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Lake McConaughy

Ogallala, Nebraska — Keith County.

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24,885Surface acres
4Public access sites

Surface area: The USGS National Hydrography Dataset outline (NHD Permanent ID 139496217).

Nearest airports

The closest airport with scheduled passenger flights to Lake McConaughy, plus larger airports within about 150 miles:

Car rental links go to our partner Discover Cars; LakeRipple may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Affiliate disclosure.

Airports with scheduled airline service from OurAirports (large and medium airports); larger airports are FAA large, medium and small hubs by FAA CY2025 enplanements ("major airport" = FAA large hub). Distances are straight-line from the lake's center, not driving distance; road routes are longer.

Location & fast facts

Where Lake McConaughy is in Nebraska

The red circle marks Lake McConaughy.

Fast facts

About Lake McConaughy

  • County: Keith
  • Nearest city: Ogallala (about 1.9 mi from the lake)
  • Mapped as: Lake or pond (USGS National Hydrography Dataset)
  • Distance: about 55 mi from North Platte and 181 mi from Grand Island, straight-line (not driving distance)

Towns and counties: U.S. Census Bureau boundaries overlaid on the USGS lake outline (Nebraska: incorporated places touching the lake, otherwise the nearest one).

Fishing in Nebraska

Official NGPC pages. Rules and fees change; check before you go.

Good for & watch for

Good for

  • Boating. 4 public trailer launches listed (see access)
  • Swimming. 3 public beach or swim spots on the map (details)
  • Camping. 14 campgrounds within 15 mi, 11 on the shore (list)

Watch for

  • Boat traffic. A public trailer launch means motorboats share the water; expect more traffic on summer weekends.
  • No lifeguard listed. None of our sources lists a staffed lifeguard. Swim at your own risk and watch children closely.

Built only from the data on this page: official access lists, OpenStreetMap beaches and trails, campground listings, state and USGS invasive-species records. We don't rate crowds or water quality.

Lake map

Lake McConaughy shoreline, boat launches & beaches

Arthur Bay (campground)K-1 Cabin Area (campground)Laveview (campground)Little Thunder (campground)Lone Eagle (campground)Martin Bay (campground)Ogallala Beach Campground (campground)Otter Creek (campground)Sand Creek (campground)Sandy Beach (campground)Spring Park (campground)Omaha Beach (campground)Eagle Canyon (campground)Boat ramp (Boat launch)1Boat ramp (Boat launch)2Boat ramp (Boat launch)3Boat ramp (Boat launch)4Cedar View Beach (Beach)5Ogallala Beach (Beach)6Divers Bay Beach (Beach)71 mileN

Numbers on the map match the list at rightbelow.

Boat launchBeach Campground
  1. 1Boat ramp
    Boat launch
  2. 2Boat ramp
    Boat launch
  3. 3Boat ramp
    Boat launch
  4. 4Boat ramp
    Boat launch
  5. 5Cedar View Beach
    Beach
  6. 6Ogallala Beach
    Beach
  7. 7Divers Bay Beach
    Beach

Shoreline: USGS National Hydrography Dataset (NHD Waterbody, Permanent ID 139496217), public domain. State outline: U.S. Census Bureau TIGERweb. Points: OpenStreetMap boat ramps (no statewide agency ramp layer used) and OpenStreetMap boat ramps (ODbL). Interactive map: Leaflet with © OpenStreetMap contributors. Not for navigation.

Campgrounds near Lake McConaughy

We found 14 campgrounds and RV parks within 15 miles of Lake McConaughy, 13 of them within 5 miles. 11 are right on the shore. Distances are straight-line from the nearest point on the shoreline, so driving distance is longer.

8 more within 15 miles

All campgrounds & RV parks in Nebraska

Green tent icons on the lake map mark campgrounds near the shore, and the interactive map shows the closest 12. Amenities are listed only where a source records them; call or check the campground's website before you go, since seasons and rates change every year.

Campground data: OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Pulled Oct 12, 2026.

Conditions right now

Air temperature & conditions (nearest NWS station)Loading…
Fetching the latest National Weather Service observation…

Live from the National Weather Service API for the lake's coordinates (41.2490, -101.8007). The nearest station may be several miles away. NWS forecast for Lake McConaughy. No live water-temperature sensor is shown because we haven't found a public one for this lake.

Sun, moon & best fishing times

Sun & moon at Lake McConaughy

Best fishing times

Major periodMinor periodDaylight

    Based on solunar theory, an estimate. Major periods (about 2 hours) center on when the moon is directly overhead or underfoot; minor periods (about 1 hour) center on moonrise and moonset. The 0–100 activity score rises during those periods and gets a boost near sunrise and sunset and around the new and full moon. Weather, water temperature and pressure often matter more. Sun and moon times are calculated in your browser from the lake's coordinates with standard astronomy formulas, shown in MT (America/Denver), and accurate to within a few minutes.

    Boat launches & access sites

    4 public access sites listed, 4 with a boat ramp or trailer launch.

    SiteTownOwnerTypeParkingFeeUsesMap
    Boat ramp——Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp——Boating41.2507, -101.7512
    Boat ramp——Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp——Boating41.2506, -101.7295
    Boat ramp——Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp——Boating41.2509, -101.6877
    Boat ramp——Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp——Boating41.2515, -101.7291

    OpenStreetMap boat ramps (no statewide agency ramp layer used) and OpenStreetMap boat ramps (ODbL)

    Fees, hours and rules change; confirm with the site owner before you go.

    Public beaches

    On OpenStreetMap: 3 beaches and swimming spots on the shore of Lake McConaughy not marked private, residents-only or members-only.

    BeachTypeAccessDirections
    Cedar View BeachBeachAccess not tagged; check posted rulesGet directions
    Ogallala BeachBeachAccess not tagged; check posted rulesGet directions
    Divers Bay BeachBeachAccess not tagged; check posted rulesGet directions

    Beaches: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), within about 150 m (500 ft) of the lake outline. A mapped beach is not a guarantee that swimming is allowed, supervised or safe; some town beaches need a resident sticker even when the map doesn't say so. Check posted rules and water-quality advisories before you swim.

    Contact & official info

    Questions about Lake McConaughy

    How big is Lake McConaughy?

    Lake McConaughy covers about 24,885 acres in Ogallala, Nebraska (Keith County).

    Is there a public boat launch on Lake McConaughy?

    Yes. 4 public trailer launches are listed: Boat ramp, Boat ramp and Boat ramp. Check posted fees and parking rules.

    Can you swim in Lake McConaughy?

    OpenStreetMap shows 3 public beach or swimming spots on the shore. None of our sources lists a lifeguard, so swim at your own risk and follow posted rules.

    Are there campgrounds near Lake McConaughy?

    Yes. We list 14 campgrounds and RV parks within 15 miles, 13 of them within 5 miles.

    What towns are on Lake McConaughy?

    Lake McConaughy touches Ogallala in Keith County, Nebraska.

    Share a tip or fishing report

    Know Lake McConaughy? Tell us about the launch, parking, where they're biting or anything a first-time visitor should know. Tips go privately to the LakeRipple editor; nothing is posted automatically. Helpful tips may be featured on this page (we'll use your first name only if you give one).

    Lakes & ponds nearby

    Straight-line distance between lake centers. All Nebraska lakes & ponds · All waters in Ogallala