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GuideRed River Valley Fairgrounds
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Cabin Camping near McLeod, ND
1 campground with availability this weekend
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Fort Ransom State Park Campground offers cabin accommodations along the Sheyenne River, approximately 45 miles from McLeod. Cabins include pioneer-style options and a fully equipped yurt with loft space suitable for families or groups. Electrical hookups are available, and most cabins have access to nearby shower facilities and toilets. A visitor commented that "there is the option to reserve a covered wagon or pioneer cabin to stay in, or a fully equipped really amazingly cool yurt with a loft that could host a large family or group." Additional cabin options can be found at Chahinkapa Park, which provides basic cabin rentals with access to electric hookups, showers, and toilets.
Rustic and deluxe cabins are both available, depending on the location. Fort Ransom State Park operates year-round, allowing for both summer and winter cabin stays. Most cabins require advance reservations, particularly during peak summer months and special events. Pet policies vary by location, with most campgrounds allowing pets but requiring them to be leashed. Roy Lake State Park, located south of McLeod in South Dakota, offers additional cabin options with lake access. A camper noted that the "campground has canoe rentals, playground, beach, Disc Golf course, hiking path to an island and two boat docks."
Most cabins include basic furnishings but require visitors to bring their own linens, towels, and toiletries. Cooking facilities vary significantly between locations, with some offering only outdoor fire pits and grills while others provide more equipped kitchens. Firewood is available for purchase at Fort Ransom State Park, and staff will deliver it directly to cabin sites. The Red River Valley Fairgrounds, though primarily serving as an event venue, offers cabin accommodations with convenient access to shopping centers in Fargo for supplies and groceries. Chahinkapa Park provides fire pits and grills for cooking, making it suitable for visitors seeking rustic cabin experiences.
Best Cabin Campgrounds near McLeod (6)
1. Sheyenne Oaks
Check Availabilityfrom $28 - $49 / night
2. Fort Ransom State Park Campground
"This is a year round multi-use state park along the forest-lined Sheyenne River and near the Sheyenne National Grasslands."
"Very green park with alot of history, including a preserved farm about early white settlers. We met some people who were staying here with their horses - how fun! Wide open green spaces, lovely."
31 Sites AvailableAvailable this weekend
from $15 - $135 / night
3. Chahinkapa Park
"Cute little campground next to the zoo. It has a few smaller sites and even 2 small cabins."
"There is a fire pit and also a grill to use. There is a bathhouse and a shower. It was very easy to back the camper into the spot. There are also cabins available too."
4. Red River Valley Fairgrounds
"Big event, we're lucky to find his space open. campground completely full , thousands of pickups and cars. Level sites with cement pad. Some pull through most back in. Amazingly, very quiet at night."
5. Roy Lake East — Roy Lake State Park
"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."
"Campground has canoe rentals, playground, beach, Disc Golf course, hinking path to an island and two boat docks."
Check Availabilityfrom $15 - $55 / night
6. Roy Lake West — Roy Lake State Park
"This is a large campground with lakeside campsites available. Hiking trails, beach, boating, paddling area. Campground has nice views and is well maintained."
"Well maintained park with great fishing at Roy and many other surrounding lakes!"
Check Availabilityfrom $15 - $155 / night
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 Cabin Photos near McLeod, ND
3 Photos of 6 McLeod Campgrounds • uploaded by The Dyrt campers
Cabin Reviews near McLeod, ND
22 Reviews of 6 McLeod Campgrounds
- ddana L.
ScoutChahinkapa Park
Quick stop for the night
This was good spot for the night, we could see animals from our spot. It was quiet, only one other RV here. They do have cute camper cabins . They have water, bathrooms and shower. Quick walk up the road was a golf course with restaurant. We would stay again
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.
Crystal B.LegendChahinkapa Park
Cute small campground adjacent to the zoo
Cute little campground next to the zoo. It has a few smaller sites and even 2 small cabins.
- Crystal B.Legend
Roy Lake West — Roy Lake State Park
Nice equipped campground with nice sites nearly lake
This is a large campground with lakeside campsites available. Hiking trails, beach, boating, paddling area. Campground has nice views and is well maintained.
kim B.ScoutRed River Valley Fairgrounds
Big iron show
Big event, we're lucky to find his space open. campground completely full , thousands of pickups and cars. Level sites with cement pad. Some pull through most back in. Amazingly, very quiet at night.
Jodie S.ScoutRoy Lake East — Roy Lake State Park
Lovely spot on the water
Clean facility, lovely view and fall colors
Teresa T.LegendFort Ransom State Park Campground
Amazing state park
It was very early in April and still very cold so I literally had the place to myself but we saw an incredible amount of wildlife in our one day stay. Also there are bunches of trails to hike and the town is close and worth exploring. I came back again in 2024 with a bit more time but still early so had the park to myself. There is so much to do here. They have expanded the trails, dinner in town at a great restaurant, mountain biking down the Kathryn road to historic sites and a national state forest with more trails and destinations. Come early, around the ticks and mosquitoes. Maybe I will bring the canoe next time.
