We decided to tell this story in two parts, hence the delay between posts. When we first started traveling in Camper VanWilder, a lot of things were still closed (the marina at Lovewell Lake and a restaurant in Superior, NE to name just two things). We first made it to the Superior, Nebraska area in April 2002. By late July 2022, things had changed a fair bit. In July 2022, we drove from Broomfield to Atwood, KS the first day and spent the night. It was perfect because it is approximately halfway to my hometown and our final destination on this trip.
Atwood Lake is amazing and a great place to stay. The lake is always full of water, and it appears that there is always an opportunity to do some fishing here. It is about a 1 mile walk completely around the lake which will be good for the dog, and you can do some side trails/streets to add distance. There is a golf course nearby as well as an antique shop. The lake has hookups for the RV and there is a somewhat primitive restroom with a shower. Within walking distance, you have a Casey’s General Store to grab a cup of coffee and a slice of breakfast pizza in the morning. They also sell beer if that is something you desire, but there is a locally owned liquor store just a ½ block east of here (keep reading). If you want to exercise beyond a dog walk, there is a fitness trail on the north side of the lake that has numerous stations to do pull-ups, stretching, body-weight exercises, and more.
Here’s a bit more about Atwood Lake.
https://www.cityofatwoodks.com/visitors/lake_campground.php
They don’t take advanced reservations and it is first come, first serve (probably not a problem unless there is some crazy local event happening). To book a site, proceed to the Atwood Corner Convenience Store, located at Highway 36 between 4th and 5th Street. They can sell you a site at the lake for $25 per night. There is a liquor store in the other half of the building and they have a few semi-local craft beers and the normal selection of drinks you’d like to have in an unfamiliar place.
There isn’t a ton to do in Atwood, but we’ve never been bored or really yearned for much more from the town. There are some decent restaurants apparently (which we have never tried). We’ve been through dozens of times and only stayed overnight once. We do plan on going back and doing a more thorough exploration of the town and area.
If you don’t want to stay at the lake in an RV or camp, there is a “hotel” right along Highway 36 near the lake. It’s called the “It’ll Do Hotel.” Their highway sign says, “It’s not a Hilton, but It’ll do.” I can’t imagine the accommodations are more than a star or two, but you only live once. They have a convention center and a bird-cleaning station if you’re going to be there hunting pheasants, ducks, geese, turkey, or quail.
We drove on Thursday afternoon and got to Superior, NE in the early evening on our July 2022 trip (the return).
A few interesting facts about Superior, Nebraska:
Superior claims to be the Victorian capital of Nebraska and there are in fact numerous beautiful homes in the community. If you’re a fan of the era than make it a destination over Memorial Day when Superior hosts the Lady Vestey Victorian Festival. There’s a parade, food trucks, Victorian home tours, and colorful locals. What’s not to like? The Facebook link below tells a better story about it than I can.
https://www.facebook.com/VictorianFestivalOfSuperior/
Superior is most likely the birthplace of two food items, the Gravel Top Cinnamon Roll and Sauerkraut Pizza. I detail where you can try both later in this blog. Here is some more information and reading on these “Superior” culinary treats.
https://www.1011now.com/content/news/Superior-Foods-in-Superior-Nebraska-485932681.html
Lovewell Reservoir and State Park:
Lovewell is a great spot to camp, fish, boat, bird, and take a dog. Sanni loved it. We stayed at the Cottonwood CG, spot 415, which had abundant views of the water and was less than 100 yards to the bath/shower house and the trash dumpster. Having grown up near here, I’ve been to Lovewell hundreds of times. It gets crazy busy in the warmer months and I’m sure it becomes hard for the park to keep up on things such as restroom maintenance and law enforcement. Update: We had no issues during the busy July stay. Everything was booked up and the facilities remained clean and functional.
The power here is reliable. The dog walking opportunities are endless, as are the places to bird, fish, put in a stand-up paddleboard, go for a run, go for a swim and the like. Good facilities for $25 per night and $5 per day for a vehicle pass. I’d recommend the annual KS pass which is $25 per year, and you have it paid for in a 5 day stay.
The marina at Lovewell SP (in season) has basic supplies (TP, feminine products, canned food, cheap beer, bait, fishing supplies, and other sundries) and in years past a pretty decent BBQ restaurant. You order at the counter, and they bring it out to you on their comfortable and shady patio under some pine trees. This place does seem to change hands often and the hours are sporadic so beware. As of now, they are serving three meals a day, have bait and tackle, and boat rentals. Update: The restaurant is still in operation during normal summer hours, and they have coffee and breakfast in the morning. They also serve lunch and dinner. It is still BBQ/Smoked meat dominated but it is quite good. You can get a burger also and they have a wing night as well as other specials. See Link below for more info.
http://www.lovewellmarina.com/
We did some Stand Up Paddleboarding while here and also had a cookout at the campsite for family and friends.
