Most campgrounds near Cannon Ball operate seasonally from April through October, with temperatures ranging from 60-85°F during summer months. The area sits at approximately 1,600 feet elevation along the Missouri River, offering river access for fishing and water activities. Roadways leading to campgrounds can become muddy after rainfall, particularly at primitive sites.
What to do
Hiking trails access: Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park Campground offers extensive trail systems with varying difficulty levels. "Great hiking, all sorts of trails for all kinds of exploring. Lots of helpful staff and historic attractions to admire and appreciate," notes one visitor who appreciated the park's outdoor recreation options.
Historic exploration: Learn about Native American and military history at Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park Campground. "The park has a nice visitor center with terrific displays, many about Lewis and Clark, also a reconstructed Mandan encampment, plus the home and barracks of Custer and his cavalry," explains a camper who enjoyed the educational aspects.
Disc golf course: General Sibley Park features a complete disc golf course for recreational play. One visitor mentions, "The park has showers, bathrooms, an amphitheater, disc golf, a playground, and a group area. It is very popular with locals."
Fishing access: Beaver Creek Recreation Area provides excellent shoreline fishing opportunities. A visitor observed, "Lots of locals visit to fish, and seemed to be quite lucky as well with Catfish and Walleye."
What campers like
Spacious tent camping areas: General Sibley Park offers generous tent camping space with natural features. "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," explains a tent camper.
Affordability: Most campgrounds maintain reasonable rates compared to other regions. At General Sibley Park, "For a tent site, it was $12 cash in the drop box because I got there after hours," notes one reviewer about the budget-friendly options.
Clean facilities: Bismarck KOA maintains high standards for their amenities. A camper reports, "The bathrooms, which we utilize frequently since we are in a 15 foot Aliner, were well lit, clean, and the showers were hot!"
Shaded campsites: Beaver Creek Recreation Area offers natural protection from summer heat. A visitor noted their first two days "were lovely and just the right amount of shade from the trees."
What you should know
Cash-only policies: Some parks require traditional payment methods. At A Prairie Breeze RV Park, a camper noted "It was a self-check in cash or check only and the lady was very friendly."
Limited cellular connectivity: Cell service varies significantly between campgrounds. At Bismarck KOA, one RVer reported, "WiFi speed wasn't very good, but we didn't need to use it. We got 4 bars on Verizon."
Site drainage issues: Some campsites experience water pooling after rain. At A Prairie Breeze RV Park, a camper reported, "#21 was underwater after an overnight rain. A pond of about 2-3 inches of water completely surrounded my rig."
Seasonal shower availability: Beaver Creek notes that "Drinking water and showers are seasonal, so check the website if you need these to be operational."
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Graner Park offers convenient playground facilities. One visitor mentioned, "They have a water fill station and the playground is located in the middle of the loop so it's easily accessible to every site on the north loop."
Educational opportunities: Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park offers family-friendly learning experiences. "We came in on a Saturday and it was packed...spots a little close together for my liking, but it was quiet overall. Lots of family enjoying family time with their kids," noted a reviewer who appreciated the family atmosphere.
Bug preparedness: Some areas experience significant mosquito activity. A Fort Abraham Lincoln visitor shared, "Mosquitos were bad when we were here surprisingly. I was getting bit every second, so I got a gazebo shelter so we could enjoy the outdoors without getting bit to death."
Weekday camping benefits: Consider mid-week stays for quieter experiences. At Fort Abraham Lincoln, "Once Sunday afternoon hit, everyone cleared out getting ready for the workweek."
Tips from RVers
Shared utility configurations: At A Prairie Breeze RV Park, "The sites are laid out so the poles are shared in the middle, which makes for a bit of a tight fit for big rigs."
Site leveling considerations: Most RV parks near Cannon Ball offer relatively level sites. One camper at Bismarck KOA reported, "The gravel site was pretty level, with utilities placed mid-pad."
Water splitter needs: Some campgrounds have shared water hookups. At Fort Abraham Lincoln, campers advise to "make sure to bring a water splitter as sometimes there is not one on the spigot and campground does not always have extras!"
Off-season availability: While most parks close seasonally, Bismarck KOA remains accessible year-round for RV camping near Cannon Ball, North Dakota. A visitor noted the park is "about a mile off I-94 and easy to find. Check-in was quick and easy, and we proceeded to pull through site 11 right past the check-in office."
