The Little Missouri National Grassland near Belfield, North Dakota provides several primitive tent camping options with varying levels of amenities and seclusion. Burning Coal Vein Campground offers tent sites in a protected shallow valley with good shade and picnic tables at each site. West River Road provides free dispersed camping opportunities for tent campers willing to venture onto unpaved roads. For those seeking more established sites, BLM Schnell Recreation Area, located near Richardton, maintains primitive tent camping with basic facilities.
Tent sites throughout the region generally feature dirt or grass surfaces with minimal development. Most established campgrounds like Burning Coal Vein provide picnic tables, fire rings, and vault toilets, while dispersed areas require campers to bring all necessary supplies, including water. The access roads to many tent camping areas require careful navigation, especially after rain. A recent review noted the road to West River was "deserving a 4WD" and another camper mentioned "the short road in was in need of a bit of repair" at Burning Coal Vein. Campgrounds typically charge $6-10 per night, collected via self-registration envelopes.
The tent camping experience in this region offers exceptional solitude and natural beauty, particularly for those willing to venture beyond the most accessible sites. Areas farther from main roads provide opportunities to view wildlife, including feral horses near West River Road. One visitor reported, "There was a large beautiful herd of feral horses bedding down with their little ones here in the evening." Tent campers at Burning Coal Vein enjoy access to hiking trails, including the Columnar Junipers hike and connection to the longer Maah Da Hey Trail. Most sites have minimal light pollution, offering excellent stargazing opportunities. Summer temperatures can be extreme, and many sites lack natural shade, so appropriate gear for sun protection is essential for tent campers.
"No hookups - one vault toilet - picnic tables and fire rings at each site. Boondocking only. National Forest land - part of the Little Missouri River Grasslands. Hiking from park."
"The sites looked to be spaced out fairly well, many of them had a picnic table, there is a bathroom on site and also a water pump that did not seem accessible by vehicle, so I doubt you could fill an rv"
"We were in a spot with some shade for our tent. Close to clean pit toilet."
"Great family owned, very friendly/warm family, organized, helpful and clean. Areas to walk dogs, or yourself (lol). Surrounded by trees and farming."
"Lovely spot green grass big shade trees. Amazingly clean bathrooms/shower thanks to Jodi. $35 cash or check. You just cannot beat it."
$5 / night
"Lovely place to stay, clean with trash cans and vault toilets. Unfortunately we had 5 hail storms that night."
"Only a handful of spots but they are nicely separated with some privacy. Small maintained trails and really pretty."
"This was a small rv park we stayed at for 3 night there is space for around 7 units. And some tent space as well. It was clean and we liked it alot."
"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."
TravelerNo hookups - one vault toilet - picnic tables and fire rings at each site. Boondocking only. National Forest land - part of the Little Missouri River Grasslands. Hiking from park. Outstanding views - BIG lots - peaceful. Love it!
LegendGeneral: Small (37-site) forest service campground in two loops near Theodore Roosevelt National Park. No hookups or cell service (despite proximity to the highway). We arrived on a Thursday afternoon in late August with no reservation and had no problem securing a site, although it filled almost to capacity by evening.
Site Quality: Many are in direct sun, but we found one that had some afternoon shade. Each site has a fire ring and picnic table. All camper pads are paved.
Bath/Shower house: There were six vault toilets (two by the entrance and two in each loop) that had sinks but no soap; they were reasonably clean. Two showers were in the other loop from where we stayed, and we did not use them.
Activities: There is access to the Buffalo Gap Trail, but we did not hike it as this was an overnight stop for us and quite hot. It is not far from the south unit of Theodore Roosevelt National Park.
It was hot when we were there (high 80s) so we just kind of collapsed upon arrival and took off the next day. The good news is you are close to the highway, but you will hear some road noise. $20 or$10 with the senior pass makes it a good deal. Cash or check if you cannot register online (no service with Verizon).
LegendAll the sites were the same but I got to stay at site 15. The site is huge and is made for group camping not solo. There's a picnic table and fire ring. The park cost about 20 dollars to get into. There are restrooms that are pretty well maintained but had no showers. I went on a hot day so they prohibited fires for that day to prevent wildfires. There are a lot of animals and you may notice small animal droppings on the campground. The droppings are dried out so it doesn't have a strong odor. They don't let you collect firewood to prevent damaging the wildlife so I recommend bringing your own supply of wood. There are a lot of trails in this park. I took the Wind Canyon trail which offered the view of the Missouri river. There is also a lot of prairie dogs and buffalo. You are exposed to the sun and there are no trees for shade. This is also the same for the campsite. It is really hot. The visitor center is really friendly and they suggest places in the park you should visit.
LegendThis campground in Theodore Roosevelt National Park near Medora ND has 76 sites. Half of the sites, the even-numbered ones, are not reservable. Sites 55-66 are walk in tent sites; parking spots and grills for these sites are numbered so you have a specific site.
We arrived before 10:30 am on a Sunday and sites were being claimed quickly. There were 7 of us choosing sites at that time. The hosts had a whiteboard that listed available sites; we took a photo of the list and chose quickly as we drove around because sites that were listed as available were already being claimed. We ended up on a reservable site that was open for the next several nights. The host couple was really on the ball and their attention helped keep the site selection process orderly. After you put your tag up, they fold it over later in the day and mark your departure date. This is a practice that is used in many campgrounds.
Cottonwood has been full every day since Memorial Day so you can't show up in the evening or possibly even mid-afternoon and expect to find an open site.
This campground has no hookups but has flush toilets, sinks, potable water spigots, a sink for washing dishes/disposing of grey water, a place for filling water tanks, trash disposal and firewood for sale. There are charcoal grates for cooking that can also be use for campfires, but there are no fire rings; your campfire will be a few feet off the ground in something that I think of as a grill!
