The Moorhead, Minnesota region offers several tent camping options within a short drive, including both established campgrounds and primitive sites. Arthur Park in North Dakota provides tent-only camping in a well-maintained city park setting with basic amenities, while Beers Hike-In Site offers a more secluded backcountry tent camping experience. Brushvale Bridge Primitive Canoe Campsite provides free boat-in tent camping along the river, making it ideal for paddlers seeking a more remote experience. These tent campgrounds range from town-adjacent sites to more isolated natural settings.
Most tent campsites near Moorhead feature fire rings and allow pets, though amenities vary significantly between locations. Arthur Park provides drinking water, toilets, and picnic tables in a sheltered grassy area ideal for tent setup. According to reviews, reservations must be made by calling the city office on weekdays. Beers Hike-In Site requires a short walk from the parking area but rewards tent campers with a fire pit, picnic table, and vault toilet. Brushvale Bridge offers the most primitive experience with no facilities but allows free camping. Seasonal availability varies, with most tent-only camping areas open from spring through fall.
Walk-in tent sites like Beers Hike-In Site provide specific advantages for tent campers seeking a more authentic outdoor experience. One visitor noted, "The walk is easy, with enough parking for 1-2 vehicles. There's a nice fire pit and good fishing right at the site." Arthur Park, while technically in a town setting, offers a unique tent camping experience with access to community amenities. A camper reported that the park features "lovely grounds, a picnic shelter, and a unique educational community orchard" nearby. The site is also located near the trailhead of the North Cass Pass Bike Trail, making it convenient for cyclists. Tent campers frequently use these areas as bases for fishing, hiking, and biking activities throughout the region.
"There are bathrooms available, and a lovely sheltered grassy spot to set up tents, and a place to grill and get water at the picnic shelter, but in terms of other camping amenities there really arent"
$22 / night
"The walk is an easy walk. There is a nice fire pit and good area for fishing right at the site. Also there is a picnic table and a vault toilet. Surprisingly there was toilet paper there!"
TravelerNational forest campground. First come first served only with no attendant. There’s on manual pump well and two vault toilets. Each campsite has a picnic table and fire ring and most had nice level places to park. 3 miles of gravel road to the campground but the road was smooth and in good condition.
LegendGood state park campground with everything you need. You can make your reservations online once you get there, and it’s nice because there’s no online transaction fee. But watch out that you pay the $7 daily state park entry fee as well as the camping fee, because otherwise you'll get a friendly visit from a ranger!
There are two loops, one slightly larger one with 50 and 30 amp power (no water or sewer) for $34, and one smaller one with no power for $24. We stayed in a power site because we couldn’t handle the heat anymore, otherwise the smaller one looked a little nicer and quieter and we would have stayed there.
Showers were nice and clean and free. Bathrooms were nice.
Very nice walking trails all around the campground and throughout the park as a whole. Trash dumpsters here as well as an assortment of segregated recycle bins. Good cell reception with Verizon and ATT. Firewood available at office for $8 and ice for $3.
Group camp is off from the main campground a ways, but connected via a little walking trail. There is a dump station and potable water fill at the campground exit.
No drinking allowed at any Minnesota State Park campground!
ScoutWe don’t have much of an experience, booked online an electric site that showed full shade and plenty of grass. Got there and no good place to pop up a roof top tent, all dirt, no electric. We had to leave and go get a hotel room
LegendClose to fargo and moorhead if you're looking for things to do in the area! Like the other state parks you can get firewood at the office and sites come with a fire ring and table.
RangerThis park has a lot of camping spaces but privacy within the campground is limited. It’s located right off I94 just outside of Barnesville. Across the highway is a softball field and play area that overlooks Whiskey Creek. The Whiskey Creek area provides a very pretty view with a low waterfall and small walking bridge. Many of the RV sites in the campground have full hookups and there is a line of sites on the north side that are tent-only sites. This would be a great spot to have a family reunion if you have a family of campers!
ScoutVery quiet not sure people allow real camping there. Paid way too much for just 8hrs. No alcohol allowed big downfall for campers. Wouldn't stay again.
