Louisville State Recreation Area

Chris Rehberg

2024-05

This was another Nebraska Passport stop for us in 2024, and it did not disappoint. It looks like they are investing into the park with new sidewalks, docks, fencing and other improvements. The attendants at the concession store helped us get checked in and out quickly and easily and were eager to show us the piranhas in the back along with some locally made crafts for sale at the store.

Chelsea Klein

2023-09

Went camping here for the first time a few weekends ago. Our campsite was at the end of lake 3 next to the playgrounds and bathroom.Showers are pay to shower. $1 for 3 minutes and 25c per minute after that. You couldn’t adjust the temperature of those showers which I thought was odd. Water is nice and hot, I know not everyone prefers it that way! Bathrooms were surprisingly air conditioned so that was nice.Lake 3 had a lot of green algae, but kids caught a few fish out of it. We visited the swimming area on a Saturday afternoon and it was completely packed. They might consider expanding that swim beach area.There is a store within the Rec area for ice and other camping essentials you may have forgotten or need.Trains come through very frequently, so would definitely scope out sites farthest away from the trains. We live right by tracks at home so they don’t typically bother us, but feels and sounds a little different while camping. A bit louder.We enjoyed our weekend, campsites were clean and ready when we arrived. There were a few open camp spots over the weekend, but not many!

R Riemer

2023-11

One of our favorite local campsites local to Omaha, Nebraska. By the second or third night of camping, you get used to the trains that go past the campsite throughout the night, and blow their horns going through the intersections nearby. I've never tent camped along the tracks, and can't imagine they get alot of sleep.Playground: There are a few playgrounds in the park. Lots of fun for the kidsRestrooms: Restrooms are cleaned very well by the staffDog-friendliness: The campsites are big enough for dogs on a 15 foot cable.

Forrest Griggs

2023-08

This is a great place to get away for a bit. While we were here we swam, fished, kayaked, etc. Camping is good but limited to just electrical at most of the sites. There are only six sites with full hookups. Lakes are beautiful and the staff is nice. Two reasons why I reduced the rating to four stars 1) You have to pay for showers. Not a huge deal but when I don’t have water at my site I found it annoying. 2) the TRAIN! All day and night. It goes along the camp site a high rate of speed and blasts its horn all the way through. Definitely a turn off. Overall though I enjoyed the experience.

Sheri Lucas

2023-07

The only reason for the 4 star is due to the proximity of the train that runs very close by (right behind some sites) and the horn it blows!We were also disappointed at the reservation process. When we went to register it was a 2 night minimum for a Fri night stay however the next night was booked. We could book one night if it was a Thursday night but they still charged you for 2 nights even if the Friday night was the only night available. I think if the Sat/Sun are booked you should be able to book the Friday night only.The park is large and there are lots of areas to walk/run around and to take your dog. The Wibit in the lake is a great size and would be fun for kids/adults of all ages especially on a hot day.There were a lot of sites booked but no one staying in them…. The washrooms were clean and it looked like there was a lot of items in the store (it was closed until 1000) when we were there so we didn’t get a chance to have a look.

Mrs. Hermangali

2024-04

It's pretty much the same as the last time I wrote my review. It's nice to see families and children playing. Looks like a wide variety of demographics are enjoying this convenient state park. It's always nice to see kids playing and not on their phones. The public bathrooms were clean. None of the water attractions were operational during my visit.Clean and safe. There are no restrooms at the office, which has limited hours.Flush restrooms closed for the winter. Just one hiking trail, which is along the river.Trains run frequently, interrupting the tranquility.Nice picnic areas. A nice place to stretch your legs whilst traversing Hwy 50.Playground: There's a large bouncing device upon which multiple children can play

Mary Koneck-Wilcox

2023-08

Lots of fish! Great place to swim, bike, hike, and camp! You can rent kayaks at the concession store for $15 an hour. Live bait, ice cream, and an assortment of goodies are also available at the concession store. Lake two has two great fishing docks, one of them is covered providing shade.Restrooms: Running water and soap providedPicnic area: Lots of picnic tables and grills

Kevin Richardson

2023-07

Great place to camp, even when busy. They added several speed bumps on the main road, probably for safety due to all the people walking and kids biking along it, but not a fan of it when driving or pulling a camper. West showers are now $1 for 3 minutes and 25 cents for each additional minute. Love the camp sites, and we can usually find a spot in advance. The campground store is a great convenience, and the Louisville grocery store and gas station are nice to have close by. Lots of kids activities like; bounce pillow, inflatable obstacle course on the lake, fishing on several lakes, flat roads for walking and biking, swimming in the lake, and a hidden hiking trail along the river with reservable huts. Round The Bend steakhouse is fairly close, and so is Bakers Chocolates in Greenwood. Overall, for the price and convenience, Louisville Lakes Campground is the best option anywhere in Nebraska/Southwest Iowa.Playground: Padded and plenty to doRestrooms: Cleaned often. Some newer, some older but in good condition.Dog-friendliness: Lots of room for petsPicnic area: Several pavilions available

Daydreanne Loftis

2023-09

Excellent place for camping and swimming in the river! Clean restrooms, dog friendly (keep leashes on) and Excellent firepits for cooler nights.

