Go if
Tent campers who book months out and don't mind carrying gear from shared parking to their site. Campbell Lake, 10-plus miles of trails through dunes and pine scrub, and genuinely uncrowded Gulf beach make this worth the planning.
Select a month, then check for open campsites
Price
$6/night
Booking
Reservable
Sites
22 campsites
Season
Open daily 8 a.m. un...
Cell
No Service
Pets
Pets Allowed
Select a month, then check for open campsites
Price
$6/night
Booking
Reservable
Sites
22 campsites
Season
Open daily 8 a.m. un...
Cell
No Service
Pets
Pets Allowed
We'll monitor this campground and alert you the moment sites become available.
Free to start · paid plans add 2-min scans
256,000+ sites monitored · Email, SMS, or in-app notifications
Learn more about alerts →Tent campers who book months out and don't mind carrying gear from shared parking to their site. Campbell Lake, 10-plus miles of trails through dunes and pine scrub, and genuinely uncrowded Gulf beach make this worth the planning.
Heavy rain turns some sites muddy and wet gear gets old fast with no covered common area to wait it out. Also, RVs aren't an option here, and if you're hoping to just show up, this park fills well in advance.
Context for the broader area surrounding Tent Loop, sourced from the federal Recreation.gov rec-area record.
<A HREF="http://www.usbr.gov/projects/Facility.jsp?fac_Name=Virginia+Smith+Dam">Virginia Smith Dam</a> (formerly called Calamus Dam) and Calamus Reservoir, <A HREF="http://www.usbr.gov/projects/Project.jsp?proj_Name=North Loup Division Project">North Loup Division, P-SMBP</a>, are on the Calamus River in Nebraska. Recreation at the site is managed for the Bureau of Reclamation by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. Reservoir open 24 hours. Good access roads. Fishing season is year round. Available species include walleye, wiper, white bass, northern pike, largemouth bass, rainbow trout, and crappie. Irrigation supply reservoir experiencing moderate fluctuations. The reservoir has 5,142 water surface acres, 6404 land acres and 31 miles of shoreline. <a href="http://www.usbr.gov/gp-bin/arcweb_cane.pl">Current reservoir level.</a>
Site is 5 miles northwest of Burwell. Nearest highway is Nebraska 91.
Compare with similar sites, watch availability, and build a packing list — Camp Sage handles all of it.
Summer brings the full Gulf Coast experience. Daytime temps hit 85–92°F, water warms to the high 70s or mid-80s, and the dune lakes are ideal for kayaking. Afternoon thunderstorms roll through some days, so hit the beach early. Trails and dunes offer the best views when heat backs off slightly. Expect weekend crowds and occasional standing water after heavy rain. Fall, winter, and spring deliver milder weather. Reviewers call these the preferred seasons for camping, though beach swimming cools down.
Peak season with warm weather, perfect for water activities. Book early.
Reservation tips, booking windows, and free cancellation alerts.
Park-level amenities include a tram to the beach, shower station, restrooms, water fountain, dump station, laundry, camp store/coffee shop, visitor center (under construction), cabins and RV facilities, picnic pavilion, playground and beach access. The campground is within Topsail Hill Preserve State Park which offers trails, dune lakes and beach access.
Researching this campground? Ask anything — other campers and our team will weigh in. No visit required.
Short heads-ups about the road in, gear quirks, timing, and more. You don't have to have been here to share what you know.
Be the first to review this campground
Every adventure creates another. Share what you learned so the next camper feels a little more prepared heading out.