65 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Grassy Butte, North Dakota serves as a gateway to diverse camping experiences, particularly near Theodore Roosevelt National Park and the Dakota Prairie National Grasslands. Campgrounds like Summit Campground and Grassy Butte Community Park accommodate both tent and RV camping, while more remote options such as Magpie Campground provide seclusion in the badlands landscape. The area primarily features established campgrounds with basic amenities, though dispersed camping opportunities exist for those seeking more primitive experiences. Most sites are operational year-round, with several providing drinking water, toilets, and fire rings.
Road conditions vary significantly throughout the region, with many campgrounds requiring travel on gravel or dirt roads. Summit Campground sits near Interstate 85, creating consistent road noise but offering convenient access to hiking trails and the Theodore Roosevelt National Park North Unit. The CCC Campground lies just a quarter-mile from the park entrance on a well-maintained road. Weather conditions can be extreme, with temperatures dropping below freezing by early October and summer heat requiring reliable water sources. "We camped here in the middle of the week and we saw only three other camping groups during our two days here. There is a well to pump your own water from and a super clean, enclosed pit toilet."
Campers consistently praise the region's natural beauty and relative seclusion. Magpie Campground receives high ratings for its privacy and direct access to the Maah Daah Hey Trail, which offers over 100 miles of terrain for hikers, bikers, and horseback riders. The Grassy Butte Community Park stands out as a convenient option with electric hookups, water, and playground facilities—all within a small, quiet community setting. Several reviews highlight the spectacular stargazing opportunities and wildlife viewing, including buffalo sightings in certain areas. While some campgrounds like Summit provide free camping with minimal amenities, others like Magpie charge modest fees ($10) but offer greater seclusion and natural surroundings. According to one visitor, "Magpie Campground is worth the drive for the peace and surrounding beauty... The sites are spaced apart and surrounded by trees."
"Especially against the terrain that surrounds it. The campground is low on amenities but high on scenery, and it is very clean. The hiking in the North unit is amazing. There is so much wildlife."
"We showed our Access Passes to get into the park and then proceeded to mile marker 5, where the CG is located."
from $30 / night
Check Availability"This campground offers beautiful panoramic views of the North Dakota Badlands. Additionally, you can access the Maah Daah Hey Trail and explore the Badlands from here."
"Easy 1 mile drive on well maintained gravel/dirt road off Highway 85. The campground appears to have been recently renovated. The fire pit and barbecue have never been used."
from $10 / night
Check Availability"The part I like most about this campground is the easy access to the world renowned Maah Daah Hey Trail: >100 miles of trail open to hikers, bikers, and horseback riders."
"They said they had good trails, but we didn’t have much time to explore. Beautiful views and very peaceful. Only downfall was the long drive on the rough/ unpaved roads."
from $6 / night
Check Availability"This is a great free place to stay right outside the north unit of Theodore Roosevelt NP. There are 4 rv spots along with some tent camping opportunities."
"The sites were well maintained and close to the entrance of the north unit of Teddy Roosevelt."
"We explored the area - close to the Theodore Roosevelt National Park North Unit and National Grasslands. Lots of trees for shade."
"I visited this campground for 1 night while driving across North Dakota. It's super easy to access from I-94, but you feel like you're a million miles away from the interstate."
"Cottonwood Campground was a very welcome oasis in the prairies of North Dakota."
from $20 - $60 / night
Check Availability"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."
"It was easy to come from Medora, North Dakota to the site, but it appears that you only get an entrance and exit on the Medora side."
"The road in was fairly flat, and basically right off the highway. You can have the option of lots of privacy as well. Most of the sites are quite a distance away from each other."
"There's a picnic table, but it was very hot outside without shade. There's a great creek within walking distance that you can cool off in and let the dogs run around."
"Just a mere walk away from the lovely town of Medora and perfect driving distance from the National Park and the Presidential Library."
from $30 - $60 / night
Check Availability"Really beautiful site here with lots of easy and moderate trails to explore with lovely sunrise/sunset and wildlife! Similar feel to Badlands with some fewer crowds."
from $60 / night
Check Availability
RangerBuffalo Gap campground has three showers, flush toilets, dump station, dumpsters and potable water. Great place for a base camp to explore from. I highly recommend visiting President Teddy Roosevelt Library. Phone service is almost non-existent. I had to park next to a hill overlooking the camp to get a signal.
