Bayard City Park

I guess it is all in your perspective. I read other reviews for this place but I could not agree with them! We had some difficulty locating this park and eventually asked a local where it was (Google maps will not direct you to the right place; the “campground” is located on East 11th Street and First Avenue. It is located uphill from the downtown area so don’t confuse it with another city park closer to downtown. Now, to review the campground. Western Nebraska campgrounds are unlike other places we are used to – perhaps it is because of summer heat (and biting flies) but most seem to be geared toward RVs. This one has three sites, although they are not separated in any way save for the electrical and water hook-ups. Just room for three rigs on a gravel area. No tents for sure. Across the street from these “sites” is a nice lawn area with lots of trees and a covered picnic pavilion, which could make your stay more pleasant, as long as a group isn’t using it. There was a persistent barking dog nearby while I was checking it out. About the only redeeming thing I can think of for this place is the price: free for the first two nights but you would need to pay $10 per night after (I guess to discourage people from living there). Close to Chimney Rock and about 25 miles from Scotts Bluff but otherwise not much in the area.

We pulled in here late on a Friday. There are three spots. One was occupied. We tried to take the one at the other end, but the pedestal had issues with the 50A receptacle, so we moved to the middle spot. There's plenty of space even parked side-by-side. It looks like you could get three vehicles in each spot.

Gravel was even and mostly level. Power and water is right at the back of the spot on the south side. There's a lovely park with trees for relaxing under and a large picnic shelter right across the street. Dumpster nearby. Good cell service.

The only issue was the approaches into the park. Road is a bit twisty with so low hanging tree limbs, so big rig drivers need to keep an eye out.

We thanked the city by having dinner at one of the restaurants in town. We can definitely recommend Twisted Spur

Other reviewers summaries spot on. Rate is free for first two nights then $10 per night. Register at Town offices. Watch for low hanging trees if you have a big rig on the streets coming into the park. If you have a tall rig, coming north on US26, turn east on 8th Street, first left on 1st AVE then north to the park. Avoids the roof eating trees.

Great small town restaurant (only one in town) at the Corner Cafe. If the lights are on they are open otherwise closed.

Verizon 19mbps down
AT&T 9.75mbps down

I stayed here one night in August 2017, and don't have much else to add to the other reviews - it is a very nice site, level, and long enough to not need to unhook for an overnight stay. Back in only, with about 5 electric boxes and water hookups. Awesome quality for a free overnight! I had a little trouble finding it, but the park is located right next to the water tower. Once I noticed that in the pictures, I looked for the water tower and it led me here! I don't remember exactly how many bars I had for AT&T coverage, but I was able to stream Netflix without a problem, so good in my book!

There are only 3 spots on a gravel parking area, but they are free for two nights with 30 and 50 amp electric and water. Plus there is a nice, green park across the street. There is a small pavilion with picnic tables in the park. We only drove through town a couple times, but we met a nice resident who takes her golf cart and dogs up to visit her husband's grave every night. She suggested walking the dirt road back there next to the fields which was pleasant. You are near the fields and can catch a whiff of manure sometimes. We did see a police car drive through every so often. They probably make a round of the town within an hour.

As noted in other reviews, there's not much in town. It's only a mile or two from Chimney Rock and 20-30 from
Scotts Bluff National Monument and the slightly bigger towns there. We are at the Mixing Bowl in Gering which was delicious.

It was mainly quiet except for the fire alarm that went off the first night. We didn't actually know what it was, but after looking at the weather, we decided it wasn't a tornado. Our neighbor told us it was a fire the next day.

Our internet was usable for work and streaming, but Verizon did slow down at times. AT&T was clocking between 10-12 Mbps down and only .5 up. Verizon was 7 down and between 6.5 and 8.5 up.

It was a nice little stop to experience some Oregon and California Trail landmarks.

There isn't much in Bayard, so I don't recommend going out of your way to go there BUT if you are in the area this is the place to stay.

Basically a nice parking lot with 4 RV spaces across from a well tended community park.

Signs say it is free for the first 2 nights and then $10 a night after that. We stayed for 4 nights, so we went down to city hall and paid $20 for our pass for the next two nights, but that averages us out at $5 a night.

The lady at City Hall tried to talk me out of paying, basically saying they didn't care if we did or not, but I only felt right and I couldn't balk at the price. The pedestal is 50amp power and they have water.

The city is pretty dead, but as other said you are only a few miles from Chimney Rock and about a 30 minute drive from Scotts Bluff. There is an RV park at the base of Chimney Rock and I can't see paying $20 or more a night there when this is free.

Bayard is pretty dead but they do have their own police department and we did see them drive by a few times, so they do patrol which is nice, but we never felt unsafe and everyone we met was friendly.

On the other side of town (about a mile and a half away) there is another park and there is a free sewer dump at that park. We dumped there on our way out of town.

I recorded in our notes that we had 4 bars of service but didn't record if that was AT&T, Verizon or Both.

[Actual stay 10/16/16]

Where can you camp for FREE with electric AND water? This level gravel lot was located across from a large town park with tennis courts and public swimming pool. We stayed here shortly after the Labor Day Weekend and had the place to ourselves. It was very quiet. There's 3 - 30amp electric and water pedestals and more room for dry camping. It's located within walking distance to town but the town looks to be struggling with vacant buildings. Our camp spot was only 3 miles from the historic Chimney Rock and Scottsbluff is about 20 miles away. The area is rich in Pioneer history. Ah, but keep in mind, this is cattle country and depending on the winds, the air can be unpleasantly scented.