Bayard City RV Sites (Swimming Pool Park)
Bayard sits in the North Platte valley in western Nebraska, and Chimney Rock -- the landmark that told Oregon Trail emigrants they were a third of the way to Oregon -- is a few miles southwest and visible from town. The city maintains three gravel RV sites at the Swimming Pool Park with both 30- and 50-amp electric and water hookups (no sewer), first-come first-serve with no reservations. The city's own page is refreshingly blunt about the deal: the first two nights of any stay cost nothing, the next eight are $25 a night, and there is a 10-day maximum -- and no, moving to a different site does not reset the clock. So this is a genuinely free two-night stop and a fairly expensive one after that. Pay at the city office, 445 Main Street. Across the narrow street is the main city park with mature shade, a covered pavilion and picnic tables, a playground, and a seasonal pool and tennis courts. Scotts Bluff National Monument is a short drive west. Honest caveats: watch the fee cliff -- several camping websites still say $10 a night after the free nights, but the city's current page says $25, so budget for the city's number. Our map pin is the park next to the municipal pool, which is where the city says the sites are, but the RV pads themselves are not mapped, so expect to look around a block or so when you arrive. The deal these towns offer is simple: camp free, and they hope you buy fuel, groceries or dinner in town. Be a good guest and it stays free for the next traveler. Town rules change often and we have not visited -- confirm current rules with the town before you go.
Everything you need — measured from camp
- FFuel48 mi
- GGrocery48 mi
- MMechanic48 mi
- LLaundry49 mi
- @Mail49 mi
- RxPharmacy50 mi
- +Urgent care50 mi
The read: fuel & food sit about 48 mi out.
Not within 60 mi: Water, Dump, Propane. Plan those before you head up.
One dot per need — the nearest of each kind, straight-line from camp. Places from OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors). Open in Google Maps ↗
The site
Nearby & resupply (OpenStreetMap)
- Resupply lookup unavailable — try the map links below.
Nearby restrooms — pit toilets, restrooms & rest areas (government data)
- RestroomSunrise Beach Restroom Building · ~13.7 mi NW · BoR
- RestroomLake Minatare Vaulted Restroom - Primitive Campground Building · ~14.2 mi NW · BoR
- RestroomButte View South Restroom Building · ~14.3 mi NW · BoR
- RestroomButte View Restroom Building · ~14.6 mi NW · BoR
Open this spot elsewhere
Other camps nearby
If this one is full, gated or washed out.
- Arnold Trupp WMA~5.5 mi
- Chet and Jane Fliesbach WMA~5.8 mi
- Williams Gap WMA~10.2 mi
- Nine Mile Creek WMA~10.9 mi
How we know this
What we don’t know
A land record can put you within a few metres of a spot. It cannot tell you any of this — so check it yourself, and treat anything below as the open question it is.
- Road surface & last-mile access
- How many rigs actually fit
- Cell coverage by carrier
- Seasonal & winter access
- Current fire restrictions
- Whether any water here is drinkable
- Shade & wind exposure
- Noise and who else shows up