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Best Tent Camping near Killdeer, ND

354 Reviews

The Dakota Prairie National Grasslands surrounding Killdeer, North Dakota offer several primitive tent camping options with varying levels of amenities and accessibility. Bennett Campground near Grassy Butte provides tent-only camping in a Badlands-like setting with hiking trails and wildlife viewing opportunities. Elkhorn Campground, accessible via unpaved roads, features walk-in tent sites with fire rings and picnic tables. BLM Schnell Recreation Area near Richardton also accommodates tent campers with walk-in sites that provide more privacy than typical campgrounds.

Most tent campgrounds in the region have basic amenities but require self-sufficiency. Campers should bring their own drinking water, as water sources may be unreliable or require filtering. At Elkhorn, a visitor noted the hand pump produced "light brown water" unsuitable for drinking without treatment. Sites typically include fire rings and some have picnic tables, though facilities vary by location. Vault toilets are available at most established campgrounds, but trash service is limited or nonexistent. Weather conditions can change rapidly, with thunderstorms and even hail possible during summer months. Ticks are prevalent in grassy areas, particularly in spring and early summer.

Tent campsites throughout the region offer unique experiences compared to developed campgrounds. According to reviews, Elkhorn Campground provides secluded camping with "nice views of landscape and trailhead nearby." Sites are often uncrowded, with one camper reporting only one other person at Elkhorn during an August visit. Bennett Campground offers opportunities to see bison and other prairie wildlife, though the sites lack shade. Campers at Schnell Recreation Area appreciate the privacy between sites and access to maintained hiking trails. The primitive nature of backcountry tent camping in this region rewards preparation, with dramatic prairie landscapes and wildlife viewing opportunities for those willing to venture off the beaten path.

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Best Tent Sites Near Killdeer, North Dakota (6)

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Recent Tent Camping Photos near Killdeer, ND

2 Photos of 6 Killdeer Campgrounds

Tent Camping Reviews near Killdeer, ND

354 Reviews of 6 Killdeer Campgrounds

  • phillip L.
    Jul. 27, 2016

    Cottonwood Campground — Theodore Roosevelt National Park

    so much Buffalo

    All the sites were the same but I got to stay at site 15. The site is huge and is made for group camping not solo. There's a picnic table and fire ring. The park cost about 20 dollars to get into. There are restrooms that are pretty well maintained but had no showers. I went on a hot day so they prohibited fires for that day to prevent wildfires. There are a lot of animals and you may notice small animal droppings on the campground. The droppings are dried out so it doesn't have a strong odor. They don't let you collect firewood to prevent damaging the wildlife so I recommend bringing your own supply of wood. There are a lot of trails in this park. I took the Wind Canyon trail which offered the view of the Missouri river. There is also a lot of prairie dogs and buffalo. You are exposed to the sun and there are no trees for shade. This is also the same for the campsite. It is really hot. The visitor center is really friendly and they suggest places in the park you should visit.

  • Mary S.
    Aug. 7, 2018

    Cottonwood Campground — Theodore Roosevelt National Park

    Peaceful camping in Theodore Roosevelt NP

    This campground in Theodore Roosevelt National Park near Medora ND has 76 sites. Half of the sites, the even-numbered ones, are not reservable. Sites 55-66 are walk in tent sites; parking spots and grills for these sites are numbered so you have a specific site.

    We arrived before 10:30 am on a Sunday and sites were being claimed quickly. There were 7 of us choosing sites at that time. The hosts had a whiteboard that listed available sites; we took a photo of the list and chose quickly as we drove around because sites that were listed as available were already being claimed. We ended up on a reservable site that was open for the next several nights. The host couple was really on the ball and their attention helped keep the site selection process orderly.  After you put your tag up, they fold it over later in the day and mark your departure date. This is a practice that is used in many campgrounds.

    Cottonwood has been full every day since Memorial Day so you can't show up in the evening or possibly even mid-afternoon and expect to find an open site.

    This campground has no hookups but has flush toilets, sinks, potable water spigots, a sink for washing dishes/disposing of grey water, a place for filling water tanks, trash disposal and firewood for sale. There are charcoal grates for cooking that can also be use for campfires, but there are no fire rings; your campfire will be a few feet off the ground in something that I think of as a grill!

    Showers? No, but there area couple campgrounds in Medora that have showers for $5.

