Camping areas near Cannon Ball, North Dakota cluster around Lake Oahe, a reservoir created by the Oahe Dam on the Missouri River. The region features open prairie landscapes with summer temperatures averaging 80°F from June through August, dropping to below freezing in winter months. Camping facilities typically operate from mid-May through mid-September with water systems shutting down during colder months.
What to do
Fishing access points: Beaver Creek Recreation Area provides excellent fishing opportunities with designated shore access. According to one camper, "Lots of locals visit to fish, and seemed to be quite lucky as well with Catfish and Walleye" at this Corps of Engineers managed site.
Historical exploration: Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park Campground offers extensive historical sites including a reconstructed Mandan village and military buildings. A visitor notes, "We walked the on a slant village, the forts overlooking the Missouri river and of course General Custer's house and the barracks. Such a neat parks with lots to do!"
Water recreation: During summer months, swimming and boating access make Hazelton Area - Lake Oahe popular. As one camper experienced, "We were in site 10. We had scenic view of the Missouri River. During the week we had the campground to ourselves."
What campers like
Seasonal solitude: Fall and early winter camping at West Pollock Recreation Area provides quiet, less crowded experiences. A regular visitor explains, "I camp here in the fall while the hunting season is in full swing and besides my camp and my brothers camp, we are the only campers in the park."
Overnight convenience: Bismarck KOA serves as an efficient stopover point with full amenities. One camper stated, "We stayed here overnight on a long journey & were very impressed with the friendly and clean environment! Nice shrubbery and trees throughout, a pool during the summer season, dog park, and playground."
Affordable riverside camping: Graner Park offers budget-friendly river access camping. A camper notes, "The site is only 3 dollars which is extremely cheap" though warns "the sites are way too close together and at night other campers will wake you up."
What you should know
Seasonal water availability: Most campgrounds shut down water systems by mid-September. At Beaver Creek, "Drinking water and showers are seasonal, so check the website if you need these to be operational."
Site selection strategy: At Graner Park, waterfront sites offer the best experience. One camper advises, "This campground is nice if you can get one of the few electric sites on the water."
Off-peak advantages: Weekday camping provides more space and quieter conditions. As noted at Kimball Bottom, "The sounds of the river were great, but ruined by the sounds of the vehicles going further south to the fishing and boat docks. About 1am is when the vehicles going by stopped until about 7am."
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park excels for family camping. A visitor observed, "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."
Educational activities: Combine camping with learning at historic sites. "The park is a stop of the Lewis and Clark Historic Trail, which was the draw for us" notes a family that enjoyed the "reconstructed Mandan encampment, plus the home and barracks of Custer and his cavalry."
Swimming options: Finding campgrounds with pools helps during hot summer months. At Bismarck KOA, a visitor mentioned, "The pool was refreshing after a long day of driving."
Tips from RVers
Hookup availability: Pet friendly camping near Cannon Ball, North Dakota varies in electric service types. As one RVer at Hazelton Area reported, "Stayed in electric site for 2 nights, clean, water available, no dump station, vault toilets."
Site positioning: For campers with satellite internet needs, site selection matters. At Bismarck KOA, an RVer shared, "There are a lot of mature trees here, so that satellite could be iffy depending on the site. WiFi speed wasn't very good, but we didn't need to use it. We got 4 bars on Verizon."
Power reliability: Testing electrical connections helps prevent equipment issues. At West Pollock Recreation Area, a camper noted, "Power as you would expect, 50, 30, 15 amp service. EMS showed no faults in electrical connections."
