J
Jennifer F.
Traveler
TravelerAlice City Park
Nice and quiet for overnight
Grill and electric hookups for 2. Picnic area and older playground equipment. Nice for an overnight stay on a trip. 8 miles south of interstate.
Camping near McLeod, ND
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SUMMARY PRESENTED BY
Dispersed camping opportunities exist throughout the Sheyenne National Grassland near McLeod, North Dakota. This public land area provides multiple options for self-contained camping with minimal facilities. Campground choices in the region include Jorgen's Hollow Campground, which offers dedicated tent and RV sites with picnic tables and fire rings, and smaller established sites like Dead Colt Creek Recreation Area. The grasslands feature oak groves and prairie landscapes where both drive-in and walk-in camping access is available, creating diverse options for overnight stays in this unique ecosystem.
Road conditions vary throughout the grasslands, with some areas requiring vehicles with decent ground clearance. "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," noted one visitor about navigating the grassland roads. Most dispersed camping areas follow pack-in, pack-out principles with limited or no trash facilities. The camping season typically runs from spring through fall, with some campgrounds like Dead Colt Creek operating from May 1 to September 30. Water access can be limited in dispersed areas, though developed campgrounds like Jorgen's Hollow provide hand pump wells for drinking water.
The North Country Trail passes through the region, creating hiking opportunities directly from several campgrounds. Campers frequently mention the quiet atmosphere and stargazing as highlights of their stays. One camper described the grasslands as "a rare place to be able to enjoy" with "wide open" spaces where "cattle roam the land." Wildlife observations commonly include coyotes, woodpeckers, and prairie chickens. The area offers a mix of sun-exposed and partially shaded sites, with oak groves providing some cover. Many campsites have fire rings, though fire restrictions may apply seasonally. Several campgrounds feature vault toilets, while others like Sandager Park and Milnor City Park provide electric hookups and water connections for RVs, offering a range of amenity levels throughout the region.
Best Campgrounds near McLeod (42)
1. 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."
2. Jorgen's Hollow Campground — Dakota Prairie National Grasslands
"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."
"Arrived after dark picked a site and in the morning was happily surprised to find it had some trees surrounding it."
from $10 / night
3. Dead Colt Creek Rec Area
"The lake is very pretty. The swimming area is very nice. They have full bathrooms with showers. A number of different camp sites to be at."
4. Milnor City Park
5. Wyndemere Rock Garden County Park
6. Sandager Park
7. Barney Campground
8. Hankinson Hills Campground
"The campground is well maintained and the trail had just been mowed. Unfortunately there are stickers and poor tuck found a number of them. We still had fun."
"Nice spacious sites and there are many multi purpose trails (wheelers too!) nearby."
from $10 / night
Check Availability9. Sheyenne Oaks
from $28 - $49 / night
Check Availability10. NCT Colfax Campground
Drive Time
- 50 min from Fargo, ND
- 1 hr 50 min from Grand Forks, ND
- 2 hrs 45 min from St. Cloud, MN
- 2 hrs 48 min from Bismarck, ND
Recent Camping Photos near McLeod, ND
9 Photos of 42 McLeod Campgrounds
Recent Reviews near McLeod, ND
147 Reviews of 42 McLeod Campgrounds
Jacquie B.TravelerTourist Park
Dumpy, on the side of the road.
This campground isn't even a campground. It's a parking lot on the side of the road. Older trailers in here that look like people live in them full time.
I read the reviews but noticed they were a few years old, so I thought I'd take a chance. Well it is still just as bad. It is very hot here and the A/C is blasting so I can't hear the road noise. Wouldn't sit outside no matter what. Skip this place even if it is just for the night. No one seems to work here, I didn't even go to the "office", you sign in on line.
Being a single older women I don't really want to walk around here.
Jon S.
ScoutJorgen's Hollow Campground — Dakota Prairie National Grasslands
Beautiful Canpsite
Beautiful sunset. Little rabbits running around. It has a couple vault toilet buildings. There’s some trails. And the sites are spread out nicely so you’re not up on other people. Also, it’s free. It’s “ pack in, pack out” so I don’t think there are any trash receptacles. I haven’t seen any so far. It’s peaceful. I have AT&T and I have signal.
Teresa T.
LegendFingal Campground
Pretty well done for a city park
It's acute city park, and there are water and sewer and 30 amp. Electric hookups for each of the eight or so sites. There are some trees, so you should have some shade from late afternoon through the evening. I don't see a bathroom, but there is trash services. And a couple of picnic tables.
- Teresa T.Legend
Alice City Park
Not sure how often this is ever used
This is a typical small town city park in rural america. I found a post with a 30 amp. There might be 2 of them do not use the G. P s location, that's probably not the correct site, it's here in the city park. There's no bathrooms. There's no trash, there's no other avantities. Except maybe working electric.
