🌤 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.
🏆 Missouri River Explorer — 35,700-acre reservoir on the Missouri River — named for the legendary Lewis and Clark Expedition that passed through in 1804
Lewis and Clark State Recreation Area sits along Lewis and Clark Lake — a 35,700-acre reservoir created by Gavins Point Dam on the Missouri River. The area is named for Meriwether Lewis and William Clark, who camped near here on their epic 1804–1806 expedition to explore the Louisiana Purchase. Lewis and Clark Lake is one of the most popular recreation destinations in the region — with excellent walleye, catfish, and bass fishing. Gavins Point Dam was the last dam built on the main stem of the Missouri River (1957) — creating the smallest of the six “Great Lakes of the Missouri.”
Visitor Information
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Location | Knox County, NE |
| Entry Fee | NE Park Permit Required |
| Lake | 35,700 acres! |
| History | Lewis & Clark 1804! |
About Lewis and Clark SRA
Lewis and Clark State Recreation Area surrounds Lewis and Clark Lake — a 31,000-acre Missouri River reservoir on the Nebraska-South Dakota border. The lake was created by Gavins Point Dam and named for the explorers who camped here in 1804. The recreation area provides extensive camping, marina facilities, and water sports on one of the most popular lakes in the northern Great Plains.
Things to Do
Boating on the 31,000-acre lake, fishing for walleye, bass, and catfish, camping (300+ sites), swimming, visiting the marina, and touring the nearby Lewis and Clark Visitor Center. One of the busiest recreation areas on the Missouri River.
Insider Tips
Missouri River heritage: Lewis and Clark SRA is on Lewis and Clark Lake — a Missouri River reservoir near the South Dakota border. Pro tip: The Lewis and Clark expedition camped near here in August 1804. Niobrara confluence: Where the Niobrara River meets the Missouri creates some of the best paddling in the region — the delta has islands, sandbars, and rich wildlife.
Best Time to Visit
Summer: Boating, swimming, and camping. Fall: Waterfowl migration on the Missouri. Spring: Walleye and sauger fishing. Winter: Bald eagle concentration — the dam keeps water open.
Frequently Asked Questions
Did Lewis and Clark really come through here?
Yes — the Corps of Discovery traveled the Missouri River through Nebraska in 1804. Meriwether Lewis and William Clark documented the landscape, wildlife, and Indigenous peoples they encountered. The expedition’s journals describe the Missouri’s power, abundant game, and vast prairies of what is now Nebraska.
More parks nearby: Niobrara State Park is within about an hour’s drive, while Ashfall Fossil Beds State Historical Park lies elsewhere in the state.
Camping reservations: Book campsites and cabins for Nebraska state parks online at nebraskastateparks.reserveamerica.com.
🛶 Visit Lewis and Clark SRA
35,700-acre Missouri River reservoir — Lewis & Clark camped here 1804!
⛺ 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 Location
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