TravelerTake the Maplewood church road into the site. There is enough room to park 1 (maybe 2) vehicles. The walk is an easy walk. There is a nice fire pit and good area for fishing right at the site. Also there is a picnic table and a vault toilet. Surprisingly there was toilet paper there!
GuideIf you want the best kept state park I have seen this is the place. Beautiful, quiet, well maintained, and wildlife give this park a perfect 10 for me. Not a scrap of trash the restrooms clean and well stocked. You don’t have a pothole in site- heck not even a weed on the road. Sites are large and come with picnic tables and a fire pit you can also grill on. The sites are covered with lush live well manicured trees and they’ve taken the time to make nice. Greenway breaks between each campsite.
TravelerIt's a small city park next to the river and in town. We had site #5, with a great view of the river. Electrical sites only. Picnic table and fire ring. Bathrooms and shower facilities were a big disappointment. Dirty and gross. Police come through every couple of hours, which is nice. No drinking or drugs allowed.
Tent camping near Moorhead, Minnesota offers overnight options that range from primitive river access sites to established city parks with basic facilities. Located where the Red River forms the Minnesota-North Dakota border, this area experiences dramatic seasonal temperature variations, with summer highs averaging 80°F and winter lows frequently below 0°F. Most tent campgrounds operate seasonally from late April through October due to the northern climate.
Fishing opportunities: At Beers Hike-In Site, tent campers can access good fishing directly from their campsite. A camper noted, "There is a nice fire pit and good area for fishing right at the site."
Bike trail access: The region features connected trail systems accessible from several camping areas. Arthur Park in North Dakota serves as a trailhead for the Northern Cass Pass bike route, making it convenient for weekend cycling trips.
Water recreation: Brushvale Bridge Primitive Canoe Campsite provides river access for paddlers, though one visitor cautions it's "really for the folks on the Red River. There is virtually nothing here. Accept some flat ground."
Secluded tent options: Backcountry tent sites offer more isolation from developed areas. A review for Beers Hike-In Site indicates "The walk is an easy walk" from the parking area, making it accessible while still providing seclusion.
Family-friendly grounds: Arthur Park receives positive feedback for its well-maintained common areas. One camper described it as having "beautifully kept, lovely grounds, nice playground and ballfields nearby, picnic shelter, pretty gardens and a very unique educational community orchard."
Vault toilets with supplies: Basic facilities can exceed expectations at primitive sites. A Beers Hike-In Site user was pleased to discover "there is a picnic table and a vault toilet. Surprisingly there was toilet paper there!"
Reservation requirements: Some campgrounds require advance planning during business hours. Arthur Park requires campers to "call the city office on a weekday to make reservations."
Primitive conditions: Several sites offer minimal or no amenities. Wyndemere Rock Garden County Park received feedback indicating "I don't think either are actually open" and noting lack of formalized camping areas.
Location accuracy: GPS coordinates can be misleading for some sites. A Brushvale Bridge visitor clarified, "the mark is on the wrong side. This is on the West and North side of the road, not the South and east."
Youth group camping: Some parks specifically accommodate group activities. Arthur Park has been recommended as "a nice place for a scout troup or youth group to have an overnight, or for a family reunion to set up."
Simple backpacking introduction: For families wanting to try backpacking with minimal difficulty, Beers Hike-In Site offers an accessible experience. A reviewer specifically recommended it as a "Great backpacking site to take your family" with an "easy walk" to reach the campsite.
Educational opportunities: Some parks integrate learning experiences with camping. Arthur Park features an educational community orchard with "a whole variety of different grapes, berries, apples, and more."
Limited RV access: Most tent camping areas near Moorhead do not accommodate RVs or provide hookups. Arthur Park specifies "no RV sites or anything like hookups or anything like that, just tenting."
Parking constraints: Even at drive-up sites, vehicle access may be limited. Beers Hike-In Site has "enough room to park 1 (maybe 2) vehicles" according to a recent visitor.
Alternative options: For RVers seeking tent camping experiences, Arthur Park offers facilities that can accommodate different needs with "bathrooms available, and a lovely sheltered grassy spot to set up tents, and a place to grill and get water at the picnic shelter."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Moorhead, MN?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Moorhead, MN is Arthur Park with a 4-star rating from 1 review.
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TheDyrt.com has all 8 tent camping locations near Moorhead, MN, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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