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Cross Ranch State Park Campground provides electrical hookups at all RV sites with easy access to two dump stations. The campground operates year-round and can accommodate larger motorhomes with big-rig friendly sites. A Prairie Breeze RV Park, located near Menoken, features full hookup pull-through RV pads with 50-amp service, water, and sewer connections. The park is open from April to November and welcomes pets. Center RV Park offers additional motorhome sites with electrical, water, and sewer hookups, though these sites may be more closely spaced. Lake Sakakawea State Park Campground includes sites for larger RVs with 50-amp electrical service and operates throughout the year. "The campground isn't a resort, but it's well-kept and the FHU site worked for me. The sites are laid out so the poles are shared in the middle, which makes for a bit of a tight fit for big rigs."
Throughout the region, RV parks generally provide good cell service coverage, with visitors reporting 2-4 bars on Verizon and T-Mobile networks. Dump stations are available at several locations, including Cross Ranch State Park and some local gas stations when staying at parks with only electric hookups. Between May and September, most facilities operate at full capacity, while winter visitors should verify which amenities remain accessible during colder months. Within 30 miles of Hensler, RV campers will find varying levels of shade and protection from North Dakota's notorious winds. Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park Campground, located near Mandan, features both back-in and pull-through sites with shared water sources. A camper wrote, "Make sure to bring a water splitter as sometimes there is not one on the spigot and campground does not always have extras!"
"It is close to the road so I'm assuming you get road noise and I'm also assuming that during the summer of the park can be heavily used."
"We are on a two month long cross country road trip this summer, towing a 30ft travel trailer."
"The sites are laid out so the poles are shared in the middle, which makes for a bit of a tight fit for big rigs. No one on either side during our stay (with no slide outs), so had plenty of room."
"All sites have electrical and the two dump stations are easy to pull into and use. There are many hiking trails here and they are kept mowed and in great condition."
"Clean, friendly staff, private, walking paths are amazing and beautiful"
"There are a lot more trails then show on the map so happy exploring. While you are right next to the river, can't really see it from most of the RV campsites."
from $25 - $135 / night
Check Availabilityfrom $15 / night
from $15 / night
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TravelerWe needed a site for a night in the middle of a trip. This was it. Typical KOA. Clean, close to major roads. Easy to find. Easy to book online. Most of the sites are pull throughs in trees. It appeared that big rig spots were mostly back in. The bathrooms, which we utilize frequently since we are in a 15 foot Aliner, were well lit, clean, and the showers were hot!
LegendThis review is from an overnight versus destination point of view. However, this could easily be a destination park if you want to stay in the area and check out Bismarck. The campground (CG) is about a mile off I-94 and easy to find. Check-in was quick and easy, and we proceeded to pull through site 11 right past the check-in office, store, showers, and laundry facility. The gravel site was pretty level, with utilities placed mid-pad. As our next stop was dry camping, I asked for propane, which they gladly picked up our tanks, had them filled, and returned to our site. There’s no cable TV, but we did receive OTA channels, plus we had a good shot to the north sky for our Starlink. There are a lot of mature trees here, so that satellite could be iffy depending on the site. WiFi speed wasn’t very good, but we didn’t need to use it. We got 4 bars on Verizon. The water pressure was good. They have a nice fenced dog area. This is one of the nicer KOAs we’ve stayed in, with a very nice tent area. We enjoyed our overnight stay.
GuideWe are on a two month long cross country road trip this summer, towing a 30ft travel trailer. We needed a place with full hook-ups as we'd been boondocking for several days and this place was perfect. Reservations were taken care of with one call, but none are needed as they also offer 24 hour first-come, first-serve spots, too. There are tent camping, no-hookup and just electric/water hookup options also available and all sites are pull through. This is a simple place but right off I-94 and very easy to access.
TravelerThis is an interesting tiny campground run by the city of Bismarck. In a a Friday in July, we are one of four campers here. There a few 50 amp sites and several posts with 20 amp. Some 20amp are next to a traditional back in site. Others are in a grassy field and can be shared. That is what we chose. The 20 amp runs what we need. None of the sores have water or sewer and there is no dump station. However, there is a spigot with water. We filled our fresh tank before arriving. There are picnic tables and fire rings scattered throughout. It seems you could park out pitch a tent any where. There are 2 well maintained portolets and a dumpster. The location is right on the Missouri River and close to a state historic site. We originally booked 2 nights then decided to stay longer. For $12 per night, what is not to love!!
