1877 that Crazy Horse surrendered. In 1879, there was a vicious battle here as a result of the Cheyenne Outbreak. That being said, this entire park is gorgeous – despite its bloody and turbulent history. Here, we honor the memory of the Native American folks who lost their lives here as well as the spirits of humanity and nature in Nebraska. Things to do at Fort Robinson State Park include learning all about the history of the region, fishing on the ten ponds within the park, hiking, biking, Jeep rides, and even stagecoach rides!

Smith Falls State Park, 90159 Smith Falls Rd, Valentine, NE 69201, USA

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Location: Valentine, Nebraska

Wow Factor: The real question here is what ISN’T amazing about this state park. Smith Falls is intensely beautiful and might just be THE most beautiful natural wonder in Nebraska. If that’s not reason alone to visit, the entire park is an oasis paradise worthy of exploration and admiration.

Need To Know: Daily permits are $7 for in-state residents and $14 for out-of-state residents. Water shoes will go a long way with this one, as you can wade in the river if you’d like (and it’s amazingly refreshing).

Okay, this one might just take the cake for the most beautiful natural wonder in Nebraska. We bet you didn’t know there’s a waterfall here! There most certainly is – and a photogenic one, at that. The things to do at Smith Falls State Park are many, though most folks are simply drawn right to the water (and we don’t blame them). Hike the one-mile Smith Falls Trail, which will lead you right to it. There’s no better way to explore this jaw-dropping place than on foot – just wear shoes up for the task. Enjoy the unfettered beauty of the sandhills in a whole new way at this amazing sliver of an old west oasis.

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Niobrara State Park, 89261 522 Ave, Niobrara, NE 68760, USA

Colin Conway/Google Local

Location: Niobrara, Nebraska

Wow Factor: This gorgeous state park is a celebration of the confluence of the Missouri River with the Niobrara River. As a result, the landscape is picturesque and lush, offering amzing views of everything that makes our state gorgeous. It’s not overly huge – just 120 acres – but it more than makes up for this smaller size in absolute amazingness.

Need To Know: As usual, it’s $7 per day for in-state vehicles and $12-$14 for out-of-state. This is definitely another state park where water-friendly shoes will come in handy. Every summer, there’s a buffalo cookout here and it’s just as wonderful as it sounds.

Things to do at Niobrara State Park include more than just hiking, though hiking is an awesome thing to do around here. You can, of course, hike for miles alongside the river, but leave room for other activities as well. Some of these include boating, camping, swimming, RVing, wildlife watching, and horseback riding – to name a few. Niobrara is a diamond in the rough, and it’s sure to amaze anyone visiting for the first, third, or hundredth time. Come experience some of Nebraska’s most beautiful landscapes. You’ll see the state in a whole new way!

Surprised yet? We aren’t! Nebraska is an amazingly wonderful state to visit, move to, live in, and thrive in. It doesn’t get the credit it so rightfully deserves for its wonders; all too often, folks are quick to dismiss it as “flyover country”. We couldn’t disagree more. It’s a remarkably beautiful place, with plenty of respites from real life within its incredible outdoors. Our state parks are perhaps the greatest way to explore our wilderness at its most jaw-dropping. Which Nebraska state parks are your favorites? Let us know!