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Fort Robinson

State Park

Soldier Creek Road and US Highway 20 | Crawford, NE 69339

Stunning Fort Robinson State Park comprises more than 22,000 acres of exquisite Pine Ridge scenery, compelling Old West history, exceptional lodging, scenic camping and the park’s own buffalo and longhorn herds. Fort Robinson is a particularly popular destination for family reunions and has been named one of the nation’s top family reunion spots by USA Today, among other publications.

As its name implies, Fort Robinson was operated as a fort from the early days of the Old West until after World War II. Many original buildings survive and remain in use at the park today, and others have been reconstructed. Fort Robinson was the site of the 1879 Cheyenne Outbreak and the death of famed Sioux Chief Crazy Horse. Over the years, the fort served the Red Cloud Indian Agency, as a cavalry remount station, K-9 dog training center, POW camp and beef research station. It was established as a state park in 1962.

Features

  • Biking
  • Boating
  • Cabins
  • Camping
  • Canoe/Kayak
  • Equestrian trails
  • Fishing
  • Food service
  • Hiking
  • Hunting
  • Lodging
  • Picnicking
  • Playground
  • Swimming
  • Trail rides
A young man fishes from a dock

Fishing

Fort Robinson has 10 ponds, along with fishing opportunities on cold-water streams in and near the park, making it an ideal location to cast a line. Anglers can find rainbow and tiger trout, small- and largemouth bass, bluegill, yellow perch, black crappie and more.

Two hikers look out over the buttes

Hiking & biking

Fort Robinson State Park offers 60 miles of hiking trails and 20 miles of mountain biking trails, making it Nebraska’s top park for hiking enthusiasts. The park also offers mountain bike rental at the Activity Center.

A jeep drives down a butte

Jeep rides

Get a close-up view of Nebraska’s panhandle skyline while on a Jeep tour of Fort Robinson’s surrounding buttes and interesting geologic formations unique to this part of the state. Rides are available daily during the summer months. Reservations may be made at the park.

Attractions

Fort Robinson restaurant serves breakfast, lunch and dinner daily Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day. The park can also cater for group functions from mid-April to mid-November. Snacks are available at the Sutler’s Store in the Activities Center.

Fort Robinson is a horse rider’s paradise, offering 20 miles of trails, as well as many miles of fire service roads to ride, with more riding opportunities available nearby at the Nebraska National Forest. Additionally, Fort Robinson provides great accommodations for both horse and rider.

The Legend Buttes Golf Course is a nine-hole course that is open daily beginning April 1. Call 308-665-2431 for fees and tee times.

For history buffs, the Nebraska State Historical Society operates a museum and many restored or reconstructed exhibit buildings to interpret the Fort’s history, and the University of Nebraska operates the Trailside Museum, which interprets the geology and natural history of the region.

The Post Playhouse at Fort Robinson attracts professional actors from across the country and has developed a reputation throughout the region as a destination for quality, entertaining theater. The Playhouse features five musicals in rotation throughout the summer and offers eight shows a week during the season. Tickets and show details are available online and tickets can be purchased at the box office.

An old-fashioned rodeo is held at 8:00 p.m. each Thursday evening during the summer. Rodeos are free to the public.

Get acquainted with the lay of the land by enjoying a horse-drawn tour of the park, as well as stagecoach rides. Both are available daily during the summer months. Reservations may be made at the park.

The indoor, Olympic-size Lindeken Pool, complete with an outdoor wading pool and sun deck, is open Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day.

Hours
Memorial Day through Mid-August:
Daily, 12:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Mid-August through Labor Day:
Saturday, Sunday and Labor Day: 12:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Fort Robinson also offers an activities center, visitor’s center, picnic shelters, tube and mountain bike rental, hayrack breakfast rides, buffalo stew and steak cookouts and more. Call the park office for more information.

Chadron State Park 

Nebraska’s first state park, Chadron State Park, offers cabins, camping and many activities against the backdrop of the beautiful Pine Ridge.

Agate Fossil Beds National Monument

Agate Fossil Beds National Monument is one of the world’s most significant Miocene Epoch mammal sites. Several fossils can be found in exhibits along some of the monument’s trails. Exhibits in the visitor center contain a few real fossils and many plastic resin replicas.

