If your big family loves the outdoors, you’re sure to love the state parks of Nebraska. We’ve researched Nebraska’s state parks and found ten state parks and recreation areas with cabins for big families. Enjoy!
Updated 2022
Chadron State Park – Chadron, NE
Founded in 1921, Chadron State Park is Nebraska’s oldest state park, encompassing nearly 1,000 acres of Pine Ridge wilderness. Located nine miles south of Chadron on Highway 385, the park offers trout fishing, camping, hiking, mountain biking, birdwatching, and horseback riding.
- Cabin – sleeps 6. Twelve cabins for 6 available. Cabins are furnished with bedding, towels, stoves, refrigerators, silverware, and cooking utensils.
Eugene T. Mahoney State Park – Ashland, NE
Located near Ashland, just off of I 80 at exit 426, Mahoney nestles on 690 acres along the picturesque Platte River. The activity center provides year-round entertainment with an indoor playground, concession stand, and an ice skating rink. Enjoy the Family Aquatic Center complete with a 0-depth swimming and wave pool and two 200-plus-foot curling water slides.
- Cabins – Secluded on wooded ridgetops, the modern housekeeping cabins are available throughout the year. Linens, tableware, and basic cookware are provided. Each cabin has air conditioning/heat, fireplace, TV, refrigerator, range, cable TV, outdoor deck, and grill.
- Twelve cabins can sleep 7.
- Six cabins can sleep 9.
- Two cabins can sleep 11.
- Three cabins can sleep 12.
- Peter Kiewit Lodge – Loft lodge rooms have 2 queen beds and a queen-size sofa sleeper. Each room has each AC and heat, wireless Internet, telephone, TV, and a private bath. Nine rooms for 6 available.
Fort Robinson State Park – Crawford, NE
Fort Robinson, west of Crawford, has it all — with more than 22,000 acres of exquisite Pine Ridge scenery, compelling old west history, exceptional lodging, loads of fun-time activities, scenic camping, and the park’s own buffalo and longhorn herds.
- 1909 enlisted men’s quarters or “cabins” ranging from sleep 2 to 20 in the former officers quarters that date from 1874 to 1909. All cabins have kitchens, baths, and bedrooms. Larger cabins also feature living rooms. Cabins are furnished with blankets, towels, stoves, refrigerators, silverware, and cooking utensils. Lodging is available from mid-April through mid-November
- Comanche Hall can handle family reunions as it sleeps up to 60 people and has a complete kitchen. The Buffalo Barracks Squad Room sleeps 20 with 20 cots in a large room with a full kitchen. Housekeeping cabins are supplied with linens, basic cooking utensils, dishes, and silverware.
Lewis and Clark State Recreation Area – Crofton, NE
This Missouri River reservoir (Nebraska’s second-largest) offers 6 recreation areas on the Nebraska side, and the Weigand Burbach area with asphalt camping pads, electrical services, cabins, a convenience store, and a marina with available boat docks. Equestrian, mountain biking, hiking, cross-country skiing, snowmobile trails, and horse camping are available at the South Shore area
- Cabins – sleep 7, ten available. Full kitchen, AC, and heat.
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Medicine Creek Reservoir – Cambridge, NE
Rated by many visitors as one of Nebraska’s more scenic recreation spots, Medicine Creek State Recreation Area and wildlife land encompass some 8,500 acres of public land and water in southeastern Frontier County. Medicine Creek offers outdoor buffs plenty of recreational opportunities, plus solitude and plenty of private spots to get away from it all. The long bays that pocket the winding shore and the small islands provide fishermen with hotspots for king-sized crappie and other panfish.
- Cabins – sleep 6, four available. Each two-bedroom cabin is approximately 532 square feet. Each has air conditioning, a full bathroom, furnished kitchen, and a covered deck overlooking the lake. Linens and utensils are provided.
Niobrara State Park – Niobrara, NE
Situated at the confluence of the Niobrara and Missouri rivers on Nebraska’s northeastern border, Niobrara State Park offers visitors an opportunity to sample a wide range of outdoor experiences. Niobrara State Park offers a modern swimming pool; horseback trail rides led by wranglers; fishing in the nearby rivers; hiking the 14 miles of trail; bird watching and other nature studies.
