j
john C.
Scout
ScoutFort Buford State Historic Site
Boon docking
Camping on level ground, under shade trees, with picnic tables and campfire ring, with a view of the fort. No water or dump sites.
Tent Camping near Arnegard, ND
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Tent campsites in the Arnegard area of North Dakota offer primitive camping experiences amid prairie landscapes and badlands terrain. Bennett Camp in the Dakota Prairie National Grasslands provides basic tent camping with a natural setting approximately 42 miles southeast of Arnegard. Elkhorn Campground, located near Medora, offers secluded tent sites with hand-pumped water and pit toilets in a valley setting within the badlands region.
Most tent campgrounds near Arnegard require self-sufficiency from campers. Sites typically feature fire rings and picnic tables, though facilities remain minimal. Bennett Camp has fire rings and tables but limited shade, making summer camping potentially challenging due to high daytime temperatures. Elkhorn Campground provides pit toilets and hand-pumped water, though a visitor noted the water appeared "light brown" and recommended bringing your own drinking supply. Many sites operate on a cash payment system with self-registration envelopes.
The remote location of these campgrounds creates opportunities for solitude and wildlife viewing. A camper described Elkhorn as "isolated and secluded" with "nice views of landscape and trailhead nearby." Tent sites in this region often experience weather extremes, with one reviewer mentioning that "thunderstorms rolling over the prairie is something you'll never forget." Wildlife observation possibilities include bison at Bennett Camp. Most tent areas see minimal crowding, with visitors reporting few other campers even during peak season. Tent camping in this region provides access to hiking trails, historic sites, and the distinctive landscapes of western North Dakota's prairie and badlands environments.
Best Tent Campgrounds near Arnegard (5)
1. Bennett
"There are some nice long hiking trails, bison and other prairie critters. This is wide open country with no real facilities (no trash either). Yay: simple camping and lovely scenery, wildlife."
"This site has a water pump, fire rings, and tables. In the day time the temperature gets really hot and the restroom has a smell come out. This site was very big and could hols a couple tents."
2. Snowden Bridge
"Great fishing access, wooded and close to town. Have seen great wildlife, excellent summer stargazing. Not a very big spot and only two camp sites close to the vault toilet."
3. Confluence Access
4. Elkhorn Campground
"We were in a spot with some shade for our tent. Close to clean pit toilet."
5. Pouch Point - Three Affiliated Tribes
Drive Time
- 2 hrs 10 min from Minot, ND
- 2 hrs 40 min from Bismarck, ND
- 4 hrs 26 min from Billings, MT
- 4 hrs 35 min from Rapid City, SD
Recent Tent Camping Photos near Arnegard, ND
2 Photos of 5 Arnegard Campgrounds • uploaded by The Dyrt campers
Tent Camping Reviews near Arnegard, ND
147 Reviews of 5 Arnegard Campgrounds
- TTim K.
GuideFort Buford State Historic Site
Very basic free campground next to the Fort Buford Historic Site.
Free camping at a state historic site. Campers who check in at the Confluence Visitor Center can access sites with picnic tables, fire rings, and trash cans. Sites are shaded or open, and the campground rarely fills up. Cell service is available. Nearby, Confluence Access provides another option along the same stretch of river. History is the main draw here, with Fort Buford and Fort Union both within reach, making this a good fit for history-focused travelers passing through western North Dakota. It was pouring rain the first night I arrived so I spent the night in the Confluence Visitor Center parking lot. I spent 2 more nights in the campground and only 2 other campers showed up while I was there. There is plenty of room for any size camper. I attended the Fort Union Frontier Days Rendezvous at the fort a few miles away which was very interesting.
Stefanie Z.GuideCcc Campground (Nd) — Dakota Prairie National Grasslands
Beautiful, clean, peaceful!
