Tent camping near Theodore Roosevelt National Park provides access to the rugged badlands landscape of western North Dakota where temperatures fluctuate dramatically between day and night. The primitive camping areas surrounding the park require careful preparation as many sites lack basic amenities. Most tent sites sit on open prairie with minimal shade protection and exposure to strong winds common in this region.
What to do
Hiking to Theodore Roosevelt's ranch site: Elkhorn Campground serves as a base for accessing the historic Elkhorn Ranch Unit trail, where visitors can explore the former ranch site of President Theodore Roosevelt. According to Jim M., "Nearby is Elkhorn Ranch Unit trail leading to Theodore Roosevelt Ranch site. No buildings but interpretive signage."
Wildlife observation: Fort Buford State Historic Site provides opportunities to view diverse wildlife in addition to its historical attractions. "Amazing place to learn about history of North Dakota. This is where Sitting Bull and his son surrendered and Lewis and Clark Trading Post. They do demonstrations on old time trades," notes Tonya T.
Photography on unpaved roads: The backcountry around Elkhorn Campground offers dramatic landscape photography opportunities. Steve D. describes the setting as "Campsites in valley in Badlands. Nice and clean. No power, no dumps, hand pump for water."
What campers like
Secluded prairie camping: Bennett Camp provides isolation in the Dakota Prairie National Grasslands with minimal development. Kevin T. explains, "This site was very big and could hold a couple tents. It costed 20 dollars to make reservations but was total worth it. There is a lot of buffalo out here and there is a lot of dung."
Free camping at historic sites: Fort Buford State Historic Site offers no-cost camping with basic amenities. As Brian L. reports, "The CG is free. They want you to check in at the Confluence Visitor Center. The CG has tables, fire rings, and trash cans. Nobody has pulled in around us. Nothing better than free camping with solitude these days!"
Stargazing opportunities: West River Road dispersed camping area provides unobstructed night sky viewing despite some access challenges. Maddy T. notes the area is "Beautiful but confusing. I originally went to dispersed camping on the other side of the highway but it was completely full!"
What you should know
Water availability limitations: Most tent sites near Theodore Roosevelt National Park require visitors to bring their own water. At Elkhorn Campground, Jim M. warns, "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."
Wildlife encounters: Tent campers should expect close proximity to prairie wildlife. At West River Road, Joseph G. observed, "There was a large beautiful herd of feral horses bedding down with their little ones here in the evening though!"
Reservation systems vary: Some campgrounds require advance booking while others operate on first-come systems. At Elkhorn Campground, Brittany explains, "$6 cash or check, put the money in the envelope and drop it in the box, clip the tag to your site #. Not a busy spot, there was only one other person camping when we were there mid first week of August."
Tips for camping with families
Weather preparation: Families tent camping near Theodore Roosevelt should prepare for dramatic weather shifts. Lynn G. at Bennett Camp recommends, "Surprise: thunderstorms rolling over the prairie is something you'll never forget!"
Recreational equipment: Plan activities carefully as rental options are limited. Lynn G. notes about Bennett Camp, "Nowhere to rent a canoe/kayak in the whole area. Sunny open sites without shade."
Educational opportunities: Incorporate historical sites into your camping trip for educational value. At Fort Buford State Historic Site, visitors can explore military history where, according to Tonya T., interpreters "do demonstrations on old time trades."
Tips from RVers
Road access limitations: Many campgrounds have challenging access roads requiring appropriate vehicles. Jim M. reports about reaching Elkhorn Campground, "Traveled about 35 miles on unpaved road in RAV4 AWD. Campsite was empty, so we had different sites to choose from."
RV amenity expectations: Small RV parks provide basic accommodations with limited services. At Visitors Center in Beach, Jesse S. comments, "This was a small rv park we stayed at for 3 nights there is space for around 7 units. And some tent space as well. It was clean and we liked it alot."
Overnight parking alternatives: When formal campgrounds are full, explore designated overflow areas. Maddy T. shared about West River Road, "I ended up the road car camping in what was essentially a turnout. I was awoken to the mooing of cows bright and early."