Chanchal

2021-05

Awesome and relaxing picnic spot!! Great things are many small lakes which are fun for fishing, kayaking, near Platte River so one can access its shores, a nice beach with shower, Kids Play Area and lawns with picnic shelters. We captured beautiful scenic views of the evening.It can be great for camping, has many campgrounds, beautiful and clean but one may find small comparative other parks around. Some water activities option but may not operational due to Pandemic.

Chris Zeman

2023-09

Very nice well taken care of campground. Park worker was very nice and took my family and me to our camping spots because we arrived after dark and couldn't find spots. Very disappointed that shower house that was by us was closed due to vandalism, which is very sad, but we managed and had a good weekend.

Nicole Chilson

2024-04

Water spouts shown in the RV camp areas for electric plus aren't on. I was told by 2 people that it doesn't work, but I can get water at the fill spot. They were unable to understand how a person might think that a spout on the map and in the reservation description is a problem for the camper that wants water without driving to fill up the RV, with a broken pump it will take a few days to repair. Can't find a way to cancel reservations, calling and no answer. Bad start to the season.

Kelly M

2021-05

Overall nice weekend camping trip, spots are pretty close to eachother but allows opportunity to meet people. Was still too early to swim but was able to rent tandem bikes & trikes to ride around. Pretty clean place with 2 water & dump stations, clean bathrooms & showers available. Despite the proximity to the train tracks they actually weren't annoying. Close access to the platte river with sandy Beach & sand bars.

Daryl Lenz

2024-04

Plenty of RV slots. The slabs are pretty skinny but sufficient for our 42' fifth wheel.

Luke Kaufman

2023-05

This is really an RV Park with tent sites smattered around. The trail along the river is awesome. Tent campers beware, there is a VERY active railroad nearby. Bring earplugs.

Isaac Trumble

2023-11

The first thing that strikes you about Louisville State Recreation Area is the sheer beauty of its natural surroundings. Nestled alongside the Platte River, the area is a haven for wildlife and offers picturesque landscapes. Hiking trails, picnic areas, and camping sites are thoughtfully integrated into the terrain, allowing visitors to immerse themselves in the great outdoors.The recreational opportunities at Louisville State Recreation Area are diverse. Whether you're interested in hiking, fishing, boating, or simply unwinding by the water, there's something for everyone. The Platte River provides a serene backdrop for kayaking and fishing, and the well-maintained trails are perfect for exploring the area on foot.

Jodi Jackson

2023-05

This is a very nice lake there's a water trampoline jumping thing for kids the Beach is a little small I wish it was bigger but nice campsites as well

Lindsay Cassidy

2020-05

A good state park with nice camping spots. I love that all the camping pads are paved and level (we didn’t have to use any additional risers for leveling at all)! Lots of grass which means not much mud! This place was flooded in March 2019 and they have really gotten it repaired very well!! They have several bathhouses that are functional, but not very clean. They do make you use quarters for showers, which is slightly annoying. But, we were able to use the far end of the park bathhouse and shower for 75cents each without a rush.Beach was fine and they did have an outside shower to rinse off which was great. Swimming lake was sand bottoms which is nice! Several fishing docks and multiple other lakes (only the one for swimming). They have the Giant Inflatable obstacle course which costs extra and has GIANT wait times, but we didn’t use it.The camp store sells really overpriced ice cream, but it was super tasty!Busier than I expected with LOTS of Saturday traffic but overall I would stay again.

amber eve

2022-05

When I was a child, my family camped here every summer. My memories are filled with cottonwood trees, the scent sunny and sweet with a hint of dried dirt. The most notable aspect of the tree are their seeds, which float through the air on the delicate white fluff that surrounds them. Released in early summer, they decorate the sky like a fairytale–especially on sunny days where they glint in the light, almost glittering. They collect along the edges of lakes and lawns, creating fuzzy white borders like the lines of a map. Cottonwood seeds could be compared to dandelions, whose seeds children use to make wishes before dispersing them to the wind. They are romantic in that way, and carry with them a sense of yearning and wonder. I wish there were more of them where I live now, but maybe I just don’t know where to find them.

Aaron Edwards

2023-05

Came in the day after a storm, and can't say enough about how quick the game and parks employee's were at getting the downed branches picked up and the campground cleaned up and ready for everyone to enjoy.Really enjoyed this SRA. Set up camp, had a movie playing for whoever wanted to come watch with us. Used the convenient fire pit for making smores.The kids had an awesome time in the swim area and playing on the inflatables.Can't wait to plan our trip back here again.