TravelerThis campground is a National Forest Campground. There are 18 sites with 5 requiring reservations and the rest are FCFS. There are also 5 or 6 horse sites with small corrals at each site. There are several pit toilets that are very clean and appear to have been repainted this year. The toilets are ADA friendly. The sites are spacious with 15/30/50 amp service. The tent or smaller camper sites have 15/30 amp service. There are a couple of community water faucets set up around the campground. There is no dump station. This campground is about 1 mile from the entrance to Theodore Roosevelt National Park North Unit. Just across the Little Missouri River. The views from this campground into the badlands is spectacular. There are a couple of trails for hiking and horseback riding from the campground. The cost is $10 per night and $5 if you have the senior pass.
GuidePros: convenient to TRNP, new presidential library, & town of Medora, good laundry facility & nice walking paths. Cons: sights were extremely close together, restrooms were clean, but could use some updating
TravelerGreat boondocking spots. 16 in total. First come first serve. Try to get there by 3:00 to have a decent pick, although any of them are good!’
GuideI spoke to the camphosts about a possible site and was informed the FCFS policy stopped this May/2026. Reservations online only. I tried to edit the information on the info page but it wouldn't let me enter text🙂
GuideGreat campground, quiet! Nice shaded spots for tents, carcamping. Trees for hammocks!! Laundry facility with quick dryers. Has trolley to take you to activities... Steak on pitchforks! There is a train going by but it is almost not noticeable. Staff is friendly!
ScoutThe sites are marked. There's 13 sites. Some can fit more than one camper. Get there early they seam to show up late and leave early. There is a turnaround at the end of the road. We camped next to a cellphone tower that made a high pitch noise.. it was our 1st dispersed camping trip, hopefully this information helps someone
RangerDoes are very well spaced out. This is dispersed camping so no real services, but plenty of wonderful nature. Right next to the Theodore Rosevelt National library and National park. Last mile is unpaved but the road is not bad. Highly recommended.
RangerSpending a couple nights while visiting TRNP. This campground is pretty large, with many different site types. Some shaded and some not. Some are rather close to each other. Ours had the sewer hookup inconveniently located so we had to park our trailer at an angle. Showers/bathrooms are old, but decent and clean. Would recommend for a couple nights stay.
Camping near Grassy Butte, North Dakota provides access to the Dakota Badlands terrain, which features colorful buttes and clay formations at elevations between 2,000-2,800 feet. Winter temperatures can drop to -30°F, while summer highs frequently exceed 90°F with limited shade across most camping areas. Road access to many sites requires vehicles with adequate clearance, particularly after rainfall when clay roads become slippery.
Wildlife viewing at dawn/dusk: Theodore Roosevelt National Park's North Unit hosts regular bison herds that sometimes wander through camping areas. "Bison will definitely stroll through your sites if you're over by the field like we were. Peaceful and beautiful," notes a visitor at Juniper Campground.
Stargazing after 10pm: The lack of light pollution creates exceptional night sky viewing opportunities. "Be sure to look up at night…the stars are amazing! I saw three shooting stars and you could clearly see the Milky Way and everything," reports a camper at Juniper Campground.
Hike the Maah Daah Hey Trail: This 100+ mile trail system connects multiple camping areas and offers varied terrain difficulty. "The Maah Daah Hey and Long X trails start at this campground. We did a great 11ish mile mountain bike loop by heading up Maah Daah Hey and down Long X," explains a visitor at CCC Campground.
Isolation from crowds: Even during peak summer seasons, many campgrounds remain uncrowded. "We camped here for two nights, the first night was tricky for us to gage exactly where to camp because it we arrived at 3am. A lot of people hike/bike in from the Maah Daah Hey Trial," notes a visitor at Magpie Campground.
