Nebraska · published-coordinate region
Bessey Recreation Complex
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USDA Forest Service47Supported overnight records
4Published site categories
42Sites with a reported party limit
A useful starting point, not a fit guarantee. Site-specific warnings are absent from this export. Published lengths may include a tow vehicle. Check the official site page for current notes, restrictions, approach and configuration before booking. No live availability is shown.
A closer look at the campground
Overview
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.
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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.Facilities
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.
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.
Full operator-supplied campground description · Scroll within the panel for more · Amenities may be shared by the campground, not present at every site
How much is documented?
Reported fields across the 47 supported campsite records here. A reported value can still need interpretation; missing values remain unknown in the planner.
Party limit
42
Vehicle limit
43
Vehicle length
38
Driveway entry
47
Shade
46
Bars show counts, not a quality, accessibility or suitability score.
The campsite mix
Standard Electric
28
Tent Only Nonelectric
14
Standard Nonelectric
4
Group Standard Electric
1
Operator 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.
Campground-level source text. Confirm the current route and road conditions with the operator.
THE ACTUAL SITES
47 published campsite records
Raw published values are shown below, including zeros and ambiguous text. They are not validated capacities. The planner keeps missing, zero and questionable dimensions unknown.
View all 47 published site records
| SITE / LOOP | TYPE | EQUIPMENT LIMITS | PEOPLE / VEHICLES | DRIVEWAY | ELECTRIC / SHADE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Site 002 CEDR Source updated: 2025-12-03 | Standard Electric | Car: limit unknown Caravan/Camper Van: limit unknown Fifth Wheel: 45 ft Pickup Camper: limit unknown Pop Up: limit unknown Small Tent: limit unknown Tent: limit unknown Trailer: 45 ft Vehicle: limit unknown Numeric screening only | 8 people 2 vehicles | Back-in 65 (raw length) | 30 Shade: Yes |
| Site 003 CEDR Source updated: 2025-12-03 | Standard Electric | Car: limit unknown Caravan/Camper Van: limit unknown Fifth Wheel: 27 ft Pickup Camper: limit unknown Pop Up: limit unknown Rv: 27 ft Small Tent: limit unknown Tent: 27 ft Trailer: 27 ft Vehicle: limit unknown Numeric screening only | 8 people 2 vehicles | Back-In 55 (raw length) | 30 Shade: Full |
| Site 004 CEDR Source updated: 2025-12-03 | Standard Electric | Rv: 40 ft Tent: 40 ft Trailer: 40 ft Numeric screening only | 8 people 2 vehicles | Back-In Not reported | 30 Shade: Full |
| Site 005 CEDR Source updated: 2025-12-03 | Standard Nonelectric | Car: limit unknown Caravan/Camper Van: 50 ft Fifth Wheel: 50 ft Pickup Camper: 50 ft Pop Up: limit unknown Rv: 50 ft Small Tent: limit unknown Tent: 35 ft Trailer: 50 ft Vehicle: limit unknown Numeric screening only | 6 people 1 vehicles | Pull-Through 71 (raw length) | Not reported Shade: Full |
| Site 006 CEDR Source updated: 2025-12-03 | Standard Electric | Rv: 35 ft Tent: 35 ft Trailer: 35 ft Numeric screening only | 8 people 2 vehicles | Back-In Not reported | 30 Shade: Full |
| Site 007 CEDR Source updated: 2025-12-03 | Standard Electric | Car: limit unknown Caravan/Camper Van: 35 ft Fifth Wheel: limit unknown Pickup Camper: limit unknown Pop Up: limit unknown Rv: 35 ft Small Tent: limit unknown Tent: 35 ft Trailer: 35 ft Vehicle: limit unknown Numeric screening only | 6 people 1 vehicles | Back-In 44 (raw length) | 30 Shade: Full |
