Camping sites near Walhalla, North Dakota sit within the northeastern corner of the state near the Canadian border, where the terrain transitions from prairie to the unique Pembina Gorge ecosystem. The region experiences extreme seasonal variations with winter temperatures frequently dropping below 0°F, while summer highs typically range from 70-85°F. Most campgrounds in the area operate seasonally from May through September due to harsh winter conditions.
What to do
Swimming opportunities: Icelandic State Park Campground offers a swimming beach with concessions. According to Stacy B., "Beach is great for those hot summer days, they also have an ice cream shop down by the beach."
Fishing access: Fort Daer Park provides direct access to the Red River with specialized facilities for anglers. "Small camp area near the Red river with good fishing. Small town of Pembina, ND within 2 minutes for supplies," notes Rob P. The park includes a fish cleaning station and boat ramp.
Historical exploration: The Walhalla area has several historical sites worth visiting. At Icelandic State Park, Trevor A. explains, "This is an awesome space with quite a lot to do. There is an amazing museum across the road and many historical buildings on the property."
Frisbee golf: Fort Daer Park includes a frisbee golf course alongside its camping facilities. "Cute convenient camp spot... Also has a frisbee golf course and is right on the street when you walk across the bridge," writes Teresa T.
Hiking trails: Multiple campgrounds offer hiking opportunities for various skill levels. At Icelandic State Park, Stephanie S. notes, "I didn't love our campsite, it was small and not very private. I liked the look of the primitive campsites," suggesting that hikers might prefer the more secluded primitive sites.
What campers like
Clean facilities: The bathrooms at Icelandic State Park Campground consistently receive praise. Denis P. states, "The restrooms and showers were genuinely clean— no bugs, no bad smells, and consistently hot water... unless someone next to you opens a faucet. Pro tip: the family shower room has reliably hot water at all times."
Spacious sites: Many campgrounds offer larger sites for comfortable setups. At Langdon City Park, Bradley H. reports, "They have 4 sites(10-14) that are large enough for the biggest RV. 9 sites are for smaller campers. Large sites have concrete pads and grass surroundings."
Water recreation: The region offers multiple water activities beyond fishing. Teresa T. says of Homme Dam Recreational Area, "Really nice beach really nice access and fishing down below there's a two and a half mile pave trail in to Park River that you could walk or bike which I thought looked quite nice."
Shade availability: The heavily wooded areas provide relief from summer heat. At Schumacher Park, Teresa T. comments, "Very nice and shady. Pleasantly surprised the park is cute. It has lots of trees it has water and electric hookups in a lot of the spots."
Amenities for children: Family-friendly facilities abound in the region. As Stacy B. notes about Icelandic State Park, "Playgrounds is great for the kids, bike/hiking trails are very nice... They have different kids activities worth the Park Rangers and some theme weekends."
What you should know
Reservation requirements: Most campgrounds fill quickly during peak season. At Icelandic State Park Campground, Denis P. advises, "We were there on a weekend, and the place was fully booked— it's clearly a popular destination, so reserve ahead."
Site leveling challenges: Many campgrounds have uneven sites requiring preparation. Trevor A. warns about Icelandic State Park, "A lot of the sites aren't level, so be prepared with some leveling blocks."
Privacy limitations: Most established campgrounds offer limited privacy between sites. As Denis P. observes, "That said, there's almost zero privacy at most sites, so don't expect any seclusion."
Fee structures: Several campgrounds charge separate fees for different services. Denis P. notes, "In addition to the campground fee, you also pay a park entrance fee ($7 per vehicle per day, or per entry— not entirely clear)."
Winter accessibility: Unlike many seasonal options, Homme Dam Recreational Area remains open year-round with special amenities. George K. shares, "For the cold weather campers the shower floors are heated! Can't believe I got all this for $500 month plus $35 vehicle fee."
Tips for camping with families
Playground proximity: Leistikow City Park offers excellent family amenities. Ashley I. notes, "Kinda cool that there's a campground just plopped in the middle of a city park. Nice that it's a quick walk to playground, trails (and the pumpkin patch/corn maze in the fall!)"
Hammock options: Look for sites with properly spaced trees for hammock setup. Carrie H. recommends Icelandic State Park: "Lots of trees perfectly spaced for hammocks and to hang clotheslines!"
Ranger activities: Schedule your stay around educational programs. Stacy B. mentions that Icelandic State Park offers "different kids activities worth the Park Rangers and some theme weekends."
Swimming safety: The designated swimming areas provide safe water recreation. Ason S. describes Icelandic State Park's beach: "Beach was nice - sand, sectioned off swim area, & concessions were open."
Nature learning opportunities: Icelandic State Park offers educational resources for children. Rudy W. shares, "There is several things available from kayak rental to paddle boarding, there's a nice area for families to swim at and also an area for those who want to fish. Many historical sites can be found on the area including the museum in the visitors center."
Tips from RVers
Utility hookup challenges: Leistikow City Park has unusual hookup configurations. Bella S. warns, "hook-ups are awful—they are behind your RV spot, shared with the RV behind you; shared power pedestals so only one gets 50amp, whoever gets there first... Some sites have utilities on the COMPLETE OPPOSITE side of standard RV connections requiring two additional sewer hoses and extra power cord."
Internet access: Satellite internet works well in some locations. Denis P. notes about Icelandic State Park, "Our Starlink connection worked perfectly— open skies made for a strong, stable signal."
Full hookup options: Drayton Campground offers complete services. Teresa T. explains, "It's a sizable campground for people who work on the sugar beet in the fall but available the rest of the year. They're all full hookups you need to call the phone number to get a spot."
Dump station availability: Most RV-friendly campgrounds provide dump stations. Misty B. notes about Walhalla Riverside City Park, "Well kept clean quiet campground no sewer buy does a dump station."
Site spacing considerations: Campgrounds vary in how tightly RVs are packed. Ashley I. describes Leistikow City Park as having "FHU, but very tight sites. Clean campground, nice people running it."
