Best Campgrounds near Larimore, ND

Larimore, North Dakota provides camping options centered around several water recreation areas within 20 miles of town. Turtle River State Park Campground offers tent, RV, cabin, and glamping accommodations with electric hookups and shaded sites in a forested setting. Larimore Dam Recreation Area features lakeside camping with electric, water, and sewer hookups primarily for RVs, though tent sites are also available. Kolding Dam/Upper Turtle Reservoir represents a more primitive option with limited facilities and tent-only sites.

Most campgrounds in the Larimore area operate seasonally from May through October, with peak visitation during summer months. The developed campgrounds like Turtle River State Park and Larimore Dam Recreation Area maintain modern amenities including showers, flush toilets, and electrical hookups, while more remote areas offer fewer services. Winter conditions typically close most campgrounds, though Turtle River State Park remains accessible year-round for winter recreation activities. Road access to established campgrounds is generally good with drive-in sites available for both RVs and tent campers. A camper noted that "Larimore Dam Recreation Area Campground has a great swim beach with nice sand, grass area, and nice water."

Proximity to water features prominently in visitor experiences across Larimore area campgrounds. The forested setting of Turtle River State Park offers hiking trails and wildlife viewing opportunities that contrast with the prairie landscape. Several campers mentioned the abundance of deer, squirrels, and excellent birding, particularly during migration periods. Campsite privacy varies considerably between locations, with some visitors noting that Turtle River sites provide good shade and seclusion while Larimore Dam sites are more open and exposed. One reviewer described Larimore Dam Recreation Area as "an oasis on the prairie" with "a valley surrounded by a forest" offering hiking, kayaking, and birdwatching opportunities. Seasonal campers occupy many sites at Larimore Dam throughout summer, but dedicated areas remain available for nightly and weekly visitors.

Best Camping Sites Near Larimore, North Dakota (38)

    1. Turtle River State Park Campground

    20 Reviews
    Larimore, ND
    7 miles
    Website
    +1 (701) 594-4445

    "looking to get away from the flat land of North Dakota? This park is where to be. Lots of great trails with some awesome views."

    "Campground was set up a little funny but not hard to locate site once driving around about 3 minutes. Pretty wooded area in hell hole North Dakota."

    2. Larimore Dam Recreation Area Campground Grand Forks County

    2 Reviews
    Larimore, ND
    2 miles
    Website
    +1 (701) 343-2078

    "The park is cute The arboretum is nice there's some nice walks but overall I can't imagine sitting in the sun during the summer in North Dakota with high humidity and finding that pleasant."

    3. Grand Forks FamCamp

    3 Reviews
    Larimore, ND
    12 miles
    Website
    +1 (701) 747-3688

    $16 - $20 / night

    "The FamCamp is located on the Grand Forks AFB, and sits in what used to be family housing. Some of the connections are difficult, and a bit odd. But, the FamCamp offers some shade and full hookups."

    4. Larimore Dam Rec Area

    1 Review
    Larimore, ND
    2 miles
    Website
    +1 (701) 343-2078

    "This is a state recreation area (like a small state park) that is centered around a large reservoir in a valley, surrounded by a forest that we got to see in all its autumn glory."

    5. Kolding Dam/Upper Turtle Reservoir

    2 Reviews
    Larimore, ND
    8 miles
    Website

    "I was here in April it was very windy very cold We parked up on the hill as you can see in the picture so that the wind break behind us with the trees kept the blow off of us."

    6. Northwood City RV Park

    1 Review
    Larimore, ND
    13 miles
    Website

    "Quiet but close to park facilities for families."

    7. Red River State Recreation Area

    19 Reviews
    Grand Forks, ND
    28 miles
    Website
    +1 (218) 773-4950

    "Also it's right on the River trails so if you're a biker it's fun to do the loop that goes from both the North Dakota and the Minnesota side."

    "We stayed here for 2 nights on the way north to Canada and another night after crossing the border again. "

    8. Michigan City Park Campground

    6 Reviews
    Larimore, ND
    25 miles
    Website

    "Michigan city park campground is a beautiful little park next to a golf course that’s well taken care of. Keith the caretaker of the park and Golf course keeps Everything in beautiful condition."

