During the late 1840s, many American settlers traveling westward along the Mormon Trail and Overland Trails arrived in the town of Kearney. This was the start of Kearney's role as a popular crossroads for major transportation arteries moving east to west. In 1848, the U.S. Army established a military fort in the area, which was named Fort Kearny after the famed military officer Stephen W. Kearny. Eventually, this fort would become the namesake for the city. Kearney was officially incorporated as a city on December 3rd, 1873, and it was chosen as the seat of Buffalo County a year later in 1874.
Currently, Kearney is home to approximately 34,000 people and is known as the "Sandhill Crane Capital of the World" due to the huge population of sandhill cranes that gather in the area every spring. Kearney also features many fascinating museums, beautiful natural areas, and historical attractions. When you're exploring the city, a great way to start is by spending some time in the downtown area. There, you'll find a wonderful selection of cafés, shops, and food stalls, and you'll also have a great chance of hearing some live music on a street corner or two.
One of Kearney's most popular attractions is the World Theatre, which dates back to 1927 and is an excellent place to watch a movie. After you visit the vintage theater, you'll definitely want to stop by a few of the city's unique museums. One worth checking out is the Classic Car Museum, where you can browse a variety of gorgeous older cars. Another great option is the Museum of Nebraska Art, which boasts an impressive collection of sculptures and paintings. There's also the Nebraska Firefighter’s Museum, featuring a variety of interesting and educational exhibits related to the people who protect lives and homes.
The Kearney area is also known for its multitude of beautiful hiking trails, and if the sun is out during your visit, you'll want to take some time to explore them. One of the most popular hiking areas is the Fort Kearny State Recreation Area, which features several excellent trails. Alternatively, if you want to see some of the sandhill cranes that Kearney is famous for, you can do so at the Rowe Sanctuary. If you visit during the springtime, you'll have an excellent chance of seeing lots of these amazing birds.
Summerfest - The annual Summerfest in Kearney is an awesome family-friendly event to celebrate the summer. The festival, which takes place at the end of July at the Great Platte River Road Archway Monument, will feature a bounce house, a giant slide, food trucks, mini-golf, and much more!
SoulFest - The annual SoulFest is happening at the Buffalo County Fairgrounds in mid-September. The unique event will showcase many wonderful healing options, including energy work, massage, crystals, natural foods, acupuncture, and many others.
Four Winds Art & Music Fest - The annual Four Winds Art & Music Fest takes place at The Otherside in Kearney in late August. The event includes lots of awesome musical acts as well as art and vendors.
If you make your way down to northern Kansas, you can visit the popular natural haven of Wilson State Park. The 945-acre park is an excellent destination for activities like hiking, fishing, boating, swimming, biking, and watersports. The park is also a great spot to partake in wildlife viewing and bird watching.
Niobrara State Park is a peaceful recreation area in northeastern Nebraska comprising 1,640 acres of bluffs. While visiting the serene park, you can go hiking or biking along the nature trails, cool off with a refreshing swim, go horseback riding on a wrangler-led trail ride, or check out the cool interpretive center.
If you enjoy water-based recreation, you'll definitely want to visit Tuttle Creek Lake. Located within Tuttle Creek Lake State Park, the 10,900-acre reservoir is a superb destination for boating and fishing for catfish and flathead fish. On the shores, you can go hiking, check out the shooting range, or have some fun on the 18-hole disc golf course.
One fun thing to do in Nebraska is to check out a few of the state's coolest monuments and landmarks. If you're in the Lincoln area, you can start with the William Jennings Bryan House, which was constructed in 1902 for the famous politician William Jennings Bryan. In 1921, he donated the house to be used as a hospital, and it's a fascinating site to visit to this day.
Another Lincoln landmark worth visiting is the State Capitol Building. The impressive building was built in the early 20th century from Indiana limestone, and its amazing silhouette is legendary. In addition to getting an up-close look at the building, you can take a guided tour to learn about its history.
If you head to Omaha, you can check out the Durham Museum, which features a wide variety of artifacts and exhibits in relation to the region. The museum also offers daily events and special programs, including a summer camp for kids.
Many excellent campgrounds can be found around Kearney, and one example is the Mormon Island State Recreation Area. The peaceful park boasts 52 RV campsites available for only $20 per night. There aren't hookups or modern amenities, but during your stay, you'll have convenient access to activities like fishing, boating, swimming, and wildlife viewing.
You could also stay at the Grand Island KOA, which features 100 full-hookup RV campsites available for $45 per night. Guests at the campground have access to an on-site store, a pizzeria, a game room, a playground, and many other amenities and activities.
Another very affordable camping option is the Bader Memorial Park Campground, where you can stay in one of the 39 primitive RV sites for just $15 per night. The campground is located in a peaceful, beautiful natural area, and it's an excellent choice if you're looking for a relaxing experience.
Motorhomes are divided into Class A, B, and C vehicles. On average expect to pay $185 per night for Class A, $149 per night for Class B and $179 per night for Class C. Towable RVs include 5th Wheel, Travel Trailers, Popups, and Toy Hauler. On average, in Kearney, NE, the 5th Wheel trailer starts at $70 per night. Pricing for the Travel Trailer begins at $60 per night, and the Popup Trailer starts at $65 per night.
Do you need to be a certain age to rent an RV in Kearney?Yes. The minimum age is 25 to be eligible to get an RV Rental in Kearney from RVshare.
Does RVshare have emergency roadside assistance?Yes. Every RV rental booked through RVshare receives 24/7 emergency roadside assistance.
Does RVshare offer one way RV rentals in Kearney?Yes. Prior to renting any RV, check with the owner since not all will offer this particular option.