Morning wildlife encounters: Bison and wild horse sightings are common in early morning hours. "While we were camped here, 2 small herds of bison grazed through the camp," explains a camper at Juniper Campground.
Access to badlands landscapes: Many sites offer direct trail access to distinctive terrain features. "This campground is only about 1/4 mile from the entrance to the North Unit of Theodore Roosevelt National Park. There are plenty of pit toilets, potable water, and electric. The views from the park are amazing!" reports a visitor at CCC Campground.
Water quality varies significantly: Several campgrounds have water restrictions or quality issues. "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," warns a Juniper Campground visitor.
Cell service is spotty: Coverage depends on exact location and elevation. At Dispersed Site - Grassland Boondocking, "Lots of spots in a beautiful area. Good cell service as well," while more remote locations have no connectivity.
Time zone confusion: The region straddles Mountain and Central time zones. "Funny tidbit, the campground is on the border of the time zone border, so my devices would change times and I thought there was a problem, took me a while to figure it out," mentions a Juniper Campground visitor.
Playground access: For families needing entertainment options, Grassy Butte Community Park offers "a beautiful spot to land for a night or more. Quiet, we're the only people here and the host said that's usually the case. $15 a night with 110 extension cord power - can't beat that! Beautiful playground if you have kids."
Ranger programs: Educational opportunities are available at several campgrounds. "Nice National Park campsite that's just a short walk to the banks of the Little Missouri River. Has the standard National Park features, but our kids especially enjoyed the ranger presentation on prairie dogs," notes a visitor at Cottonwood Campground.
Safety around wildlife: Maintain distance from bison that frequently wander through campsites. "While we were camped here, 2 small herds of bison grazed through the camp," reports a Juniper visitor, while another adds "If you have kids don't let them wander around, the bison are close and plentiful!"
Limited large rig access: Many campgrounds weren't designed for modern RV sizes. "When this place was built, they never envisioned large rigs. So if you have one over 30 feet, just be aware you might have to wiggle your way into a site," advises a Juniper Campground visitor.
Water tank management: Fill tanks before arrival as many sites have limited or questionable water quality. "There is 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," notes a camper at Juniper Campground.
Road conditions: Access routes vary significantly in quality. "Easy 1 mile drive on well maintained gravel/dirt road off Highway 85. The campground appears to have been recently renovated," reports a CCC Campground visitor, while others note deteriorating conditions after rainfall.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I find camping options near Grassy Butte, North Dakota?
Grassy Butte offers several camping options to suit different preferences. For dispersed camping with excellent stargazing, try Dispersed Site - Grassland Boondocking, which provides quiet, dark sites perfect for those seeking solitude. If you prefer established campgrounds, Cottonwood Campground — Theodore Roosevelt National Park offers spacious sites along the Missouri River with easy access from I-94. For budget-conscious travelers, Summit Campground provides basic amenities, while those wanting full hookups can check out Camp On The Heart for $30/night with excellent views of Heart River.
What are the best attractions to visit in Grassy Butte, ND?
The top attraction near Grassy Butte is Theodore Roosevelt National Park, where you can explore the stunning North Dakota Badlands with panoramic views and wildlife viewing opportunities. The park's Juniper Campground — Theodore Roosevelt National Park provides access to some of the most scenic areas in the North Unit. Another must-visit is the Maah Daah Hey Trail, accessible from Ccc Campground (Nd) — Dakota Prairie National Grasslands, offering hiking and mountain biking through the rugged terrain. Medora, a historic western town with shopping and dining options, makes for a great day trip from Grassy Butte as well.
What is the best time of year to visit Grassy Butte, ND?
Late spring through early fall (May to September) is the ideal time to visit Grassy Butte, with summer offering the most reliable weather. Red Trail Campground is fully operational during summer months, providing convenient access to nearby attractions. Late April to early May can be pleasant with fewer crowds at places like Little Missouri State Park Campground, though some facilities may be limited. Be aware that North Dakota winters are harsh, with most campgrounds closing by October. Summer visits offer the advantage of longer daylight hours for exploring the badlands, though be prepared for occasional dust when winds kick up.
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