If you're searching for a place to camp with pets near Minot, look no further. Camping is an adventurous and unique way to escape the city—and you can bring along your furry friend. Each pet-friendly campsite offers quick access to one or more of Minot's most popular destinations.
We are a full service, big rig Campground right outside Minot, ND. We are family friendly and can accommodate RVs year round. There is a shower house, laundry room and WIFI available onsite.
$20 - $695 / night
Another great hot spot to enjoy the summer day is Nelson Carlson. This is a great area to bring your personal water craft and relax. There is an exceptional swim beach with various fire pits, picnic tables, and areas to camp at your leisure. If you’re looking for activities outside of the water, we have a swing set along with a tire swing for the whole family to enjoy!
Limited to 3 Consecutive Days No Reservations (first come, first serve) No Running Water, Electric, or Water Services
You are welcome to camp anywhere on the Denbigh Experimental Forest, except at designated trailheads. There are no designated campgrounds.
When camping with horses, please remember the PACK IT IN, PACK IT OUT rule which refers to cleaning up after your horse(s) as well. Also remember that feed and straw must be certified as being free of noxious weed seed and stock cannot be tied to trees.
Buffalo Lodge Lake is a county park with picnic shelters, picnic tables, camping area and fishing pier. Also located at the park is a historical marker depicting the travels of early trader Francois-Antoine Larocque who passed through this area in 1805.
East Totten Trail Campground is located on the west banks of Lake Audubon. This is the only campground on the entire lake! This campground and day use area offers a wide variety of recreation activities, including boating, fishing, swimming, hiking, mountain biking, scuba diving, wildlife viewing, and bird watching. In the winter time the area offers excellent access for ice fishing and other outdoor recreational opportunites. For more information, please visit the Lake Sakakawea / Garrison Project website here.
Lake Audubon offers excellent boating, swimming, and fishing opportunities. Anglers fish for walleye, sauger, northern pike, muskie, white bass, small and large mouth bass, bluegill, crappie. Chinook salmon can be found in the neighboring lake of Lake Sakakawea only a stone's throw away across the hwy from Lake Audubon. The area offers a wide variety of outdoor recreational opportunities. The campground is next to the Audubon Wildlife Management Area and offers hunting opportunities. Audubon Lake, a sister lake to Lake Sakakawea, was also formed with the construction of the Garrison Dam near Riverdale, N.D. The two lakes are separated by an embankment, which carries US Highway 83. Audubon Lake makes up most of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Audubon National Wildlife Refuge. The refuge and Audubon National Wildlife Complex are named in honor of John James Audubon, a naturalist and wildlife painter during the 19th century. Audubon spent the summer of 1843 collecting bird specimens and painting pictures of northern plains wildlife in the area.
The campground is situated in a nice grassy area with some trees with the beautiful lake view from almost every campsite.
For facility specific information, please call (701) 654-7411.
The Audubon National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center is located just 3 miles away on the south shore of Lake Audubon off Hwy. 83 The visitor center offers a variety of guided tours and environmental education programs. The Garrison Dam National Fish Hatchery is just a few minutes from the Campground near Riverdale, ND and is open to the public. It has a Visitor Center, complete with five 400-gallon aquariums, provides great opportunities to view the fish of North Dakota in their environment. The Garrison Dam Power Plant does offer walking tours during the months of June, July, and the first part of August on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at 2pm.
Reservation changes and cancellations can be made on Recreation.gov or by calling 1-877-444-6777. For more information on rules and policies regarding reservation cancellations and changes, please visit: https://www.recreation.gov/rules-reservation-policies.
$22 - $26 / night
Legend
We followed our GPS to the campground (CG). There were no signs for this CG off of US-2/US-52 at the turn. Check-in was quick and we proceeded to a very tight pull through site 95 with FHUs. What we were initially concerned about was threading our truck and 5th wheel through two trees that make this a pull through. Other reviewers had labeled this site a“back out.” We also saw that to dump our rear black tank we would need more than 25’ of sewer hose and, unfortunately, we needed to dump for this overnighter. We couldn’t maneuver the rig to get our black tank connectors more in the center. If we pulled up any further we wouldn't have been able to get our bedroom slide out because of the two trees. We went back up to the office and expressed our concerns and asked for another site. One of the office workers got rude with us and said the only other site available was 93. We made an attempt to get into this site but there was a sewer system obstacle that presented an issue getting into the site along with how far forward the rig right next to us was parked. Back at the office, we said we'd just take our original site and make it work. The worker let us know her co-worker told us to pull in the wrong way and we could clear the sewer obstacle. We weren't comfortable trying to make the tight turn with the way the other rig was parked in the next site. The other person at the office also said they have a dump station where we could dump. As we had reserved a FHU site, we were not happy with this option. We went ahead and pulled back into site 95 and set up. When we hooked up water we found that the water hose 2-way splitter we shared with the site next to us would not open all the way. Not wanting to deal with the office anymore, we filled our freshwater tank and used our water pump. We got 3 bars on Verizon. This CG has a lot of site options from crammed together to nicely spaced with good yards. There are also tent sites. Along with the different site configurations, there are full timers, transient workers, seasonal, and short stay. In the row we were in, you are definitely stacked in there and you are door to door with another rig. If you decide to stay here try to avoid row 90-96 as they are very tight, you share utilities, and you are door to door with your neighbor. Needless to say, we will not be back.
