Best Dog-Friendly Camping near Garrison, ND

Lake Sakakawea campgrounds accommodate pets with varying amenities near Garrison. COE Lake Sakakawea Downstream Campground features spacious sites with picnic tables and fire rings, offering both primitive camping and electric hookups for RV travelers with dogs. Wolf Creek Campground provides lakeside tent and RV sites where campers report excellent water access for pets, with nearly every site positioned near the shoreline for easy dog swimming opportunities. East Totten Trail Campground offers private, wooded sites that shelter pets from excessive wind while maintaining proximity to water access.

The Missouri River shoreline accessible from Lake Sakakawea Downstream Campground provides sandy banks perfect for dog walking and swimming opportunities. Trails connecting the camping loops create convenient pet exercise routes throughout the park. Sites remain relatively bug-free during windy conditions, though mosquitoes can be problematic during still evenings. Cross Ranch State Park Campground, located about 30 miles south, offers year-round pet-friendly accommodations including tent sites, RV hookups, cabins, yurts, and glamping options with access to riverside trails. Most campgrounds in the region maintain standard leash requirements and request that owners clean up after their pets, with spacious sites providing ample room for dogs to rest comfortably within each campsite's boundaries.

Best Dog-Friendly Sites Near Garrison, North Dakota (28)

    1. COE Lake Sakakawea Downstream Campground

    7 Reviews
    Stanton, ND
    12 miles
    Website
    +1 (701) 654-7440

    $16 - $30 / night

    "It’s below garrison dam and has many big trees, so it’s protected from the wind which makes bugs an issue at times so be prepared for that!"

    "Lovely easy walk down a path to the river with sandy banks. Clean, well kept sites w picnic tables and fire rings."

    2. Wolf Creek Campground

    3 Reviews
    Garrison, ND
    9 miles
    Website
    +1 (701) 654-7411

    $14 / night

    "Great campground located right on Lake Sakakawea. Nearly every site has easy access to the water. Two boat ramps located at the campground and great shore access for fishing."

    "Came here driving back to Arizona from Wisconsin. This campground has some of the best views of the lake. Some tree cover and the price is right it's a small camping area but we'll looked after."

    3. East Totten Trail Campground (ND)

    3 Reviews
    Garrison, ND
    8 miles
    Website
    +1 (701) 654-7411

    $14 - $26 / night

    "Really cool thing is when you want to have adult time the bar/restaurant is not far and you can all take a walk there and do that for the night if you want. Easy access to the water as well"

    4. Sakakawea Park

    4 Reviews
    Stanton, ND
    23 miles
    Website
    +1 (701) 745-3202

    "It is also close to The Knife River sites. I made the mistake of thinking I could get to one of the trails from here and you can't you'd have to actually go all the way back out and back in again."

    "We visited the Knife River Historic Site and had planned to drive the 25 miles north to the COE campground. We stopped here on a whim to check it out. It is in a very nice setting."

    5. Nelson Carlson Lake

    1 Review
    Garrison, ND
    19 miles
    Website
    +1 (701) 838-2114

    "All sites are along the lake. There are dumpsters, a boat ramp, picnic tables, two pit toilets and fire pits."

    6. Douglas Creek Bay Rec Area

    Be the first to review!
    DeQueen Lake, AR
    9 miles
    Website
    +1 (701) 654-7411

    9. Cross Ranch State Park Campground

    11 Reviews
    Hensler, ND
    36 miles
    Website
    +1 (701) 794-3731

    "Beautiful, well-groomed, shaded hiking paths everywhere. Playgrounds. Big fields. Clean water access to the river for swimming, dogs, fishing. Good sized sights, well sheltered by trees."

    "The spots, well they were close but situated in a way that you weren’t sitting staring at your neighbor. There were trees and foliage between the rows so it was comfortable."

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Recent Dog-Friendly Camping Photos near Garrison, ND

11 Photos of 28 Garrison Campgrounds


Dog-Friendly Camping Reviews near Garrison, ND

97 Reviews of 28 Garrison Campgrounds


  • Daniel S.
    Oct. 14, 2017

    Butte City Park

    Wow was it cold...and snowy

    So we decided to do some camping in North Dakota the last week of november into decmeber. It was cold and we got caught in a snow storm. We survived it was ridiculous and hard core if i do say so myself. We did have a fishing tent with a wood stove..Because it was winter there were no amenities. But in the summer it would be a pretty sweet campground. But in the winter there was no one here and we got set up for the cold. I love camping in the winter but this was pushing our luck a little bit

    Cheers!

