M
Mychaela 
Guide
GuideMel Rieman Rec
Beautiful site, with good amenities
Stopped here on our way through North Dakota, perfect site with flushable bathrooms, good water and a beautiful sunrise.
Dog-Friendly Camping near Leonard, ND
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Jorgen's Hollow Campground in Sheyenne National Grassland offers pet-friendly sites for outdoor enthusiasts camping with their dogs. The campground features designated camping areas where pets are allowed, with picnic tables and fire rings at each site. Campers report clean, well-maintained facilities with vault toilets and hand pump water available. The North Country Trail passes directly through the campground, providing immediate access to hiking opportunities with pets. Dogs must be kept on leash while in the campground area and on trails. The sunsets are beautiful and wildlife viewing opportunities abound, with campers reporting woodpecker sightings and coyote calls at dusk.
Dispersed camping options throughout Sheyenne National Grassland welcome pets with specific guidelines for responsible use. The tall grass prairie environment offers unique camping experiences unlike typical forested settings, with cattle occasionally roaming the grasslands. Hiking the North Country Trail with dogs requires passing through cattle gates and watching for droppings along equestrian trails. The Mirror Lake area provides an excellent destination for day hikes with pets, located approximately 5 miles from trailheads. For RV travelers with pets, Red River Valley Fairgrounds in West Fargo and Red Trail Vineyard RV Park near Buffalo offer full hookup options where pets are welcome. Both locations provide clean, level sites with electric, water and sewer connections, though the fairgrounds location experiences some highway and train noise that may disturb sensitive pets.
Best Dog-Friendly Campgrounds near Leonard (40)
1. Jorgen's Hollow Campground — Dakota Prairie National Grasslands
"The North Country Trail goes right through camp. Hike (or ride your horse) it into the grasslands or the other way to join more trails. There is no fee to camp here until the fall of 2018."
"This allowed for a pretty distanced visit and relatively quiet experience in the middle of the country. If it was full, it could have been loud."
from $10 / night
2. Sheyenne National Grassland
"Beautiful sites,trails,very friendly and knowledgeable ranger. Took our 40' through the 1212 trail and was quite concerned I had gotten a little bold with following an unknown gps destination."
"We dispersed camped for 1 night while walking along the North Country trail."
3. Lindenwood Campground
"North dakota. It is right on the Red River, which flows North. It is the only major river to flow into canada and out through the hudson bay. It's a very nice campground. The pavement is pretty pock."
"Lindenwood Park is a very nice campground with an abundance of shelters, children’s play areas, and walking/hiking trails."
from $30 / night
Check Availability4. Governor's Inn and Conference Center
5. Buffalo River State Park Campground
"good trail system with a walk through the prairie and/or by the river..the weather was perfect when we came, 75 and a breeze... We had an incident with our cat."
"Nice campground some hiking trails around this area. Dog friendly, and really nice camp host."
from $24 - $75 / night
Check Availability6. Buffalo RV Park
"Great big fire pit but street light is right next to the site and bugs were biting. Overall quiet, safe location in historic town. Next time would like to check out Old 10 Saloon."
"No bath house but full hookup and trashcan available. 5 min walk to Old 10 Saloon, nice inside good service.
Use city registration site to reserve site, no sign in at front area needed."
from $25 - $125 / night
Check Availability7. Sheyenne Oaks
from $28 - $49 / night
Check Availability8. Red River Valley Fairgrounds
9. Red Trail Vineyard RV Park
from $30 - $35 / night
Check Availability10. Sandager Park
Drive Time
- 31 min from Fargo, ND
- 1 hr 27 min from Grand Forks, ND
- 2 hrs 30 min from Bismarck, ND
- 2 hrs 42 min from St. Cloud, MN
Recent Dog-Friendly Camping Photos near Leonard, ND
23 Photos of 40 Leonard Campgrounds
Rachel O.
Jorgen's Hollow Campground — Dakota Prairie National Grasslands
Brett B.
Sheyenne National Grassland
Tucker B.
Lindenwood Campground
Brooke E.
Brewer Lake Rec Area
Brittany
Fort Ransom State Park Campground
Lauren
Clausen Springs Park Campground
Olivia M.
Buffalo River State Park Campground
Emilie V.
Moon Lake
cindy
Moon Lake
Teresa T.
Mel Rieman Rec
Amurican L.
Hendrum Community Park
Dog-Friendly Camping Reviews near Leonard, ND
228 Reviews of 40 Leonard Campgrounds
- JJohn
TravelerSheyenne National Grassland
Unique Oak Haven
My first and not going to be the last campout here. Beautiful sites,trails,very friendly and knowledgeable ranger. Took our 40' through the 1212 trail and was quite concerned I had gotten a little bold with following an unknown gps destination. It worked out but was very close as was also pulling a car hauler. Just for your info i was also traveling east to west. Definitely a pleasant adventure out here in North Dakota. I have to say a little paradise can be found here. I am doing the dispersed camping right in the oak valley next to the 1212. John
- Susan M.Traveler
Lindenwood Campground
It’s like sleeping under a highway.
