Ponca State Park
Ponca State Park
4.5
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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4.5
79 reviews
Excellent
50
Very good
24
Average
4
Poor
1
Terrible
0
Daniel D
Omaha, NE1 contribution
Aug 2023 • Friends
Although the scenery is typical along the rivers. There are some nice trails. It would be nice to better mark them to keep you on the right path. Although it was later in the summer some things could be better. The education center looks good but most of the hands on activities didn't work.
Written 8 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Desea3
Lincoln, NE271 contributions
Oct 2022 • Solo
Beautiful forested park with impressive views of the Missouri River.
The Rustic Cabins are aptly named. Nothing fancy.
Raccoons, deer and wild turkeys made their appearances!
The Rustic Cabins are aptly named. Nothing fancy.
Raccoons, deer and wild turkeys made their appearances!
Written 4 October 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
EC13091
Ellicott City, MD1,248 contributions
Sept 2022 • Couples
This was one of the best state parks we have visited recently. Admission for non-Nebraska residents was $12, but wait, because we paid admission at another park yesterday and arrived here before noon today, there was no charge! There is an excellent visitor center and interpretive center about the Missouri, and for us it was great to go to the overlook and see the unchannelized Missouri. There are walking trails which we opted to skip, but the park has much to offer visitors, including rental cabins. If you’re interested in Lewis and Clark, this is an especially good stop.
Written 31 August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Linda J
1 contribution
Sept 2021 • Family
We have been coming to the park for many years. We've stayed in the older cabins, the newer houses & brought our camper to the campsites with friends. It has always been clean & well taken care of. Once we came up to their Halloween Hayride & that was So much fun. They put a lot of work into it. Their Nature Center is very nice & they have many scheduled events. Great place for families & get together s.
Written 31 August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
revcisco
Brady, TX6 contributions
Jul 2022 • Family
Plenty of trails. Beautiful scenery. Nice cabins and other outdoor activities. The park is a short drive from Sioux City, and Ponca, NE offers a grocer and couple restaurants.
Written 7 July 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
OutdoorKidz
Saint Louis, MO869 contributions
Oct 2021
This is a pretty large state park. Lots of campsites scattered in several different locations throughout the park. You should find a suitable site that pleases your preference. There are also a few nice trails that are pretty easy to hike and would accommodate most skill levels.
Written 24 October 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Cheri R
East Hampton, CT164 contributions
Jul 2021
So peaceful and beautiful. We were traveling across the country and stopped here for the afternoon. We felt refreshed and at peace after our visit. If I lived closer, I would definitely visit often!
Written 31 July 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
JBH
409 contributions
Jul 2021
Some beautiful spots to see...At the entrance, there is the Tower statue with waterfall (there is a parking lot beside it), we went to the visitor center and walked through the museum, three state overlook (there is a parking lot right next to it), the oldest tree (you can access it from the trail or park at the top of the stairs further up the road and walk down to it), and we took the Corp of Discovery Trail (you can park at the trailhead).
The end of the trail comes out in a parking lot further down, it is well marked, and has both beautiful overlook views and lush forested areas. Some of the side trails that show the overlook are inches from the cliff. They may not actually be the trail, but nothing indicates where it is or isn't. At the end of the trail, you can turn and hike it back or walk along the road back to the trail head.
The map was difficult to follow at points. We got turned around, but a friendly staff member had us follow him to the point we needed.
The end of the trail comes out in a parking lot further down, it is well marked, and has both beautiful overlook views and lush forested areas. Some of the side trails that show the overlook are inches from the cliff. They may not actually be the trail, but nothing indicates where it is or isn't. At the end of the trail, you can turn and hike it back or walk along the road back to the trail head.
The map was difficult to follow at points. We got turned around, but a friendly staff member had us follow him to the point we needed.
Written 30 July 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
tamiwhammy
Bellevue, NE84 contributions
Jul 2021
Beautiful scenery. Lots of great hiking trails. The sculpture and waterfall are beautiful. I had a lovely time here and enjoyed my hike.
