Camping near Jamestown Reservoir ranges from primitive tent sites with significant privacy to developed RV campgrounds with full hookups, centered around Devils Lake in North Dakota. Grahams Island State Park Campground offers tent camping, RV sites, cabins, and glamping accommodations with boat-in access and numerous amenities including showers, drinking water, and electric hookups. Woodland Resort and Spirit Lake Casino & Resort RV Park also feature cabin options alongside traditional camping, with varying levels of hookups and facilities. Most campgrounds in the region maintain boat launches and fishing access, catering to the area's reputation as a premier fishing destination.
Seasonal considerations significantly affect camping experiences around Devils Lake. Many campgrounds remain open year-round, though amenities may be limited during winter months. As one camper noted, "Open year round. Per Ranger, water is available year round on sites 1-6, but won't show up on website." Road access remains generally good throughout the year, with most campgrounds accessible via paved roads. Reservations are recommended, particularly during summer fishing season when campgrounds fill quickly. The region experiences typical northern plains weather patterns with cold winters and mild summers, making late spring through early fall the most comfortable camping period. Most developed campgrounds provide electric hookups to accommodate temperature extremes.
Fishing opportunities dominate the camping experience near Devils Lake. The area attracts serious anglers year-round, with numerous campgrounds catering specifically to fishing. A reviewer described Woodland Resort as a "Great campground/lodge for a fishing trip. Devils lake is a premier Walleye/Perch fishery and Woodland caters to fishermen." Campground amenities often include fish cleaning stations, bait shops, and easy lake access. Beyond fishing, campers report enjoying swimming beaches, hiking trails, and wildlife viewing. Grahams Island State Park receives consistently positive reviews for its clean facilities, private sites, and recreation options. Campers seeking solitude might prefer the primitive camping areas at Grahams Island, which one visitor described as having "wooded and semi private sites in the primitive tent area."
$15 - $70 / night
"It was completely private surrounded by trees that were full of birds! Primitive area has pit toilets but the shower room and flush toilets were a short walk away."
"Not as close to the 2 as I expected but it wasn’t a bad drive, even at dark. It was a 7$ fee to enter, and a separate online transaction for a campsite and they charged a processing fee."
$30 / night
"If you are into lake life this is the place for you as it is conveniently located on Devils Lake which contains great fishing and lots of areas to explore."
"The resort was very accommodating and put us near a bathhouse even with a late notice reservation. Very nice bathhouses! Quiet and clean! Very beautiful place!"
"Lots of activity around the campground makes it fairly noisy."
"Mature trees with electric service and water nearby bathrooms, right behind them. Across a walking bridge is the city park, which is very nice and has a public swimming pool and Tennis courts etc."
LegendThere are multiple campers here, so the price must be reasonable and a reason they're in town. At the moment, there's full hookups available for all the parking spots and no other real amenities, except for trash pickup.
LegendNot attached to a local park, so literally just a campground. Having said that, it's very nice. The bathrooms are new, clean, well maintained. And the park has amenities that you need for camping.
LegendThis is a dispersed camping area with very few amenities. Lots of trees. No electric not sure there's water.
LegendCamp spots are under tall. Mature trees with electric service and water nearby bathrooms, right behind them. Across a walking bridge is the city park, which is very nice and has a public swimming pool and Tennis courts etc.
LegendThere are 9 spots for R VS with water and electric. The formal bathroom seems to be locked and closed, and out of commission, and there are porta potties around. The park is extensive multiple baseball fields. Lots of children's equipment lots of covered picnic tables.
LegendI don't think this is used for camping very often. Probably just people visiting folks in town. There are flush toilets, no showers, no dumpstation and I didn't see anything that allowed you to have fires. I did find thirty app service or just plain electric plugins and I think you kind of just park wherever.
TravelerStopped in to avoid driving in rain. Pleasantly surprised by how pleasant and quiet. Also an RV in spot 3.
GuideNice little park right by the highway. Passport America good for one night. We stopped on our way to the international peace garden
ScoutFriendly hosts, convenient access to the highway.
Jamestown Reservoir and Devils Lake provide varied camping options for outdoor enthusiasts in North Dakota. Situated in the Northern Plains region at approximately 1,450 feet elevation, these lakes offer distinctly different camping experiences. Devils Lake covers nearly 211,000 acres while Jamestown Reservoir spans about 2,100 acres, creating diverse fishing and recreation environments within relatively close proximity.
