Best Tent Camping near Garrison, ND
Tent campers visiting Garrison, North Dakota have access to several established campgrounds in the surrounding area. Steinke Bay and Douglas Creek Bay offer tent-only sites near Lake Sakakawea, while Morning Star Campground in nearby Riverdale provides electric hookups suitable for tent campers. Rice Lake County Park, located approximately 45 miles north near Minot, features boat-in tent camping with basic amenities.
Most tent camping areas near Garrison feature minimal amenities, with facilities varying widely between locations. Rice Lake County Park provides vault toilets and allows campfires, but lacks drinking water and electric hookups. Morning Star Campground offers electric hookups and picnic tables for a more developed experience, operating seasonally from May 1 to September 30. Several sites including Steinke Bay and Douglas Creek do not permit fires, making camp stoves necessary for cooking. Campers should bring sufficient water supplies as drinking water is only available at Brekken recreation area near Turtle Lake.
The camping experience around Garrison benefits from North Dakota's relatively uncrowded outdoor spaces. Sites near Lake Sakakawea provide water access for fishing and swimming during summer months. Morning Star Campground allows pets, making it suitable for those traveling with dogs. Tent campers seeking more solitude might prefer the less developed sites at Steinke Bay or Douglas Creek. A review on The Dyrt described Rice Lake County Park as "peaceful" with "few campsites that are free," noting that while the lake is small with only northern pike fishing, it makes "a weekend getaway close to Minot."