    If you stay here, you're obviously here to see Theodore Roosevelt NP. Both the campground and park are worth a visit. The scenery is incredible and gave us a new view of North Dakota. There is a hike near Pleasant Valley Ranch where you can use a few trails to make a 5+ mile loop that will show you everything the park has to offer - Little Missouri River (and you have to cross it at the beginning and end), prairie dog towns, bison herds and beautiful scenery. I highly recommend this as a way to see the park from a better vantage point than the highway.

    One complaint - the position of our site (#19) had some people think it was acceptable to cut through our site on their way to the bathroom. Do you walk through someone's home to shorten your walk? Didn't think so but 3 people did within 30 minutes.

  • Abby M.The Dyrt PRO User
    May. 17, 2021

    Sully Creek State Park — Sully Creek State Recreation Area

    Stayed 1 night

    Place had everything I needed, including a shower. Website states they are coin showers but mine was free so unsure if they just updated to free showers. Primitive sites are $17/night but you also have to pay the $7 state park fee. All sites had a fire ring and picnic table and had distance between neighbors. Trash available, nice vault toilets and a dump station. No ATT service but would definitely stay again on a weekend. About 80% full on a Saturday night mid may. Only 5 minutes to get to medora and the national park.

  • EThe Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 15, 2022

    Dispersed Site - Grassland Boondocking

    Awesome spot beautiful views close to park

    We had an amazing spot on top of hill. Could see for miles. Saw nice mule deer buck. Lots of camping spots. Empty during the day gets close to full an hour or so before dark. 10 min from National park entrance. No water or dump. Can be very windy. Very close to petrified forest.

  • Stephanie B.
    Jul. 13, 2018

    Medora Campground

    Good Campground

    We stayed in a tent with electricity. The tent site was on the back stretch with the badlands as a backdrop. There was not a fire ring at the campsite but we didn’t feel like we were missing anything. Our site was extremely small wIth no room for our camp chairs. Alao, there was some inconsistency in sizes of the tent area sites. Bathrooms were clean. Showers were alright, they could use some work on the ventilation.

  • 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.

  • Lee D.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 25, 2019

    Cottonwood Campground — Theodore Roosevelt National Park

    Convenient base to explore Theodore Roosevelt National Park

    Two loops; the north loop is open year-round. The south loop is open mid-May through September. There are also walk-in sites and a group site, off the south loop. The campground fills up almost every day in the summer, even during the week. Odd-numbered sites are reservable while even number sites are first-come, first-served. We were not able to get into the site we had reserved (a nice pull-through with views of the bluffs and the river) because the people staying there the night before were having difficulty with their RV and not able to move it. We had been re-assigned to Site 38, a much larger site, but among the trees with no view. We were bummed but had no choice as the campground was full. We thought we might try to move the next day, but it turns out friends were able to join us, so our large site ended up being to our advantage. The pull-through in Site 38 was so large that it could have easily accommodated three large Class A motorhomes with room to spare! Large picnic table that was pushed up against the trees; we discovered the next afternoon that it was to take advantage of as much shade as possible. No fire ring; campfires are permitted in charcoal bbq grates or fully contained fire pans. Wood was not available to purchase at the campground; you must go to Medora(about five miles away) to purchase or you can collect dead and down firewood. Bathroom was clean enough with flush toilets but NO SOAP! No showers but we didn’t expect them in a National Park campground. Several very short trails in the park but the most popular Petrified Forest Trail is accessible from outside the park. Saw bison, prairie dogs, pronghorn antelope, wild horses.

  • B
    Aug. 2, 2023

    Cottonwood Campground — Theodore Roosevelt National Park

    Choose carefully

    Choose your tent only walk in site carefully. Most (esp those next to river) have no shade. This means it’s hot in the sun and exposed in thunderstorms. Most sites are on top of each other with nothing to block sounds or sites.

    Bathrooms are a distance off from walk in sites. You must use (as of late July 2023) the bath near the amphitheater. The facilities next to walk-in camp are just a pad at the moment with no signs of construction happening anytime soon.

    Trail to sites is narrow and uneven and prone to flooding with rain.

    Someone noted this earlier that it is close to the road and if you are in a walk in site you can hear I-94 and the main park road. Yes, you can hear the main park road easily and when the breeze dies down you can here the interstate. Bring earplugs and your fine.

    No campfire pits.