Scout
We were on site 35 and it was not fit for a camper. Very Hilly and goose droppings everywhere. Will not camp there again with our camper. We ended up leaving it unleveled while camping.
Scout
There is a small convenience store and bar, basketball courts, boat ramp, fishing docks, and walking paths. Animals welcome on leash
ScoutBest part is it’s free, there isn’t much traffic, plenty of room. Pets allowed. Someone might be here to greet you, but probably not.
Traveler
After advice from friends, we decided to test this place out since it is near Minot. We stayed Sunday through Tuesday, which was very peaceful for a small campground. I couldn't imagine this place on an actual weekend since there are no "reserved" camper spots, you can pull up and park anywhere.
I was forewarned about the toilets, there are 2 and only get dumped twice a year (beginning & end), good thing we have a camper. LOL!
I wanted to go swim but there was so much algae in the water after you wade out that I'd be afraid to get caught in them. Plus, the baby crawdads clinging to my legs made me think twice about going any deeper than my knees.
ScoutWe had a magical stay in our tent. The place is well kept and tucked away with beautiful sites next to the river.
Scout
All sites are along the lake. There are dumpsters, a boat ramp, picnic tables, two pit toilets and fire pits. The middle section of the campground has three tall flood lights that light up the middle section. The two ends are fairly dark. There was no traffic at night. We had the place to ourselves in October.
Legend
I love county and city parks. They are always such a great value. This one does not disappoint. Nice electric and water hookups (no sanitation services). Sites are all large. Tent sites are nicest as they are away from road. Tent sites are in separate area from rv sites. Expect road and rail noise at both.
TravelerGravel
Ranger
Oddly enough, this place is not bad at all for a short overnight visit or if just want to visit The Magic City for a few days.
We stayed 1 overnight.
There are a bunch of sites, but understand, the dealership does use many for parking their RV inventory.
We did not have a reservation so I can’t say if we had had a reservation, how many sites would be offered. As our visit was on a Sunday, Labor Day weekend arrival, there were 3 back-in sites available in the short term area - all sites in the Park are $50/night with FHU and septic. The short term sites were 60’ and more. For us there were only 1 site with 30/50 amp and 2 with 30amp that were still available.
The bathroom and showers and the laundry room were absolutely spotlessly clean and roomy.
Traveler
Came here driving back to Arizona from Wisconsin. This campground has some of the best views of the lake. Some tree cover and the price is right it's a small camping area but we'll looked after. Most all the sites are level with well mowed grass to park on. Most of the sites at picnic tables.
GuideI will definitely be returning here on my next trip through the area. The only issue that I had was the noise from the construction across the river.
GuideExtremely affordable sites, with water and electric. Dump available. Only 6 sites total. Sites are concrete pads, but far from level. Site 1’s water is not working, so we had to piggyback off or site 2 with our own splitter.
The park is relatively quite, but is used some early mornings for Unit PT and during the day for other unit and small group activities.
TravelerCampground is nice with pads, electric and water hookups. The campground is close to the park. No showers, but I recommend going to the base gym. Close to the BX and Commissary. Very quite area.
TravelerThe lake is small just northern pike. There is few campsites that are free. No water or electric hookups. For a weekend getaway close to Minot this may be the spot. There are some homes around the lake.
Traveler
No hiking paths. Water is filthy- no swimming (dogs or other). Nowhere to take the dogs for shaded walks or off leash play. Lots of cockleburs everywhere.
There are several playgrounds if you have small kids (we don’t). There is a bar, if you are a drinker (we aren’t). There are kayaks if you don’t mind the slimy water (we do).
I think this place is more for hanging out with friends and glamping and drinking. We are campers, so it’s just not for us.