Tim Montgomery

2023-05

Louisville is always fun. Easy going laid back and nicely well kept. Probably one of the best state grounds and not far from the metro. If you've got little kids there's plenty to keep them busy. Between fishing, swimming, camping, a play ground and bicycle friendly roads and paths. There are a few different lakes and ponds that have the fish you would expect like bluegill, bass, carp, channel cat and maybe the odd crappie or hybrid. The biggest lake also has a nice roped off area for swimming that stays shallow for a good way out along with a floating playground kind of thing that's great if your kids are good swimmers. There's a nice beach all along the swimming area as well as rinse off showers and generally clean bathrooms close by. Kayaks are often available to rent at the small convenience store across from the swimming area as well. The convenience store is handy as they usually have ice, snacks, bait, floaties, some simple tackle and sometimes burgers or something similar. Being right in Louisville is nice because if you forgot something the town is also right there. There's also some access to the Platte river but not as much as there was before the most recent flood unfortunately. As far as camping there are full RV spots and some that just have electrical and also primitive "tent" camping spots as well. The prices are responsible but it's best to reserve in advance especially if you're going to have a large group and are looking to get multiple spots together. Bathroom facilities are never too far away and at least one has showers available. Many of the camping spots have shade and are mostly well maintained. There's usually plenty of dumpsters around so there's no reason to not pick up your trash and most people are pretty good about it. All in all it makes a nice place to spend the day and it's just down the road from the metro. It can get kind of crowded on holiday weekends in the summer but if you can make a day of it during the week it's pretty quiet usually.

Sarah Asbach

2023-05

We tent camped for 3 nights. The Riverview campground was great with good shade most of the day. Bathrooms were cleaned daily. The floating obstacle course and the beach were fun for the whole family. The beach area is very clean and the water is pretty clear. The little store had really friendly clerks and almost everything we needed. What we didn't find there (sanitary pads), we found in the little grocery store within 5 minutes of the SRA in Louisville. Overall, Louisville SRA is very well kept and was a great experience for our family of 5.

Tony Olson

2020-05

Year round fun with exceptional staff, great fishing, and very well maintained camping grounds and RV sites. There are so many positives that are associated with this state recreational park I cannot list them all.

Leslie Vera

2020-05

I took 4 12 year olds and 1 13 year old here for a birthday adventure.... the girls had a blast!however, there isn't much up to let you know what to do when you arrive.... I will break it down for you.... There are 3 sessions that run for this per day.... you have to sign a wavier for each person to participate.... but they do not start handing out waviers until 30 minutes before the session is starting.... I sat in my car and watched person after person walk up to the window, roam around and look confused.... Prices are only listed on the big green and blue poster and not on the window with the session times.... for the 5 kids I paid $71 ... also you MUST pay to get in.... so parents, if you want to go "watch" the kids... you will be paying $18 to watch. I had older kids, so I went to watch from the water at the free beach beside this.You can't use your own life jacket either, so don't bother bringing one.This was a fun start to the birthday party and we would defiantly do it again! Would just like to see the signs and check in times be more clearly posted with all information posted in the same place.It's nice to have something like this close to home!

Out Standing in a field

2023-06

One of the nicest state parks in Nebraska. Camper and day fishing friendly. The floating water park is insane!

Ann Truong

2018-05

Great place to camp and get away from city life. A few ponds you can fish from. You can even fish in the Platte River right there in the park. The trains near by are a little loud but you will get used to it. The little shop you can rent kayaks and other stuff from is handy to have for use.

Matthew Hillier

2023-10

Nasty water. Full of trash and fishing line mess. In water 15 minutes, inflatable kayak holed by hook. No refund. River pristine by comparison. Yuck. Won’t return. Gonna try other state campgrounds, hopefully not garbage dumps. Cover you cuts and wash right away if you swim in it.

Mike U

2023-11

On 10/21/23, my wife and I went to Louisville. A campsite was vacated, however they required us to wait until 2pm (arrived at around noon). Keep in mind the site had been vacated for hours and this has never been a point of contention in the past. While I was forced to wait in the front office, the workers mocked my wife right in front of me (who initially attempted to pay for the spot), not knowing who I was. After I asked for all 3 workers to remain respectful, they all became silent, but continued to smile a laugh as they required me to wait 2 hours.This is unacceptable behavior, as I have been camping here for years. Unfortunately nothing will be done, as the supervisory staff do not reprimand.The worker that aggravated this whole ordeal, her name is Rebecca.

Kim Zwiener REALTOR

2022-05

I prefer chillin at the river to swimming in the lake. But, it's awesome that you have the option. Lots to do lake side rent water craft or pay to play on the obstacle course for 90 min.The dump station line is always super long on Sunday mornings.

Luke Mccain

2022-05

Clean lake with a beach. There is an obstacle course you can pay to play on but it is only open at certain times to a limited amount of people. Be prepared to wait for 90min of fun. Nice convenient store, camping and picnic areas. Will return.