We stayed here two nights in a tent and loved it! Absolutely beautiful campground right across the river from Theodore Roosevelt National Park’s north unit. The scenery is breathtaking. There are three different loops A-C, and while most sites have no shade there are a couple in loop B (including ours #12) that have trees and provide good shade and wind protection. The pit toilets were some of the cleanest I’ve encountered in my history of camping. We were there in mid-September so the campground wasn’t full but there were a decent number of campers for being off season. Still, it was pretty quiet, save for the coyotes howling in the distance and a stray moo or two from nearby cows. There’s also trail access right to Maah Dah Hey and Long X trails right in the campground which is really nice! All in all this is a wonderful spot and one of my favorite campgrounds I’ve ever stayed at. 1 mi. gravel road to get in.
- JJodi P.
TravelerLewis & Clark State Park Campground
Nice sites
Nice campground, with restrooms/showers, playground, amphitheater, picnic tables. Pull through sites, tents sites, cabins. Close access to Lake Sakakawea, within walking distance.
Tim H.TravelerSather Lake
Sather Lake. Center loop.
Bare bones camping. Has a clean toilet, well pump, picnic tables and fire rings. Quiet. Pitch black at night. Great for stars.
- JJennifer B.Traveler
Juniper Campground — Theodore Roosevelt National Park
Beautiful, clean and quiet
We spent two nights here and were pleased that we were able to have our pick of quite a few spots despite the campground being first come first serve. We arrived on a Wednesday evening. The campground is as advertised, no showers or electric. I was happy that they had quiet hours at 8 pm for generators. There were a great variety of spots, large grassy, secluded and shady, drive through and back in. 3 sites have a spectacular view of the bluff if you are able to snag those. pro: camp host was great, bathrooms were clean, a great selection of spots con: we found a few ticks crawling around
- BBrittny A.Scout
Ccc Campground (Nd) — Dakota Prairie National Grasslands
A Cheap Alternative
A cheaper alternative to TRNP’s Juniper Campground. This campground offers beautiful panoramic views of the North Dakota Badlands. Additionally, you can access the Maah Daah Hey Trail and explore the Badlands from here. The campground is well kept and is typically pretty quiet. There are no showers, but there is toilets and accessible drinking water.
- EEric G.
LegendCcc Campground (Nd) — Dakota Prairie National Grasslands
Awesome views
This place is very well kept. Vault toilets and hand pump for water. The views are just awesome. 360 deg. Large sites spaced far apart. 40 plus sites. Host said never full. $10 a night. No road noise. Lots of wildlife. Deer and prairie dogs.
MickandKarla W.LegendJuniper Campground — Theodore Roosevelt National Park
Great Experience
The National Park North Unit and Campground(CG) is easy to find off US-85. We showed our Access Passes to get into the park and then proceeded to mile marker 5, where the CG is located. We pulled up to the information and sign-in board for this first come, first serve CG at about 11:30 AM Mountain Time(interesting that when we got to the north unit area, our phones went back to central time, and after a quick Google search, we found out that the north unit runs on central time). A gentleman let us know that he had just pulled in and grabbed a campsite near the entrance/exit and that we’d probably only fit in site 8(this CG is all dry camping) as the perimeter campsites, both back-ins and pull-throughs, were too short for us. The other longer sites were already taken. We proceeded to pull through site 8, which is a long, quarter moon-shaped asphalt site. We maneuvered around to stay away from tree branches and stay on the pad. The picnic table and stand-up barbecue were on the driver’s side, but since the sites are nicely spaced out, this was not a problem. We then filled out our registration envelope, placed $14 cash(Access Pass discount) in the folder, put the tab on our post, and deposited the envelope in the registration area. We could have also written a check or used a credit card to pay. We got on and off 1 bar on Verizon. We did have a good shot north for Starlink. They have a vaulted toilet and flush toilet building along with potable water at the dump station. There are about a half dozen sites for longer rigs, such as 32, 42, and 43, 49, with 5 being the best site. We had our two dogs with us, and there was plenty of room to walk them around the CG. There was plenty of bison poop in the CG, but we didn't see any during our two-night stay. Watford City is 17 miles north and has your major amenities. We enjoyed using this CG as a base to explore the North Unit.
Guide to Arnegard
Tent camping near Arnegard, North Dakota centers around the Dakota Prairie National Grasslands and Theodore Roosevelt National Park regions. Summer temperatures frequently exceed 90°F during daytime hours, while nights cool significantly even in peak season. The area sits at approximately 2,000 feet elevation with sparse tree cover, creating windswept camping conditions across the badlands and prairie landscapes.
