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Bessey Recreation Complex

40637 River Loop, Halsey, Nebraska, United States

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Bessey Picnic Area

Nebraska National Forest, Bessy Ranger District

Looking out the Entrance to the Bessey Recreation Complex

Bessey Ranger District and Nursery Office

Bessey Picnic Shelter

Featured amenities

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About Bessey Recreation Complex

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.

Available sites

22 total sites

RV Sites 18 sites Check Availability Tent Sites 4 sites Check Availability

Seasonal information

2026 (Current year)

2026 Season availability

Current season

Upcoming seasons

Past seasons

Closed periods

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Currently closed

Campground Amenities

Most popular amenities

Showers

Showers

RV Utilities and Hookups

RV Utilities and Hookups

Dump station on site

Water and Hygiene

Water and Hygiene

Showers

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Rates, Sites & Availability

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22 Sites Available

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🚐 003, Loop: CEDR RV

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30 amp · 55 ft long · Gravel

🚐 004, Loop: CEDR RV

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30 amp · 58 ft long · Gravel

🚐 006, Loop: CEDR RV

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30 amp · 52 ft long · Gravel

🚐 009, Loop: CEDR RV

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30 amp · 41 ft long · Gravel

🚐 010, Loop: CEDR RV

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30 amp · 46 ft long · Paved

🚐 011, Loop: CEDR RV

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30 amp · 30 ft long · Gravel

🚐 012, Loop: CEDR RV

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30 amp · 28 ft long · Gravel

🚐 013, Loop: CEDR RV

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30 amp · 39 ft long · Gravel

🚐 014, Loop: HRWD RV

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80 ft long · Paved · Pull-through

🚐 015, Loop: HRWD RV

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Pet Friendly · 50 amp · 52 ft long

⛺ 016, Loop: HRWD Tent

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Paved · Campfire · Full shade

⛺ 018, Loop: HRWD Tent

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Paved · Campfire · Full shade

⛺ 019, Loop: HRWD Tent

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Gravel · Campfire · Full shade

🚐 023, Loop: RVLP RV

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30 amp · 30 ft long · Gravel

🚐 024, Loop: RVLP RV

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30 amp · 37 ft long · Gravel

🚐 025, Loop: RVLP RV

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30 amp · 48 ft long · Gravel

🚐 028, Loop: RVLP RV

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64 ft long · Gravel · Driveway entry: Back-In

🚐 029, Loop: RVLP RV

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38 ft long · Gravel · Driveway entry: Back-In

🚐 030, Loop: RVLP RV

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Pet Friendly · 50 amp · 57 ft long

🚐 031, Loop: RVLP RV

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Pet Friendly · 50 amp · 55 ft long

🚐 032, Loop: RVLP RV

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Pet Friendly · 50 amp · Gravel

⛺ 038, Loop: CEDR Tent

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Paved · Campfire · Full shade

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Site Details

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22 Sites Available

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Site

Price

🚐 003, Loop: CEDR RV

30 amp · 55 ft long · Gravel

🚐 004, Loop: CEDR RV

30 amp · 58 ft long · Gravel

🚐 006, Loop: CEDR RV

30 amp · 52 ft long · Gravel

🚐 009, Loop: CEDR RV

30 amp · 41 ft long · Gravel

🚐 010, Loop: CEDR RV

30 amp · 46 ft long · Paved

🚐 011, Loop: CEDR RV

30 amp · 30 ft long · Gravel

🚐 012, Loop: CEDR RV

30 amp · 28 ft long · Gravel

🚐 013, Loop: CEDR RV

30 amp · 39 ft long · Gravel

🚐 014, Loop: HRWD RV

80 ft long · Paved · Pull-through

🚐 015, Loop: HRWD RV

Pet Friendly · 50 amp · 52 ft long

⛺ 016, Loop: HRWD Tent

Paved · Campfire · Full shade

⛺ 018, Loop: HRWD Tent

Paved · Campfire · Full shade

⛺ 019, Loop: HRWD Tent

Gravel · Campfire · Full shade

🚐 023, Loop: RVLP RV

30 amp · 30 ft long · Gravel

🚐 024, Loop: RVLP RV

30 amp · 37 ft long · Gravel

🚐 025, Loop: RVLP RV

30 amp · 48 ft long · Gravel

🚐 028, Loop: RVLP RV

64 ft long · Gravel · Driveway entry: Back-In

🚐 029, Loop: RVLP RV

38 ft long · Gravel · Driveway entry: Back-In

🚐 030, Loop: RVLP RV

Pet Friendly · 50 amp · 57 ft long

🚐 031, Loop: RVLP RV

Pet Friendly · 50 amp · 55 ft long

🚐 032, Loop: RVLP RV

Pet Friendly · 50 amp · Gravel

⛺ 038, Loop: CEDR Tent

Paved · Campfire · Full shade

Reviews

157 reviews

Summary

AI generated

The Bessey Recreation Complex is praised for its spacious and clean campsites, well-maintained facilities, and friendly staff. Many visitors enjoyed the beautiful hiking trails, fishing opportunities, and the overall serene environment, especially during weekdays when it was quieter. However, noise from nearby trains and ATVs can be disruptive, particularly on weekends, and some reviewers noted cleanliness issues in the showers and bathrooms. Overall, it's considered a hidden gem for campers seeking a rustic experience in the Nebraska Sandhills.