Fishing year-round: At Grahams Island State Park Campground, anglers can access premier walleye and perch fishing in all seasons. "Nice flat tenting area with plenty of shade and plenty of views. It was a blast there," notes Seth O., highlighting the combination of comfortable camping with excellent fishing access.
Hiking accessible trails: Short nature trails provide scenic lake views without requiring significant elevation gain. "Nice trails friendly staff. Would like to return with the paddle boards when the weather is nicer," reports Chuck S. about his October visit to Grahams Island, indicating the trails remain accessible into fall.
Swimming at designated beaches: East Bay Campground offers swimming areas for cooling off during summer months when temperatures frequently reach the 80s. "What a beautiful and spacious campground. Nice office/bait shop, and friendly people. We had a blast camping and fishing," writes Cody, though he notes the "lots of activity around the campground makes it fairly noisy."
Private wooded sites: The primitive camping area at Grahams Island provides natural screening between sites. Janet K. describes her experience: "We stayed overnight in #67 in the primitive section of the campground. It was completely private surrounded by trees that were full of birds! Primitive area has pit toilets but the shower room and flush toilets were a short walk away."
Clean facilities: Consistently maintained bathhouses receive positive mentions across multiple campgrounds. "Very clean campground and super clean, swimming beach, playground, dog park, fish cleaning station, and shower houses," notes Scott S. about his experience at Stump Lake Park, which Teresa T. describes as "Huge. Lots of regular campers who stay the season but also spots for visiting. It is large, well maintained, lots of activities."
On-site conveniences: Many campgrounds feature stores with basic supplies. Janet K. mentions that Grahams Island has "a store at the entrance selling snacks, wood, etc." while Woodland Resort offers more comprehensive amenities for extended stays.
Winter water availability: While many campgrounds remain open year-round, water access becomes limited. At Spirit Lake Casino & Resort RV Park, Bruce notes: "After November 1 no water at site," indicating the need for self-contained water supplies during colder months.
Varying levels of campground privacy: Site selection significantly impacts experience. Clean Slate D. explains that at Grahams Island "We stayed in the Ziebach campground. It has trees, water and electricity. There is another campground with full h/u but no shade and costs more. There is also fully shaded primitive tent camping on the water."
Small dam campgrounds offer quieter alternatives: Lesser-known locations provide fishing access with fewer crowds. Mark & Kelly G. describe Tolna Dam as a "Nice Little Campground" with "Electric was available. Vault toilets. On the water. Small park-like. Maybe 4-5 sites."
Look for playgrounds and beaches: Family-friendly campgrounds typically offer both water and land-based recreation. Ason S. reports about their Grahams Island stay: "Stopped here on our family vacation. Nice campsites (loop), very clean! Friendly hosts - gave the kids tattoos & stickers. Swim beach was great. Lots of great skipping rocks! Playgrounds were nice & not busy."
Consider event facilities for gatherings: Some campgrounds accommodate larger family events. Leah A. notes that Grahams Island has an "event center is really nice with kitchen, bathrooms, outdoor seating, and playground. lots to do at this lake campground. staff was very helpful and accommodating with the event and camping."
Expect insect activity near water: The lake environment means mosquitoes are common, particularly in early summer. Sandy recommends Grahams Island because of its "Awesome views, swimming beach, fishing, hot showers and dog park," which provides multiple activity options when bugs are problematic in certain areas.
Resort amenities for extended stays: Woodland Resort caters specifically to longer-term visitors, especially anglers. Amanda S. explains: "This resort only has about 16 reservable campsites and several cabins. The rest of the resort contains a massive hotel and many seasonal campsites. The sites are pretty close together which is handy if you are camping with a group, but less than ideal if you are on your own."
Watch flooding conditions: Water levels fluctuate significantly in this region. Lynn G. warns about Grahams Island: "This park is on an island in the middle of a beautiful huge lake. You just drive out over a bridge, very pretty. Yay: shady trees, huge sites, some sites are fairly private, really clean. Nay: kinda in the middle of nowhere, some sites are extremely open and sunny, not great for swimming. Surprise: There can be flooding."
Winter temperature planning: With winter lows frequently reaching below zero, RVers need appropriate electrical capacity. Darren L. notes that Woodland Resort "gets lower marks for summer amenities not related to fishing or the lake. Ex no pool and we didn't find a playground. Food at the restaurant was very good."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular campground near Jamestown Reservoir?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Jamestown Reservoir is Grahams Island State Park Campground with a 4.7-star rating from 18 reviews.
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