Guide to Killdeer

Tent camping options near Killdeer, North Dakota concentrate mainly in the Dakota Prairie National Grasslands. The region's varied terrain includes exposed badlands formations, grassy plains, and isolated valleys with elevations ranging from 1,800-2,700 feet. Summer temperatures often exceed 90°F with nighttime cooling, while spring and fall camping offers milder conditions but increased precipitation risks.

What to do

Trail hiking opportunities: At BLM Schnell Recreation Area, maintained trails provide accessible routes for hikers of all skill levels. "Small maintained trails and really pretty. It is a wet year and everything is very green," notes camper Teresa T., who adds the trails are "well marked and easy to follow."

Wildlife observation: Bison viewing opportunities exist throughout the grasslands, especially in spring and early summer. "There are some nice long hiking trails, bison and other prairie critters," reports Lynn G. about her experience camping in the Dakota Prairie National Grasslands.

Horse riding: Some areas permit equestrian use on designated trails. Lynn G. specifically recommends, "If you have horses, bring them!!" when referencing the trail system available in certain sections of the grasslands.

Storm watching: The open prairie landscape provides unobstructed views of approaching weather systems. As one camper experienced, "thunderstorms rolling over the prairie is something you'll never forget!" This natural spectacle offers dramatic photography opportunities during summer months.

What campers like

Secluded camping environments: Elkhorn Campground provides isolation from crowds even during peak season. One camper reported in August, "Not a busy spot, there was only one other person camping when we were there mid first week of August."

Affordability: Most sites maintain reasonable fees, with Elkhorn charging "$6 cash or check, put the money in the envelope and drop it in the box, clip the tag to your site #."

Natural landscapes: The Dakota Prairie Grasslands' terrain features badlands-like scenery in certain areas. Steve D. describes Elkhorn Campground as "Campsites in valley in Badlands. Nice and clean."

Site spacing: Many campgrounds offer well-separated sites for increased privacy. At Schnell Recreation Area, Teresa T. found "Only a handful of spots but they are nicely separated with some privacy."

What you should know

Weather patterns: Summer thunderstorms can develop quickly and may include severe conditions. Bill P. reports from his stay at Schnell Recreation Area, "Lovely place to stay, clean with trash cans and vault toilets. Unfortunately we had 5 hail storms that night."

Water conditions: Hand pumps are available at some sites, but water quality varies. At West River Rd Dispersed, access can be challenging as "Road was closed to the actual marked area," according to Joseph G.

Insect activity: High tick populations exist in tall grass areas, particularly during spring and early summer. Moonyen S. cautions, "There were a lot of TICKS! But I found the few that were on me before they latched. My friend had at least twenty on her."

Road conditions: Access to many sites requires travel on unpaved roads. Jim M. notes about reaching Elkhorn Campground, "Traveled about 35 miles on unpaved road in RAV4 AWD."

Tips for camping with families

Site selection guidance: Choose sites with natural shade when available. Jim M. found at Elkhorn, "We were in a spot with some shade for our tent."

Water planning: Most sites require bringing your own drinking water. Jim M. cautions that at Elkhorn the "Hand pump was hard to pump which produced light brown water which wasn't something we wanted to drink, so bring in your own water."

Bathroom accessibility: Verify toilet facilities before arrival, as not all sites provide them. Moonyen S. found at Bennett that "the restroom has a smell come out," while others note facilities may be seasonal, as "The restrooms were not open yet" during an early spring visit.

Wildlife education: Prairie wildlife viewing opportunities can provide educational experiences. Kevin T. notes at Bennett, "There is a lot of buffalo out hear ad there is a lot of dung."

Tips from RVers

Site size limitations: Most primitive sites accommodate smaller RVs only. Steve D. notes that Elkhorn offers "Nice off-grid campsites" but specifies "No power, no dumps, hand pump for water."

Road access challenges: Many access roads require high clearance vehicles. Maddy T. reports that at West River Road, "when I pulled into what I thought would be a spot, the road was deserving a 4WD."

Alternative camping areas: If designated sites are full, dispersed options may exist. Maddy T. shares, "I originally went to dispersed camping on the other side of the highway but it was completely full!" ultimately finding an alternative by "car camping in what was essentially a turnout."

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Killdeer, ND?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Killdeer, ND is Bennett with a 4.5-star rating from 2 reviews.

What is the best site to find tent camping near Killdeer, ND?

TheDyrt.com has all 6 tent camping locations near Killdeer, ND, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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