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.
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.
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.
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.
Drive or hike to the Scott Lookout Tower for a fantastic panoramic view of Nebraska's sand hills and prairies.
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.
PO BOX 39 HALSEY NE 69142
40637 River Loop Halsey NE 69142
For campground inquiries, please call: (308) 533-2257 (NO RESERVATION INFO AVAILABLE AT THIS NUMBER)
Learn more about gear rental options for your trip
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.