Showers? No, but there area couple campgrounds in Medora that have showers for $5.
If you stay here, you're obviously here to see Theodore Roosevelt NP. Both the campground and park are worth a visit. The scenery is incredible and gave us a new view of North Dakota. There is a hike near Pleasant Valley Ranch where you can use a few trails to make a 5+ mile loop that will show you everything the park has to offer - Little Missouri River (and you have to cross it at the beginning and end), prairie dog towns, bison herds and beautiful scenery. I highly recommend this as a way to see the park from a better vantage point than the highway.
One complaint - the position of our site (#19) had some people think it was acceptable to cut through our site on their way to the bathroom. Do you walk through someone's home to shorten your walk? Didn't think so but 3 people did within 30 minutes.
RangerThe campsites are perfectly fine. The park is stunning.
Leave no trace.
LegendThis is a nice camping spot. Close to interstate. Which you can hear. Heard a train go by a few times. Lake gets a few fisherman throughout the day. Only 4 spots which filled up before dark. No water or dump. Campsites are right on edge of lake.
LegendWe had an amazing spot on top of hill. Could see for miles. Saw nice mule deer buck. Lots of camping spots. Empty during the day gets close to full an hour or so before dark. 10 min from National park entrance. No water or dump. Can be very windy. Very close to petrified forest.
GuideWe stayed in a tent with electricity. The tent site was on the back stretch with the badlands as a backdrop. There was not a fire ring at the campsite but we didn’t feel like we were missing anything. Our site was extremely small wIth no room for our camp chairs. Alao, there was some inconsistency in sizes of the tent area sites. Bathrooms were clean. Showers were alright, they could use some work on the ventilation.
TravelerCampground was clean and well maintained, camp hosts were friendly and knowledgeable about the area. Easy access, nice parking pads, have picnic tables and fire rings at each camp site. Offers RV dump and potable water in campground. Does not have hook ups and have limited times to run a generator. Great option close to Medora (7 miles) without the hustle and bustle of town. Very beautiful views of the badlands. Easy access to trails for hiking and biking.
Tent campsites near Belfield, North Dakota include primitive and established sites across the Little Missouri National Grassland. The terrain consists of rolling prairies, deep ravines, and unique badland formations at elevations between 2,200-2,700 feet. Summer brings intense heat with temperatures regularly exceeding 90°F, while spring camping often requires tick prevention measures across the grasslands.
Hiking trails: The Bennett Campground offers access to prairie trails where wildlife viewing opportunities abound. "There are some nice long hiking trails, bison and other prairie critters. This is wide open country with no real facilities," notes Lynn G. from Bennett.
Stargazing: The remote location of many campsites provides exceptional night sky viewing. Teresa T. who stayed at BLM Schnell Recreation Area reports the campground has "only a handful of spots but they are nicely separated with some privacy" - ideal conditions for nighttime astronomy.
Bird watching: Spring and summer bring numerous bird species to the grasslands. A visitor at Elkhorn Campground mentioned, "Site had large picnic table and fire ring. Nice view of landscape and Trailhead nearby" offering good vantage points for observing native birds.
Privacy between sites: Campers frequently mention the spaciousness at primitive sites. Rhonda M. from Burning Coal Vein Campground notes "Outstanding views - BIG lots - peaceful. Love it!" which contrasts with more crowded camping areas.
Clean facilities: Despite the remote location, several campgrounds maintain clean amenities. At Twin Butte Campground, Rachel K. shared, "Bathrooms were extremely clean. My husband and I will definitely be back."
Wildlife encounters: Many campers report wildlife sightings as highlights. Kevin T. at Bennett Camp mentioned, "There is a lot of buffalo out hear ad there is a lot of dung," indicating the prevalence of bison in the area.
Road conditions: Access to many campgrounds requires careful planning. At Elkhorn Campground, Jim M. reported, "Traveled about 35 miles on unpaved road in RAV4 AWD" - indicating the need for appropriate vehicles on remote routes.
Water availability: Bring adequate water supplies for primitive camping. One camper at Bennett noted, "no water (byo or filter/boil)" while another at Elkhorn described the water pump as producing "light brown water which wasn't something we wanted to drink."
Weather preparedness: The area experiences sudden weather changes. Bill P. at Schnell Recreation Area experienced "5 hail storms that night" during an otherwise pleasant stay, highlighting the need for secure shelter options.
Insect protection: Tick prevention is essential during warm months. Moonyen S. warned about Schnell Recreation Area: "The trail is lovely, though not as well maintained as it could have been. There were a lot of TICKS!"
Shade considerations: Most grassland sites lack natural shade. Lynn G. from Bennett Camp noted "Sunny open sites without shade" as a drawback when camping with children.
Amenities checklist: Facilities vary widely between campgrounds. At Burning Coal Vein, Brenda R. described it as a "Fun little place to camp, and fun little hike to the Butte," but families should note limited amenities requiring self-sufficiency.
Site accessibility: RV campers should research roads before arrival. Cora H. described Burning Coal Vein as "Nice, cheap, quiet and well spaced" but other reviews indicate narrow access roads with ruts.
Hookup availability: Most sites offer primitive camping only. Steve D. noted about Elkhorn: "Campsites in valley in Badlands. Nice and clean. No power, no dumps, hand pump for water."
Dump station locations: Plan waste management carefully. At Twin Butte Campground, Christina B. mentioned "You can fill water and a dump station avail on request," one of few sites offering this service in the region.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Belfield, ND?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Belfield, ND is Burning Coal Vein Campground with a 5-star rating from 5 reviews.
What is the best site to find tent camping near Belfield, ND?
TheDyrt.com has all 8 tent camping locations near Belfield, ND, with real photos and reviews from campers.
Keep Exploring
