Camp Ashland Campground

I can confirm the comment below from mdkrueger that there are new pads for the campers with additional concrete for the picnic tables and setting stuff up. The cost was $7/night in 2020. There was a brand new playground area for our kids, they had a building with 4 bathrooms each had a shower in the bathroom. There were also two new 3 bedroom cabins (full kitchen as well)that I think were $64/night (again 2020 prices). They were in the process of building a third at that time as well. There was not a dump site at camp Ashland but there are three within 10 miles. It was quiet and only a 25 minute drive to the Omaha Zoo. It is probably one of the favorite places we have stayed with the kids because of the nice facilities, access to other things in the area, and plenty of room at each camp site.

My wife and I stayed here for over two weeks…the end of October through the beginning of November. They are in the process of upgrading the campground with over a dozen new concrete parking spots with attached concrete pads with picnic tables and iron fire pits. Right before we left they were installing a large playground area for kids. It also looks like they are completely redoing the large pond/small lake area to have a sandy beach area. They have been busy the whole time putting our new gravel on the roads as well. The new pads have water and 50/30/20 amp power poles. No sewer. They have placed very nice portages-potties throughout the campground and they are cleaned regularly. The cost varies by how long you stay, but daily, weekly, or monthly costs are still in the 3 dollar a day range. This is one of the sweetest deals! Ashley is the one who manages the campground and everything is mostly done by phone call and credit card. Very nice and helpful staff. The campground is within 100 feet of the platte river, which a wide (and not very deep) river that joins the Missouri river just south of Omaha. Great quiet place to camp and enjoy the area. Worth a stop anytime you are passing through!

We stayed overnight. We had called to check availability several weeks ahead of our scheduled arrival and the Sgt at billeting gave us a reservation. There was no charge for our pad which had an electrical hookup but no water hookup. The pad next to us had both and we probably could have run a hose to a second faucet at that site if we had wanted to and had a long enough hose. We did not have a fire ring or grill stand at our site although there was a large wheel that probably served as a fire ring. The literature we got on arrival included a statement that reservations are required. No one asked if we had firearms. The civilian gate guard was friendly and courteous and was the only person from the base we met. We like out of the way places with few people so for us it was a wonderful campground. We thoroughly enjoyed our night on the lake and will try to stop again any time we need a campground in this area.

Well worth the stop, especially at $0 per night. It takes a little coordination, and if you're a drop-in after normal duty hours or the weekend, you won't get a spot with power until the next duty day. We stayed there for one Friday night the weekend before the 4th of July and all the neighboring campgrounds, including Offut AFB FamCamp, were full. We took a chance at Ashland to see what was there and were the only campers there. We enjoyed it immensely even without electric service. According to the gate guard (very friendly and helpful), billeting runs the campground and they had left for the day. Great view, quiet, with a flock of visiting geese. Really nothing provided at the campground to do but that was fine with us. No facilities on the installation (BX/PX, Commissary, etc). The entire base is well groomed and taken care of. The scrap pile in the photo section is gone. The lake was experiencing an algae bloom at the time and was closed to swimming.

This is almost, but not quite, a bare-bones campground. If you don't call in advance to arrange for a site, you will be camping on the side of the lake where there are no services. The parking spots on this side have twin concrete slabs about three feet wide to provide a secure footing for your RV, but there is no electricity nor water on that side. There is no dump site for your holding tanks anywhere on the base. The campground does have a number of portable toilets for campers who aren't in an RV. The other side of the lake is available by prior arrangement. You must call to obtain a key to the site you will be using. I did not use this side, so I can't comment on the procedures. These sites also have a concrete slab for your RV, but at least some of them are about eight feet wide rather than the twin tracks provided on the non-reserved side. There are 15 amp electrical receptacles available at many, if not most, of the sites on this side of the lake. Some of these sites have fire rings or pits. Fires are not allowed elsewhere. There is one twin-faucet hose connection available to the lucky campers who get one of the sites adjacent to the faucet. The faucets were not the freeze-proof type and I suspect that the water is shut off to them during the coldest months. Many of the sites on both sides of the lake have a picnic table. At the entrance to the camping area is a large covered pavilion with lots of tables. I assume that this is available for use, but I'm sure that you must call and arrange for that. Next to the covered pavilion is a single, freeze-proof hydrant. I didn't use it, but would guess that this is the only location where you can get water year round. There aren't any playgrounds for children, but some of the campers' kids were playing happily on a pile of broken concrete that was nearby. I have done the same when I was younger and don't have a problem with that, but more careful parents may not want their kids playing where they could be seriously hurt if they fall. The camping sites surround a small lake which was very low when I stayed. It looked like it would be very nice during non-drought years. Swimming and boating (no powerboats) are allowed in the lake at your own risk. There is a fenced-off pond at the end of the campsite area. The sign reads "KEEP OUT - SEWAGE LAGOON". In spite of what you would assume there were no odors wafting towards any of us campers. The camp guardhouse is staffed by civilian employees who were friendly and courteous when I came by. The few other campers in the campground were exactly what I would expect from my fellow Midwesterners, friendly, outgoing, and helpful. The camp is only ten miles or so from the Strategic Air & Space Museum. That museum is certainly worth several hours of your time, even if you're not an airplane nut like I am. That museum is open every day except Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day. Admission is $12 for adults as of October 2012. The contact number is 402-944-3100. The price for camping was certainly right, no charge at all for a site without services. I don't know if there is a charge for using the sites with electricity. Anyone with a valid military ID card or Nebraska state military department employees may stay at Camp Ashland. The maximum stay is two weeks. As with most (all?) military bases, firearms, and even BB or pellet guns, are not allowed. Pets are allowed if they are on a leash and attended. It's a good idea to call the camp before arrival to ensure that your stay will not interfere or conflict with training. As you would expect, military training has priority over all other activities. I got the impression that sometimes trainees will camp in the campground during their stay at Camp Ashland. They may fill it up. According to the paperwork I received, the contact person for Camp Ashland Recreation Area is First Sergeant Richard D. Goodenberger at 402-309-7648. From my military experience, I wouldn't be surprised to learn that another person has assumed 1SG Goodenberger's duties by now.