The northwestern North Dakota landscape surrounding Epping features a mix of prairie and badlands terrain with several camping options within a 30-mile radius. Epping RV Park provides basic amenities with electric hookups, sanitary dump, and sewer connections, operating seasonally from early May through mid-October. Within driving distance, Lewis & Clark State Park near Riverdale offers more developed facilities including tent sites, RV spaces, cabins, and glamping options with access to Lake Sakakawea. Other nearby options include Kota Ray Dam near Ray and several facilities in Williston, creating a network of established campgrounds that serve both recreational travelers and those working in the region's energy sector.
Camping in this region requires awareness of seasonal conditions and limited facilities. Many campgrounds lack shade, with visitors noting the summer heat can be intense, particularly at sites like CCC Campground in the Dakota Prairie National Grasslands. A unique geographical feature affects some campgrounds near Theodore Roosevelt National Park, where campers report their devices switching between time zones unexpectedly. As one visitor noted, "I didn't realize I was exactly right on the line where the time zone changes. I wanted to get to the visitor's center right when they opened but ended up there an hour after they opened!" Water availability varies significantly between locations, with some offering full hookups while others provide only basic pump wells.
Wildlife viewing opportunities rank highly among camper experiences in the region. Bison sightings are common near Theodore Roosevelt National Park, with one camper reporting, "The campground was very quiet until a herd of bison came through." Night sky viewing receives consistent praise, with visitors mentioning exceptional stargazing conditions. Lake access at sites like Lewis & Clark State Park provides recreational opportunities including fishing, swimming, and boating. Park ranger presence is notably appreciated at some locations, with a visitor at Lewis & Clark State Park commenting, "We had one storm while we were there and they gave us the emergency plan as fast as they could." Site spacing varies considerably between campgrounds, with some offering privacy while others place campers in close proximity.
$15 - $85 / night
"They did patrols all the time around and were super friendly! We had one storm while we were there and they gave us the emergency plan as fast as they could."
"Close access to Lake Sakakawea, within walking distance."
$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."
"Beautiful lake. Great sunsets. Stayed on 4th of July and it was amazing."
"I wanted to amend my report because we walked around and there are three places to camp. One is down by the water in primitive campsites which are very nice. Two is the little Campground I stayed in."
RangerGreat experience at this campground. Toilets, water, trash/recycling. Park Rangers provide educational classes from Thursday-Sunday evenings. Stunning views and wildlife experiences. Not a good park for walking dogs.
TravelerBare bones camping. Has a clean toilet, well pump, picnic tables and fire rings. Quiet. Pitch black at night. Great for stars.
GuideThis campground is in the north unit of the park. It has 50 primitive sites available on first come first serve basis. We were here on Labor Day weekend and campground was full for the first time in 2 years. Pads are asphalt and smallish. There are public washrooms, but no showers. There is a dump station, but no potable water for RV tanks. Drinking water is available at the wash house . The drinking of the water at the fill station is discouraged due to high levels of fluoride. While we were camped here, 2 small herds of bison grazed through the camp.
RangerThe absolute anxiety of getting here and not knowing whether we'd be able to get a spot or not is off the charts. We got here at about 1pm on a Sunday thinking there shouldn't be a problem, yet there were probably only about 4 spots left and only 1 we could fit in. A lot of spots already had tags on them but not one bit of equipment set in place. Assuming it was someone that came in much earlier just to tag a spot...that needs to be addressed. There's quite a few "drinking water" spigots marked on the map but when you get to them there is a sign with a drinking glass and a red slash through it. The only drinking water is at the bathroom and not meant to fill your rv with so dont come here expecting to be able to fill your rv with safe water. The other spigots marked as unsafe have really high fluoride content and feels like slime. But we were told its safe to shower in. Im sorry but I dont trust that at all. If you shouldn't drink it bc of the high fluoride then you shouldn't shower in it. You'll just absorb it through your skin. We're in spot 30 and its pretty spacious but not private at all. Most spots really have no privacy at all. So if that's what you're looking for then look else where. We got barked at by the neighbors' dogs every time we walked out. Very pretty setting but in my opinion its way too crowded. Also not sure if its just the area or time of year but there's just billions of flies all over all the time. Makes being outside miserable. Also my husband got stung by a yellow jacket. I think there's a nest in the picnic table. The grill was full of charcoals and a chunk of burnt wood. It just seems like the sites are not ever checked or taken care of. The only work I've seen done is trash collection. There's an rv dump at least but not sure what much you'll need to dump since there's only one spigot at the bathroom you can fill a jug at.
RangerThis campground is only about 1/4 mile from the entrance to the North Unit of Theodore Rosevelt National Park. There are plenty of pit toilets, potable water, and electric. The views from the park are amazing! Sites are big and each has a picnic table, fire pit, and grill. The road in (1 mile) is well maintained. Highly recommend!!
