Eugene T. Mahoney State Park RV & Campground Guide
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Eugene T. Mahoney State Park is located near the Platte River Valley in Nebraska. You’ll enjoy many on-site activities, including fishing, hiking, picnicking, swimming, horseback riding, basketball, volleyball, softball, tennis, and golf. Winter activities include cross-country skiing, ice fishing, and special holiday events. The park has an aquatic center with two water slides, a diving area, a zero-entry wave pool, a sun deck, and a concession stand. The Strategic Air Command and Aerospace Museum, Wildlife Safari Park, and Glacial Till Cider House and Tasting Room are nearby.
Spring 33–52 F
Summer 68–87 F
Fall 46–65 F
Winter 23–37 F
RV Resorts & Campsites in Eugene T. Mahoney State Park
You choose from full hookups or electric campsites for your RV, and there are 148 campsites in total to choose from. Campsites 1-99 are at Little Creek Campground, and 100-148 are at Lakeside Campground. Little Creek Campground has a basketball court, playground, and laundry facility. All RV-equipped camping spots offer 20-, 30-, and 50-amp electricity; sewer and water hookups; fire rings; grills; modern restrooms; picnic tables; and fire hydrants. The state park is pet-friendly, but pay attention to posted signs for restrictions. Wi-Fi is available throughout the campground.
What to Do at
Eugene T. Mahoney State Park
Visitors enjoy many adventures at Eugene T. Mahoney State Park, including biking, hiking, fishing, picnics, horseback riding, pony rides, golf, volleyball, tennis, and basketball. The state park has ziplining, an Activity Center, an Aquatic Center, a climbing wall, and free summer naturalist programs. Winter activities include ice fishing, cross-country skiing, special holiday events, and a Christmas event with Santa. Guests can rent paddle boats, canoes, and kayaks by the hour during the summer.
Fishing
You must have a fishing license to fish at the park, and you can catch channel catfish, rainbow trout, bluegill, and largemouth bass. You can fish from Century Link Lake, which spans 10 acres, or from the parking area dock. The dock is accessible.
Geocaching
Go to the Visitor Center to start the geocaching treasure hunt. The geocaching adventure isn’t difficult, but you will go through floodplains. Pay close attention to posted signs for warnings and updated information.
Nature Watching
If you love bird-watching, there are many vantage points at the park where you can see indigo bunting, Harris swallows, blue herons, barn swallows, and Baltimore orioles.
Stargazing
Eugene T. Mahoney State Park offers star events from May through September. You can see the planets, stars, and constellations through a telescope.
Flora and Fauna
At the park, you can see many plants and flowers, including Illinois bundle flowers, alfalfa, purple crown vetch, hairy vetch, mock strawberries, and butterfly milkweed. You may also see wildlife including frogs, Eastern cottontail, white-tail deer, striped skunks, and blacktail swallowtails.
Hiking
There are two hiking trails at Eugene T. Mahoney State Park. The Peter Kiewit Lodge is an easy hiking trail 2.1 miles long. The Mahoney Short Loop is 2.3 miles long.
Boating
You can paddle a boat, canoe, or kayak, or you can ride a motorized boat at a trolling speed. An equipment vendor on-site offers boat rentals and a marina.
Swimming
Parkgoers can swim at the Mahoney Aquatic Center after paying a $10 admission fee. There are a swimming pool, two water slides, a diving area, a zero-entry wave pool, a sun deck, and a concession stand.
Climbing
The Venture Climb is 42 feet tall and located in a climate-controlled facility. Visitors of all ages can climb the wall, and the facility is ADA accessible.
How to Get to
Eugene T. Mahoney State Park
From Ashland, take NE-66/N 14th Street toward Silver Street. Take the second exit onto NE-66/I-80 ALT. Turn left onto Mahoney Park Drive/Mahoney Park Road toward the park entrance.
Entering Eugene T. Mahoney State Park
You’ll find three parking lots at the state park that don’t charge fees, and there are accessible parking spots. You enter through the Visitor Center and pay for a daily or annual permit. The maximum RV length permitted at Eugene T. Mahoney State Park is 60 feet. The park is open 24 hours a day.
Eugene T. Mahoney State Park Entry Fee (Nebraska residents) : $7.0
Eugene T. Mahoney State Park Entry Fee (Non-residents) : $14.0
Eugene T. Mahoney State Park Annual Pass (Nebraska residents) : $35.0
Eugene T. Mahoney State Park Annual Pass (Non-residents) : $70.0
Frequently Asked Questions About Eugene T. Mahoney State Park
Late spring, summer, and early fall are the best times to visit Eugene T. Mahoney State Park, as the temperatures are milder. It can become quite cold with snowfall in winter.
You can see abundant wildlife at the park, including great blue herons, barn swallows, Baltimore orioles, black-capped chickadees, and indigo bunting. White-tail deer, frogs, and blacktail swallowtails are other creatures you may spot.
There are 148 campsites, but they aren’t explicitly reserved for RVs. You can camp in tents or an RV at any campsite.
You aren’t required to make a reservation, but the state park can reach maximum capacity quickly in the summer. Only 74 campsites are available for reservation, and you can reserve a camping spot up to 180 days before your visit. Full hookup campsites are $35 per night, and sites with electricity only start at $25 per night. Deduct $5 from the camping fees during the non-peak season.
Yes, the park is pet-friendly, but there are restrictions. Pay attention to all posted signs for restrictions. You must keep all dogs on a leash no longer than 6 feet when walking around the park grounds. Only service dogs are allowed inside the lodges. All pets not on a leash must remain in a crate or kennel.