Bessey Recreation Complex
Nebraska National Forests and Grasslands
Bessey Recreation Complex and campground is located in central Nebraska, adjacent to Middle Loup River, offering visitors
opportunities to enjoy the scenery, relax, and recreate.
Download the Recreation.gov app from your app store to pay online for first-come, first-serve sites.
Bessey Recreation Complex has camping sites able to accommodate tents, trailers, and RVs, including one group site and several tent-only sites.
The campground is equipped with picnic tables, campfire rings, seasonal flush toilets and drinking water. Electric hookups are available at the group site and several of the standard sites. A group picnic area is also available for use.
Restaurants, gas stations and a grocery store are available in Thedford, Nebraska, 16 miles to the west. Halsey also has a restaruant, and Dunning 10 miles east has a gas station with groceries.
Notifications and Alerts
RESERVATION INFORMATION: Half the campsites are reservable, the other half are first-come, first-served. Campsites are reservable six months in advance. Campsite reservations may be made for dates between May 15 through Oct 15. All other dates are first-come, first-served. Please read individual campsite information carefully, as it has been updated.
Need to Know
The main restroom facilities and showers will be closed seasonally. Vault toliets are available year round.
Only 1 trailer per site. A camper is considered a trailer. Additional trailers may be parked in the large day use parking lot. The group area is the exception.
Keep off-road vehicles, cars and trailers on gravel.
Off-road vehicles can only be ridden to the trailhead and back within the campground.
Double camping in sites is prohibited. No more than two tents per site. The group area is the exception.
Only 2 cars may park at one campsite. The group area is the exception.
Some sites are tent only. If you have a camper, please make sure you reserve a camper site.
Campsite must be occupied the first night.
- Don't Move Firewood: Prevent the spread of tree-killing organisms by obtaining firewood at or near your destination and burning it on-site. For more information visit dontmovefirewood.org.
Horse corrals not available at the Bessey Recreation Complex. Horses are allowed and corrals are available at Natick and Whitetail Campgrounds.
Click here for more information about the Nebraska National Forests and Grasslands.
Natural Features
The Nebraska National Forest, Bessey Ranger District is located in western Nebraska.
The campground within the Bessey Recreation Complex is located next to the Charles E. Bessey Nursery, oldest tree nursery in the Forest Service.
Wildlife in the area abounds. Prairie chicken, sharp-tailed grouse, mule-deer, whitetailed deer, pronghorn antelope, prairie dogs, turkeys, coyotes, bobwhite quail, eagles, hawks and falcons all find habitat in surrounding ecosystems.
Nearby Attractions
Drive or hike to the Scott Lookout Tower for a fantastic panoramic view of Nebraska's sand hills and prairies.
Recreation
Waterfront activities are popular and plentiful at this facility. Adjacent to the campground, Middle Loup River is shallow and steady flowing, providing good conditions for tubing and canoeing. A seven acre pond stocked with largemouth bass, blue gill, trout and catfish offers great fishing for the whole family. There is also an accessible fishing pier.
Contact Information
Mailing Address
PO BOX 39 HALSEY NE 69142
Physical Address
40637 River Loop Halsey NE 69142
Phone Number
For campground inquiries, please call: (308) 533-2257 (NO RESERVATION INFO AVAILABLE AT THIS NUMBER)
Rental Options
Learn more about gear rental options for your trip
Driving Directions
From Interstate 80, travel north from North Platte, Nebraska on U.S. Hwy 83 for 65 miles to Thedford, Nebraska. Continue East for 16 miles on Nebraska Hwy 2, then South .05 miles from Hwy 2 on State Spur 86B.
Available Campsites
- Site 033, Loop RVLP, Type Standard Electric
- Site 024A, Loop RVLP, Type Standard Electric
- Site 037A, Loop CEDR, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site GRP01, Loop BESSEY RECREATION, Type Group Standard Electric
- Site 008, Loop CEDR, Type Standard Electric
- Site 022, Loop HRWD, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site 034, Loop RVLP, Type Standard Electric
- Site 018, Loop HRWD, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site 006, Loop CEDR, Type Standard Electric
- Site 024, Loop RVLP, Type Standard Electric
- Site 026, Loop RVLP, Type Standard Electric
- Site 015, Loop HRWD, Type Standard Electric
- Site 039, Loop FSPD, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site 016, Loop HRWD, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site 014, Loop HRWD, Type Standard Electric
- Site 035, Loop RVLP, Type Standard Electric
- Site 017, Loop HRWD, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 009, Loop CEDR, Type Standard Electric
- Site 019, Loop HRWD, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site 004, Loop CEDR, Type Standard Electric
- Site 023, Loop RVLP, Type Standard Electric
- Site 043, Loop CEDR, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site 025, Loop RVLP, Type Standard Electric
- Site 021, Loop HRWD, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site 002, Loop CEDR, Type Standard Electric
- Site 038, Loop CEDR, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site BESSEY PICNIC SHELTER, Loop BESSEY RECREATION, Type Group Shelter Electric
- Site 029, Loop RVLP, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 003, Loop CEDR, Type Standard Electric
- Site 013, Loop CEDR, Type Standard Electric
- Site 032, Loop RVLP, Type Standard Electric
- Site 042, Loop CEDR, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site 041, Loop CEDR, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site 012, Loop CEDR, Type Standard Electric
- Site 037, Loop CEDR, Type Standard Electric
- Site 011, Loop CEDR, Type Standard Electric
- Site 040, Loop FSPD, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site 020, Loop HRWD, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site 036, Loop CEDR, Type Standard Electric
- Site 028, Loop RVLP, Type Standard Electric
- Site 023A, Loop HRWD, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site 007, Loop CEDR, Type Standard Electric
- Site 031, Loop RVLP, Type Standard Electric
- Site 044, Loop CEDR, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site 010, Loop CEDR, Type Standard Electric
- Site 005, Loop CEDR, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 030, Loop RVLP, Type Standard Electric
- Site 027, Loop RVLP, Type Standard Electric
