Best Tent Camping near Bismarck, ND
Tent camping options near Bismarck, North Dakota include several established and dispersed sites along the Missouri River corridor. Little Heart Schmidt Bottoms and Graner Bottom offer primitive tent camping experiences within a short drive of the city, while Mckenzie Slough State Game Management Area provides dispersed camping opportunities approximately 25 miles northeast of Bismarck.
Most tent sites in the Bismarck area feature minimal amenities. Little Heart Schmidt Bottoms and Graner Bottom lack picnic tables, showers, and trash collection services. Campers should bring all necessary supplies, including drinking water and waste disposal bags. Danzig Dam, located west of Bismarck, offers vault toilets but no other facilities. Fire restrictions are common during dry periods, particularly at sites like Graner Bottom where fires are not permitted. Drive-in access is available at Mckenzie Slough State Game Management Area, though space is limited.
The tent camping experience near Bismarck varies by location and season. Cross Ranch State Park's Sanger Campground, situated about 30 miles north of the city, provides more developed tent sites with picnic tables, toilets, and trash collection. This area offers access to hiking trails along the Missouri River. Sites at Mckenzie Slough provide opportunities for wildlife viewing but offer minimal space. According to one visitor, the area has "very small spots" with "maybe room for 4 RVs next to a very dusty gravel road." Badger Bay and Prairie Knights Marina offer additional tent camping options south of Bismarck, though neither provides showers or hookup services.