Lindenwood is a pretty park but you are right off of 94 and the bridge that crosses the Red River from Minnesota to North Dakota. All we heard were cars and trucks all night long. Hardly slept. But it is a nice park to visit during the day.
Teresa T.
LegendLindenwood Campground
Adorable
This is essentially the city campground in Fargo. North dakota. It is right on the Red River, which flows North. It is the only major river to flow into canada and out through the hudson bay. It's a very nice campground. The pavement is pretty pock. Marked and the spots are close and not very level. And last unfortunately, you get a lot of road noise, but it's adorable and you're right in town.
- Teresa T.Legend
Kidder Recreation Area
It is small and designed for tent campers
There's a short row of camp spots in the sun for campers. Seems like a good portion of it is full of people who are here all the time. The rest of the campers are in the back of their truck, which i'm not opposed to, but they're in pretty tough shape and very old. I will say this is one of the least safe places. I have felt in North Dakota.
- Teresa T.Legend
Brewer Lake Rec Area
Very nice county campground
This is a well maintained well cared for well laid out county campground. A number of sites kind of exposed to the sun but hookups and bathrooms available. Tiny Lake for fishing and a beach for swimming. And good for North Dakota there's a large tree claim th at helps keep the wind off of you. I barely have Verizon service so if I was going to try to work I would probably have to use my satellite system but other than that it's adorable I wish it had more hiking.
MickandKarla W.LegendEggerts Landing
Good Privacy Between Most Sites
The website instructions say to take exit 292 off I 94 but our RV GPS and Google Maps showed exit 294, which is probably a new exit. Coming from the east, exit 294 was the better option, but either exit would work as they both will lead to the turn to take you down to Eggerts Landing plus other COE areas as identified on the signs. The campground(CG) area was easy to find and we got potable water at the dump station conveniently located as we entered the CG area. The RV sites here are all 30 AMP electric and we proceeded to back-in spot 20, which was easy to back into off the turn. Site 20 is plenty long and we really liked the privacy between sites due to the vegetation and trees. This CG has a lot of mature trees so satellite would not be an option for most sites. We got 2 bars on Verizon and 2 on T-Mobile. The sites in the front of the CG are more open where you could get a satellite signal. The sites at the far end of the CG are more private with little trails weaving around. There are no sites that are truly on the lake, but several have paths to the water. There are trash cans smartly placed around the CG plus water spigots and vault toilets. Towards the front of the back loop, there’s a shower house. There is also a fishing pier near the CG area entrance. There’s a camp host, but they were only working weekends when we were there in September. However, park rangers patrolled the CG. This COE is about 15 minutes north of Valley City where amenities can be found. Check out Babb's Coffee House in Jamestown. Great place to have lunch after visiting the tourist spots in Jamestown and the coffee is very good too. If you are looking for gifts made in North Dakota, check out the Dakota Store, also in Jamestown, which is a great place to shop. We enjoyed our 3-night stay during the midweek.
Jo Outdoors
RangerFaust Park
Primitive camping at Faust Park, Barnes County, N.D.
This park is maintained and managed by the Barnes County Wildlife Club and North Dakota Game and Fish Department. Camping is free and allowed for a maximum of 10 consecutive days. There is plenty of open lawn within this park area which can definitely fit multiple tents and the parking lot/gravel driveway can accommodate travel trailers/RVs/Vans.
It is a well-maintained, simple, camping area offering a picnic table, fire ring/pit, built-in charcoal grill, waste receptacles and a vault toilet. (As of early October the county was able to erect a picnic shelter) There is also some informative signage covering the local history, and that of the the river and land. (Not as far back in time as it should though.)
The Sheyenne River runs along one side of this camp area - There is a kayak/canoe in/out access area here and access points for fishing along with a bridge. If you are filtering H20 yourself, you have access to flowing river water for drinking!
Quite isolated and quiet here, people may periodically stop by to fish, drop in a kayak, run their dogs or stretch their legs. Overall it’s a secluded and peaceful area. There are train tracks that run along the river in close proximity; they usually don't "toot" more than a time or two as they pass the crossing. I can't say how many in a night.
There are plenty of areas to enjoy the sun, but also large, mature trees for plenty of shade as well. Pretty decent area to have access to camp at for FREE that feels like you're "beyond getting what you paid for!"
- Faust Park is also about 4 miles SW from the Mel Rieman Rec Area/Campgrounds (COE) which has a swimming area, playground, showers & bathroom facilities, drinking water, garbages, grills, and a bar/small grill/ice cream shop & water sports rentals on site. This is all very seasonal of course.
-Faust Park is located along a maintained gravel road, less than a ½ mile off of the River Road and about 6 miles outside of Valley City. There is a farmstead on the other side of the river/wooded area, otherwise no other nearby neighbors. It is also 6 or so miles up off of I-94 if folks approach it from that direction.
- Samantha B.