Based on guest feedback

4.1

Overall rating

Based on 157 reviews

5 stars 51.6% (81)

4 stars 24.8% (39)

3 stars 11.5% (18)

2 stars 8.3% (13)

1 star 3.8% (6)

Showing 157 reviews

Oldest First

Newest First Oldest First

Bradley W

Verified

September 4, 2021 Stayed at: 032, Loop: RVLP

Campsites are across river from a very active train tracks. This resulted in all throughout the night (on 15 minute schedules at some points) train horns. Also the hiking trails were overgrown requiring trekking polls to hold back the sticker bushes and 3 ft tall weeds.

Helpful

Gary T

Verified

September 9, 2021 Stayed at: 032, Loop: RVLP

Just stayed 1 night but the park was nice. No problems and the scenery was beautiful.

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Kelsey W

September 10, 2021

Easy!

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Phillip M

Verified

September 10, 2021 Stayed at: 015, Loop: HRWD

The National forest is AWESOME! We had a great time hiking, hunting and fishing. Grouse hunting in the sandhills to the west of the campsite was ok, not as good as expected. If you are going to grouse hunt be prepared to walk a lot. Fishing at the campsite was great, they have giant bluegill and catfish you can catch. Bring bug spray! All the park rangers are very friendly and want you to have a great say.

The only con is the campsite is very close to railroad tracks, and the trains run throughout the night and are loud.

I would stay again!

Helpful

Paul S

Verified

September 13, 2021 Stayed at: 018, Loop: HRWD

We thought we were on the trains all night long

Nice to have a camping area in upper Nebraska

Bathroom doors broken

Need another shower house

Helpful

Jerry S

Verified

September 14, 2021 Stayed at: 004, Loop: CEDR

Spacious camp sites in the Nebraska National Forrest. Beautiful river crossing. Clean bath house, hot water. Nearly every site shaded.

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Loren E

September 15, 2021

Best place ever!

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Lucas W

October 2, 2021

Very clean and modern campground. Also a hidden gem type of thing. Unfortunately very close to train track, as well as too less enforcement on noise levels after hours.
But other than that a great place to be. Sanitation was surprisingly clean and likely the cleanest I have been to.

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John B

Verified

October 21, 2021 Stayed at: 006, Loop: CEDR

Do not stay here unless you likex staying up all night. Trains run every 15 to 20 minutes nearby. Also, it is an atv Park. The noise from riders dsnt quiet down til late. The sites were very nice. Noise is the downside here.

Helpful

James F

October 29, 2021

This is a beautiful campground in a great location for travelers passing through. Unfortunately only the heaviest of sleepers will get much rest here. Even wearing earplugs inside of my RV I was awakened every hour during the night by the passing trains sounding their horns. This seems completely unnecessary given that the crossing is protected with barriers and the only traffic will be that accessing the campground or the USFS trails.

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Location & Directions for Bessey Recreation Complex

40637 River Loop, Halsey, NE 69142 United States

Elevation: 828 ft

Map of Bessey Recreation Complex location at Halsey, NE, United States

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Getting There

From Interstate 80, travel north from North Platte, Nebraska on U.S. Hwy 83 for 65 mi to Thedford, Nebraska. Continue East for 16 mi on Nebraska Hwy 2, then South .5 mi from Hwy 2 on State Spur 86B.

Nearest town

Halsey, NE - 1.8 mi

About 3 min to downtown

Highway access

Bessey Recreation Complex is accessible via U.S. Hwy 83, which is approximately 65 miles south from Interstate 80 at North Platte, Nebraska. Nebraska Hwy 2 provides access east from Thedford, Nebraska, continuing to the campground.

Policies & Rules

General

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.

Nearby Campgrounds

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Holiday RV Park

North Platte, NE

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Fishberry Campground and RV Park

Prairie View RV Park

Campground / RV park

Prairie View RV Park

Nearby destinations

Explore destination

Halsey

2 mi away

Explore destination

Dunning

11 mi away

Explore destination

Thedford

15 mi away

Last updated: November 3, 2026

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Explore Halsey, NE

Population: 13

Elevation: 2,697 ft

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Halsey, NE

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Managed by the USDA Forest Service