Camping in Nebraska: Best Months, Booking and Fire Rules
Across Nebraska's 3 NOAA reference stations, camping weather is mild from May to June and in September, with average highs of 73 to 84 F and lows of 47 to 57 F. Nights at or below freezing show up from October to May, most often in January, when they average 30.4 a month.
Check this weekend’s weather at your campsite
Live from the National Weather Service
The best months for camping in Nebraska
By NOAA's 1991 to 2020 normals, camping weather in Nebraska is mild May to June and September. Pick the station nearest your campground below; high ground runs colder than any station.
- Jan39° / 14°Freezing nights
- Feb43° / 17°Freezing nights
- Mar54° / 26°Freezing nights
- Apr63° / 36°Freezing nights
- May73° / 47°Freezing nights
- Jun84° / 57°Mild
- Jul90° / 63°Hot
- Aug87° / 61°Hot
- Sep80° / 50°Mild
- Oct66° / 37°Freezing nights
- Nov52° / 25°Freezing nights
- Dec41° / 16°Freezing nights
Each month shows the average high and low across the state’s reference stations, in F. Mild means an average high of 60 to 85 F with lows of 40 F or more. Freezing nights means the stations average one or more nights a month at or below 32 F.
North Platteelevation 2,778 ft
| Month | Average high | Average low | Nights at or below 32 F |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 41 F | 12 F | 31 |
| February | 44 F | 15 F | 27.5 |
| March | 55 F | 24 F | 25.8 |
| April | 63 F | 33 F | 13.8 |
| May (mild) | 73 F | 44 F | 3.2 |
| June (mild) | 84 F | 55 F | 0 |
| July | 90 F | 61 F | 0 |
| August | 87 F | 59 F | 0 |
| September (mild) | 80 F | 48 F | 1 |
| October | 66 F | 34 F | 13.8 |
| November | 53 F | 21 F | 27.6 |
| December | 42 F | 13 F | 30.9 |
Omahaelevation 982 ft
| Month | Average high | Average low | Nights at or below 32 F |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 34 F | 15 F | 29.7 |
| February | 39 F | 19 F | 25.6 |
| March | 52 F | 30 F | 19.9 |
| April (mild) | 64 F | 41 F | 6.3 |
| May (mild) | 75 F | 53 F | 0.3 |
| June (mild) | 84 F | 63 F | 0 |
| July | 88 F | 68 F | 0 |
| August | 86 F | 66 F | 0 |
| September (mild) | 79 F | 56 F | 0.1 |
| October (mild) | 66 F | 43 F | 4.4 |
| November | 50 F | 30 F | 19.1 |
| December | 38 F | 20 F | 29 |
Scottsbluffelevation 3,945 ft
| Month | Average high | Average low | Nights at or below 32 F |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 42 F | 15 F | 30.5 |
| February | 45 F | 17 F | 27.2 |
| March | 55 F | 25 F | 26.4 |
| April | 62 F | 33 F | 14.8 |
| May (mild) | 72 F | 44 F | 2.7 |
| June (mild) | 84 F | 54 F | 0 |
| July | 91 F | 60 F | 0 |
| August | 89 F | 57 F | 0 |
| September (mild) | 80 F | 47 F | 0.9 |
| October | 65 F | 34 F | 13.9 |
| November | 52 F | 23 F | 27.2 |
| December | 42 F | 14 F | 30.7 |
How to book a state park campsite in Nebraska
Book and read the rules at Nebraska Game and Parks Commission.
First come, first served sites
Campsites identified as “first come-first served” and not designated as “for advance reservations” may be purchased when available and unoccupied.Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, read October 18, 2026. Read it at the source
Quoted from Nebraska Game and Parks Commission pages read October 18, 2026. Windows and fees change, so confirm on the booking site.
Camping outside a campground in Nebraska
Setting up your own campsite away from developed fee sites, also known as dispersed camping, is allowed on most of the Forest for a maximum of 14 nonconsecutive days in any 30-day period.USDA Forest Service, read October 18, 2026. Read it at the source
Campfires when you camp in Nebraska
Campfires in state parks and forests
The kindling of any fire is permitted only: In designated camping and picnic grounds when the fire is confined in a fireplace provided for the use of visitors, or in grills, or in locations specified by the Park Superintendent; or in stoves or lanterns using gasoline, propane, butane gas or similar fuels.Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, read October 18, 2026. Read it at the source
Whether you need a permit
Before any open burning is done, a permit must be obtained from the local fire chief or his/her designee on a form prescribed by the State Fire Marshal.Nebraska State Fire Marshal, read October 18, 2026. Read it at the source
What the quote says: a permit is required in some places or seasons.
Campfires on national forest and BLM land
Campfires are allowed ; however, use caution. Campers are held responsible for wildfires resulting from their campfires.USDA Forest Service, read October 18, 2026. Read it at the source
Where fire restrictions are posted
The USFS initiates restrictions or temporary public land closures to reduce the risk of wildfires and protect the public.USFS, read October 18, 2026. Read it at the source
Current restrictions: USDA Forest Service, Nebraska National Forests and Grasslands.
Nebraska camping questions
Camping in other states
Where this page’s facts come from
- State park, forestry and federal land pages (read October 18, 2026). Booking windows, reservation systems, campfire rules, fire restriction sources and rules for camping outside a campground, each quoted word for word with a link to the page it came from.
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991 to 2020 (read October 18, 2026). Average monthly high, low and nights at or below 32 F at 150 reference stations, the same stations the heat season and heating season pages use.
- National Weather Service alerts (live, read in your browser when the page loads). Red Flag Warnings, Fire Weather Watches, Fire Warnings, Freeze Warnings and High Wind Warnings, read live from api.weather.gov.
- National Weather Service 7 day forecast (live, read in your browser when the page loads). The weekend forecast for the ZIP code a visitor enters, read live from api.weather.gov.
Climate figures are NOAA 1991 to 2020 normals at 3 reference stations in Nebraska. Rules are quoted from agency pages and can change.