What to do
Explore historic sites: Fort Buford State Historic Site offers tent camping near significant North Dakota landmarks. Campers appreciate the historical connections, with one visitor noting it's an "Amazing place to learn about history of North Dakota, this is where Sitting Bull and his son surrendered and Lewis and Clark Trading Post. They do demonstrations on old time trades."
Fish along river access points: Snowden Bridge camping area provides direct access to Missouri River fishing. According to one regular visitor, it's "right along the Missouri River. Great fishing access, wooded and close to town. Have seen great wildlife, excellent summer stargazing. Not a very big spot and only two camp sites close to the vault toilet."
Hike backcountry trails: The badlands terrain offers numerous hiking opportunities from primitive campsites. Elkhorn Campground connects directly to Theodore Roosevelt historical sites, with a camper mentioning "Nearby is Elkhorn Ranch Unit trail leading to Theodore Roosevelt Ranch site. No buildings but interpretive signage."
What campers like
Affordability: Several campgrounds operate on self-registration systems with minimal fees. At Elkhorn Campground, campers note the "$6 cash or check, put the money in the envelope and drop it in the box, clip the tag to your site #." This makes best tent camping near Arnegard, North Dakota accessible for budget travelers.
Wildlife encounters: The prairie ecosystem supports diverse wildlife viewing opportunities. At Bennett Camp, visitors report "There is a lot of buffalo out hear and there is a lot of dung." Other campers mention seeing various prairie animals throughout the region.
Solitude and open spaces: Many campers value the remoteness and lack of crowds at these sites. Fort Buford campers appreciate that "Nobody has pulled in around us. Nothing better than free camping with solitude these days!" Another camper at Elkhorn noted "Campsite was empty, so we had different sites to choose from."
What you should know
Water availability: Potable water is limited across tent camping sites near Arnegard. At Elkhorn Campground, a camper noted the "Hand pump was hard to pump which produced light brown water which wasn't something we wanted to drink, so bring in your own water." Bennett Camp also requires campers to "byo or filter/boil" water according to reviews.
Weather conditions: The region experiences extreme temperature changes and sudden storms. Campers should prepare for both heat and rapid weather shifts. One Bennett camper noted "In the day time the temperature gets really hot," while unpredictable weather can develop quickly.
Road conditions: Many campgrounds require travel on unpaved roads. One camper at Elkhorn reported "Traveled about 35 miles on unpaved road in RAV4 AWD" to reach the campsite, highlighting the need for vehicles capable of handling rough terrain.
Tips for camping with families
Pack adequate water supplies: The limited water access and questionable water quality make bringing your own water essential. For each family member, plan for at least 1 gallon per day, especially during summer months when temperatures regularly exceed 90°F.
Choose campsites with facilities: While primitive camping appeals to many, families may prefer sites with minimal amenities. Snowden Bridge offers "two camp sites close to the vault toilet" which provides convenience for children while maintaining the natural camping experience.
Plan for temperature extremes: The significant day-to-night temperature variations require appropriate clothing and gear. Summer days can be intensely hot with limited shade, as Bennett Camp reviews mention sites "without shade" making daytime activities challenging.
Tips from RVers
Limited hookup options: Most campgrounds near Arnegard lack RV amenities. At Fort Buford State Historic Site, RVers note they "camped here in a 35 ft 5th wheel" despite no hookups being available, demonstrating that self-contained units can manage at these primitive sites.
Site selection considerations: The open terrain affects RV camping comfort. When tent camping near Arnegard, North Dakota, look for sites with natural windbreaks where possible. Elkhorn Campground offers "a spot with some shade" according to visitors, which helps moderate temperatures inside RVs during summer months.
Self-sufficiency requirements: With minimal services available, RVers must arrive fully stocked. Bring adequate water, as one Elkhorn camper advised, and be prepared for no dump stations. Fort Buford campers mention the campground "has tables, fire rings, and trash cans" but no other RV services.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Which is the most popular tent campsite near Arnegard, ND?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Arnegard, ND is Bennett with a 4.5-star rating from 2 reviews.
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