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.
What to do
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."
What campers like
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.
What you should know
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."
Tips for camping with families
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.
Tips from RVers
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."