  • Jacey B.
    Aug. 16, 2018

    Lake Sakakawea State Park Campground

    Gorgeous , peaceful little slice of the Dakota’s

    This is my favorite campground in North Dakota ! Always clean and neat. The waters are beautiful. National fish hatchery nearby, along with the Garrison dam. Breath taking views from the Elbowwoods loop!

  • B
    May. 4, 2021

    Roughrider RV Resort

    I love this campground, it was like a breath of fresh air after getting lost in

    I love this campground, it was like a breath of fresh air after getting lost in northeast north dakota and not seeing a soul for hours and sleeping on the side of the highway, driving up to Roughrider was like seeing an oasis in the desert. It is the nicest campsite we have been to in a while, $15/ night for primitive tent camping and pets allowed on leashes. The showers got hot INSTANTLY. We were welcomed so warmly after freezing in the car all night. 1000/10.

  • Stefanie Z.
    Sep. 8, 2020

    Old Settlers Park

    Small and cute, clean bathrooms

    We stayed 3 nights in early September, Fri-Sun. I was a bit surprised at how few people were there - 2 or 3 long campers and we were the only tent campers. It was nice for privacy but felt a little eerie at times. That being said it was nicely maintained and I have to mention the bathrooms are replenished and cleaned daily and fully stocked with CHARMIN ULTRA toilet paper which is an absolute luxury at a simple campground lol. The showers are also pretty nice and the facility is heated. So appreciated. It has a little pavilion, a playground, “beach”, a couple cute bridges, a big grassy field for stargazing or throwing the ball around, a disc golf course, and of course you’re right on the river which is cool. Swimming is allowed at your own risk. I’m giving it five stars mostly for how well kept the bathrooms were, but it did feel a little desolate at times. I get it’s the end of camping season though and it was a little cold at night so that’s probably why. There are a few stray cats and dogs wandering about at times. We are good sleepers and this didn’t bother us much but there are heavily trafficked train tracks a couple hundred yards away from the campground so if you are a light sleeper or are bothered by trains this might not be the place for you. Umm all in all it’s a cute and peaceful little park that made a nice home for a few nights. It’s patrolled by police throughout the day too. We’d probably stay there again if we ever happen to go to Minot. Oh! There’s a decent North Dakota style winery (sweet fruit wines) a couple miles down the road with a lovely view and even some hikes. Worth a visit - Pointe of View. Ok, done now I promise.

  • Bob M.
    Aug. 12, 2023

    Lake Sakakawea State Park Campground

    Really Nice

    This is our first visit here, North Dakota does a great job with their state parks campgrounds. Our 3rd SP visited on this trip ( Lake Metigoshe & Sully Creek were the others).

    Huge, well spaced campsites. Pretty much in immaculate condition. The park was busy, hardly any vacant spots but still very quiet. Plenty of folks had their boats, & plenty of room to park them. Very scenic area.

    We've been to plenty of state parks across the USA. Looks like North Dakota might have the best ones.

  • R
    Jul. 25, 2020

    Roughrider RV Resort

    Great service, full hook ups, and kids/pet friendly. If you’re camping in the area it is the best place BY FAR!!!

    Great service, full hook ups, and kids/pet friendly. If you’re camping in the area it is the best place BY FAR!!!

  • Josh D.
    Jun. 2, 2019

    Fort Stevenson State Park Campground

    Nice place

    Great campground. If you have a chance head into garrison and do some shopping on their main street. They have some great shops there. The park is wonderful and the sites are roomy.

  • Kim H.
    Jul. 28, 2023

    Washburn City Park

    Good campground

    Small city park at edge of town. There's a bicycle path to the Lewis and Clark center and the town diner and museum are close enough to walk to. There is a train but I've only heard it once. Neighbor dog barks a lot. Still not bad for $25 per night with FHU.

  • Kyle O.
    May. 22, 2019

    COE Lake Sakakawea Downstream Campground

    Clean, lots of amenities

    We’ve camped here a handful of times and have always enjoyed it. It’s below garrison dam and has many big trees, so it’s protected from the wind which makes bugs an issue at times so be prepared for that! Loop 1 - 3 are all paved and have very nice level pads for campers and all have fire rings. Loop 4 is primitive and usually always has space even if you arrive without reservations. Loop 1 cannot be reserved and is a first come first serve, vs loops 2-4 can be reserved 6 months in advance. Showers and bathroom facilities are kept up nice and are clean. There are also playgrounds and theaters there for kid/family activities.


Guide to Garrison

Campgrounds near Garrison, North Dakota feature varying terrain around Lake Sakakawea, the state's largest reservoir with over 1,500 miles of shoreline. North Dakota weather extremes affect camping conditions, with strong winds common in spring and early summer. Summer temperatures range from 55°F-85°F, with July and August providing optimal camping conditions.