| Site 008 CEDR Source updated: 2025-12-03 | Standard Electric | Car: limit unknown Caravan/Camper Van: 35 ft Fifth Wheel: limit unknown Pickup Camper: 35 ft Pop Up: limit unknown Rv: 35 ft Small Tent: limit unknown Tent: 35 ft Trailer: 35 ft Vehicle: limit unknown Numeric screening only | 6 people 1 vehicles | Back-In 38 (raw length) | 30 Shade: Full |
| Site 009 CEDR Source updated: 2025-12-03 | Standard Electric | Car: limit unknown Caravan/Camper Van: 30 ft Fifth Wheel: limit unknown Pickup Camper: 30 ft Pop Up: limit unknown Rv: 30 ft Tent: 30 ft Trailer: 30 ft Numeric screening only | 6 people 1 vehicles | Pull-Through 41 (raw length) | 30 Shade: Full |
| Site 010 CEDR Source updated: 2025-12-03 | Standard Electric | Car: limit unknown Caravan/Camper Van: 35 ft Fifth Wheel: 35 ft Pickup Camper: 35 ft Pop Up: limit unknown Rv: 35 ft Tent: 35 ft Trailer: 35 ft Numeric screening only | 6 people 2 vehicles | Back-In 46 (raw length) | 30 Shade: Not reported |
| Site 011 CEDR Source updated: 2025-12-03 | Standard Electric | Car: limit unknown Caravan/Camper Van: 30 ft Fifth Wheel: 30 ft Pickup Camper: 30 ft Pop Up: 30 ft Rv: 30 ft Tent: 30 ft Trailer: 30 ft Vehicle: 30 ft Numeric screening only | 6 people 2 vehicles | Back-In 49 (raw length) | 30 Shade: Full |
| Site 012 CEDR Source updated: 2025-12-03 | Standard Electric | Rv: 30 ft Tent: 30 ft Trailer: 30 ft Numeric screening only | 8 people 1 vehicles | Back-In Not reported | 30 Shade: Full |
| Site 013 CEDR Source updated: 2025-12-03 | Standard Electric | Rv: 35 ft Tent: 35 ft Trailer: 35 ft Numeric screening only | 8 people 2 vehicles | Back-In Not reported | 30 Shade: Full |
| Site 014 HRWD Source updated: 2025-12-03 | Standard Electric | Car: limit unknown Caravan/Camper Van: limit unknown Fifth Wheel: 45 ft Pickup Camper: limit unknown Pop Up: limit unknown Rv: 45 ft Small Tent: limit unknown Tent: 30 ft Trailer: 45 ft Vehicle: limit unknown Numeric screening only | 8 people 2 vehicles | Pull-Through 80 (raw length) | 50/30 Shade: Full |
| Site 015 HRWD Source updated: 2025-12-03 | Standard Electric | Car: limit unknown Fifth Wheel: 40 ft Pickup Camper: 40 ft Pop Up: 40 ft Rv: 35 ft Tent: 30 ft Trailer: 40 ft Vehicle: 40 ft Numeric screening only | 8 people 1 vehicles | Back-in 52 (raw length) | 50 Shade: Full |
| Site 016 HRWD Source updated: 2025-12-03 | Tent Only Nonelectric | Tent: 30 ft Numeric screening only | 8 people 1 vehicles | Pull-Through 52 (raw length) | Not reported Shade: Full |
| Site 017 HRWD Source updated: 2025-12-03 | Standard Nonelectric | Car: limit unknown Caravan/Camper Van: limit unknown Fifth Wheel: 45 ft Pickup Camper: limit unknown Pop Up: limit unknown Rv: 45 ft Small Tent: limit unknown Tent: limit unknown Trailer: 45 ft Vehicle: 30 ft Numeric screening only | 8 people 2 vehicles | Pull-through 80 (raw length) | Not reported Shade: Yes |
| Site 018 HRWD Source updated: 2025-12-03 | Tent Only Nonelectric | Tent: 25 ft Numeric screening only | 8 people 1 vehicles | Back-In 31 (raw length) | Not reported Shade: Full |
| Site 019 HRWD Source updated: 2025-12-03 | Tent Only Nonelectric | Small Tent: limit unknown Tent: 25 ft Numeric screening only | 8 people 1 vehicles | Back-In 50 (raw length) | Not reported Shade: Full |
| Site 020 HRWD Source updated: 2025-12-03 | Tent Only Nonelectric | Tent: limit unknown Numeric screening only | 8 people 1 vehicles | Back-In 27 (raw length) | Not reported Shade: Full |
| Site 021 HRWD Source updated: 2025-12-03 | Tent Only Nonelectric | Tent: limit unknown Numeric screening only | 8 people 1 vehicles | Back-In 27 (raw length) | Not reported Shade: Full |
