Tent campsites near Hillsboro, North Dakota situate campers in the Red River Valley, an ancient glacial lakebed with predominantly flat terrain at approximately 900 feet elevation. Summer temperatures typically range from 55°F to 85°F with high humidity. The region's rural park camping options span across eastern North Dakota and western Minnesota within a 50-mile radius of Hillsboro.
What to do
Water recreation on Red Lake River: Visitors to Old Crossing Treaty Park can access the Red Lake River for paddling. "There is a boat launch to put into the Red Lake River, and the water was calm enough you could have had a leisurely paddle in a kayak either direction," notes Torey H.
Fishing opportunities: Polk County Park on Maple Lake provides fishing access with boat ramps and docks. "There are easy to access boat ramps and docks to go fishing on," according to Jill R., who found the facilities well-maintained.
Educational nature exploration: The community orchard at Arthur Park features various fruit plants for visitors to learn about local agriculture. Janet R. describes it as a "very unique educational community orchard that features a whole variety of different grapes, berries, apples, and more."
Hiking on established trails: The North Country Trail passes near several camping locations and provides day hiking opportunities. Brittany from the Backcountry Campsite mentioned, "My kids and I enjoyed this site on our hike along the NCT on Lake Ashtabula."
What campers like
Peaceful small town settings: The quiet atmosphere of rural camping locations provides a break from busy environments. "If you are on a roadtrip travelling somewhere on Hwy 2 this would be a safe, clean, quiet spot to stop overnight, being convenient to highway access but far enough away not to hear road noise all night," writes Janet R. about Mentor City Park.
Clean facilities: Multiple campsites maintain their amenities well. At Polk County Park, Jill R. appreciated that "There are showers and bathrooms that are really well kept."
Beach access for families: Sandy beaches at some locations offer swimming and water play options. "A nice sandy swimming beach is nice for the kids for lakeside playing and swimming," states Leasa W. about Polk County Park.
Low-cost camping options: Several parks offer affordable or free camping. William F. notes that at Old Crossing Treaty Park, "Camping is free, no reservations required."
What you should know
Limited amenities at some sites: Many tent sites have minimal facilities. At Mentor City Park, "the only 'facilities' are a portapotty, albeit a clean and new one," according to Janet R.
Weekend popularity impacts: Weekends can bring more visitors and sometimes less responsible campers. For Old Crossing Treaty Park, William F. advises to "Avoid major holidays" and notes "the unfortunate side effect, sometimes, is camping around irresponsible campers."
Variable site maintenance: Campground upkeep can differ between locations and seasons. Jamie S. observed at Old Crossing Treaty Park, "Looks like this place used to be taken care of and used more judging by previous reviews."
Limited fire facilities: Fire options vary significantly between sites. Jamie S. pointed out that Old Crossing Treaty Park had "Only ONE picnic table and ONE fire 'ring'."
Tips for camping with families
City park playgrounds: Camping at town parks gives children access to play equipment. At Mentor City Park, Janet R. noted "The park has large shade trees, playground and picnic shelter."
Wildlife education opportunities: Some sites offer nature observation for children. Brittany's experience at Backcountry Campsite shows family-friendly hiking is available: "My kids and I enjoyed this site on our hike along the NCT on Lake Ashtabula."
Youth group accommodations: Several locations work well for organized youth activities. Janet R. suggests Arthur Park "would be a nice place for a scout troup or youth group to have an overnight."
Swimming options for children: Sandy beaches provide safe water play areas. Jill R. from Polk County Park mentions "a fun little Sandy beach for the kids to play on."
Tips from RVers
Limited hookup availability: Most campgrounds near Hillsboro offer primitive camping without utility connections. At Mentor City Park, Janet R. observed "The 'campground' includes a horseshoe drive along which a few RV's could park, but there are no hookups."
Size restrictions: Many local parks cannot accommodate larger recreational vehicles. Old Crossing Treaty Park "allows tents and RV's," according to William F., but doesn't specify space for large rigs.
Dump station locations: Some parks provide sanitary dump stations, though not at every location. Central Park Campground includes sanitary dump facilities among its amenities for RV travelers who need to empty holding tanks.
