Dakota Prairie National Grasslands spans over one million acres across North Dakota, featuring rugged badlands topography interspersed with prairie grasslands. Summer temperatures regularly exceed 90°F, while winters bring sub-zero conditions with significant snowfall. Seasonal access varies dramatically, with many primitive camping areas requiring high-clearance vehicles particularly after rainfall when dirt access roads become nearly impassable.
What to do
Hiking near campgrounds: The Columnar Junipers trail near Burning Coal Vein Campground offers scenic bluff overlooks. "Fun little place to camp, and fun little hike to the Butte, or hop on the Maah Da Hey Trail and hike for miles," notes camper Brenda R.
Wildlife viewing: Bennett Campground provides opportunities to see bison in their natural habitat. One visitor explained, "There are some nice long hiking trails, bison and other prairie critters. This is wide open country with no real facilities (no trash either)."
Off-highway vehicle recreation: Glendive Short Pines OHV Area provides designated trails for ATVs. "In the morning there were few ATV out driving up the hills, but none were a bother," reports a camper who visited the area.
Storm watching: Summer thunderstorms create memorable experiences across the open prairie. A Bennett camper noted, "thunderstorms rolling over the prairie is something you'll never forget!"
What campers like
Spacious, private sites: Campers appreciate the well-spaced sites at Burning Coal Vein Campground. "The sites looked to be spaced out fairly well, many of them had a picnic table," notes Erin G., who passed through the area.
Affordability: Most established campgrounds in the area charge minimal fees. "Nice, cheap, quiet and well spaced campground," writes Cora H. about Burning Coal Vein. Sites typically cost $6-10 per night with payment collected through envelope systems.
Solitude: The remote location provides genuine wilderness camping experiences. "Rather narrow as well, could definitely only accommodate one way traffic as a time," explains one visitor about the access road to Burning Coal Vein, highlighting the remote nature of these sites.
Protected camping spots: Some sites offer natural protection from wind and sun. "The sites are in a protected shallow valley with good shade. They are fairly private," reports one camper about Burning Coal Vein.
What you should know
Water availability varies: Many sites lack reliable potable water. At Elkhorn Campground, "Hand pump was hard to pump which produced light brown water which wasn't something we wanted to drink, so bring in your own water," advises Jim M.
Road conditions: Unpaved roads throughout the grasslands can become challenging. "Traveled about 35 miles on unpaved road in RAV4 AWD," reports one Elkhorn Campground visitor. Another notes, "The short road in was in need of a bit of repair, but most vehicles could get through it, just a bit of a rut from people getting stuck in mud."
Limited facilities: Most sites provide only basic amenities. At Bennett Campground, a visitor summarizes: "no water (byo or filter/boil). Nowhere to rent a canoe/kayak in the whole area. Sunny open sites without shade."
Confusion about dispersed areas: Some dispersed camping areas can be difficult to identify. At West River Rd Dispersed, one camper reported, "Beautiful but confusing. I originally went to dispersed camping on the other side of the highway but it was completely full!"
Tips for camping with families
Prepare for wildlife encounters: Children may enjoy seeing native wildlife but need proper guidance. At Bennett Campground, "There is a lot of buffalo out hear ad there is a lot of dung," notes kevin T., indicating the presence of bison that requires appropriate safety measures.
Plan for extreme temperatures: The grasslands experience significant temperature variations. "In the day time the temperature gets really hot," warns a camper at Bennett Campground, suggesting families bring adequate sun protection and cooling options.
Consider developed campgrounds first: For families with younger children, established campgrounds provide more reliable amenities. "This site has a water pump, fire rings, and tables," notes a Bennett visitor, making it more suitable for family camping than primitive dispersed sites.
Prepare for site accessibility issues: Some families report difficulty reaching designated camping areas. At West River Rd, one camper noted, "When I pulled into what I thought would be a spot, the road was deserving a 4WD. I went anyway and crossed paths with a couple of locals out there shooting."
Tips from RVers
Boondocking preparation: RV campers should prepare for dry camping. At Burning Coal Vein Campground, "No hookups - one vault toilet - picnic tables and fire rings at each site. Boondocking only," reports Rhonda M.
Size limitations: Most grassland campgrounds cannot accommodate large RVs. "Nice and clean. No power, no dumps, hand pump for water," notes Steve D. about Elkhorn Campground, indicating the primitive nature of facilities.
Small campgrounds fill quickly: Limited RV spots means arriving early, especially on weekends. At Visitors Center - Beach, a camper notes, "This was a small rv park we stayed at for 3 night there is space for around 7 units. And some tent space as well."
Alternative parking options: When designated areas are full, some RVers find alternative spots. One West River Rd visitor reported, "I ended up the road car camping in what was essentially a turnout. I was awoken to the mooing of cows bright and early."