ScoutEggerts Landing
Great place to camp
This Army Corp campground is out favorite, there are three other Army Corp campgrounds around Lake Ashtabula but this one is the best. Spots are secluded and shaded. Beautiful beach for swimming and a nice playground to keep the kids entertained. Spots are gravel so there is no mud to deal with. They also have a great fishing pier. Only negative thing I can say is the rules are not enforced when it comes to pets on leashes, while I walking my pup, (on a leash) we had dogs run at us from two different camp sites. One was right in front of the host and nothing was said to the dog owner. It was frustrating because the rest of our stay I didn't dare walk my pup, she needed to stay at camp on her lead. This is a common problem at campgrounds I have found.
Guide to Leonard
Sheyenne National Grassland near Leonard, North Dakota spans 70,180 acres of native prairie. The grassland ecosystem creates unique camping conditions with open vistas, minimal tree cover, and occasional cattle activity. Seasonal temperatures range from 70-85°F in summer days to 50-60°F at night, requiring campers to prepare for temperature fluctuations.
What to do
Hiking to Mirror Lake: The North Country Trail offers a 10-mile roundtrip hike through Sheyenne National Grassland to Mirror Lake. "We dispersed camped for 1 night while walking along the North Country trail. It is a quiet and safe, we parked at the trail head and intended to hike to mirror lake but didn't make it in that far and found a nice place to stop along the way," shares Christina M. from Sheyenne National Grassland.
Nighttime stargazing: The open prairie landscape allows for exceptional stargazing opportunities. "Great stargazing. Clean water and vault toilets. Great access to the NCT. Great signage. Well kept. I enjoyed my stay here," reports Rachel O. about Jorgen's Hollow Campground.
Wildlife observation: Grassland environments support diverse wildlife species. "Lots of woodpeckers to see and coyotes calling at dusk. Sheyenne river nearby," notes Layne W. The evening hours provide prime wildlife viewing opportunities.
What campers like
Natural prairie environment: The tall grass prairie offers camping experiences distinct from forested settings. "The tall grass prairie here is absolutely beautiful, and a rare place to be able to enjoy. It's a very different kind of camping than I was used to in forests back east. It's wide open here and cattle roam the land," explains Sean M. from Sheyenne National Grassland.
Quiet, uncrowded camping: Many campsites remain available even during peak seasons. "Only 50 miles from Fargo. Place all to myself on a Sunday night. Clean nice toilets and nice camping spots," writes Kurt L. about Jorgen's Hollow Campground.
Seasonal flora: Spring and summer bring wildflowers and butterflies to the grassland. "Not sure what it's like on weekends, but arrived on a Tuesday in August; I was the second camper to arrive. First come, first serve. Very minimalist and lovely... Abundant flowers and butterflies. Even a couple prairie chickens," shares Dillon M.
What you should know
Navigation requirements: First-time visitors should obtain maps before arrival. "So you're gonna wanna look up a map about this area. Don't just park where the marker is that is not open land that is private. The Dyrt site/app map helped zoom in and find the roads," advises Matthew L. about visiting Sheyenne National Grassland.
Water quality considerations: Hand pump water may require filtering. "You might consider bringing your own water - the water from the pump has particulates in it," notes Art S.
Vehicle requirements: Some access roads require higher clearance vehicles. "Make sure your vehicle has decent clearance but nothing too extreme. 2007 Toyota Sequoia with a 1.75 inch lift," recommends Matthew L.
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: For families needing play areas, Lindenwood Campground in Fargo provides developed recreation. "2 great playgrounds nearby for the kiddos. We were on site B9 and it was spacious," shares Amy K.
Site selection strategy: Choose sites based on your family's noise sensitivity. "The B loop sites were also small with little room between neighbors and nothing in between sites, no trees. On the weekend there were people cutting through our site to fish the river which made us a bit nervous since we had our two kids with us," reports Jeff B.
Activity options: Rental equipment adds family entertainment options. "There was rental bikes and canoes which was fun for the kids, as well as fishing- only caught one catfish but was fun anyway," adds Jeff B.
Tips from RVers
Dog friendly camping options: Multiple campgrounds welcome pets with specific guidelines. The Red River Valley Fairgrounds in West Fargo provides convenient dog friendly camping with full hookups. "This is a convenient stop-over when traveling. The main campground has full hookups. The overflow area only electric. The main campground was clean and well maintained," notes Duncan G.
Overnight stops: Buffalo RV Park offers convenient overnight camping for travelers with pets. "Clean, easy booking online, full hookups and less than 10 minutes from 94. 8 sites total. Stayed at site 1 for $25. Great big fire pit but street light is right next to the site and bugs were biting," shares Nicole.
Noise considerations: Highway proximity affects some campgrounds. "There was significant noise from the nearby interstate (trucks, cars, and frequent sirens from police) and bright lights shining which made it hard for us to sleep," warns Jeff B. about Lindenwood Campground.
Frequently Asked Questions
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campsite near Leonard, ND?
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Leonard, ND?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Leonard, ND is Jorgen's Hollow Campground — Dakota Prairie National Grasslands with a 4.5-star rating from 11 reviews.
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dog-friendly camping near
Leonard, ND?
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Leonard, ND?
TheDyrt.com has all 40 dog-friendly camping locations near Leonard, ND, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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