Nebraska National Forest and Grasslands

Nebraska National Forest and Grasslands offers a combination of native ponderosa pine forest, hand-planed forest and mixed grass.

Pine Ridge National Recreation Area

Pine Ridge National Recreation Area provides 6,600 acres of ponderosa pine forests, trails and primitive camping.

Toadstool Geologic Park

The national park showcases the unique rock formations of the area, including many shaped like toadstools.

Museum of the Fur Trade

The Museum of the Fur Trade is dedicated to preserving the rich history of the North American fur trade and stands on the site of James Bordeaux’s trading post which was established for the American Fur Company in 1837.

Lodging options

Historic lodging

Among the more unique features of Fort Robinson State Park are the stately buildings that once served as housing for the soldiers and officers stationed at the fort. Today, these spacious, beautiful buildings have been converted to lodging for guests at the park. Stay in the 1909 enlisted men’s quarters or in the former officer’s quarters, which date from 1874 to 1909. These options sleep between two and 20 people. For those seeking space for a family reunion or other large group, Comanche Hall can sleep up to 60 people. Altogether, there are 35 different group lodging options. All options have kitchens, baths and bedrooms. Larger cabins also feature living rooms. Cabins are furnished with blankets, towels, stoves, refrigerators, silverware and cooking utensils. Another historic option for overnight visitors is reserving one of the 22 rooms in the historic lodge.

Historic accommodations that can accommodate groups as large as 60 people under one roof, along with the vast array of activities, make Fort Robinson one of the most popular family reunion destinations in the region. Call the park office for more details on holding your family reunion at Fort Robinson State Park. Lodging season is mid-April to mid-November.

Camping

Fort Robinson State Park offers campers Full Hookup, Electric Plus, and Basic campsites within a scenic and historic backdrop of the Nebraska Pine Ridge. Red Cloud Campground offers 74 Full Hookup campsites, Soldier Creek Campground offers campers a shady campground with 77 Electric Plus and 22 Basic campsites. Mare Barn campground offers 20 Electric Plus, 4 Full Hookup and 8 Basic campsites. Red Cloud, Soldier Creek and Mare Barn campgrounds offer advance reservations. Other camping amenities include modern restrooms, showers, drinking water, a dump and fill station, picnic tables and shelters. There is a coin-operated laundry facility for park guests located near the Mare Barn facilities.

Camping reservations are available for half of the electrical campsites. All other camping is first-come, first-served. All campers should check in at the park office upon arrival. For those camping without reservations, please go to park office upon arrival to check availability and register to camp. Memorial weekend through Labor Day, the park office is open 24 hours so campers can register to camp or check-in on their camping reservation upon arrival. During the camping shoulder season, first-come, first-served walk-in guests will pick a campsite and pay at the office the next day.

Equestrian camping

For those that bring their own horse or mule to ride the scenic trails, there is a third campground near the Mare Barn Complex that offers equestrian campers Electric and Basic campsites. The Mare Barn Campground is conveniently located next to modern restrooms, the park’s coin-operated laundry facility and the Mare Barn stalls. Reservations are available for the Mare Barn Campground by calling the park.

Reservation information

Fort Robinson offers reservations for cabins and half of the electrical campsites. The remaining campsites are available first-come, first-served. Guests can plan vacations, check for availability and make their reservations online 24 hours a day, seven days a week or can call the Nebraska State Parks reservation call center at 402-471-1414, Monday through Friday between 9:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.

Rent a facility

Fort Robinson State Park offers multiple group facilities available for rent. Visit our pricing page for details. Picnic shelters may be reserved by calling the park.

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Contact Us

3200 Hwy. 20
Crawford, NE 69339-0392

Park Pricing

A park entry permit is required to visit state parks and may be purchased at the park, statewide Game and Parks offices and permit vendors, or in advance of your arrival online. View those fees, as well as attraction and amenity pricing.

Reservations

Reservations are accepted for cabins, lodge rooms, and group lodges up to one year in advance of the arrival date. Reservations for camping are accepted up to 180 days in advance of arrival date. The Reservation Call Center hours are Monday-Friday 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. (CT) and closed on holidays.

Park Events

Our 76 gorgeous state park and recreations areas host a plethora of events throughout the year. From bird hikes to kayak races, Living History events to family outdoor days, our parks host something fun for every outdoor enthusiast.