LegendThis campground is nice for larger groups and has a lot of long-term campers. The campground does have cabins and they are well kept and clean. Lots of family activities like horseshoes, basketball court, frisbee golf, and volleyball. Kayak rentals are available as well!
Bring water shoes if you plan on swimming in the lake as it is rocky. All campsites include one picnic table and one fire pit.
TravelerThis was our maiden voyage in our first camper! South loop Campsite 36 was easy to park. Our electrical and water hookups were close. Dump station was easy. We were right next to comfort station which was well maintained. Kid Park was new and close to our site. There was lots of bike and walking trails. Since you are a state park expect fees but I think it helped keep the park quiet. It is right along the river and in walking distance to the forts, museum, historic Indian village, train ride and trails. Great for families of all ages!
LegendWhat a great park for families! That was my first thought. It just looks like a great place for kids to play. There's a playground, wide open spaces, easy trails, a river, and remnants of the fort and an Indian village. There's a paved bike path that you can take from the campground all the way to Bismarck (10+ miles). Or you can ride over to the cavalry and infantry areas of the fort and to the Indian village.
There is a separate $7/day entrance fee in addition to the camping fee. We chose a primitive site (no water, no electric) because those sites are along the river, and the fee was $17. Sites with electricity and water are $25. There are also a couple tipis for $35 and two cabins for $60. There is a clean shower facility plus other restrooms. Each site has a picnic table and fire ring, and there's a dump station. We have camped at so many Forest Service sites that all these amenities make it feel like glamping!
My only complaint is that there is no path from the primitive sites to a restroom other than the road. It would have been nice if there were a few paths between sites. No one wants to take a long route to a restroom in the middle of the night. And cutting through an occupied site is poor camping etiquette.
LegendThis state park and the corresponding campground(CG) were easy to find off I 94 and then through Mandan. You check in at the gate where along with your camping fees, you still have to purchase an ND state-park vehicle pass for$7 a day or$35 a year. We then proceeded to back-in site 71 with water and electric(50/30/20 AMP). The back-in was easy and the site was plenty long enough for our 39’ 5th wheel and F450. We received an electrical error from our Watch Dog surge protector and went back to the gate and reported the issue. A ranger showed up about 5 minutes later and swapped the 50 AMP breaker so all was good. We shared a water post with our neighbor and had great water pressure of 60+ so used a reducer. We got quite a few OTA channels and could have used our satellite. We also got 2 bars each on Verizon and T-Mobile. Site 71 had a nice-sized front yard. The rangers regularly patrol the CG and there’s firewood plus ice for sale near the camp host site. There are plenty of trails to explore either by walking or biking. In addition, the state park has a lot of Custer-era calvary history. Be sure to check out the park’s visitor center then visit the Slant Indian Village that’s adjacent to the visitor center. Be careful when selecting a pull-through site, as most, if not all of them, are actually set up as two sites. So, if you were to arrive after your neighbor, you will actually be backing into your site. We enjoyed our 3-day stay and would not hesitate to come back.
GuideThis Area was great in the shade! Had 1 to 2 bars of service with ATandT… I was able to FaceTime! Woke up to it being nice and shady! Seriously a plus for me! I hate waking up hot! Water, trash cans, and bathrooms are close and within walking distance! Outhouse by tents. Showers and flushable toilets were a bit more of a trek, but still within walking distance just down the path! Had a picnic table and fire pit ready to go! Great for a stroll! This Place is amazing for a campground!
The Missouri River basin shapes the landscape around Hensler, North Dakota, where camping opportunities exist in a region characterized by grassland prairies and river valleys. Summer temperatures typically reach 80-90°F with cooler nights, while spring and fall camping brings temperature variations of 30-40 degrees between day and night. Winter camping remains available at select campgrounds with reduced services and limited access to water facilities.
