Best Tent Camping near Bottineau, ND

Tent camping options near Bottineau, North Dakota include several established campgrounds within the surrounding natural areas. Pelican Sandy Recreation Area provides rustic tent sites in a quiet setting with trail access and basic amenities. Twisted Oaks Equestrian Campground in Turtle Mountain State Forest offers camping spots primarily designed for horse owners with corrals available, while Buffalo Lodge Lake provides lakeside tent camping with more varied access options including boat-in opportunities.

Most tent sites in the Bottineau region feature basic amenities with varying levels of development. Pelican Sandy Recreation Area maintains toilets, drinking water, and picnic tables, but lacks showers or electric hookups. Buffalo Lodge Lake permits campfires and provides electric hookups, toilets, and trash service for tent campers. According to a visitor review, "Very well maintained site. Rustic and quiet. I was there over memorial day weekend and there were two campers and no traffic." Non-potable water is available at some locations, but campers should verify water availability before arrival, especially during peak summer months.

The tent camping experience near Bottineau offers solitude and natural settings. Sites at Pelican Sandy Recreation Area remain peaceful with minimal traffic even during holiday weekends. Twisted Oaks provides access to approximately 16 miles of trails, including a route to Strawberry Lake Campground, making it suitable for multi-day exploration. A review noted that "Spots are okay next to trees but not really shaded" at Twisted Oaks, and cell reception is limited with "little to no cell reception" reported by visitors. Buffalo Lodge Lake provides water recreation opportunities, though algae may affect swimming conditions during warmer months. Most primitive tent campgrounds in the area remain uncrowded, particularly on weekdays, allowing for peaceful backcountry tent camping experiences.

Best Tent Sites Near Bottineau, North Dakota (3)

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Tent Camping Reviews near Bottineau, ND

48 Reviews of 3 Bottineau Campgrounds


  • Brandi M.The Dyrt PRO User
    May. 31, 2020

    Lake Metigoshe State Park Campground

    Beautiful State Park

    This State Park is in North Dakota near the Canadian border. With a very large body of water that has many amenities from fishing, boating, canoeing, kayaking and paddle boarding. There are bike & canoe/kayak rentals right outside the park and a couple different campgrounds to choose from inside the park, ours was just a few feet from the lake and fishing dock. Depending on which campground you choose you will either have a vault toilet or a more convenient bathroom with toilets & showers! Staff was very nice and accommodating. There was even an Ice cream truck that rolled thru everyday for the kiddos!

  • Katie A.
    Aug. 7, 2017

    Lake Metigoshe State Park Campground

    Birch Trees Everywhere!

    This campground tucked away in the turtle mountains next to Lake Metigoshie is definitely worth the visit! The campground is located in a state park so rules do apply. Tents, rvs, cars are are easy to maneuver in and out with a pump station located in the park. The 4 season playground is home to a ski park near by with a brand new chalet and updated runs with a terrain park( depending on snow conditions) public beach access, hiking trails, snowmobile trails, and the International Peace Gardens located not to far away either! I recommend camping in the fall with tree colors! WOW!

  • Brittany
    Sep. 15, 2020

    Lake Metigoshe State Park Campground

    Need to return!

    We got there at dark, staff was super helpful with the park pass and buying wood. We camped in the North Star primitive sites, water spigot available, vault toilet not to far. We really enjoyed riding bikes on all the trails, only one we didnt get to ride was the Deer loop. Looking forward to returning to do some canoeing/kayaking , looks like there's a good loop set up with portages.

  • Tim H.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 25, 2025

    Pelican Sandy Recreation Area

    Pelican Lake

    About 6 sites available plus one group site. Clean vault toilet. No water. Fishing pier. On the lake and pretty.

  • GoWhereYouAreDraw N.The Dyrt PRO User
    Apr. 30, 2021

    Antler Memorial Park

    Okay campground

    Decent campground with horse ring, stables, electric hookups, pavilions, 25ish campsites. Several very large 5th wheels, a couple of normal-sized pull behind campers, and of course tents. Not crowded at all, maybe around 25ish campers. 

    Had 1 bar with Verizon -- could send texts but calls drop after a couple of seconds. Dump station and restrooms here. No showers.

  • Tanner G.
    Sep. 22, 2024

    Strawberry Lake Campgrounds

    Quiet place, bring $15 cash

    I love this place every quiet, lots of coyotes and animals at night lake is big only 2 places to fish (BRING WATER AND $15 cash for over night fee) the water from the taste is not filtered good for cleaning dishes

  • sherry P.
    May. 26, 2022

    Minot AFB FamCamp

    B-52 camping

    Campground is nice with pads, electric and water hookups. The campground is close to the park. No showers, but I recommend going to the base gym. Close to the BX and Commissary. Very quite area.

