Camping in Nebraska

[Silverback1]

We will be streaming from Miami to Kansas City to see our daughter's last ballet performance on June 9th. We also want to help out with the Kansas City Dance Festival on June 24th. We don't want to camp in Kansas City between the two dates. We were thinking of going somewhere relatively close and exploring new territory. Nebraska seems just the ticket. Can anyone recommend some nice areas to see (preferably on the eastern half). We know nothing about Nebraska, but we love the woods, water, hills, and mountains. Maybe we like the Great Plains, too. Please give us a shout out if you know some nice places.
Thanks.

[Piggy Bank]

If you want a great place only about 90 minutes from Kansas City, I would recommend The Outlet at Melvern Lake in Melvern KS. Just a couple miles off I-35. It is corps of engineers park, very open and relaxing.

From there you are only about a 45 minute drive to the National Tallgrass Prairie /Wildlife reserve near Strong City KS. There you can hike in the prairie and (if you are lucky) see one of the few places in the lower 48 where there is a heard of free roaming buffalo. (no pets allowed in the hiking area).

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=...RgShpMT_v7NFYQ


Also note that it will be humid and warm enough that you will want to be able to run your AC that time of year, so you will want electric available.

Another nice place to camp nearby is Canning Creek in Council Grove. Also corps of engineers. On a lake so you get the water.

In eastern part of Nebraska there is not a lot that I can recommend from experience. I hear the state park by Nebraska City is nice. And there is a waterfowl area near Mound City MO that is nice if you like that type of thing.

In Missouri in the KC area, the state park at Weston is really great. Small so you would want reservations. On the bluff of the river, so a nice hike. Fenced in dog park. Easy to drive into Weston (small town) or 15 minutes to KC for dinning.

[r carl]

http://outdoornebraska.gov/mahoney/

The amazing SAC museum is next to this park.

[KJRitchie]

SE Nebraska is about 200 miles from KC.

Check NW Missouri state parks and COE parks around Lake Truman. They would be closer.

Kelvin

[kb0zke]

Familiar area, as we both grew up in Lincoln. None of the State parks around Lincoln are particularly large, and Lincolnites tend to fill then on weekends, so calling ahead is a good idea. Unlike Missouri, Nebraska has a park entrance fee. You probably ought to get the annual pass. Waubonsie State Park is a few miles east of Nebraska City, in Iowa. Not many sites, electric only, but a very nice park. Lincoln is about an hour away. NW MO has several parks. Haven't been to a lot of them, but the ones we've been to have been nice.

As for what to see and do, there is a LOT in Lincoln, starting with the capitol building. Shopping, museums, golf, etc. Kind of depends on what you want. Nebraska City is home to Arbor Lodge, former home of J. Sterling Morton (Morton Salt and founder of Arbor Day). The Lodge is a State park, but no camping. Still, nice old mansion fully restored. Warning: the gift shop can be hazardous to wallets and waistlines.

There is a big difference in terrain from one side of the river to the other. East of the river there are more hills and more trees, especially in MO. West of the river the land is flatter and fewer trees. State parks are usually located near some bit of water, so there are more trees there, but as you travel around Nebraska you will notice a lack of trees.

[mojo]

Not as familiar with KC or Nebraska as some of the locals here, but there are some nice parks and historic sites in western Missouri outside of KC. We stayed at Watkins Woolen Mill SP which was very nice and has a nice lake for swimming when the temps get hot. There's an historic mill on site, Jesse James home is nearby and suggest visiting the town of Arrow Rock, where the Santa Fe trail started from. Also Lexington Civil War Battlefield. A lot to see and do in the area around KC.