Best Dog-Friendly Camping near Killdeer, ND

Little Missouri State Park Campground near Killdeer accommodates dogs and horses with designated pet areas throughout its camping loops. The park features electrical hookups, drinking water, showers, and toilets in a setting that balances prairie views with badlands hiking trails. Tent and RV camping options include sites with picnic tables and fire rings where pets must remain leashed. Killdeer City Park offers additional pet-friendly accommodations with electric hookups and shower facilities in a more developed setting. Both locations maintain clean facilities despite high pet traffic, though Little Missouri can become quite buggy due to its horse corrals. The trails at Little Missouri State Park are especially accommodating to pets, with many campers reporting they enjoyed up to 13 miles of hiking with their dogs.

Summit Campground provides free pet-friendly camping with basic amenities including picnic tables, fire pits, and vault toilets. Located just 10 minutes from Theodore Roosevelt National Park's North Unit, this campground serves as an excellent base for exploring dog-friendly trails in the park and surrounding National Grasslands. The CCC Campground in Dakota Prairie National Grasslands offers another excellent option with direct access to the 144-mile Maah Daah Hey trail system where dogs can join their owners. Both locations experience minimal crowding even during peak season, allowing pets plenty of space to exercise. Wildlife sightings are common in these areas, so keeping dogs leashed is essential for their safety around deer, prairie dogs, and occasional cattle that graze nearby. The vault toilets at these locations remain exceptionally clean, making them practical options for extended stays with pets.

Best Dog-Friendly Sites Near Killdeer, North Dakota (36)

    1. Little Missouri State Park Campground

    7 Reviews
    Killdeer, ND
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (701) 794-3731

    "This is a beautiful little park that features trail riding. Great hiking through the Badlands and views that can't be beat."

    "We were surrounded by miles of hiking in which we enjoyed about 13 miles of, but so much more we could’ve hiked!"

    2. Killdeer City Park

    1 Review
    Killdeer, ND
    0 miles
    Website
    +1 (701) 764-5295

    3. Juniper Campground — Theodore Roosevelt National Park

    32 Reviews
    Grassy Butte, ND
    31 miles
    Website
    +1 (701) 842-2333

    $30 / night

    "Especially against the terrain that surrounds it. The campground is low on amenities but high on scenery, and it is very clean.

    The hiking in the North unit is amazing. There is so much wildlife."

    "We showed our Access Passes to get into the park and then proceeded to mile marker 5, where the CG is located."

    4. Ccc Campground (Nd) — Dakota Prairie National Grasslands

    17 Reviews
    Grassy Butte, ND
    29 miles
    +1 (701) 842-8500

    $10 / night

    "This campground offers beautiful panoramic views of the North Dakota Badlands. Additionally, you can access the Maah Daah Hey Trail and explore the Badlands from here."

    "Deer and prairie dogs."

    5. Cottonwood Campground — Theodore Roosevelt National Park

    71 Reviews
    Medora, ND
    47 miles
    Website
    +1 (701) 623-4466

    $20 - $60 / night

    "Elk, deer, wild horses were common as well as hawks and prairie dogs.  "

    "I visited this campground for 1 night while driving across North Dakota. It's super easy to access from I-94, but you feel like you're a million miles away from the interstate."

    6. Dispersed Site - Grassland Boondocking

    58 Reviews
    Medora, ND
    49 miles
    Website
    +1 (701) 227-7800

    "It was easy to come from Medora, North Dakota to the site, but it appears that you only get an entrance and exit on the Medora side."

    "It’s a little bumpy so take it slowly, but I had no problem and I drive a 2WD hatchback.

    A quick word of warning: rattlesnakes could be in the bushes!"

    7. Summit Campground

    5 Reviews
    Grassy Butte, ND
    26 miles
    Website
    +1 (701) 225-5151

    "Right on the highway so loud traffic all night. 1 pit toilet, 4 sites with picnic tables. Easy walk to a great view of the badlands."

    "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."

    8. Grassy Butte Community Park

    2 Reviews
    Grassy Butte, ND
    23 miles
    +1 (701) 863-6906

    "We explored the area - close to the Theodore Roosevelt National Park North Unit and National Grasslands. Lots of trees for shade."

    9. Medora Campground

    45 Reviews
    Medora, ND
    48 miles
    Website
    +1 (701) 623-4435

    $30 - $60 / night

    "Convenient location for exploring Medora. It has a city pool right on site that is heated, a dog park beautiful grounds with huge trees."

    "Our site was a pull in from one road, and the neighbors sites was a pull in from the parallel road, leaving us to share space - literally two picnic tables next to one another."

    10. North Park Campground

    11 Reviews
    Dickinson, ND
    32 miles
    Website
    +1 (701) 227-8498

    "The owner happened to still be there about to leave, and opened back up to check us in, and guided us to our site, giving us close access to the Laundry we were badly in need of."

    "We were able to stay hooked up to our truck to make the exit in the morning speedy."

