Camping options near Crosby, North Dakota include both developed facilities and lakeside sites across several counties in the northwestern part of the state. The area features multiple small parks and recreation centers like Pioneer Village and Blacktail Dam offering tent and RV camping. Blacktail Dam, approximately 30 miles southwest of Crosby, provides electrical hookups and amenities for families. Northgate Dam Recreation Center, about 30 miles east of Crosby, offers more primitive camping with basic amenities and fishing access. Most campgrounds in the region accommodate both tent and RV camping, with varying levels of services from primitive sites to those with electrical hookups.
Campgrounds in the Crosby area typically operate seasonally from May through October, with limited winter access due to harsh North Dakota conditions. Electric hookups are available at several sites including Pioneer Village, Blacktail Dam, and Northgate Dam, though water hookups are less common. "All camp spots are right on the water, though most of them have cat tails and thick vegetation making it difficult to get to the water," noted one visitor about Blacktail Dam. Road conditions vary throughout the region, with some access routes requiring careful navigation. Most campgrounds feature vault toilets rather than flush facilities, and shower availability is limited to larger developed areas. Campground fees range from very affordable ($5-10 per night at Northgate Dam) to standard rates at more developed facilities.
The camping experience in this region centers around water recreation and fishing opportunities. Northgate Dam Recreation Center receives consistently positive reviews for its fishing access, with one visitor describing it as a "great family fishing hole" with excellent opportunities for trout, walleye and bluegill fishing. Many campgrounds feature fishing docks, boat launches, and swimming areas. Visitors appreciate the relative quiet and seclusion of these smaller campgrounds compared to larger state parks. Blacktail Dam offers family-friendly amenities including playgrounds and picnic shelters. Several campgrounds provide direct water access from most sites, though vegetation can sometimes limit easy access to shorelines. Wildlife viewing opportunities and stargazing complement the fishing and water recreation that draw most visitors to the area.
"Half hour from Portal border crossing."
"The location was beautiful and peaceful. The campground was very clean. I wish we had been able to stay longer. The $10 fee is certainly reasonable!"
$10 - $15 / night
"Along with a few other species in this little lake. Fun place to go for the weekend far enough out of town to feel like a getaway."
ScoutMy husband and I stayed one night on our relocation trip from Alaska. The location was beautiful and peaceful. The campground was very clean. I wish we had been able to stay longer. The $10 fee is certainly reasonable!
ScoutIn September this small state park is over run with hunters. I truck camp and left with my site reserved only to come back with another camper in my spot. Online reservation system would resolve any issues. Other camper claimed there was no site tag at site. It was there when I left in the flimsy clip provided.
LegendI think for families this would be a nice place to spend a weekend. Everything was closed I'm here in April so I would have been the only camper had I stayed. But the bathrooms aren't open and the water is not on yet so we'll probably head over to a state park instead. But if you had small boats or wanted to fish it's very cute you can see the water from every campsite and pretty much can access the water from every campsite. Probably well used by the locals.
TravelerEasy access plenty of space. Good Quiet and relaxing
GuidePicked a site online from the website. Looked like a nice long back in by the lake. Turns out it had a big hump in the middle of it and the power was on the wrong side a to far away to reach. Went up the hill and found a place to park in site three while the guy I called checked to see if it was reserved . Luckily it wasn’t so I was able to set up and get the air going Other thing to mention is I’m in a 28 foot travel trailer. The road in if you can call it that was pretty worn out. First part was bumpy and patched tar. The rest was gravel so had to go slow It’s a bare bones park that doesn’t see much attention. But if you wanna be alone, this will work. Only three of us here. Bugs are a bit of a problem here as everywhere this time of year. Little no see ‘ems are the worst. Just a few Skeeters. I’m told there’s a dump station, but haven’t looked at it yet. Was looking for a quiet place to wait out the heat for a few days that had power. So it works for that. And I’m beholding to Jeremy at the office in town for helping with the reservation switch. I would suggest you come here first before picking a site. The ones on the loop on the hill are more level.
TravelerWe love Kota Ray. Its small, the swimming beach is pretty decent, the campsites aren't too terrible (I wish some of them were just a bit more level), the bathrooms are usually cleaned well and they have lots of picnic shelters. The fishing is good and it's a great little pond for kayaks and paddleboards. Only electric at sites, no water hookups.
GuideAll camp spots are right on the water, though most of them have cat tails and thick vegetation making it difficult to get to the water. Each site has electric that you share with your neighbor. They have a water station, dump station, showers that could use some attention, they have a nice playground for the kids, some picnic shelters, bathrooms and garbage cans. We stayed over the 4th so it was very busy but still enjoyable (coming from a family that prefers our solitude). There isn't a lot of water access for shore fishing and swimming is prohibited in most areas. There is a swimming beach about 1.5 miles from where we had camped which was pretty central to the grounds. It's not a big beach area so busy days it can be a little crowded. It is nice and sandy and great for the kiddos, though. All in all, the campground was nice and I would stay again!
TravelerWent here deliberately because it is not extremely busy and has a warm lake for swimming, boating, tubing. Canoing that is very near the campground. Fantastic restaurant in Genora, ND about 5 miles away. Went in late July and flies were somewhat bothersome. But lake was so refreshing and this would make a perfect 1-2 day stop between many locations in MT and ND. 27 miles to Canadian Border. Went swimming every day I was there except one day when it was cool. 150 miles to Theodore Roosevelt National Park which was also great.
ScoutSuch a nice camping spot. Clean and tidy, on a beautiful pond with lots of rec opportunities. Playground with basketball court; clean vault toilets; electric available at each site. Best part... $5 per night, $10 if you want electric.
Half hour from Portal border crossing.
