Best Campgrounds near Keene, ND

The Lake Sakakawea region surrounding Keene, North Dakota features multiple campgrounds accommodating various camping styles from developed sites to more remote options. Lewis and Clark State Park, located on the southern shore of Lake Sakakawea, provides tent camping, RV sites, and cabin rentals with amenities including drinking water and sanitary dump stations. Other notable options include Tobacco Garden Recreation Area and Little Beaver Bay Campground, both offering tent, RV, and in some cases cabin accommodations. The Theodore Roosevelt National Park's Juniper Campground, about 35 miles southwest of Keene, provides more primitive camping experiences.

Seasonal considerations significantly impact camping in this area, with most campgrounds fully operational from May through September. "We were lucky as we camped here in late August 2018, the week prior they had record highs of 109!" noted one visitor about Lewis and Clark State Park. Many campgrounds maintain limited services during shoulder seasons, and some close entirely in winter. Water levels in Lake Sakakawea fluctuate seasonally, affecting beach access and boat launches. Several campgrounds feature electrical hookups but limited water connections, requiring campers to fill tanks at designated stations. Cell service varies throughout the region, with more reliable coverage near larger towns like Watford City.

Along Lake Sakakawea's shoreline, waterfront sites consistently receive positive reviews for their scenic views and water access. A camper described Tobacco Garden Rec Area as having "a little of everything. Playgrounds, boat landing, grocery store and restaurant, fishing, cabins, showers, allows insured atv and utv's, bait." Several campgrounds offer boat-in access options, appealing to anglers and water recreation enthusiasts. Reviewers frequently mention the region's fishing opportunities as exceptional. Campgrounds with electric hookups tend to fill quickly during summer weekends. Privacy between sites varies significantly by location, with some reviewers noting that certain campgrounds have limited space between sites, particularly in newer sections with fewer established trees. Wildlife viewing opportunities and night sky visibility are frequently highlighted as regional highlights.

Best Camping Sites Near Keene, North Dakota (56)

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Recent Reviews near Keene, ND

124 Reviews of 56 Keene Campgrounds


  • Tim H.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 25, 2025

    Sather Lake

    Sather Lake. Center loop.

    Bare bones camping. Has a clean toilet, well pump, picnic tables and fire rings. Quiet. Pitch black at night. Great for stars.

  • CThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 1, 2025

    Juniper Campground β€” Theodore Roosevelt National Park

    Small Campground but Simple

    This campground is in the north unit of the park. It has 50 primitive sites available on first come first serve basis. We were here on Labor Day weekend and campground was full for the first time in 2 years. Pads are asphalt and smallish. There are public washrooms, but no showers. There is a dump station, but no potable water for RV tanks. Drinking water is available at the wash house . The drinking of the water at the fill station is discouraged due to high levels of fluoride. While we were camped here, 2 small herds of bison grazed through the camp.

  • Jennifer K.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 26, 2025

    Juniper Campground β€” Theodore Roosevelt National Park

    If it was reservable, it would be 3 stars

    The absolute anxiety of getting here and not knowing whether we'd be able to get a spot or not is off the charts. We got here at about 1pm on a Sunday thinking there shouldn't be a problem, yet there were probably only about 4 spots left and only 1 we could fit in. A lot of spots already had tags on them but not one bit of equipment set in place. Assuming it was someone that came in much earlier just to tag a spot...that needs to be addressed. There's quite a few "drinking water" spigots marked on the map but when you get to them there is a sign with a drinking glass and a red slash through it. The only drinking water is at the bathroom and not meant to fill your rv with so dont come here expecting to be able to fill your rv with safe water. The other spigots marked as unsafe have really high fluoride content and feels like slime. But we were told its safe to shower in. Im sorry but I dont trust that at all. If you shouldn't drink it bc of the high fluoride then you shouldn't shower in it. You'll just absorb it through your skin. We're in spot 30 and its pretty spacious but not private at all. Most spots really have no privacy at all. So if that's what you're looking for then look else where. We got barked at by the neighbors' dogs every time we walked out. Very pretty setting but in my opinion its way too crowded. Also not sure if its just the area or time of year but there's just billions of flies all over all the time. Makes being outside miserable. Also my husband got stung by a yellow jacket. I think there's a nest in the picnic table. The grill was full of charcoals and a chunk of burnt wood. It just seems like the sites are not ever checked or taken care of. The only work I've seen done is trash collection. There's an rv dump at least but not sure what much you'll need to dump since there's only one spigot at the bathroom you can fill a jug at.

  • SThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 16, 2025

    Ccc Campground (Nd) β€” Dakota Prairie National Grasslands

    Great Inexpensive Campground

    This campground is only about 1/4 mile from the entrance to the North Unit of Theodore Rosevelt National Park. There are plenty of pit toilets, potable water, and electric. The views from the park are amazing! Sites are big and each has a picnic table, fire pit, and grill. The road in (1 mile) is well maintained. Highly recommend!!

  • Emma A.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 16, 2025

    Summit Campground

    Small free camping trailhead

    This is a pretty spot with 3 boondocking sights with picnic tables, 2 have canopies over them. Parking for hiking. One spot that is a loop turn around. I have a 2500 crew cab and 21' trailer parked without a problem. Could accommodate a little bigger trailer.

    There is steady road noise from I-85. A fair amount of large trucks passing most of the time.

  • Meghan B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 13, 2025

    Summit Campground

    Summit Campground

    Free camp spot with just a few sites and a vault toilet. Near the main road, so quite a bit of road noise and late arrivals/passersby. Okay cell service, but great with a booster. Hiking trail nearby to stretch the legs or exercise the dog.

  • MThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 10, 2025

    Watford City Tourist Park

    Camp within the City

    This little spot is within the town of Watford City… ambitiously named

  • LThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 10, 2025

    Lewis & Clark State Park β€” Lewis And Clark State Park

    Nice park, but ..

    Sites were nice with water and electric hookups. Decently spread out. Unfortunately, camp hosts were ghosts. Supposedly 4 hosts. Walked by 2 of them and they were off duty. I was too tired to locate the others. Ranger at check in said the host(s) would come by to sell firewood. Never saw one. No campfire 😞.

  • B
    Aug. 3, 2025

    Summit Campground

    Good spot for an overnight

    Nice forest service campground with pit toilets. No fee, fire pits, picnic tables, only two of us here on a Sat night in August


Guide to Keene

Campsites near Keene, North Dakota typically remain open from early May through late September, with overnight temperatures dropping to the 40s even during summer months. The area sits at approximately 2,100 feet elevation and experiences dramatic water level fluctuations on Lake Sakakawea that can affect boat launch access. Campgrounds in this region offer varying levels of service during shoulder seasons, with many facilities shutting down water systems after the first frost.

What to do

Fishing opportunities: Lake Sakakawea near Lewis & Clark State Park provides excellent fishing grounds. "This is one of our favorite places to camp because fishing is awesome out there. Usually a pretty busy place, so if you are looking for seclusion you won't find it here," notes a camper who enjoys tent camping at the park.

Wildlife viewing: Head to Juniper Campground for potential bison encounters. "While we were camped here, 2 small herds of bison grazed through the camp," reports one visitor. The campground has 50 primitive sites available on a first-come, first-served basis, making it ideal for spotting wildlife.

Stargazing: Clear night skies create optimal viewing conditions at many campgrounds. "Be sure to look up at night…the stars are amazing! I saw three shooting stars and you could clearly see the Milky Way and everything!" shared one Juniper Campground visitor. The lack of light pollution at many of these remote sites creates ideal conditions for astronomy enthusiasts.

What campers like

Campground patrols: Consistent security provides peace of mind. At Lewis & Clark State Park, "Rangers! Park Rangers Everywhere! Lewis and Clark didn't seem like much, but as soon as we got settled in the Park rangers checked on us. They did patrols all the time around and were super friendly!" One visitor appreciated the thorough safety measures, noting "We had one storm while we were there and they gave us the emergency plan as fast as they could."

Multi-use trails: Several sites offer connectivity to regional trail systems. The CCC Campground provides direct access to hiking opportunities. "The views from the campsite were beautiful and there's an access to the Maah Daah Hey trail from the campground," states one reviewer who appreciated the trail connection.

Educational opportunities: Many campgrounds offer organized learning activities. At Lewis & Clark State Park, "There is a theater area with educational presentations for the kids," mentions one camper. Similarly, at Juniper Campground, a visitor noted their "kids especially enjoyed the ranger presentation on prairie dogs."

What you should know

Weather extremes: Temperature fluctuations can be dramatic. The region experiences wide seasonal and day-to-day temperature swings. "October can be cold! It got down below freezing in the first week of October," warns a camper at CCC Campground.

Time zone confusion: Be aware of potential time changes. At Juniper Campground, one visitor discovered an unexpected challenge: "Funny tidbit, the campground is on the border of the time zone border, so my devices would change times and I thought there was a problem, took me a while to figure it out."

Water quality issues: Some campgrounds have mineral-heavy water. "The only drinking water is at the bathroom and not meant to fill your RV with so don't come here expecting to be able to fill your RV with safe water. The other spigots marked as unsafe have really high fluoride content and feels like slime," reports one Juniper Campground visitor.

Tips for camping with families

Educational programs: Take advantage of scheduled ranger activities. "The park rangers here were awesome and so helpful," notes a visitor at Juniper Campground. Many sites offer educational programming specifically designed for younger campers.

Playground access: Tobacco Garden Rec Area has family-friendly amenities. "This campground has a little of everything. Playgrounds, boat landing, grocery store and restaurant, fishing, cabins, showers, allows insured atv and utv's, bait," shares one reviewer. The diversity of facilities makes it suitable for families with various interests.

Ice cream treats: Watch for evening vendors at some campgrounds. "There is an ice cream truck that comes through the campground at night," mentions a Lewis & Clark State Park visitor, highlighting an unexpected treat that children might enjoy after a day of outdoor activities.

Tips from RVers

Limited water fill stations: Plan accordingly for longer stays. At Little Missouri State Park, visitors should note the availability of "electrical hookups, water, horse corrals vault toilets and pay showers." However, access points for filling RV tanks may be limited.

Site size considerations: Research campground layouts before arrival. "When this place was built, they never envisioned large rigs. So if you have one over 30 feet, just be aware you might have to wiggle your way into a site," advises an RVer at Juniper Campground. Some older campgrounds have space limitations for larger modern vehicles.

Utility availability: Electric service varies between campgrounds. At Watford City Tourist Park, expect "$35 a night electric only, a $5 dollar dump fee and no potable water," according to one camper who found these limitations made it "not worth the cost" for their needs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular campground near Keene, ND?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Keene, ND is Lewis & Clark State Park β€” Lewis And Clark State Park with a 4.1-star rating from 17 reviews.

What parks are near Keene, ND?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 4 parks near Keene, ND that allow camping, notably Sakakawea Lake and Theodore Roosevelt National Park.