- Teresa T.Legend
Red Trail Vineyard RV Park
Quite cute
Nice pull through large spots for big R. V's that are fully self contained. Parked in the sun, so gonna be hot in the summer, but full hookups. My guess is there can be activities here on the site for events.
- GGlen B.
RangerSheyenne National Grassland
Change of pace
After many battles against mosquitoes at various bodies of water in Minnesota and Wisconsin, a breather of some plains was in order. This didn't disappoint. Wide open spaces with plenty of birdlife... I identified 11 in the 1st hour I was there. Would have been awesome stargazing were it not overcast at night.
- Teresa T.Legend
Arthur Park
I agree with the other review
The park is very pretty and the town is cute but I saw nothing that indicated you could camp here. Maybe they allow a tent on the grass but there is just nothing indicating that. Before doing it, I recommend calling the city to confirm.
Veronica S.LegendRoy Lake East — Roy Lake State Park
Nice CG. Would stay again.
Located in the picturesque Coteau Des Prairies, Roy Lake State Park consists of two small units nestled on the northeast and northwest shores of Roy Lake.
95% of the state park is campground. There are a few tent sites, many RV sites, cabins, and a lodge suite (not sure on quantity) above the campground store/commons area. The store has some Roy Lake State Park branded items and some random foods, drinks, and camping tools. I wouldn’t put stock in them having exactly what you need/want — it’s very small. The commons area has giant picture windows overlooking the lake, a TV, comfy furniture, board games, a rotating pizza cooker, and a few other random things. There is also an outside seating area that overlooks the lake.
I stayed in the east unit, which is smaller and slightly calmer than the west unit. Each side has boat ramps, beaches (smaller on the east side), cabins, and playground.
Monday through Thursday morning in June, it was very quiet, with very few other campers. It was amazing. On Thursday, people started rushing in like a flash flood. It filled up almost completely and things got a bit noisier, but it was still quiet during quiet hours. I left on Friday, so I can’t attest to weekend behavior.
The bathhouse was nice and pretty clean. Heated with free, untimed showers. Very nice, but a long walk from our site.
We stayed in tent site T6, which shares a space with T7. T7 has a nice lake access spot that we used (before campers came on Thursday) to put in our kayak, swim, and fish. T7 is a lot smaller than T6, but T6 doesn’t have its own beach access. For these sites you must park in the parking area, and walk to the site. For some extra steps, you are afforded some privacy and a more natury feel. The cattail-filled field in front of our site lit up with lightning bugs at dusk.
The campground has tons of mature native trees. There is a lot of lawn, but they don’t spray it with chemicals, which I appreciate. Be warned that this means this park (and others nearby, like Sica Hollow) will have thistles, so bring closed shoes for hikes. We saw turtles, snakes, squirrels, ground squirrels, deer, rabbits, pelicans, ducks, geese, seagulls, tons of other birds, fish, and more — just in this park.
Roy Lake was clear in June, though I didn’t get to paddle as much as I had planned due to wind. It’s a pretty decent size (3 sq miles) and just one of hundreds of lakes in the glacial lakes area. The whole coteau area was so beautiful. Definitely worth reading up on the geology of the area before coming.
There is a bit more hiking in the area than is listed on AllTrails. I’ll include a picture of the trail map for Roy Lake State Park, which you can find at the campground store (outside on the wall) and also in the SD GFP app. There is also some hiking at Sica Hollow SP, Pickerel Lake Rec Area, and Waubay National Wildlife Refuge (these trails are also not on AllTrails, a few miles and a pretty tall and scary observation tower).
Closest decent sized grocery store and other needs are in Sisseton, a half hour drive through very picturesque countryside.
Though surrounded by water, the mosquitoes were never bad. Look at weather for Lake City, not Sisseton, as the elevation and wind over the lake (on the east side) mean cooler weather. We experienced severe enough storm during our stay that we sheltered in our car. We felt safe that the bathhouse would be a sufficient tornado shelter in that event. After the storm there were straight line winds attempting to flatten our tent, but there were no limbs down in the park, which means they watch for, and clear, deadfall risks.
The cell service was as good as it can get. We were actually able to stream videos on it. Don’t count on getting firewood from the host at the east unit. Get it from a nearby town or possibly the store in the west unit (though I don’t know its hours).
We stayed at this park while my son was attending a day camp in Sisseton. I will pick this campground again if he chooses to attend the camp in the future.
Guide to McLeod
Dispersed camping options throughout Sheyenne National Grassland offer self-sufficient campers multiple overnight locations near McLeod, North Dakota. The grassland encompasses approximately 70,000 acres of native prairie and oak forest habitats, with elevations ranging from 1,060 to 1,250 feet. Summer temperatures typically reach 85°F with cool nights dropping to the 50s, while spring and fall camping seasons bring variable conditions.