Camping sites near Crosby, North Dakota often experience harsh winter temperatures dropping to -30°F, while summer highs can reach the mid-80s with relatively low humidity. The terrain around northwestern North Dakota features rolling hills and small impoundments created for recreation and water conservation purposes. Most campgrounds in the region remain primitive with limited development, catering primarily to anglers and those seeking quieter outdoor experiences.
Fishing for multiple species: At Northgate Dam Rec Center, visitors can catch trout, walleye and bluegill from several small docks. "Bring a kayak, canoe, or boat and enjoy excellent fishing for trout, walleye and blue gill!" recommends Kacie O.
Swimming at designated beaches: Some campgrounds offer swimming areas during summer months when water temperatures warm up. At Kota Ray Dam, "the swimming beach is pretty decent" according to Leah N., who adds it's "a great little pond for kayaks and paddleboards."
Playground activities for children: Multiple recreation areas include playground equipment for families. Blacktail Dam features "a nice playground for the kids, some picnic shelters, bathrooms and garbage cans," according to one camper, while Northgate Dam Rec Center offers "2 play grounds, 4 little docks (1 fishing, for swimming area), Fish cleaning station!"
Budget-friendly camping fees: The exceptionally low cost of camping surprises many visitors. At Northgate Dam Rec Center, Jim notes the "Best part... $5 per night, $10 if you want electric." Another visitor, Cynthia O., confirms "The $10 fee is certainly reasonable!"
Relative seclusion at small impoundments: Many campgrounds offer quiet experiences with minimal crowds. Buck G. describes Northgate Dam as "Easy access plenty of space. Good Quiet and relaxing," while at Brush Lake State Park Campground, one visitor notes it "is not extremely busy and has a warm lake for swimming, boating, tubing."
Waterfront access from campsites: Many sites position campers directly adjacent to water. Teresa T. notes that at Blacktail Dam, "you can see the water from every campsite and pretty much can access the water from every campsite."
Campground size limitations: Most recreation areas have limited camping capacity. Jodi P. notes that Blacktail Dam "is a popular destination for most area people. It is a small dam so it does tend to get quite busy, with minimal camping spots."
Seasonal accessibility issues: Many facilities close completely during winter and early spring. Teresa T. reports visiting Blacktail Dam in April when "everything was closed" and "the bathrooms aren't open and the water is not on yet."
Uneven campsite terrain: Some campgrounds have challenging site conditions for larger RVs. At Kota Ray Dam, Kerry K. warns about selecting sites sight unseen: "Picked a site online from the website. Looked like a nice long back in by the lake. Turns out it had a big hump in the middle of it and the power was on the wrong side a to far away to reach."
Limited cellular connectivity: Most smaller recreation areas have spotty cell service. Prepare for potential communication challenges by downloading maps and information before arrival.
Consider private development proximity: Some recreation areas have housing developments nearby, affecting privacy. Kori P. notes about Blacktail Dam: "I don't like all the houses out here. It makes you feel like you are constantly being watched."
Plan for holiday crowd management: Holiday weekends bring significant increases in visitor numbers. Leah N. shares her experience at Blacktail Dam: "We stayed over the 4th so it was very busy but still enjoyable (coming from a family that prefers our solitude)."
Check swimming area sizes: Beach areas tend to be modest in size. Regarding Blacktail Dam, one visitor notes: "There is a swimming beach about 1.5 miles from where we had camped which was pretty central to the grounds. It's not a big beach area so busy days it can be a little crowded."
Check for level sites before commitment: Some campsites have challenging terrain for RV setup. At Fox Run RV Park near Williston, Jesse S. reports a positive experience, but at Kota Ray Dam, Kerry K. warns: "The ones on the loop on the hill are more level."
Verify hookup locations before selecting sites: Electric pedestals may not be optimally placed. One RVer at Kota Ray Park found "the power was on the wrong side and too far away to reach."
Consider road conditions to smaller parks: Access roads to recreation areas vary in quality. One camper notes about Kota Ray: "The road in if you can call it that was pretty worn out. First part was bumpy and patched tar. The rest was gravel so had to go slow."
Frequently Asked Questions
What amenities are available at Crosby Campground?
Campgrounds in the Crosby area offer varied amenities to suit different camping needs. Blacktail Dam provides electrical hookups shared between neighboring sites, a water station, dump station, showers, and a playground. Each site is positioned along the waterfront, though vegetation may limit direct water access. Kota Ray Dam offers lakeside camping with good fishing opportunities. For budget-conscious campers, some local recreation areas offer affordable rates with basic amenities like vault toilets, electric hookups, and picnic areas, with fees as low as $5-10 per night depending on whether you need electricity.
Where is Crosby Campground located and how do I get there?
Crosby area offers several camping options in northwestern North Dakota. Pioneer Village is located in Crosby itself, making it an excellent base for exploring the region. For those traveling from Canada, Northgate Dam Rec Center is conveniently located about half an hour from the Portal border crossing, offering easy access for international visitors. The area has good road access, with most campgrounds accessible via paved roads. Be sure to check specific directions for your chosen campground as some of the more remote options may require navigation on rural roads.
When is the best time to visit Crosby Campground?
The optimal time to visit the Crosby area for camping is late spring through early fall. Brush Lake State Park Campground is particularly enjoyable in summer when the warm lake is perfect for swimming, boating, and canoeing, though flies can be bothersome in late July. Early summer offers pleasant weather and good fishing at many local water bodies. Be aware that facilities at some campgrounds like Baukol typically remain closed until May, with water services and bathrooms unavailable in early spring. Holiday weekends, especially around the 4th of July, can be extremely busy at smaller lakes, so consider making reservations or arriving early during peak times.
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