Written 26 July 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dianna S
Titusville, FL2 contributions
Jul 2020 • Solo
Beautiful campground. It got a 3 because we brought our motor home in towing a vehicle with a total of 3 people and they charged us a state park fee for both the motor home and truck. Did not find that fair as we had paid for 3 nights at the campground and it’s not like we would be driving the RV in and out of the campground. The travel trailers don’t get charged why on earth would they charge for our RV?
Had we not paid in advance we would have left.
As far as who was with our party it was myself, spouse and elderly mother.
Had we not paid in advance we would have left.
As far as who was with our party it was myself, spouse and elderly mother.
Written 28 July 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Fromcarterlake
45 contributions
How likely am I to get a tent site on a Saturday in July? Thanks!
WahooNKS
omaha, ne11 contributions
Any photos of the newer 2-bedroom cabins in Scout Hill Loop? Can't find anything on the site or the web.
I9046FKnancyg
Omaha, NE2 contributions
Very nice. Described as cottages once you get here. Full kitchen-stocked with cooking items. Deck with grill. Nice finishes inside. Two full bedrooms with double beds in each.
Samira F
Fresno, CA
I cant find a place where the daily fee for this park or any other State Parks are listed. Can someone lemme know where to find them or how much it will be to visit some of them?? Thank you
Daily fee for Nebraska state parks, for non-residents, is $8 per day. It is $46 for an annual permit. See:
ngpc-home.ne.gov and then and select "Park Permits". The larger state parks have offices in which you can buy a permit, and you can buy them on-line.
Sandywyo
Sheridan, WY112 contributions
Pool $
Wanting to come with my 5 kids and sister with her 5 kids to camp in cabin\ lodge summer 2018. My concern is pool $. Read here 10$ per kid each day? So despite paying hundreds of $ for cabin each night I would also have to pay 50$ a day to swim? Is there a family pass?
Twobeeks
Omaha, NE5 contributions
$7 for adults and $5 for children ages 5-12. Went today and it was worth it. Water slide and sun included in admission. It costs a bit to maintain quality facilities, and this pool, though small, is nice.
EnjoyThis
Lincoln, NE54 contributions
Does This Park have a restaurant/Lodge or some type of Food option available? Thinking of going up for the day. Just want to compare this park to the Platte River one.
fjward
Omaha, NE30 contributions
No restaurant in the park but the town of Ponca has grocery stores and restaurants
firefly331
South Dakota67 contributions
Hello, I know they have a nice pool there, but why isn`t there a swim beach there? Thankyou!
Margaret C
North Kansas City, MO16 contributions
Are there pictures of the 'rustic cabins' and the modern ones on this site?
Angelo T
Bellingham, WA36 contributions
I know they have the modern ones on there, didn't notice the rustic ones on there. They're planning to rebuild some of them.
would like to know if there are any activities going on in the month of December 2015 specifically the weekend of the 26-28th.
Senia M
Lincoln, NE
Is there any place nearby or between Lincoln and Ponca where you can rent canoes? We really want to canoe with our kids at the park, but it looks like the park itself does not offer rentals. Anything on our drive up or within reasonable distance from the park would be helpful to know. Thanks!
Angelo T
Bellingham, WA36 contributions
I know Ponca has a kayaking tour that they rent the kayaks for but only for the tour.
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Claim your listingPONCA STATE PARK: All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)
Frequently Asked Questions about Ponca State Park
- Hotels near Ponca State Park:
- (3.43 km) Trails Inn
- (10.88 km) Home Towne Inn
- (10.53 km) Prairie Bed & Breakfast
- (15.52 km) Park Jeff Campground
- (3.59 km) Oak Trail Inn
- Restaurants near Ponca State Park:
- (3.53 km) Outlaw Pizza
- (13.46 km) Bob's Bar & Grill
- (10.48 km) Spink Cafe
- (8.64 km) Rivertime Resort
- (10.69 km) Ollie's Drive Inn