GuideThis little spot is within the town of Watford City… ambitiously named
RangerSites were nice with water and electric hookups. Decently spread out. Unfortunately, camp hosts were ghosts. Supposedly 4 hosts. Walked by 2 of them and they were off duty. I was too tired to locate the others. Ranger at check in said the host(s) would come by to sell firewood. Never saw one. No campfire 😞.
GuideIn the main camping area, about 20 sites with generally level concrete pads, but close together with no screening between sites. Several campsites had trailers but no occupants. Camping area is across from the boat ramp to the lake, but does provide decent lake views. Posted price of "full hook-up" was $35. Hmmm. Electricity, yes, but no sewer connection that we could find and (despite faucets) several signs declaring "non-potable water." Scattered picnic tables (no table at many sites). Bathrooms locked and unavailable. Some of this might have been sorted by staff members, but no one appeared from the time of our arrival till the time of our departure (pay envelopes and a slot). Although June 30th, the place had the feeling of not being open for the season.
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.
Camping spots near Epping, North Dakota offer visitors access to Lake Sakakawea, the third largest man-made reservoir in the United States with over 1,500 miles of shoreline. Winter temperatures in this region can drop below -30°F while summer highs frequently exceed 90°F, creating distinct camping seasons. Most campgrounds operate from May through mid-October with limited services available in shoulder seasons.
Fishing opportunities: Blacktail Dam provides shore fishing access for pike, walleye and sunfish. Kori P. notes, "Cute place to go camp... decent fishing for pike, walleye and sunfish" at Blacktail Dam.
Boating access: Lake Sakakawea offers extensive water recreation with designated boat launches. Jackie R. mentions at Lewis & Clark State Park, "We always drop in our boat here. There are 2 good size lanes so a horrible backup person like myself has no problem!"
Beach activities: Several campgrounds provide swimming beaches when water levels permit. At Little Beaver Bay Campground, Teresa T. observes, "The water is much lower and farther away so there's a big beach to play on that wouldn't be there normally."
Consistent ranger presence: Park staff maintain regular patrols at some locations. Matt B. appreciates that at Lewis & Clark State Park, "The bathrooms are thoroughly cleaned every night and the park staff are very friendly and helpful."
Water recreation variety: Multiple lakes support diverse activities. Sarah H. values Tobacco Garden Rec Area because "This campground has a little of everything. Playgrounds, boat landing, grocery store and restaurant, fishing, cabins, showers, allows insured atv and utv's, bait."
Spacious camping areas: Many sites provide good separation between campers. Stephanie B. comments about Tobacco Garden, "This is basically 3 separate campgrounds. Great open spaces. Not close together. Wonderful management."
Inconsistent camp host availability: Some campgrounds have limited staff presence. Leslie B. reports at Lewis & Clark State Park, "Sites were nice with water and electric hookups. Decently spread out. Unfortunately, camp hosts were ghosts. Supposedly 4 hosts. Walked by 2 of them and they were off duty."
Site leveling challenges: Several campgrounds have uneven terrain. Kerry K. warns about Kota Ray Dam, "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."
Seasonal insect populations: Bugs can be problematic during warmer months. Deborah C. found at Lewis & Clark State Park, "We were lucky as we camped here in late August 2018, the week prior they had record highs of 109! We had our choice of tent sites, and were right on lake front. Facilities were acceptable. Lots of bugs and flies, but we managed!"
Playground access: Several campgrounds include play areas for children. Leah N. mentions that Blacktail Dam has "a nice playground for the kids, some picnic shelters, bathrooms and garbage cans."
Educational programs: Some parks offer structured activities. Matt B. notes at Lewis & Clark State Park, "There is a theater area with educational presentations for the kids. Also, there is an ice cream truck that comes through the campground at night."
Swimming beach quality: Beach areas vary by location. Leah N. describes Blacktail Dam's beach: "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."
Road condition awareness: Access roads to some campgrounds may be rough. Kerry K. observed at Kota Ray Dam, "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."
Water access planning: Many campgrounds lack direct water hookups. Leah N. advises for Kota Ray Dam, "Only electric at sites, no water hookups," while Bran P. suggests at Lewis & Clark State Park, "Fill up your fresh tank at the dump station before going to your site because there are very few accessible spigots near the camp sites."
Weather preparedness: Summer temperatures can reach extreme highs. The temperature contrast is significant, as Deborah C. experienced at Lewis & Clark State Park when camping "the week prior they had record highs of 109!"
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular campground near Epping, ND?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Epping, ND is Lewis & Clark State Park Campground with a 4.1-star rating from 16 reviews.
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