Here’s a site to get more information on gorgeous Lovewell Reservoir and State Park.
https://ksoutdoors.com/State-Parks/Locations/Lovewell
Places to eat and provision in Superior, Nebraska
Las Canteras Mexican restaurant ( https://www.lascanterassuperiornebraska.com/ ) is a good small town Mexican place though I don’t care for their margaritas. They are too sugary and sweet for me and, I think, lacking the proper amount of tequila. I often get the Chile Colorado when I’m here. The flavors are quite good, though I’d prefer a chunkier cut of beef that is a little less well done. The chicken enchiladas are on par with the best I’ve ever had in a restaurant. If you’re not a local, the people-watching can be entertaining. Amazingly, in a town that hovers just under 2,000 residents, this place is always pretty damned busy.
Dave’s Place has gone away with a new owner coming in soon (as of mid-April 2022). Until now they had “unique” food items including Sauerkraut Pizza and meatloaf and flatiron steak (both local recipe and spices). Update: The new place is called the Flatwater Bar and Grill. They still are serving some of the same menu items and the portion sizes are large. It is located at 243 N. Central Ave. They don’t appear to have a website up and running just yet. They also don’t seem to have their act together completely. It takes time with any new restaurant.
The Bowling Alley in Superior is a good local time but don’t make eye-contact at first. People are friendly, but don’t be the tourist that stares. They have microwaves and toaster ovens so you can get a few things like wings and personal pizzas, but not a gourmet meal. If you’re starving, you’ll survive elsewhere. This is a drunken snack place. Not that you can’t subsist on nachos and corndogs….
Superior Bowl is located at 126 E 2nd St #1703, Superior, NE 68978
The Country Club north of town is quite nice for a drink. They have a good selection of bottled beers, a full bar, and occasionally catered meals. The facility is large, clean, and fun place to go. I’m not a golfer but it is reputably a very nice 9-hole course. During the summer, this is the place to be on Friday and Saturday nights. https://superiorcountryclub.com/
P.S. If it is slow or closed, drive 3 miles south to the bowling alley.
Ideal Market is a good grocery place but can be pricey and the produce is hit or miss. It might be fresh or might not be. They may have limes, or they may not. They have strawberries or they just have straw bales and may have frozen berries. Despite this, you can provision for a camping trip here, but you just must remember you’ll probably be disappointed a few times and make a few sacrifices. The bakery here is where you can pick up some Gravel Top Cinnamon Rolls to try. They are best fresh, so get them early in the morning on a weekday. For a long time at Ideal Market their catchphrase has been, “If we don’t have it, you don’t need it.”
Bomgaars is a good place to get RV equipment, pet supplies, camping and fishing stuff. It is located on the east edge of Superior along Highway 8. https://www.bomgaars.com/
Another option for a stay in Superior, Nebraska is Lincoln Park. It is located just north of Highway 14 on the west edge of town. It is a large park that has roughly 15 RV pads with electrical hookups and water. It is shady here under the large cottonwoods. The Park is city operated and currently it is just a donation that is required for you to use it. I recommend $20 per day. There is a seasonal restroom here, but no showers. This is a “1st come, 1st serve” place, but I’ve never seen it full.
In April 2022, we spent 3 nights at Lovewell SP and one night in my parent’s driveway before rolling on to Lincoln, Nebraska. Our plan was to continue from Lincoln to Omaha and then go down towards the Lake of the Ozarks to meet family for a few days. Unfortunately, I had to return home for a work trip, so our journey was cut short. We spent two nights in Lincoln. The rest of this post concludes the April 2022 part of our Nebraska trip.
We drove uneventfully from Superior, NE to Lincoln, NE. After meeting a friend for drinks at Lazlo’s in the Haymarket section of downtown, we spent the first night at Camp A Way RV Park. It was busy, not especially quiet, but met our needs. We ran out of propane during the night and spend the early morning hours quite cold in the van.
The 2nd night in Lincoln, we met friends at Catalyst. This is a 4.5-star taproom, and it is well-reviewed. The craft beer selection is impressive, and the food is scratch and “chef-y.” This place is WELL worth a stop.
We stayed at the Holiday Inn nearby which was dog friendly. We were able to reconnoiter and as it turns out, we were right by a Tractor Supply and were able to fill our propane tanks here. We then decided to just shoot for home that afternoon, which we accomplished in less than 8 hours. Thus, our journey to Nebraska and this campervan trip came to an end.