    "The Duffers Golf Club next to campground is inexpensive, unique and even has clubs available for free use!"

    9. Hatton Park Board Campground

    1 Review
    Larimore, ND
    20 miles
    Website
    +1 (701) 543-4165

    10. Michigan City Parks

    1 Review
    Larimore, ND
    25 miles
    Website
    +1 (701) 259-2553

    "The city park is adjacent to a small golf club that this park shares the same driveway with(and bathroom facilities)."

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Recent Reviews near Larimore, ND

80 Reviews of 38 Larimore Campgrounds


  • kThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 25, 2025

    Red River State Recreation Area

    A Fabulous Campground

    This campground is a gem in the middle of Grand Forks ND and East Grand Forks MN. The sites are large and the surrounding campground is beautiful parkland. Katheryn (hope I spelled it correctly) and her staff do a great job keeping it ship shape. Right on the Red River and you can walk to downtown. Stayed here many times and we will return again.

  • DThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 19, 2025

    Kolding Dam/Upper Turtle Reservoir

    Small fishing access with ramp

    Pulled in at dusk rainy Sept evening- beautiful spot but deep grass, no real defined campsite stayed just off road -couple of trains passed

  • David T.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 25, 2024

    Red River State Recreation Area

    Perfect for the month of October!

    I'm always looking for a campsite late in the afternoon. And this one turned out to be perfect. I pulled into East Grand forks. Got out my phone and started looking, and I said oh, there's a state campground right near here. Here. Right in town in fact. I'm traveling with the dog on this trip so I'm always looking for places that I can run the dog, if possible off leash in the morning. Well, technically you're not supposed to have docs off leash here, there's plenty of space down along the river and trails that go away from the campground where the dog can have a little bit of a free exercise. Because it's October, the place is almost empty. And I got one of the no hookup sites, so it was reasonably priced.

  • Lisa M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 3, 2024

    Michigan City Park Campground

    A great little find

    Great little find in a small cute town called Michigan. There are four sites that have electric and several sites for tent camping or dry camping. Right next to a little golf course that we played. Campground was great. Level spots but golf course left a little to be desired. The greens were Astroturf, which were a little hard. Everything was kind of on the honor system as you can see in the golf sign. You can stay there for free, but I thought it was nice to leave a little cash to help with the electric bill.

  • B
    Sep. 29, 2024

    Leistikow City Park

    Park is beautiful but utility hookups are horrendous!

    Good: green, lots of trees, big dog park, adjacent city park and trail, cute town. Bad: hook-ups are awful—they are behind your RV spot, shared with the RV behind you; shared power pedestals so only one gets 50amp, whoever gets there first; the 20amp breaker was useless; sewer connections are 90° angle and 1/2” off ground so almost impossible to use sewer elbow and they have sewer flies; water is a pex tube coming out of the ground, shared, and had a unremovable fitting that did not allow me to connect my pressure regulator. Some sites have utilities on the COMPLETE OPPOSITE side of standard RV connections requiring two additional sewer hoses and extra power cord. Ridiculous.

  • C
    Sep. 25, 2024

    Red River State Recreation Area

    Nice campground

    We spent a 3-day weekend here as a shake-down cruise for our new camper. It was nice to have full water, electric, and sewer hookups. The sites are well prepared, mostly level and pull-through. We enjoyed being able to bike the greenway on both sides of the river and downtown is just a couple blocks away.

  • Ioan P.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 14, 2024

    Hillsboro Campground and RV Park

    Only if you have to!

    Nobody here. Anvelops only. $ 40 per night. Truck stop in vicinity, and the smell from diesel fuel ⛽️ is horrible !

  • JThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 11, 2024

    Red River State Recreation Area

    A delightful place to stay

    We stayed here for 2 nights on the way north to Canada and another night after crossing the border again.  It is a lovely park with large crescent shaped pull thru sites (There are some back-ins as well). Sites are well spaced with plenty of trees and green spaces in between.  Super walking trails, great playground, walking distance to restaurants and downtown.

    We would stay here again.


Guide to Larimore

Larimore, North Dakota camping areas occupy a unique position in the region's geography, sitting between the flat Red River Valley to the east and the gently rolling Pembina Escarpment to the west. The terrain around these campsites creates ecological diversity with forest zones alongside prairie landscapes. During spring and fall, temperatures can swing from below freezing at night to 70°F during the day, requiring campers to prepare for variable conditions.