  • Ason S.
    Aug. 21, 2020

    Lake Metigoshe State Park Campground

    Awesome!!

    Great place to stay!! Campsites were nice & taken care of! Some sites were elevated or lowered with a few stairs; kinda cool! Swim beach was a bit of a walk, but totally worth it!! Great sandy beach & nice water!! Activities set up for families/kids each weekend. Nice playground between loops too.

  • Marilyn K.
    Apr. 28, 2024

    Pierce County Fair Grounds

    Nice overnight stop

    We were a bit earlier this year. No electric or bathrooms available yet.


Guide to Bottineau

Tent campsites near Bottineau, North Dakota sit within the forested Turtle Mountains region, where elevations reach up to 2,500 feet above sea level. These campgrounds experience cool summer nights with average July temperatures ranging from 55-80°F. The area features unique geological formations including kettle lakes formed by retreating glaciers during the last ice age.

What to do

Fishing opportunities: Buffalo Lodge Lake offers accessible shoreline fishing for northern pike and walleye. A visitor noted, "I wanted to go swim but there was so much algae in the water after you wade out that I'd be afraid to get caught in them. Plus, the baby crawdads clinging to my legs made me think twice about going any deeper than my knees."

Trail exploration: Visitors to Twisted Oaks Equestrian Campground have access to an extensive trail system. One camper reports, "16 miles of trails one which goes to Strawberry Lake Campground. AMAZING trails."

Stargazing: The limited light pollution makes camping locations like Pelican Sandy Recreation Area ideal for night sky observation. The area has minimal traffic, creating perfect conditions for astronomy enthusiasts.

What campers like

Affordable rates: Twisted Oaks provides budget-friendly camping with reasonable fees. According to one visitor, "Spots are $10 plus $5 per horse. Individual corrals for horses plus hay and water provided."

Peaceful atmosphere: Weekday camping at Buffalo Lodge Lake offers tranquility away from crowds. A camper shared, "We stayed Sunday through Tuesday, which was very peaceful for a small campground. I couldn't imagine this place on an actual weekend since there are no 'reserved' camper spots."

Lakeside views: Campsites near Pelican Lake provide scenic water vistas. A camper commented, "About 6 sites available plus one group site. Clean vault toilet. No water. Fishing pier. On the lake and pretty."

What you should know

Limited amenities: Most primitive camping areas near Bottineau have basic facilities. At Pelican Sandy Recreation Area, one visitor reported, "Very well maintained site. Rustic and quiet."

Cell service limitations: Reception can be spotty throughout the region. At Twisted Oaks, a camper noted, "Little to no cell reception (We had 1 bar)."

Water availability: Non-potable water is available at some locations but potable water is scarce. A visitor at Pelican Sandy Recreation Area stated, "No water," confirming campers need to bring their own drinking water supply.

Bathroom conditions: Facilities vary considerably between sites. At Buffalo Lodge Lake, a camper warned, "I was forewarned about the toilets, there are 2 and only get dumped twice a year (beginning & end)."

Tips for camping with families

Optimal timing: Weekdays offer the best camping experience with children. One Buffalo Lodge Lake visitor observed, "We stayed Sunday through Tuesday, which was very peaceful for a small campground."

Swimming precautions: Parents should check algae conditions before allowing water activities. A Buffalo Lodge Lake visitor cautioned, "I wanted to go swim but there was so much algae in the water after you wade out that I'd be afraid to get caught in them."

Group accommodations: Families requiring more space should consider the larger sites at Pelican Sandy. A camper mentioned, "About 6 sites available plus one group site," indicating options for larger gatherings.

Tips from RVers

Site selection: RV campers should arrive early at non-reservable tent campsites in Bottineau County. A Buffalo Lodge Lake visitor advised, "There are no 'reserved' camper spots, you can pull up and park anywhere."

Hookup availability: Electric connections are available at some locations but water and sewer hookups are limited. Plan accordingly for self-contained camping.

Shade considerations: When selecting a campsite near Bottineau, prioritize morning shade. One Twisted Oaks Equestrian Campground visitor remarked, "Spots are okay next to trees but not really shaded," suggesting campers might need additional sun protection during summer months.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Bottineau, ND is Pelican Sandy Recreation Area with a 4.5-star rating from 2 reviews.

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

TheDyrt.com has all 3 tent camping locations near Bottineau, ND, with real photos and reviews from campers.