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Dog-Friendly Camping Reviews near Killdeer, ND

363 Reviews of 36 Killdeer Campgrounds


  • James W.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 25, 2025

    Dispersed Site - Grassland Boondocking

    Spectacular

    This is one of my favorite campsites to date. It’s totally dispersed camping, and there’s a lot of dirt road dust, however our site was super quiet and dark for beautiful stargazing. The other five star reviews are in my opinion legitimate. It was easy to come from Medora, North Dakota to the site, but it appears that you only get an entrance and exit on the Medora side. We almost went here for a second night, but got a first come first serve site inside the park for the next night.

  • AThe Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 22, 2025

    Medora Campground

    Medora the Beautiful

    This is our first time staying at a public campground, so I was thinking, maybe it wouldn’t be that great… This place has everything you need and more! Convenient location for exploring Medora. It has a city pool right on site that is heated, a dog park beautiful grounds with huge trees. Great playground, It has a little store connected to the office that has little goodies that you might need for your stay. While in Medora, you must get a caramel roll from Country Cafe (I think that’s the name, cash only and right behind the Badlands motel) best caramel roll I have ever had in my life!

  • Jackie F.
    Aug. 11, 2022

    Medora Campground

    Best Choice for the Area

    Tried to stay inside TRNP next door but learned quickly there weren’t any hookups. This place had some harsh reviews on Campendium app however we found it delightful. The biggest woe here is that the sites are extremely tight. Our site was a pull in from one road, and the neighbors sites was a pull in from the parallel road, leaving us to share space - literally two picnic tables next to one another. Other than that though, gorgeous scenery well maintained sidewalks that you can hike or bike right into town. A public dog park at the end of the street. And our section was brand new. The electric poles were new. The sewer hookup at our site seemed a bit big but we have an adapter. Overall would highly recommend if in Medora!

  • B
    May. 12, 2019

    Ccc Campground (Nd) — Dakota Prairie National Grasslands

    A Cheap Alternative

    A cheaper alternative to TRNP’s Juniper Campground. This campground offers beautiful panoramic views of the North Dakota Badlands. Additionally, you can access the Maah Daah Hey Trail and explore the Badlands from here. The campground is well kept and is typically pretty quiet. There are no showers, but there is toilets and accessible drinking water.

  • H
    Sep. 22, 2020

    Little Missouri State Park Campground

    Off the beaten path

    We stayed at this park because the Theodore Roosevelt Nat'l Park North Unit campgrounds were closed for renovations. I mistakenly thought this park was close to the park, but it is actually a 90 minute drive. We had a reservation for 2 nights but only stayed one and moved to the CCC Campground to be closer to the park. The only real sites with a view are those that back-up to the Little Missouri River. All others are just looking at a prairie. This is also primarily a campground for horse people, which we are not. You do need to pay the additional North Dakota State Park fee if camping here.

  • Bradley H.
    Jul. 31, 2020

    Camp On The Heart

    Nice park for a short stay

    $30.00 a night gets you full hook up and a nice place to park your rig. Nomad campers have a separate section apart from the long term campers. Short term have the best view of Heart River. My only complaint would be the very rough gravel entrance road. Just go slow and all will be fine!

    Medora, North Dakota, 40 minutes west, is Home to Theodore Roosevelt National Park and the Medora Musical Theatre. I highly recommend both and the Musical will renew your passion for our great country!!🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

  • D
    May. 23, 2021

    Cottonwood Campground — Theodore Roosevelt National Park

    Where the buffalo roam

    Camped late April for 5 days, so it was offseason one pit toilet open one water spigot open in the campground.  There are two loops, the south look which is tenting and smaller sized trailer sites but it was not yet open while we were there,  The North Loop is mainly pull through sites and can handle larger sized RV's.  This is dry camping, there are no hookups.  You can experience some nice hiking and opportunities for wildlife viewing.  Buffalo were common visitors while having coffee in the morning.   Elk, deer, wild horses were common as well as hawks and prairie dogs.  Currently Western North Dakota is experiencing a drought, and being early in the season for the campground, it was dry and dusty but did not prevent us from hiking and exploring the park.  There is a convenience store in Medora ND right outside the park entrance that you can purchase basics but there was no grocery store.  Part of the scenic loop drive is closed due to road erosion but you can still travel most of it though its an out and back with turnarounds for larger vehicles. We would defiantly camp there again, but if you need the luxuries of an RV "park", you will not find that here.  The campground is well maintained and clean.

  • Stephanie Z.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 18, 2016

    Cottonwood Campground — Theodore Roosevelt National Park

    Nice NP Campground Convenient to I-94

    I visited this campground for 1 night while driving across North Dakota. It's super easy to access from I-94, but you feel like you're a million miles away from the interstate. Arriving at the Teddy Roosevelt NP main entrance late in the day, the booth was closed and the "Campground Full" sign was up. I decided to check for myself and I'm glad I did. They sometimes put the campground full site up when the ranger leaves for the night- always check for yourself.