What to do

Biking the trails: At Turtle River State Park Campground, the network of trails offers variable terrain for cyclists of all abilities. "Tons of trails for biking and hiking. Some of the biking was too hilly for my 7 year old though," shares Jami M., noting that while some sections are challenging, many paths accommodate family rides.

Fishing opportunities: Multiple fishing access points around Kolding Dam/Upper Turtle Reservoir provide anglers with less crowded alternatives to larger lakes. "Small fishing access with ramp," mentions David K., who visited during September and found the spot beautiful despite the primitive conditions.

Winter activities: When the snow falls, several campgrounds transform into winter recreation destinations. "Cross country skiing and sledding in the winter," notes Marcy D. about Turtle River State Park, making it one of the few year-round recreation options in the area with dedicated trails maintained for winter sports.

What campers like

Bird migration viewing: The unique geography creates excellent bird habitat, particularly during spring and fall migrations. "It is not just an oasis in the prairie for people, but also a great habitat island for birdwatching with lots of spots within the park and in adjacent wetlands and refuges that are incredible bird stopovers during fall migration," explains Janet R. of her experience at Larimore Dam Rec Area.

Secluded walk-in sites: At Red River State Recreation Area, the walk-in sites offer a completely different experience from the standard RV areas. "There are a handful of walk-in sites off to the side that looked quite nice. That's definitely the way to go if you'd like to pitch a tent and have a little peace and quiet," recommends Ian Y.

Swimming beach quality: The swimming areas receive consistent praise from visitors seeking water recreation. "The beach was great - nice sand, grass area, & nice water!" reports Ason S. about Larimore Dam Recreation Area Campground, making it a popular day-use destination even for those camping elsewhere.

What you should know

Seasonal crowds and events: Holiday weekends and special events can dramatically change the camping experience. "We were there on an event weekend—'Halloween in July' which meant the campsites were jam packed for the weekend with people eager to be costumed ghouls and do various tricks and treats. RVs were jam packed in, as were the tent sites," warns Janet R. about Turtle River State Park.

Insect conditions: The wooded and riverside areas create habitat for mosquitoes and other insects, particularly in early summer. "It was also very buggy which is probably to be expected in a lowland with wetlands," notes the same reviewer, suggesting fall visits might offer more comfortable conditions.

Train noise: Some campgrounds experience regular train activity that can disturb light sleepers. "The trains with their horns blaring at 4am was annoying," reports Scott G. about his stay at Red River State Recreation Area, an important consideration when selecting a campsite near Larimore.

Tips for camping with families

Playground access: Several campsites offer dedicated play facilities for children of different ages. "The camp sites are large, level and secluded. There are lovely wide trails for biking and hiking and a river runs through the park," notes Samantha B. about the family-friendly amenities at Turtle River State Park.

Nature programs: Educational activities run by park staff provide structured learning opportunities. "Friendly staff and super programs for the family by the naturalist. Our family loves the place!" shares Brad K., highlighting the value of interpretive programs at Turtle River State Park Campground.

Free camping with electric: For budget-conscious families, Michigan City Park Campground offers unusual value. "No fee but accepts donations. Power at site. Water and toilets nearby," explains Cat T., making this an excellent option for families looking to maximize their camping budget while still having access to basic amenities.

Tips from RVers

Seasonal camper prevalence: Many RV sites at Larimore area campgrounds are occupied by seasonal residents. "Most folks camping here seem to be monthly or seasonal RV folks who actually park their campers there for the summer season, however there is an area reserved for nightly or weekly campers only," explains Janet R. about Larimore Dam Rec Area, helping travelers understand site availability patterns.

Hookup configurations: The electrical and water connections at some campgrounds require special attention. "The FamCamp is located on the Grand Forks AFB, and sits in what used to be family housing. Some of the connections are difficult, and a bit odd," advises Michael B. about his experience at Grand Forks FamCamp, suggesting RVers bring extension cords and adapters.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular campground near Larimore, ND?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Larimore, ND is Turtle River State Park Campground with a 4.4-star rating from 20 reviews.