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.

Best Tent Sites Near Bismarck, North Dakota (9)

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Tent Camping Reviews near Bismarck, ND

140 Reviews of 9 Bismarck Campgrounds


  • Mary S.
    Aug. 8, 2018

    Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park Campground

    Beautiful park - fantastic place to explore with children

    What a great park for families! That was my first thought. It just looks like a great place for kids to play. There's a playground, wide open spaces, easy trails, a river, and remnants of the fort and an Indian village. There's a paved bike path that you can take from the campground all the way to Bismarck (10+ miles). Or you can ride over to the cavalry and infantry areas of the fort and to the Indian village.

    There is a separate $7/day entrance fee in addition to the camping fee. We chose a primitive site (no water, no electric) because those sites are along the river, and the fee was $17. Sites with electricity and water are $25. There are also a couple tipis for $35 and two cabins for $60. There is a clean shower facility plus other restrooms. Each site has a picnic table and fire ring, and there's a dump station. We have camped at so many Forest Service sites that all these amenities make it feel like glamping!

    My only complaint is that there is no path from the primitive sites to a restroom other than the road. It would have been nice if there were a few paths between sites. No one wants to take a long route to a restroom in the middle of the night. And cutting through an occupied site is poor camping etiquette.

  • Cullen C.
    Jul. 2, 2024

    Primitive Campground

    Great place for a weekend getaway

    Stayed one night in one of the numerous walk-in primitive sites. I reserved the site online, and received great help and flexibility from the park rangers when I needed to change the reservation date due to poor weather. There are multiple drive-in tent sites along the road to the walk-in sites. There were a few people camped in the drive in sites, but we had the walk-in section all to ourselves. The camp hosts provided wagons in the parking area for easy transport of camping supplies. I highly recommend staying in a site along the river for a great water view right from your site. The tall cottonwood trees provide great seclusion, and we didn’t hear anyone all night. There is a pit toilet next to the parking area, but we opted to drive to the ranger station/help desk for running sinks and toilets. Each site has a fire ring and picnic table. Highly recommend staying here!

  • Kelly
    Jul. 6, 2021

    General Sibley Park

    Good car camping

    Great spot for stopping on a long drive. Plenty of car/tent camping spots that don’t need or take reservations. Just pull into a grassy area by a firepit and picnic table and you’re good to go!

  • Stephanie S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 10, 2020

    Sweet Briar Lake

    Great, spacious campsites right off the freeway

    This place was great! Only stayed here one night passing through on our way back to MN. Very well maintained and clean, huge campsites that are well spaced from others. There are campsites all around the lake/park, some in their own little private nook. Great sunset and the bugs were minimal too. Very surprised that a place as nice as this one is free. The freeway is somewhat close just across the lake and can be heard, but it didn't bother us at all. Campsites have a picnic table and fire ring. Vault toilets are scattered around the lake, and there are water spigots too. Happy we found this place!

  • Heather W.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 12, 2025

    Eagles Park Campground

    Great spot just north of Bismarck

    This is an interesting tiny campground run by the city of Bismarck. In a a Friday in July, we are one of four campers here. There a few 50 amp sites and several posts with 20 amp. Some 20amp are next to a traditional back in site. Others are in a grassy field and can be shared. That is what we chose. The 20 amp runs what we need. None of the sores have water or sewer and there is no dump station. However, there is a spigot with water. We filled our fresh tank before arriving. There are picnic tables and fire rings scattered throughout. It seems you could park out pitch a tent any where. There are 2 well maintained portolets and a dumpster. The location is right on the Missouri River and close to a state historic site. We originally booked 2 nights then decided to stay longer. For $12 per night, what is not to love!!

  • C
    Aug. 30, 2020

    Sweet Briar Lake

    Scenic spot right off the highway

    Multiple places to pull off and set up around a scenic lake. A few minutes off the highway on well maintained roads- you can’t ask for a better spot than this on a road trip! Water pump at the first boat ramp you pass, pit toilets scattered around, picnic shelters, fire rings, and picnic tables, dumpsters. No fee. The spot marked on this map is under a cell tower, but there are plenty of spots when you drive around the lake.

  • GThe Dyrt PRO User
    May. 13, 2023

    Beaver Creek

    Lovely waterfront campground

    Stayed 3 days, due to not wanting to drive in the storm the last day. First 2 days were lovely and just the right amount of shade from the trees. Only 2 vault toilets, 1 in each of the RV and Tent areas. Could have done with a regular clean, but there were only 2 sites taken when we stayed. An extra 2 toilets and shower block by the boat ramp. Also a playground. (Note: Drinking water and showers are seasonal, so check the website if you need these to be operational) Each of the RV sites had their own grill and picnic table. Looked like the tent sites may share these facilities. Lots of locals visit to fish, and seemed to be quite lucky as well with Catfish and Walleye. Lovely place to visit for a few days. Also note, if you have an annual parks pass, you may get up to a 50% discount when booking.

  • S
    Aug. 29, 2023

    General Sibley Park

    A nice dependable campsite for a stopping point

    Stayed here as an overnight stop and it was perfect for what I needed! The tent camping loop is a road through a large field with some picnic tables and trees. You can pull off and pitch your tent anywhere you like. The grass was very plush and I slept very well.

