NSP Home Registration Event Schedule Activities Site Info NSP Online Prairie Astronomy Club Contact Us
NSP Registration does not include lodging. A number of options are available ranging from primitive camping on the observing fields to motels, Bed & Breakfast facilities, and RV spaces in the region. Note that NSP attendees often compete for lodging with motorcycle pilgrims heading to Sturgis, so we recommend that you make hotel reservations well in advance to be assured of a room.
Please Note:
- A Nebraska
State Park entrance permit is required on all vehicles entering the
NSP observing field or any of Merritt Reservoir's campgrounds, regardless
where you are staying. Permits may be obtained at Merritt Trading Post
or at any other Game and Parks Commission facility statewide. Cost is
$4.00 per vehicle for a daily permit, or $20.00 for an annual permit
valid in any Nebraska State Park through the end of December. Note that annual permits may now be purchased along with your NSP registration for your convenience.
- For those camping within the state park, which includes on the NSP observing field, there is also a daily camping fee of $6.00 per day, payable at kiosks located near campground entrances.
Camping
Campers will find primitive space both on the observing field and in the immediately adjacent Snake Campground maintained by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, with access to drinking water and vault toilets. No pads or electricity are available in the Snake Campground nor on the observing field, though Cedar Bay Campground to the north offers expanded facilities, including electric hookups and coin-operated showers. A dump station is located near the boat ramp just south of Merritt Trading Post. Camp sites are strictly first come, first served. Although there is a virtually unlimited number of sites available, shade and picnic tables are snapped up rapidly.
Valentine Area Motels, B&Bs
Also see the lodging page on the Valentine, Nebraska website. This year, several Valentine inns are offering discounts to NSP attendees when reservations are made prior to June 1st, so be sure to ask for the NSP rate when making reservations. Participating inns include:
- Comfort Inn
- Dunes Lodge & Suites
- Holiday Inn Express
- Motel Rain
- Americas Best Value Inn (Formerly Super 8 Motel)
- Trade
Winds Lodge
Comfort
Inn |
 |
| Dunes
Lodge & Suites E Highway 20th & 83rd Valentine, Nebraska 69201 402-376-3131, 800-357-3131 |
 |
| Holiday
Inn Express Valentine, Nebraska 69201 402-376-3000, 877-376-3003 |
 |
| Motel
Raine U.S. 20 West Valentine, Nebraska 69201 402-376-2030, 800-999-3066 (reservations only) |
 |
| Americas
Best Value Inn (Formerly Super 8 Motel) 223 East Highway 20 P.O. Box 653 Valentine, Nebraska 69201 402-376-1250, 866-976-1250 |
 |
| Trade
Winds Lodge East Highways 20 & 83 Valentine, Nebraska 69201 402-376-1600, 866-899-1600 |
 |
| Double
R Ranch Located 25 miles south of Merritt Reservoir Mullen, Nebraska 308-546-2314, 866-217-2042 Fax 308-546-2432 pbridge@neb-sandhills.net |
 |
| Fountain
Inn 237 South Cherry Valentine, Nebraska 69201 402-376-2300 |
 |
| Lovejoy
Ranch B & B HC 37 Box 16, Valentine, NE 69201 402-376-2668, 800-672-5098 (reservations only) |
 |
| Valentine
Motel & RV Park East edge at U.S. 20 & 83 P.O. Box A Valentine, Nebraska 69201 402-376-2450, 800-376-2450 ext 10 (reservations only) |
 |
| Lord
Ranch Resort HC 37 Box 41, Valentine, NE 69201 402-376-5984, 800-270-0181 (reservations only) |
(No Photo Available) |
Heartland
Elk Ranch |
(No
Photo Available) |
Nibrara
River Ranch |
(No
Photo Available) |
Food, Licenses, etc.
Merritt Resort is located on Highway 97 adjacent to the dam at the north end of Merritt Reservoir. It is impossible to miss as it is the only developed area near the lake. It has a convenience store with a number of common food items, fishing tackle, bait, state licenses, and gasoline. Public showers are available as well as a coin-operated laundry. Merritt Resort is the only source of these items at the reservoir. Valentine is the nearest community to offer major grocery stores, golf, library with wireless internet access, and other small town amenities.