| Site 022 HRWD Source updated: 2025-12-03 | Tent Only Nonelectric | Tent: limit unknown Numeric screening only | 8 people 1 vehicles | Back-In 42 (raw length) | Not reported Shade: Full |
| Site 023 RVLP Source updated: 2025-12-03 | Standard Electric | Car: limit unknown Caravan/Camper Van: 27 ft Fifth Wheel: 27 ft Pickup Camper: 27 ft Pop Up: limit unknown Rv: 27 ft Small Tent: limit unknown Tent: limit unknown Trailer: 27 ft Vehicle: limit unknown Numeric screening only | 8 people 1 vehicles | Back-In 30 (raw length) | 30 Shade: Full |
| Site 023A HRWD Source updated: 2025-12-03 | Tent Only Nonelectric | Small Tent: limit unknown Tent: limit unknown Numeric screening only | 8 people 1 vehicles | Back-In Not reported | Not reported Shade: Full |
| Site 024 RVLP Source updated: 2025-12-03 | Standard Electric | Rv: 30 ft Tent: 30 ft Trailer: 30 ft Numeric screening only | 8 people 2 vehicles | Back-In Not reported | 30 Shade: Full |
| Site 024A RVLP Source updated: 2025-12-03 | Standard Electric | Car: limit unknown Caravan/Camper Van: limit unknown Fifth Wheel: limit unknown Pickup Camper: limit unknown Pop Up: limit unknown Rv: limit unknown Small Tent: limit unknown Tent: limit unknown Trailer: limit unknown Vehicle: limit unknown Numeric screening only | 0 people 1 vehicles | Back-In 92 (raw length) | N/A Shade: Full |
| Site 025 RVLP Source updated: 2025-12-03 | Standard Electric | Car: limit unknown Caravan/Camper Van: limit unknown Fifth Wheel: 30 ft Pickup Camper: limit unknown Pop Up: limit unknown Rv: 30 ft Small Tent: limit unknown Tent: 25 ft Trailer: 30 ft Numeric screening only | 8 people 1 vehicles | Back-In 48 (raw length) | 30 Shade: Full |
| Site 026 RVLP Source updated: 2025-12-03 | Standard Electric | Rv: 25 ft Tent: 25 ft Trailer: 25 ft Numeric screening only | 8 people 2 vehicles | Back-In Not reported | 50/30 Shade: Full |
| Site 027 RVLP Source updated: 2025-12-03 | Standard Electric | Car: limit unknown Caravan/Camper Van: limit unknown Fifth Wheel: 27 ft Pickup Camper: limit unknown Rv: 27 ft Small Tent: limit unknown Tent: 25 ft Trailer: 27 ft Vehicle: limit unknown Numeric screening only | 8 people 1 vehicles | Back-in 55 (raw length) | 30 Shade: Full |
| Site 028 RVLP Source updated: 2025-12-03 | Standard Electric | Rv: 45 ft Tent: 45 ft Trailer: 45 ft Numeric screening only | 8 people 2 vehicles | Back-In Not reported | 50/30 Shade: Full |
| Site 029 RVLP Source updated: 2025-12-03 | Standard Nonelectric | Car: limit unknown Caravan/Camper Van: limit unknown Fifth Wheel: 25 ft Pickup Camper: limit unknown Pop Up: limit unknown Rv: 25 ft Small Tent: limit unknown Tent: limit unknown Trailer: 25 ft Vehicle: limit unknown Numeric screening only | 8 people 1 vehicles | Back-In 38 (raw length) | Not reported Shade: Full |
| Site 030 RVLP Source updated: 2025-12-03 | Standard Electric | Car: limit unknown Caravan/Camper Van: limit unknown Fifth Wheel: 35 ft Pickup Camper: limit unknown Pop Up: limit unknown Rv: 35 ft Small Tent: limit unknown Tent: 50 ft Trailer: 35 ft Vehicle: limit unknown Numeric screening only | 8 people 1 vehicles | Back-In 57 (raw length) | 50 Shade: Yes |
| Site 031 RVLP Source updated: 2025-12-03 | Standard Electric | Car: limit unknown Caravan/Camper Van: limit unknown Fifth Wheel: 45 ft Pickup Camper: limit unknown Pop Up: limit unknown Rv: 45 ft Small Tent: limit unknown Tent: 50 ft Trailer: 45 ft Vehicle: limit unknown Numeric screening only | 8 people 1 vehicles | Back-In 55 (raw length) | 50 Shade: Full |