What to do

Canoeing on the Missouri River: Cross Ranch State Park Campground offers canoe and kayak rentals with shuttle service. "We rented a canoe and 2 kayaks and were transported to Washburn and floated/paddled our way to Sanger boat launch. (Approx 9 miles) It took us about 3 hours and it was so beautiful! The park ranger picked us up at Sanger boat launch and brought everything back to the park entrance," shares Afton L.

Fishing from shore: Many campsites at Wolf Creek Campground provide direct water access for anglers without boats. "Nearly every site has easy access to the water. Two boat ramps located at the campground and great shore access for fishing," notes Melissa M.

Hiking historical routes: Explore trails following Lewis and Clark's path. "A scenic walk along the River where Lewis and Clark traveled. Cool stuff. Up the road was an extremely interesting National Historic Site we visited," mentions Shelly S. The Knife River Historic Site is within 2 miles of Sakakawea Park.

What campers like

Spacious sites for privacy: COE Lake Sakakawea Downstream Campground features exceptionally large campsites. "Sites a larger than most campgrounds we've been to. Grounds are well kept," reports Thomas C. Another camper adds, "All sites appeared level and had a decent amount of separation between sites. There are some trees to provide shade to some sites."

Water views: Campers consistently praise the lake and river vistas. "We arrived to a most perfect little spot and view of the water," reports an Olson H. about Wolf Creek Campground. Similarly, at Nelson Carlson Lake, "All sites are along the lake. There are dumpsters, a boat ramp, picnic tables, two pit toilets and fire pits."

Unique accommodation options: Beyond standard tent and RV sites, Cross Ranch State Park Campground offers alternative lodging. "Great experience camping in an authentic Tipi. The Tipi has a wood floor and cots, with plenty of room. It kept us and our things dry during a rainstorm," shares Zachary N.

What you should know

Weather impacts: Strong winds affect bug populations. "Two days of windy during the day yet despite wind gusts going from 25-50 mph there was not a bug in site so you give and take," notes one camper at COE Lake Sakakawea Downstream Campground. However, "mosquitoes can be problematic during still evenings."

Reservation requirements: Several campgrounds have specific booking procedures. "Note that camp host does not accept registrations, all campers need to register through the Recreation.gov website," advises a Wolf Creek visitor.

Facility limitations: Sakakawea Park offers limited hookup sites. "They have a handful of spots with water and electric and a few primitive spots," explains Teresa T. Some campgrounds have unusual dump station locations: "The dump station is actually in town near the bank."

Variable site quality: Not all sites are created equal. At East Totten Trail Campground, "We were on site 35 and it was not fit for a camper. Very Hilly and goose droppings everywhere. Will not camp there again with our camper. We ended up leaving it unleveled while camping."

Tips for camping with families

Playground access: Several dog friendly campgrounds near Garrison offer play areas. "Loops One and Two have playgrounds; the one in Loop Two appears more modern so if you have kiddos who like playgrounds, I would recommend this loop," suggests one visitor to COE Lake Sakakawea Downstream Campground.

Educational opportunities: Rice Lake County Park provides wildlife viewing chances for children. "The lake is small just northern pike. There is few campsites that are free," notes a visitor. At Cross Ranch State Park, ranger programs engage young campers with "ranger presentations" as mentioned by Karen Z.

Distance considerations: Some amenities require walking. At Cross Ranch State Park, "The showers were in the front office so like a half mile walk from my site. They were clean and well maintained," notes Shelly S. Another camper mentions, "First visit here, nice campground and layout. Park staff was very nice and friendly. Beautiful views of Missouri River. Only complaints were the long haul from the parking area."

Tips from RVers

Hookup availability: Electric-only sites are common at dog friendly campgrounds near Garrison. "Only electrical service at the sites. Potable water is available at the dump site on the way in to the campground," reports Thomas C. about COE Lake Sakakawea Downstream Campground.

Site leveling challenges: Check site descriptions carefully. "All sites appeared level and had a decent amount of separation between sites," notes one RVer at COE Lake Sakakawea Downstream Campground, while others report difficulties at East Totten Trail with "Very Hilly" sites where they "ended up leaving it unleveled while camping."

Budget-friendly options: Sakakawea Park offers good value. "Very cheap," notes c G. Another camper elaborates: "It is in a very nice setting. The sites are huge and the bathrooms are clean and nice. Very quiet and can't be beat for $20 water and electric."

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Garrison, ND?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Garrison, ND is COE Lake Sakakawea Downstream Campground with a 4.6-star rating from 7 reviews.

What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Garrison, ND?

TheDyrt.com has all 28 dog-friendly camping locations near Garrison, ND, with real photos and reviews from campers.