    For a tent site, it was $12 cash in the drop box because I got there after hours (not sure if they accept card during office hours).

  • Karen Z.
    Oct. 13, 2018

    Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park Campground

    Wonderful campground

    Clean Campground. Tent area and multiple camper pads. Vault toilets available. Ranger programs available. Right in the heart of Ft. Abraham Lincoln. Lots to do--visit the Block houses, Gen. Custer's home, commissary, etc. Close to Mandan and Bismarck (State Capitol)


Guide to Bismarck

Tent camping near Bismarck, North Dakota offers diverse experiences along the Missouri River watershed, where temperatures can range from below freezing in winter to hot, humid summers exceeding 90°F. The region features rolling plains punctuated by river bottomlands with cottonwood groves providing natural shade. Bismarck's position along the Missouri River creates numerous waterside camping opportunities within a 30-mile radius of the state capital.

What to do

**Fishing spots: Sweet Briar Lake Campsites provides access to a stocked fishing lake approximately 30 miles west of Bismarck. "This was a nice surprise right off 94! There are a bunch of sites, not super great signage so I wasn't sure I was in the right place at first, but just follow the map," notes Kate H.

**Wildlife observation: At Mckenzie Slough State Game Management Area, tent campers can observe prairie wildlife approximately 25 miles northeast of Bismarck. The area serves as habitat for migratory birds and local game species. Jeffrey H. mentions, "We stopped here to spend the night and worked well for us. Very quiet spot and saw a beautiful sunset."

**Hiking trails: Cross Ranch State Park offers hiking trails through native prairie landscapes and riparian areas along the Missouri River. The park maintains several miles of marked trails through varied terrain, suitable for day hikes of different difficulty levels. Trails connect to the Sanger Campground area, providing tent campers with convenient access to outdoor recreation.

What campers like

**Accessibility: Tent campers appreciate Sweet Briar Lake's proximity to Interstate 94. "Quiet, pleasant and convenient," writes Kate H., adding that "This is a gem if you're looking for a sweet place to stop on a road trip in this area."

**Solitude: Many tent camping locations around Bismarck offer relative isolation despite proximity to urban areas. "Very quiet spot" is how Jeffrey H. describes Mckenzie Slough, while Saleana S. finds Sweet Briar Lake Campsites "so peaceful, quite and relaxing. One of my favorite so far."

**Cost effectiveness: Several tent camping areas near Bismarck offer free or low-cost options. "Free camping. Pick your own spot, whatever is open," notes Saleana S. about Sweet Briar Lake, making it an economical option for budget-conscious campers traveling through the area.

What you should know

**Limited amenities: Most tent camping sites around Bismarck lack developed facilities. Danzig Dam provides vault toilets but no potable water, while Sanger Campground offers more amenities including trash collection, picnic tables, and electrical hookups for those seeking a less primitive experience.

**Access considerations: Some camping areas require travel on unpaved roads. "It's about 2 miles off the highway and about a mile down gravel road," explains Tiffany L. about Mckenzie Slough, adding that "Bigger rigs may have a harder time parking there."

**Space limitations: Certain tent camping locations have restricted capacity. Tiffany L. describes Mckenzie Slough as "a pretty flat square parking lot that does the trick for a quick stop to rest," indicating its functionality as an overnight stop rather than an extended stay destination.

Tips for camping with families

**Safety precautions: When tent camping with children near Bismarck, maintain awareness of weather conditions, particularly summer thunderstorms and winter cold fronts that can develop rapidly on the northern plains. Temperatures can fluctuate significantly within 24 hours.

**Entertainment options: Tuttle City Park provides basic camping facilities approximately 50 miles east of Bismarck with playground equipment nearby, making it suitable for families with younger children seeking tent camping options with recreational amenities.

**Site selection: At Sweet Briar Lake, Kate H. recommends selecting sites with "lovely shade" for family comfort during hot summer days. The area offers "nice paths to go for my own run in the morning" and is "safe for the dog to run around," suggesting adequate space for family activities.

Tips from RVers

**Road conditions: Access to several camping areas involves unpaved roads which may become difficult during or after precipitation. "The gravel road is dusty and a little bumpy, but the spot is nice," reports Jeffrey H. about Mckenzie Slough State Game Management Area.

**Parking limitations: RV campers note space constraints at some locations. Rick A. describes Mckenzie Slough as having "very small spot. Maybe room for 4 RVs next to a very dusty gravel road," suggesting tent camping may be more suitable at this location than RV camping.

**Seasonal considerations: Hunting seasons affect campground availability and atmosphere. Tiffany L. notes about Mckenzie Slough that "it was quiet and no one was there but I imagine it may get busier during hunting season as hunting is allowed there," indicating potential crowding during fall months.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Bismarck, ND?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Bismarck, ND is Mckenzie Slough State Game Management Area with a 2.7-star rating from 3 reviews.

What is the best site to find tent camping near Bismarck, ND?

TheDyrt.com has all 9 tent camping locations near Bismarck, ND, with real photos and reviews from campers.