Best Tent Camping near Grassy Butte, ND
The Dakota Prairie National Grasslands surrounding Grassy Butte, North Dakota offer several primitive tent camping options with Badlands-inspired landscapes. Bennett Campground, located directly in Grassy Butte, provides year-round tent-only sites with a 4.5-star rating. Approximately 30 miles southwest, Elkhorn Campground near Medora offers walk-in tent sites with basic amenities and access to hiking trails. West River Road dispersed camping areas provide free backcountry tent camping options for those seeking more remote experiences.
Most tent campsites in this region require campers to bring their own water or filter from natural sources. Bennett Campground features fire rings and picnic tables but lacks trash service and firewood. Elkhorn Campground provides pit toilets and a hand pump for water, though campers report the water quality can be questionable. Access to many sites involves unpaved roads, with Elkhorn requiring navigation of approximately 35 miles of dirt roads that may become impassable during wet weather. Summer temperatures can become extremely hot with limited shade at most sites, while thunderstorms are common and can create dramatic conditions across the open prairie.
Tent campers visiting these areas frequently encounter wildlife, including bison herds and feral horses. According to reviews, Elkhorn Campground offers isolation even during peak season, with one visitor noting, "Campsite was empty, so we had different sites to choose from." The primitive tent camping experience in this region provides opportunities to witness dramatic weather patterns. As one camper observed, "Thunderstorms rolling over the prairie is something you'll never forget." Sites typically remain uncrowded, with visitors reporting as few as one other camper even during summer months. The Elkhorn Ranch Unit trail provides hiking opportunities from the campground to Theodore Roosevelt's historic ranch site. Most backcountry tent sites require self-registration with payment envelopes at $6 per night for basic sites.