- Cabins – sleep 7-12. There are 12 two-bedroom cabins and seven three-bedroom cabins. All cabins are air-conditioned and heated. Bedding, towels, cooking utensils, and tableware are provided. Cabins have kitchenettes, complete with a small stove and refrigerator; a screened back porch, and a patio with picnic table and grill.
Platte River State Park – Louisville, NE
The park sits about halfway between the state’s two largest cities of Omaha and Lincoln. The 418-acre park’s activities range from swimming at the supervised pool to guided horseback trail rides through the timbered hills. Recreational equipment is available at Owen Landing, where you can rent a paddleboat to churn around Jenny Newman Lake. At sunset, free campfire programs that change regularly are scheduled at the amphitheater. Visitors also can climb to the top of the 85-foot Lincoln Journal Tower, a large observation deck that gives you a view in any direction.
- Cabins – Camper cabins and modern cabins sleep 6-10 guests. Modern cabins have indoor plumbing while camper cabins do not.
Ponca State Park – Ponca, NE
The National Park Service has designated Ponca State Park as part of the Lewis and Clark Historical Trail. Ponca State Park encompasses nearly 2,400 acres of heavily forested rolling hills and Missouri River bottomland, including Ponca State Park’s North Addition which is adjacent to the Elk Point Bend Wildlife Management Area. The superbly scenic park offers visitors all the amenities of a modern state park.
- Rustic Log Cabins – Ponca State Park has 14 log style rustic, two-bedroom, air-conditioned housekeeping cabins; two of them can accommodate families of six. Each 2-bedroom log style cabin has two double beds, bedding, towels, bathroom with shower, kitchenette, and screened porch. Kitchenettes are furnished with a range, refrigerator, cooking utensils, dinette, dishes, and tableware for six. Lodging is available Mid-April through Mid-November.
- Cabin Loop (Conf. Center Cabins) – Fifteen cabins that can accommodate families of eight, featuring four bedrooms and two full baths are perfect for group & multiple-family rentals. Within walking distance of the Resource & Education Center, these Mini-Lodges are equipped with all modern-day amenities including big screen TV, cable, wireless internet, wood fireplace, gas grill & outdoor decks.
Two Rivers State Recreation Area – Waterloo, NE
The chance to sleep in an authentic retired caboose, put-and-take trout fishing, and outstanding camping facilities highlight the outdoor fun at Two Rivers SRA, located southwest of Venice. The 622-acre area boasts 320 acres of water in several sandpit lakes. Besides a variety of fishing opportunities and non-powered boating, there is an unsupervised swimming beach and concession. Two Rivers also has bicycles for rent and an accessible fishing pier.
- Caboose – Ten bright cabooses were refurbished by the Game and Parks Commission to sleep six. The cabooses are air-conditioned for hot summer use. They sleep six people, with two bunk beds in the rear and two mattresses in the cupola. Each is equipped with a modern bathroom, which includes a tiled shower. A stove, refrigerator, sink, and a few cabinets make up the kitchen. A table, with four chairs and a couch for two, serves as the dining area. For those who enjoy outdoor dining, there is a deck with a picnic table and grill.
Victoria Springs State Recreation Area – Anselmo, NE
Established in 1925, Victoria Springs State Recreation Area is the third oldest area in Nebraska’s state park system. Located 6 miles east of Anselmo or 7 miles north of Merna, Victoria has justly been described as an oasis in the Sand Hills. It is one of the most picturesque areas in the state.
- Cabins – sleep 6, two available. Victoria has two modern, two-bedroom, housekeeping cabins, equipped with a kitchen, two bedrooms with double beds, linens, blankets, shower, and toilet. The kitchenettes are furnished with ranges, refrigerators, tableware, and sink.
A valid Nebraska State Park entry permit is required to enter any State Park, State Recreation Area, and State Historical Park in addition to your overnight or day-use reservation being made. You may purchase your park entry permit online at www.outdoornebraska.org or at any Game and Parks Commission Office.