Canoe the Missouri River: At Cross Ranch State Park Campground, visitors can rent canoes and kayaks for river excursions. "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."
Explore historic sites: The region contains significant Lewis and Clark Expedition landmarks. "The park has a nice visitor center with terrific displays, many about Lewis and Clark, also a reconstructed Mandan encampment, plus the home and barracks of Custer and his cavalry," notes a camper at Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park Campground.
Hiking trails: Multiple trail networks connect campgrounds to natural areas. "Beautiful, well-groomed, shaded hiking paths everywhere. Playgrounds. Big fields. Clean water access to the river for swimming, dogs, fishing," writes a visitor about Cross Ranch State Park.
Fishing opportunities: The Missouri River and Lake Sakakawea provide fishing access. "They have many paths down to the Missouri River for some great fishing and if you are a polar bear swimming," according to a review of COE Lake Sakakawea Downstream Campground.
Privacy and natural features: Campgrounds in the area offer good site separation. "When I go camping I love having trees and the water near and this spot has both! Has a walking path mowed down for walk and also has play grounds for the kids and restrooms and water spikets through out."
Clean facilities: Campground maintenance receives consistent praise. "The modern sites are well maintained and showers and bathrooms are clean," notes a camper at Lake Sakakawea State Park Campground. Another mentions, "The sites were clean and well kept primative toilets."
Wildlife viewing: The river corridor supports diverse wildlife. "There are opportunities for bird and wildlife watching," according to a reviewer at COE Lake Sakakawea Downstream Campground.
Site spacing: Campsites typically provide adequate separation. "Spaces were nicely spread apart," observes a Lake Sakakawea visitor. Another notes, "The campground has lots of trees but also feels breezy and open."
Weather considerations: Wind can be significant in this area. "We spent two nights here as one of the days the wind was blowing 50 miles an hour with gusts to 70. Pretty impressive site to see across the lake," writes a camper at Lake Sakakawea State Park.
Seasonal facility limitations: Some campgrounds restrict services seasonally. "The park is open early but no water, flush toilets or showers until May 15! There are a few vault toilets so pick your site accordingly."
Bugs: Insects can be problematic during summer months. "Only complaints were the vaulted toilets smelt very bad but could of been from the heat! (Vaulted toilet, no sink) And the bugs!!! Tons of flying ants and ticks everywhere, but we managed!"
Limited services at some parks: Not all campgrounds offer full amenities. "This is really more of a man camp for permanent campers then a weekend camper spot. You have full hookups and no bathrooms or other services," notes a visitor at Center RV Park.
Playground access: Several campgrounds feature play areas for children. "Great camping facilites. Tent and camper sites. Yurts available and cabins available. Great hiking area, playground, ranger presentations," according to a Cross Ranch State Park visitor.
Educational opportunities: Historical sites provide learning experiences. "We had a whole bunch of fun learning about the camp and General Custard. There is a bunch of history and many happy faces in this area," shares a visitor at Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park.
Specialty accommodations: Unique lodging options exist for families seeking alternatives to traditional camping. "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."
Water recreation: Swimming areas suit families with children. "Beach is amazing with little bay area that is calm even on windy days for the kayaker or paddleboarder."
Campsite utilities: Water connections may require additional equipment at rv parks near Hensler, North Dakota. "Sites with electricity and water are $25. There is a clean shower facility plus other restrooms. Each site has a picnic table and fire ring, and there's a dump station."
Site selection: When staying at Hensler area rv parks, choose sites based on amenities and exposure. "I stayed in the Sanish campground and liked it because it seemed to be enclosed by more trees to help block the wind."
Primitive camping options: RVers seeking simpler experiences have choices. "Primitive campsites are very spacious and most having sections of shade during the entire day. Clean and well kept primative toilets."
Generator restrictions: Some campgrounds limit generator operation hours. "The generator rule (off after 8:00 p.m.) is ridiculous. It is sweltering hot (thank goodness for nice breezes) and people are up playing and having fun until 11:00 p.m."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular RV campsite near Hensler, ND?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular RV campground near Hensler, ND is Ball Park RV Park with a 4-star rating from 1 review.
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TheDyrt.com has all 52 RV camping locations near Hensler, ND, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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