Whether you're a tent camper, an RVer, or just passing through, Dickinson, ND has a lot to offer. Camping, hiking, biking: however you want to spend your days near Dickinson, you'll find great campgrounds with The Dyrt. Ready to plan your adventure? Check out our campgrounds near Dickinson and user-submitted reviews.
$5 / night
"Lovely place to stay, clean with trash cans and vault toilets. Unfortunately we had 5 hail storms that night."
"Only a handful of spots but they are nicely separated with some privacy. Small maintained trails and really pretty."
"No hookups - one vault toilet - picnic tables and fire rings at each site. Boondocking only. National Forest land - part of the Little Missouri River Grasslands. Hiking from park."
"The sites looked to be spaced out fairly well, many of them had a picnic table, there is a bathroom on site and also a water pump that did not seem accessible by vehicle, so I doubt you could fill an rv"
"We were in a spot with some shade for our tent. Close to clean pit toilet."
"There are some nice long hiking trails, bison and other prairie critters. This is wide open country with no real facilities (no trash either).
Yay: simple camping and lovely scenery, wildlife."
"This site has a water pump, fire rings, and tables. In the day time the temperature gets really hot and the restroom has a smell come out. This site was very big and could hols a couple tents."
TravelerNo hookups - one vault toilet - picnic tables and fire rings at each site. Boondocking only. National Forest land - part of the Little Missouri River Grasslands. Hiking from park. Outstanding views - BIG lots - peaceful. Love it!
LegendGeneral: Small (37-site) forest service campground in two loops near Theodore Roosevelt National Park. No hookups or cell service (despite proximity to the highway). We arrived on a Thursday afternoon in late August with no reservation and had no problem securing a site, although it filled almost to capacity by evening.
Site Quality: Many are in direct sun, but we found one that had some afternoon shade. Each site has a fire ring and picnic table. All camper pads are paved.
Bath/Shower house: There were six vault toilets (two by the entrance and two in each loop) that had sinks but no soap; they were reasonably clean. Two showers were in the other loop from where we stayed, and we did not use them.
Activities: There is access to the Buffalo Gap Trail, but we did not hike it as this was an overnight stop for us and quite hot. It is not far from the south unit of Theodore Roosevelt National Park.
It was hot when we were there (high 80s) so we just kind of collapsed upon arrival and took off the next day. The good news is you are close to the highway, but you will hear some road noise. $20 or$10 with the senior pass makes it a good deal. Cash or check if you cannot register online (no service with Verizon).
LegendAll the sites were the same but I got to stay at site 15. The site is huge and is made for group camping not solo. There's a picnic table and fire ring. The park cost about 20 dollars to get into. There are restrooms that are pretty well maintained but had no showers. I went on a hot day so they prohibited fires for that day to prevent wildfires. There are a lot of animals and you may notice small animal droppings on the campground. The droppings are dried out so it doesn't have a strong odor. They don't let you collect firewood to prevent damaging the wildlife so I recommend bringing your own supply of wood. There are a lot of trails in this park. I took the Wind Canyon trail which offered the view of the Missouri river. There is also a lot of prairie dogs and buffalo. You are exposed to the sun and there are no trees for shade. This is also the same for the campsite. It is really hot. The visitor center is really friendly and they suggest places in the park you should visit.
LegendThis campground in Theodore Roosevelt National Park near Medora ND has 76 sites. Half of the sites, the even-numbered ones, are not reservable. Sites 55-66 are walk in tent sites; parking spots and grills for these sites are numbered so you have a specific site.
We arrived before 10:30 am on a Sunday and sites were being claimed quickly. There were 7 of us choosing sites at that time. The hosts had a whiteboard that listed available sites; we took a photo of the list and chose quickly as we drove around because sites that were listed as available were already being claimed. We ended up on a reservable site that was open for the next several nights. The host couple was really on the ball and their attention helped keep the site selection process orderly. After you put your tag up, they fold it over later in the day and mark your departure date. This is a practice that is used in many campgrounds.
Cottonwood has been full every day since Memorial Day so you can't show up in the evening or possibly even mid-afternoon and expect to find an open site.
This campground has no hookups but has flush toilets, sinks, potable water spigots, a sink for washing dishes/disposing of grey water, a place for filling water tanks, trash disposal and firewood for sale. There are charcoal grates for cooking that can also be use for campfires, but there are no fire rings; your campfire will be a few feet off the ground in something that I think of as a grill!
Showers? No, but there area couple campgrounds in Medora that have showers for $5.
If you stay here, you're obviously here to see Theodore Roosevelt NP. Both the campground and park are worth a visit. The scenery is incredible and gave us a new view of North Dakota. There is a hike near Pleasant Valley Ranch where you can use a few trails to make a 5+ mile loop that will show you everything the park has to offer - Little Missouri River (and you have to cross it at the beginning and end), prairie dog towns, bison herds and beautiful scenery. I highly recommend this as a way to see the park from a better vantage point than the highway.
One complaint - the position of our site (#19) had some people think it was acceptable to cut through our site on their way to the bathroom. Do you walk through someone's home to shorten your walk? Didn't think so but 3 people did within 30 minutes.
LegendPlace had everything I needed, including a shower. Website states they are coin showers but mine was free so unsure if they just updated to free showers. Primitive sites are $17/night but you also have to pay the $7 state park fee. All sites had a fire ring and picnic table and had distance between neighbors. Trash available, nice vault toilets and a dump station. No ATT service but would definitely stay again on a weekend. About 80% full on a Saturday night mid may. Only 5 minutes to get to medora and the national park.
RangerThe campsites are perfectly fine. The park is stunning.
Leave no trace.
LegendThis is a nice camping spot. Close to interstate. Which you can hear. Heard a train go by a few times. Lake gets a few fisherman throughout the day. Only 4 spots which filled up before dark. No water or dump. Campsites are right on edge of lake.
LegendWe had an amazing spot on top of hill. Could see for miles. Saw nice mule deer buck. Lots of camping spots. Empty during the day gets close to full an hour or so before dark. 10 min from National park entrance. No water or dump. Can be very windy. Very close to petrified forest.
GuideWe stayed in a tent with electricity. The tent site was on the back stretch with the badlands as a backdrop. There was not a fire ring at the campsite but we didn’t feel like we were missing anything. Our site was extremely small wIth no room for our camp chairs. Alao, there was some inconsistency in sizes of the tent area sites. Bathrooms were clean. Showers were alright, they could use some work on the ventilation.
Tent camping near Dickinson, North Dakota offers a variety of scenic spots for outdoor enthusiasts looking to immerse themselves in nature. With options ranging from well-maintained campgrounds to more rustic settings, there's something for everyone.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Dickinson, ND?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Dickinson, ND is BLM Schnell Recreation Area with a 3.3-star rating from 4 reviews.
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TheDyrt.com has all 6 tent camping locations near Dickinson, ND, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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