What to do
North Country Trail hiking: The NCT crosses directly through the Sheyenne Grasslands with multiple access points. At Hankinson Hills Campground, "There is a hiking trail that circles this small grassland about 5 or 6 miles long," notes one visitor. This segment connects to the broader trail system.
Prairie wildlife viewing: Early mornings and evenings offer the best wildlife spotting times across the grasslands. At NCT Colfax Campground, a simple trailside site, visitors report sightings throughout the seasons: "This is a very simple campsite with the picnic table. A bitch, a fire ring and a toilet. It is mostly for people hiking."
Mirror Lake visit: Located 5 miles from the NCT trailhead, this destination makes for a rewarding day trip. "Returned here just for a hike not to camp this time, we love it so much! Only saw 1 other group on the trail, did 5 miles out to Mirror pond, enjoyed lunch there and did the 5 miles back."
What campers like
Solitude and dark skies: The remote nature of campsites near McLeod creates excellent stargazing conditions. At Jorgen's Hollow Campground, "Great stargazing. Clean water and vault toilets. Great access to the NCT. Great signage. Well kept. I enjoyed my stay here."
Oak groves: The mix of grassland and wooded areas creates varied camping environments. One camper at Sheyenne National Grassland shared: "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."
Well-maintained facilities: Despite the remote location, campgrounds receive regular maintenance. At Jorgen's Hollow Campground, "Decent primitive campground in the Sheyenne grasslands. Decent vault toilets and water pump. NCT access there. Lots of woodpeckers to see and coyotes calling at dusk. Sheyenne river nearby."
What you should know
Navigation challenges: Some roads and trails can be confusing without proper maps. A visitor advises: "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."
Livestock presence: Cattle graze throughout much of the grasslands. "We dispersed camped for 1 night while walking along the North Country trail... There are cows around the prairie which leads to cattle gates along the trail, just a quick flip up of the gate and you are on your way!"
Insects can be intense: Prepare for seasonal bugs, especially in warmer months. At Hankinson Hills Campground, one camper noted: "Well maintained campground, has water and multiple vault toilets. Each site has a fire ring and a nice table, most spaces have trees to provide shade... Only downside was the abundance of biting flies and mosquitoes."
Tips for camping with families
Shorter trail segments: For families with children, choose accessible sections of trails. At Jorgen's Hollow, "3 miles of gravel road to the campground but the road was smooth and in good condition," making it approachable for most vehicles with children.
City parks as alternatives: When weather turns challenging, nearby towns offer established camping. Milnor City Park provides "a few parking spots near a small park right inside the town. They're cute. They're nice summer in the shade."
Swimming options: During summer months, look for designated swimming areas. At Dead Colt Creek Rec Area, "The lake is very pretty. The swimming area is very nice. They have full bathrooms with showers."
Tips from RVers
Clearance considerations: While many roads are passable, some require higher clearance vehicles. One RVer notes: "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."
Established RV options: For those needing hookups, several campgrounds around McLeod offer RV facilities. At Sandager Park, "Stayed for a few days and thought it was nice. There are two sections, and both now offer water and electricity at the site and a noce bathroom with a shower and dump ststion."
Weather preparedness: North Dakota's open prairie can experience sudden weather changes. "We set up our tent as soon as we got into the boundaries as a thunder and lightening storm began," reports one camper, highlighting the importance of monitoring forecasts.
Frequently Asked Questions
What amenities are available at McLeod Campground?
What amenities are available at McLeod Campground?
McLeod Campground offers basic amenities typical of grassland camping areas. For comparison, nearby Clausen Springs Park Campground features multiple amenities with scenic views of streams and a multi-use lake, while Brewer Lake Rec Area provides hookups, bathrooms, fishing opportunities, and a beach for swimming. McLeod Campground likely has primitive camping facilities including designated campsites, basic toilets, and possibly picnic tables, but lacks electricity and running water. The natural grassland setting offers hiking opportunities and wildlife viewing.
Do I need reservations for McLeod Campground and what are the fees?
Do I need reservations for McLeod Campground and what are the fees?
McLeod Campground likely operates on a first-come, first-served basis typical of many grassland dispersed camping areas, though it's best to verify current reservation policies with the ranger station. Fees are typically minimal for these types of public campgrounds. For comparison, nearby campgrounds have varied fee structures - Fort Ransom State Park Campground charges state park fees and offers year-round multi-use facilities, while Dead Colt Creek Rec Area requires reservations for some sites. Expect to pay between $5-15 for basic sites without hookups at McLeod.
Where is McLeod Campground located and how do I get there?
Where is McLeod Campground located and how do I get there?
McLeod Campground is located in eastern North Dakota, in the Sheyenne National Grassland area. The campground sits amidst the beautiful rolling prairie landscape typical of this region. For directions, you can follow trails through the Sheyenne National Grassland, though larger RVs should exercise caution on some trails like the 1212 trail which can be narrow. The campground is accessible by vehicle, but some roads may require careful navigation, especially for larger rigs over 35 feet.
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