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Tent Camping near Center, ND

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    SUMMARY PRESENTED BYT-Mobile

    Tent campgrounds near Center, North Dakota offer primitive camping experiences in the rural Midwest landscape. Sweet Briar Lake Campsites provides free tent camping with picnic tables and fire pits in a quieter setting just off Interstate 94. BLM Schnell Recreation Area, located near Richardton, offers tent sites with more amenities including drinking water, trash collection, and vault toilets within a natural prairie setting approximately 45 miles southwest of Center.

    Most tent sites in the region feature basic amenities with varying levels of maintenance. Sweet Briar Lake sites have fire rings and picnic tables but lack drinking water and restroom facilities, requiring campers to pack in their own water supplies. Schnell Recreation Area provides vault toilets and trash collection, though campers report maintenance can be inconsistent. One visitor noted, "It was a nice surprise right off 94 with picnic tables, fire pits, and lovely shade." The camping season typically runs from late spring through early fall, with some sites accessible year-round but offering minimal winter services.

    Tent campers in this region should prepare for potential weather challenges and insects during peak season. The prairie landscape creates exposure to wind and storms, with one camper at Schnell Recreation Area reporting experiencing "five hail storms in one night." Sites at Sweet Briar Lake offer more tree coverage for shade and wind protection. Trail access varies by location, with Schnell featuring maintained hiking paths through native grasslands despite occasional issues with ticks in taller vegetation areas. The primitive nature of these tent campgrounds appeals to those seeking quiet experiences away from developed areas. Sites are generally well-separated, creating privacy between campsites. Campers frequently mention the peaceful atmosphere as a highlight, with one reviewer describing Sweet Briar Lake as "peaceful, quiet and relaxing. One of my favorites so far."

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    Best Tent Campgrounds near Center (12)

    Filters    Tent onlyRVDispersedCabinGlampingPetsEquestrian

      1. Sweet Briar Lake Campsites

      4.8(4)17mi from CenterTents

      "Quiet little place there are restrooms there's lots of spread out camping around the lake. No electricity no water. Boat docks. And out houses."

      "It was dark so I just drove down a few roads before I found a whole unoccupied area with a picnic table, fire pit, lovely shade and totally quiet and dark (a bit of freeway noise from 94 not far away was"

      2. Sanger Campground — Cross Ranch State Park

      Be the first to review15mi from Center16 sitesTents

      from $15 - $25 / night

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      3. BLM Schnell Recreation Area

      3.9(7)48mi from CenterTents

      "Nicely kept, fire ring and grill, picnic table under a shade tree, trash can at campsite and in vault toilets, easy pull through. If it had water and even a central dump, I’d give it a 5"

      "Very nice campground, spaced out areas with picnic tables, benches, drinking water ground spigots, and fire rings."

      from $5 / night

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      4. Morning Star Campground

      Be the first to review27mi from CenterTents
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      5. Mckenzie Slough State Game Management Area

      3.0(4)47mi from CenterTents

      "It wasn’t a deal breaker for us, but after spending about an hour outside, each of us had several ticks on our clothing, so be sure to check yourself and pets."

      6. Lake Shore Park

      Be the first to review34mi from CenterTents

      7. Douglas Creek Bay

      Be the first to review35mi from CenterTents

      8. Lake Holmes

      Be the first to review35mi from CenterTents
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      9. Steinke Bay

      Be the first to review35mi from CenterTents
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      10. Brekken

      Be the first to review36mi from CenterTents
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    View all 12 campgrounds

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    Tent Camping Reviews near Center, ND

    206 Reviews of 12 Center Campgrounds

    • Cullen C.
      Jul. 2, 2024

      Primitive Campground — Cross Ranch State Park

      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!

    • 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.

    • Thomas R.The Dyrt Pro User
      Jul. 5, 2026

      BLM Schnell Recreation Area

      Nicely kept , quiet

      Nicely kept, fire ring and grill, picnic table under a shade tree, trash can at campsite and in vault toilets, easy pull through. If it had water and even a central dump, I’d give it a 5

    • 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!