| Site 032 RVLP Source updated: 2025-12-03 | Standard Electric | Rv: 50 ft Tent: 50 ft Trailer: 50 ft Numeric screening only | 8 people 2 vehicles | Back-In 60 (raw length) | 50 Shade: Full |
| Site 033 RVLP Source updated: 2025-12-03 | Standard Electric | Car: limit unknown Caravan/Camper Van: limit unknown Fifth Wheel: limit unknown Pickup Camper: limit unknown Pop Up: limit unknown Rv: 40 ft Small Tent: limit unknown Tent: 40 ft Trailer: 40 ft Vehicle: limit unknown Numeric screening only | 8 people 1 vehicles | Back-In 57 (raw length) | 30 Shade: Full |
| Site 034 RVLP Source updated: 2025-12-03 | Standard Electric | Car: limit unknown Caravan/Camper Van: limit unknown Fifth Wheel: 35 ft Pickup Camper: limit unknown Pop Up: limit unknown Rv: 35 ft Small Tent: limit unknown Tent: 40 ft Trailer: 35 ft Vehicle: limit unknown Numeric screening only | 8 people 1 vehicles | Back-In 49 (raw length) | 30 Shade: Yes |
| Site 035 RVLP Source updated: 2025-12-03 | Standard Electric | Car: limit unknown Caravan/Camper Van: limit unknown Fifth Wheel: 27 ft Pickup Camper: limit unknown Pop Up: limit unknown Rv: 27 ft Small Tent: limit unknown Tent: 40 ft Trailer: 27 ft Vehicle: limit unknown Numeric screening only | 8 people 1 vehicles | Back-In 32 (raw length) | 30 Shade: Full |
| Site 036 CEDR Source updated: 2025-12-03 | Standard Electric | Car: limit unknown Caravan/Camper Van: limit unknown Fifth Wheel: 35 ft Pickup Camper: limit unknown Pop Up: limit unknown Rv: 35 ft Small Tent: limit unknown Tent: 40 ft Trailer: 35 ft Vehicle: limit unknown Numeric screening only | 8 people 1 vehicles | Back-In 44 (raw length) | 50 Shade: Yes |
| Site 037 CEDR Source updated: 2025-12-03 | Standard Electric | Tent: 30 ft Numeric screening only | 8 people 3 vehicles | Back-In Not reported | 30 Shade: Full |
| Site 037A CEDR Source updated: 2025-12-03 | Standard Nonelectric | Caravan/Camper Van: 35 ft Fifth Wheel: 35 ft Pickup Camper: 35 ft Pop Up: 35 ft Rv: 35 ft Tent: limit unknown Numeric screening only | 8 people 1 vehicles | Back-in 46 (raw length) | Not reported Shade: Full |
| Site 038 CEDR Source updated: 2025-12-03 | Tent Only Nonelectric | Tent: 30 ft Numeric screening only | 8 people 2 vehicles | Back-In Not reported | Not reported Shade: Full |
| Site 039 FSPD Source updated: 2025-12-03 | Tent Only Nonelectric | Tent: limit unknown Numeric screening only | 8 people 2 vehicles | Parallel Not reported | Not reported Shade: Full |
| Site 040 FSPD Source updated: 2025-12-03 | Tent Only Nonelectric | Tent: limit unknown Numeric screening only | 8 people 2 vehicles | Pull-Through Not reported | Not reported Shade: Full |
| Site 041 CEDR Source updated: 2025-12-03 | Tent Only Nonelectric | Not reportedNumeric screening only | 0 people 0 vehicles | Pull-Through Not reported | Not reported Shade: Full |
| Site 042 CEDR Source updated: 2025-12-03 | Tent Only Nonelectric | Not reportedNumeric screening only | 0 people 0 vehicles | Pull-Through Not reported | Not reported Shade: Full |
| Site 043 CEDR Source updated: 2025-12-03 | Tent Only Nonelectric | Not reportedNumeric screening only | 0 people 0 vehicles | Pull-Through Not reported | Not reported Shade: Full |
| Site 044 CEDR Source updated: 2025-12-03 | Tent Only Nonelectric | Not reportedNumeric screening only | 0 people 0 vehicles | Pull-Through Not reported | Not reported Shade: Full |
| Site GRP01 BESSEY RECREATION Source updated: 2025-12-03 | Group Standard Electric | Car: limit unknown Caravan/Camper Van: limit unknown Fifth Wheel: limit unknown Pickup Camper: limit unknown Pop Up: limit unknown Rv: 35 ft Small Tent: limit unknown Tent: 35 ft Trailer: 35 ft Vehicle: 50 ft Numeric screening only | 150 people 15 vehicles | Back-in 20 (raw length) | 30 Shade: Yes |