Photo: Will Kirby, CC BY 2.0, via Flickr
🌤 Weather at Lewis and Clark State Recreation Area by season
| Spring | Summer | Fall | Winter |
|---|---|---|---|
| 24–70 °F | 59–85 °F | 25–76 °F | 10–35 °F |
Each range runs from the coldest monthly average low to the warmest monthly average high in that season (1991-2020 climate normals), measured at Crofton, 8 mi away, elevation 1,400 ft. Conditions at the park can differ from the station, especially where elevation differs — check a forecast before you go.
Lewis and Clark State Recreation Area is a Nebraska Game and Parks Commission area on the south shore of Lewis and Clark Lake, the Missouri River reservoir behind Gavins Point Dam, north of Crofton in Knox County.
The lake formed in 1955, when Gavins Point Dam was completed, and covers about 31,400 acres (12,707 ha) at normal pool, according to the South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks fisheries plan for the lake. It sits on the Nebraska–South Dakota border and, like the recreation area, is named for Meriwether Lewis and William Clark.
Visitor Information
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Location | Knox County, NE |
| Entry Fee | Park entry permit rules: see Nebraska Game and Parks |
| Lake | About 31,400 acres at normal pool |
| Lake formed | 1955 (Gavins Point Dam) |
About Lewis and Clark SRA
The recreation area lines the Nebraska shore of Lewis and Clark Lake. Nebraska Game and Parks lists a marina with boat slips, a boat ramp and fuel, campgrounds with and without electricity, cabins, a swimming beach, picnic shelters and trails.
Things to Do
Boating, water skiing and sailing on the lake, fishing (with bait sales and a fish cleaning station), swimming at the beach, camping or a cabin stay, picnicking, hiking and biking, hunting, and wildlife viewing and birding from a scenic overlook. In winter the commission lists cross-country skiing and ice skating. The facility list comes from Nebraska Game and Parks’ park data; check the commission for current hours and closures.
Insider Tips
Fishing: South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks manages Lewis and Clark Lake as a walleye and sauger fishery; catfish, bass and crappie also contribute substantially to the catch. Niobrara delta: At the upper end of the lake, the Niobrara River enters from the southwest. It is the lake’s main tributary and carries more than half of the roughly 4 million tons of sediment deposited in the lake each year, which has built a delta where the lake begins.
Best Time to Visit
Summer: Boating, swimming and camping. Winter: Cross-country skiing and ice skating, as listed by Nebraska Game and Parks. Campground showers and dump stations are seasonal; check the commission before an off-season trip.
Frequently Asked Questions
Did Lewis and Clark really come through here?
Yes. The Lewis and Clark Expedition traveled up the Missouri River along what is now the Nebraska–South Dakota border in 1804; the lake and the recreation area are named for its leaders.
More parks nearby: Niobrara State Park is about 25 miles west in a straight line, and Ashfall Fossil Beds State Historical Park is about 41 miles southwest.
Camping reservations: Book campsites and cabins for Nebraska state parks online at nebraskastateparks.reserveamerica.com.
🛶 Visit Lewis and Clark SRA
On the south shore of Lewis and Clark Lake, north of Crofton, Nebraska.
⛺ Camping at Lewis and Clark State Recreation Area: Campgrounds & Cabins
| Campsites | Full Hookup, Electric Plus, Electric, Basic and Equestrian campsites. Over 150 campsites with electricity and more than 100 Basic campsites in the Weigand and Burbach campgrounds. Showers, picnic tables, fire ring/grills, nearby drinking water spigots (not hookups), dump and fill stations and a playground. Camping is available year-round with electricity; dump and fill stations and modern shower/bathroom facilities operate April through October, weather permitting. |
|---|---|
| Cabins & Lodging | Ten modern, two-bedroom cabins available year-round, each sleeping up to seven (two queen beds, three single beds). Equipped with linens, towels, stove, refrigerator, coffee pot, toaster, microwave and kitchen service for seven. Each cabin has a covered patio, modern restroom, picnic table, outdoor grill and campfire ring. |
| Reservations | Reservations available for 75% of the campsites in Weigand and Burbach campgrounds, up to 180 days in advance. All other camping is first-come, first-served; campers register nightly fees in an Iron Ranger lockbox (cash or check only). Park entry permit required. Cabin reservations up to one year in advance. |
| Special sites | Equestrian camping area with corrals in the south shore area; water available but no electricity. Weigand Marina offers 116 leased seasonal dock slips and 10 daily rental dock slips; the Weigand slips and boat ramp are closed beginning Sept. 11, 2025 through 2026 for a marina upgrade project, though the marina store remains open. |
| Season notes | Camping available year-round with electricity; dump and fill stations and modern shower/bathroom facilities operate April through October, weather permitting. |
Camping questions about Lewis and Clark State Recreation Area
Can you camp at Lewis and Clark State Recreation Area?
Full Hookup, Electric Plus, Electric, Basic and Equestrian campsites. Over 150 campsites with electricity and more than 100 Basic campsites in the Weigand and Burbach campgrounds. Showers, picnic tables, fire ring/grills, nearby drinking water spigots (not hookups), dump and fill stations and a playground. Camping is available year-round with electricity; dump and fill stations and modern shower/bathroom facilities operate April through October, weather permitting.
How do you reserve a campsite at Lewis and Clark State Recreation Area?
Reservations available for 75% of the campsites in Weigand and Burbach campgrounds, up to 180 days in advance. All other camping is first-come, first-served; campers register nightly fees in an Iron Ranger lockbox (cash or check only). Park entry permit required. Cabin reservations up to one year in advance.
Are there cabins at Lewis and Clark State Recreation Area?
Ten modern, two-bedroom cabins available year-round, each sleeping up to seven (two queen beds, three single beds). Equipped with linens, towels, stove, refrigerator, coffee pot, toaster, microwave and kitchen service for seven. Each cabin has a covered patio, modern restroom, picnic table, outdoor grill and campfire ring.
Source: outdoornebraska.gov (verified July 2026). Details change seasonally — confirm when booking.
🐾 Dogs & Pets at Lewis and Clark State Recreation Area
- Pets allowed? statewide rule
- Pets are allowed in Nebraska state park areas, including campgrounds, provided they are leashed, crated or caged.
- Leash rule statewide rule
- All animals must be on a leash no longer than 6 feet, or crated or caged.
- Beaches & swim areas statewide rule
- Designated swimming beaches and pools are off-limits to all animals except service dogs.
- Cabins & lodging statewide rule
- Pets are allowed in cabins for a $25 one-time pet fee per unit; pets are not allowed in lodge rooms.
- Pet fees statewide rule
- $25 one-time pet fee per unit for pets in cabins; no day-use pet fee.
- Statewide exceptions statewide rule
- At Lake McConaughy SRA leashing is strictly enforced to protect Least Tern and Piping Plover nesting areas; pets at large may be impounded.
Are dogs allowed at Lewis and Clark State Recreation Area?
Pets are allowed in Nebraska state park areas, including campgrounds, provided they are leashed, crated or caged. Individual parks can post stricter rules — check signage on arrival.
Rules verified July 2026 via outdoornebraska.gov. More: Nebraska state parks guide · Dog rules in all 50 states compared
Park Map
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