    • TThe Dyrt Pro User
      Aug. 7, 2026

      Danzig Dam 10 miles northwest of New Salem, ND.

      Nice free little camping/fishing spot near I-94 exit 120 west of Mandan, ND

      This is a nice little campground with 3 or 4  camp sites and a large parking lot where bigger rigs can set up. There are other fairly level spots also available but there are no fire rings or picnic tables like the regular sites have. The regular sites are fairly small but some are pull thru so there is room for decent sized rigs. Those camp sites are shaded by trees. There are trash barrels near the camp sites and there is one vault toilet. There is a nice boat ramp with a large level parking lot for boat trailers or campers. The lake has decent walleye, northern pike, perch and bullhead fishing but it is shallow and gets pretty weedy near shore during the summer. There are some short easy hiking trails around the lake but check for ticks when you get back to your camp site. Morton County Park Board maintains the campground and keeps things mowed pretty nice however the toilet was in need of cleaning which is why I only gave it 4 stars. The county campgrounds are no fee except for 2 very popular spots nearer to Mandan and camp sites are first come first served with no time limit that I'm aware of. The 2 times I have camped there it was very quiet but it does often fill up on summer weekends because it is so small. The campground is on a good gravel road about 4 miles north of interstate 94 exit 120 and about 10 miles from the town of New Salem which has 2 truck stops that have food and some of the cheapest fuel prices between Mandan and Dickinson.

    • Michelle C.
      Jun. 26, 2026

      Sweet Briar Lake Campsites

      Peaceful Primitive Positive

      Quiet little place there are restrooms there's lots of spread out camping around the lake. No electricity no water. Boat docks. And out houses.

    • Tim
      Sep. 7, 2020

      COE Lake Sakakawea Downstream Campground

      Nice spot for a rest on our drive across country.

      Nice spot. Had site 117 on loop 4. “Primitive” site. Mostly quiet and peaceful. Group of RVs had the end of the loop and had generators going, but steady wind blowing that way kept the noise down. Acceptable pit toilet. Lovely easy walk down a path to the river with sandy banks. Clean, well kept sites w picnic tables and fire rings. Very windy so definitely glad to be here protected below the dam and not up next to the reservoir!

    • 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!

    • 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.

    Guide to Center

    Tent campgrounds near Center, North Dakota offer primarily primitive sites with basic amenities. Sweet Briar Lake Campsites provides free tent camping with camper-selected sites in a quiet setting approximately 28 miles from Center. McKenzie Slough State Game Management Area offers more rustic dispersed camping options about 50 miles east. BLM Schnell Recreation Area, located west of Center, provides tent sites with picnic tables and fire rings in a more developed setting.

    Most tent sites in the Center area feature minimal amenities, requiring campers to be self-sufficient. Sweet Briar Lake sites include fire pits and picnic tables but lack drinking water and restroom facilities. Sites at McKenzie Slough consist of a flat gravel area that accommodates only a few tents at a time with no amenities. The dusty, bumpy gravel road leading to McKenzie Slough may be challenging for vehicles with low clearance. BLM Schnell Recreation Area offers vault toilets and trash receptacles, though visitors note these facilities may not be open year-round. Campers should bring their own drinking water and supplies to all locations.

    The tent camping experience varies significantly by location. Sweet Briar sites offer peaceful settings with shade trees and nearby water views. A camper described Sweet Briar as "a nice surprise right off I-94" with "lovely shade and totally quiet and dark" conditions. McKenzie Slough provides a more utilitarian experience on a flat parking area but offers solitude and scenic sunsets. The area becomes busier during hunting seasons. Schnell Recreation Area features hiking trails through native prairie, though visitors should be prepared for ticks, especially in spring and early summer. The primitive nature of these tent sites appeals to campers seeking simplicity and connection to the landscape rather than extensive facilities.

    Frequently Asked Questions

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

    According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Center, ND is Sweet Briar Lake Campsites with a 4.8-star rating from 4 reviews.

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

    TheDyrt.com has all 12 tent camping locations near Center, ND, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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