- MMNCamperGuide
Fort Ransom State Park Campground
Very Neat Park
First time here, it was different than expected but in a good way. The ND scenery was great with the river valley. It is a small park as far as number of spots but well spaced out and very well maintained.
Guide to McLeod
Cabin camping near McLeod, North Dakota offers several accommodation options along the Sheyenne River Valley. The area sits at the eastern edge of the Northern Plains, with elevations ranging between 950-1,200 feet above sea level. Winter temperatures can drop below -20°F, while summer camping season brings warm days typically ranging from 70-85°F with cooler evenings.
What to do
Hiking and trail exploration: Fort Ransom State Park Campground features almost 20 miles of trails suitable for various skill levels. "This is a year round multi-use state park along the forest-lined Sheyenne River and near the Sheyenne National Grasslands. There are miles of trails through all kinds of habititats from forest to prairie to riparian shores and the water trail," notes Janet R.
Water activities: The Sheyenne River provides opportunities for paddling and fishing at various locations. Teresa T. shares her experience at Fort Ransom State Park Campground: "We saw an incredible amount of wildlife in our one day stay. Also there are bunches of trails to hike and the town is close and worth exploring. They have expanded the trails, dinner in town at a great restaurant, mountain biking down the Kathryn road to historic sites and a national state forest with more trails and destinations."
Recreational facilities: Roy Lake State Park includes facilities for various outdoor activities. "Campground has canoe rentals, playground, beach, Disc Golf course, hiking path to an island and two boat docks," reports Jordan H.
What campers like
Historical features: The area includes preserved historical sites that appeal to many cabin campers. At Roy Lake East, Jodie S. appreciated the "clean facility, lovely view and fall colors" during their stay at this cabin destination south of McLeod.
Wildlife viewing: The river valley setting provides habitat for diverse wildlife species. "It was very early in April and still very cold so I literally had the place to myself but we saw an incredible amount of wildlife in our one day stay," writes Teresa T. about her experience at Fort Ransom.
Recreational amenities: Chahinkapa Park offers additional attractions beyond standard camping. Joe S. shares about Chahinkapa Park: "We stayed here one night in April and it was a nice little place. There is a zoo which is nice for the kids. There is a fire pit and also a grill to use. There is a bathhouse and a shower. It was very easy to back the camper into the spot. There are also cabins available too. There is also a golf course so be sure to bring the clubs!"
What you should know
Site selection: Different campgrounds offer varying levels of privacy and exposure. Dan C. advises about Fort Ransom: "Stayed at a site in the open field near to the road. Only down side was that you got to feel the ND winds (10-30mph+) all the time. Next time will stay on the other side of the river at their 'primitive' campsites. Those sites are all in the trees and secluded."
Seasonal considerations: Conditions vary dramatically by season, affecting cabin availability and access. "Come early, around the ticks and mosquitoes," suggests Teresa T. when planning cabin stays at Fort Ransom.
Facility availability: Red River Valley Fairgrounds offers convenient cabin options closer to urban amenities. Duncan G. notes: "The main campground has full hookups. The overflow area only electric. The main campground was clean and well maintained. I would rate the bathrooms a B. There is easy access down 13th avenue to shopping centers in Fargo."
Tips for camping with families
Educational opportunities: Several cabin locations offer historical and nature learning experiences. At Fort Ransom, Lynn G. reports: "Very green park with alot of history, including a preserved farm about early white settlers. Surprise: the camp staff were especially great with lots of stories to entertain the preschooler and grandma!"
Family-friendly events: Some parks host special seasonal events that appeal to families. Rudy W. recommends activities at Roy Lake West: "Well maintained park with great fishing at Roy and many other surrounding lakes!"
Comfort considerations: Cabin accommodations vary significantly in terms of amenities. "We were able to get down to the river from our primitive site and cool off. While the bank itself was quite steep and muddy the water felt amazing. Firewood for sale at the gift shop and they drop it off to your site," shares Brittany about her family's experience at Fort Ransom.
Tips from RVers
Practice locations: Some campgrounds serve as ideal first-time destinations for new RVers and cabin campers. Chris A. suggests: "This is a good place to do a practice run for newbies. It is only a few miles from Outlet Recreation also which can be handy if you need something from an RV dealer."
Site angles: When selecting cabin or RV spots, pay attention to the site configuration. Gerard J. at Sheyenne Oaks cautions: "Sites are nicely spaced on the west side. There are two separate areas. Only the east side has a dump site. Some sites on the west area are rather sharply angled. Well-maintained. Friendly staff."
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