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

Showers Showers

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

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
Missing information?

Rates, Sites & Availability

Select check-in and check-out dates to see availability.

22 Sites Available

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

Write a review
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

Christopher L

Verified

July 9, 2024 Stayed at: 015, Loop: HRWD

Nice walking trails. We were car camping and the bathrooms were a little bit far. But I liked that the bathrooms were very clean.

Helpful

Beth L

July 10, 2024

Absolutely a beautiful, clean and quiet park. Shower houses are nice. Trails offer beautiful sites!! Family voted this needs to be an annual event!!

Helpful

Steve B

Verified

July 11, 2024 Stayed at: 032, Loop: RVLP

Beautiful, quiet (except for our nephew and his wife, the place was nearly empty while we were there), floating the river in tubes was fun (dang, no feed tanks like in the Visit NE commercials!). Nephew took us all over the place in his UTV. A lot of the area had burned, but there's still a lot of forest.

Helpful

Rebecca T

Verified

July 11, 2024 Stayed at: 004, Loop: CEDR

Beautiful park!! Stopped here on way
to South Dakota. Would definitely come here and stay again!

Helpful

Sandra E

Verified

July 12, 2024 Stayed at: 012, Loop: CEDR

Workers were very rude. One heavy set blonde gal in particular. Instead of trying to have a conversation with us, she straight up yelled at us. You never know what someone may be going through so ALWAYS be kind. We couldn't go on the trails for 2 days because of down trees from a storm. All 10 plus workers were in the camp ground cutting down 1 downed tree in a campsite that had no occupants or any occupants coming in that day. The employees drove through camp well over the 10 mph speed limit. We've been going there for years, Bessy & whitetail have ALWAYS been packed with campers. We were there 8 days, 4 of those days were weekend days. There was hardly a soul ANYWHERE. There's very little for trails to ride the way it is. We won't be coming back until you decide to reopen some trails. Bubba/Ranger Bob didn't have 9 other workers helping him. He did it all and still made sure he rode the trails. 100 percent disappointed...

Helpful

Lexi J

Verified

August 14, 2024 Stayed at: 038, Loop: CEDR

Helpful

Lexi J

Verified

August 14, 2024 Stayed at: 038, Loop: CEDR

Helpful

Lexi J

Verified

August 14, 2024 Stayed at: 038, Loop: CEDR

Helpful

Lexi J

Verified

August 14, 2024 Stayed at: 038, Loop: CEDR

Helpful

Paul R

Verified

August 25, 2024 Stayed at: 028, Loop: RVLP

Great place to camp and ride ATVs. Staff has always been fantastic! Campground is well maintained and mowed. Middle Loup River runs right by campground. You can tube the river, its short trip, about hour or so but you can always go again. You can also fish from river or the fishing pond with a real nice fishing peer. Hiking, bike riding, ATVing, River tubing, fishing, star gazing, take a drive to just enjoy the sand hills are all things you can do. Horse riding (bring your own horse) is also available, there are 2 separate primitive campgrounds that are setup for horses. We have been going to Bessey Campground for years. I would recommend it. We are heartbroken that the 2 fires have really changed the forest, many, many trees destroyed. So please always be careful with campfires, have spark arresters on exhausts and carry a fire extinguisher on your ATVs, just be mindful of anything that would lead to an out of control fire. Especially when dry conditions exist.

Helpful

Location & Directions for Bessey Recreation Complex

40637 River Loop, Halsey, NE 69142 United States

Elevation: 828 ft

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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Last updated: November 3, 2026

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Population: 13

Elevation: 2,697 ft

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