GuideWe arrived to a most perfect little spot and view of the water. We were fortunate in the regard of having no neighbors, but the faces we did meet including nearby campers in other lots, the camp host, and maintenance person were wonderful! We had an excellent an experience in this little piece of paradise.
RangerJust as an update. Very nice campground some sites have shade different times of day. No problem getting our 37 ft 5er in the park. Oh do not turn in the first park gate! Go on passed it to the faded sign and turn left to the park. Water spigot just past the white building. 30/50 service.
ScoutGreat view right by the water. Nice and quiet. The outhouse toilets we're not the best. There were an insane amount of flies there. You get attacked by a hoard of flies by just opening in the door.
ScoutI love this campground, it was like a breath of fresh air after getting lost in northeast north dakota and not seeing a soul for hours and sleeping on the side of the highway, driving up to Roughrider was like seeing an oasis in the desert. It is the nicest campsite we have been to in a while, $15/ night for primitive tent camping and pets allowed on leashes. The showers got hot INSTANTLY. We were welcomed so warmly after freezing in the car all night. 1000/10.
TravelerGreat flat campground with full hookups. The restrooms and paid showers were clean and new . On site laundry was a plus . Management was super nice . Let us have a late checkout and even brought a few pieces of firewood for free the day before . Conveniently located just minutes from Minot but still quiet .
GuideOut of the two major RV Parks in the area I would consider this to be the best. All the normal amenities except a pool. The front section feels like a true campground with the exception of the sites are a little close and the rear corner is set up like a gravel rv parking lot and priced accordingly. For long term expect to pay rent plus electricity along with a $100 deposit. Also a $100 difference between the front sites with trees and a gravel parking lot in the back. The staff is very friendly and will help out with any problem neighbors. I think the only negative I have is they are a little pricey, but then again the whole area seemed pricey when it comes to campgrounds.
GuideNot your typical KOA with a pool and big playground. Which I was looking for anyways while working here in the Minot area. Except for the highway noise it’s quite a peaceful park. The grounds are well groomed, but could use some up dating. ( not much for grass ). The office on the other hand is updated and has a few rv accessories, but no groceries. Nice laundry facility, as for the restrooms/ showers ?closed because of COVID-19. Over 100 sites, but almost half are taken by the RV dealership because they own the park as seen in the picture. Only 5 of the rv’s shown in the pick are guests, the rest are part of the dealership.
GuideWe stayed 3 nights in early September, Fri-Sun. I was a bit surprised at how few people were there - 2 or 3 long campers and we were the only tent campers. It was nice for privacy but felt a little eerie at times. That being said it was nicely maintained and I have to mention the bathrooms are replenished and cleaned daily and fully stocked with CHARMIN ULTRA toilet paper which is an absolute luxury at a simple campground lol. The showers are also pretty nice and the facility is heated. So appreciated. It has a little pavilion, a playground, “beach”, a couple cute bridges, a big grassy field for stargazing or throwing the ball around, a disc golf course, and of course you’re right on the river which is cool. Swimming is allowed at your own risk. I’m giving it five stars mostly for how well kept the bathrooms were, but it did feel a little desolate at times. I get it’s the end of camping season though and it was a little cold at night so that’s probably why. There are a few stray cats and dogs wandering about at times. We are good sleepers and this didn’t bother us much but there are heavily trafficked train tracks a couple hundred yards away from the campground so if you are a light sleeper or are bothered by trains this might not be the place for you. Umm all in all it’s a cute and peaceful little park that made a nice home for a few nights. It’s patrolled by police throughout the day too. We’d probably stay there again if we ever happen to go to Minot. Oh! There’s a decent North Dakota style winery (sweet fruit wines) a couple miles down the road with a lovely view and even some hikes. Worth a visit - Pointe of View. Ok, done now I promise.
ScoutVery nice campground on the lake. A few shade trees and covered pavilions. Water and electric available but not for RV hookups. Boat ramp and fishing pier.
TravelerThis site has both over night camping and long term lots for RV’s. It also has spots for tent camping so if you want a place to camp close to town this is great. The only downfall I would say, is that it is set up for more long term stay and if your looking for a great outdoor experience I would go more out of town but if you are here visiting family for a week or more this is perfect.
TravelerGreat service, full hook ups, and kids/pet friendly. If you’re camping in the area it is the best place BY FAR!!!
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Minot, ND?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Minot, ND is Roughrider RV Resort with a 4.4-star rating from 8 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Minot, ND?
TheDyrt.com has all 17 dog-friendly camping locations near Minot, ND, with real photos and reviews from campers.