    The campsites were basic- picnic table, fire ring, and close proximity to some basic bathrooms. My site was grassy and easy for a tent. The campground didn't allow hammocks or anything attached to trees. The rangers were very friendly and actively patroling the campground. There were NP events at the campground each night.

    The cost for a site was $16 (and 20$ to enter the park if you don't have a pass). You cannot get change from the ranger and you cannot use a credit card to register. The closest place to get change, firewood, gas, etc. is Medora which is about 7 miles away. The convenience store there has anything you might want.

    There are lots of great hikes accessible in the park, but the park is not crowded like other National Parks, so be sure to get a trail map and directions for hiking as all trails are not well marked.

  • SwitchbackKids
    Jul. 27, 2017

    Cottonwood Campground — Theodore Roosevelt National Park

    Quaint, quiet, scenic campground oasis in the prairies of North Dakota

    Cottonwood Campground was a very welcome oasis in the prairies of North Dakota. Along our year-long trip, we slept in a lot of campgrounds, but Cottonwood stands out as just what we needed at the time: quiet, spacious, and beautiful sites, nestled right up along the Missouri river, perfect for taking a dip at the end of a long day of hiking.

    We spent four days at Theodore Roosevelt National Park: two in the south unit and two in the north unit. (We also loved Juniper Campground in the north!)

    Cottonwood Campground was a great place to crash for two nights. It was cheap, comfortable, and quiet. It allowed great access to the heart of Theodore Roosevelt National Park. We even ran into a Teddy impersonator at the Visitor Center!

    In the south, near Cottonwood Campground, we loved the beautiful scenic drive, the views from Buck Hill, Wind Canyon Overlook, and the Petrified Forest (a bit of a drive around the park).

    You can read much more about our four days in the park on our blog: Switchback Kids (Theodore Roosevelt)


Guide to Killdeer

The northern North Dakota badlands surrounding Killdeer feature deeply eroded buttes and colorful scoria outcroppings at elevations between 1,800-2,500 feet. This region experiences temperature extremes with summer highs regularly exceeding 90°F and winter lows dropping below 0°F. Most campgrounds in the area have limited shade, making spring and fall more comfortable for tent camping.

What to do

Horseback riding trails: 13+ miles of designated trails wind through Little Missouri State Park's badlands terrain. The campground features multiple horse corrals and specialized equestrian camping loops. According to Glenda W., "This is a beautiful little park that features trail riding. Great hiking through the Badlands and views that can't be beat. Although this park is in the middle of the oil fields it does not interfere with the horseback riding, hiking, or other experiences."

Wildlife viewing: Bison herds frequently appear in Theodore Roosevelt National Park, especially near Juniper Campground. Jillian C. notes, "Great little campground. Friendly hosts, clean, plenty of spots and didn't even fill up for the holiday weekend. Bison will definitely stroll through your sites if you're over by the field like we were."

Maah Daah Hey Trail access: The 144-mile trail system is accessible from CCC Campground in the Dakota Prairie National Grasslands. Joseph N. explains, "One of my favorite car camping spots. Perfect gateway to the north unit of Teddy and has some good trails of its own. The sites are nicely spaced and well maintained. Peace quiet and coyotes at night."

Badlands hiking: Trek across colorful scoria outcroppings on numerous trails. At Scoria Pit dispersed camping, one reviewer mentions, "We stayed 2 nights in July in this area and it was great! Close to the National Park which was why we stayed and we were able to use all the facilities at the Painted Canyon Visitor center for morning rituals."

What campers like

Affordable options: Free camping at Summit Campground provides basic amenities and proximity to Theodore Roosevelt National Park. Brett D. confirms, "There are plenty of spots available with even ground and fire pits. Be aware of current fire conditions posted on the NPS billboard at the bathrooms. No amenities but a great place to stay for a few days for free. 14 day limit on camping."

Clean facilities: Multiple campgrounds maintain exceptional bathroom cleanliness despite high usage. In Medora Campground, one camper observed, "Large sites, very helpful & friendly staff & volunteers. Large large shade trees. Convenient to town, walk or bike ride. A really nice place."

Uncrowded camping: Even during peak season, many campgrounds remain below capacity. At CCC Campground, Duncan G. reported, "This is a delightful place surrounded by wildlife. I was able to get really close to buffalo (safely from the truck). This campground is on the north side of the Little Missouri River across from the CCC Campground which I actually preferred even though it was more primitive."

Stargazing: Minimal light pollution creates exceptional night sky viewing. At Scoria Pit dispersed camping area, Keegan R. mentions, "I went June 23rd, 2024. We got there near sunset and was able to find a spot after driving for a bit. Had a gorgeous sunset and it was very quiet."

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Killdeer, ND?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Killdeer, ND is Little Missouri State Park Campground with a 4-star rating from 7 reviews.

What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Killdeer, ND?

TheDyrt.com has all 36 dog-friendly camping locations near Killdeer, ND, with real photos and reviews from campers.