Walhalla sits at the edge of the Pembina Gorge in northeastern North Dakota, with campgrounds nestled along the Pembina River at approximately 1,100 feet elevation. The region transitions from rolling prairie to dramatic woodland gorge with over 12,000 acres of woodland habitat. During summer months, overnight temperatures can drop to the 50s even when daytime reaches 80°F, creating cool evening camping conditions throughout the season.
What to do
Fossil hunting excursions: Join scheduled paleontology digs in the Pembina Gorge, accessed from Walhalla Riverside City Park. "The Gorge also offers regularly scheduled fossil dig expeditions that the public can sign up for," notes Janet R., highlighting a unique activity most visitors miss.
Water recreation: Paddle the Pembina River with kayak or canoe access directly from the campground. "A very short drive will take you to gorgeous scenic overlook areas nearby, with picnicking high above the river, and a few minutes further away you get to various canoe and kayak launch sites for the Pembina River whitewater paddle trail," explains a Riverside City Park camper.
Historical exploration: Visit the museum and historical buildings at Icelandic State Park, just 30 minutes from Walhalla. "There is an amazing museum across the road and many historical buildings on the property," writes Trevor A., adding context to the region's settlement history.
What campers like
Clean facilities: Campers consistently mention well-maintained bathhouses. At Icelandic State Park, "The bathrooms and showers were very clean and modern," according to Stephanie S., while another camper noted, "The restrooms and showers were genuinely clean—no bugs, no bad smells, and consistently hot water."
Spacious sites: Langdon City Park offers concrete pads with generous spacing. "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," explains Bradley H., noting the comfortable layout with "trees abundant so lots of shade."
Swimming opportunities: Several parks feature swimming areas for cooling off. "Beach is great for those hot summer days, they also have an ice cream shop down by the beach," mentions Stacy B. about Icelandic State Park, while Walhalla Riverside offers "a beautiful sparkling swimming pool" near the camping area.
What you should know
Seasonal operations: Most campgrounds in the region close after Labor Day. Walhalla Riverside operates from "3rd week of May to Labor Day," while Leistikow City Park runs May through October. Winter camping options are extremely limited.
Varying privacy levels: Site seclusion differs significantly between parks and loops. At Icelandic State Park, "There's almost zero privacy at most sites, so don't expect any seclusion," notes Denis P., adding "We were there on a weekend, and the place was fully booked—it's clearly a popular destination, so reserve ahead."
Uneven terrain: Many campsites require leveling equipment. "A lot of the sites aren't level, so be prepared with some leveling blocks," advises Trevor A. about Icelandic State Park, with similar reports from other campgrounds in the region.
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Drayton Campground and neighboring parks feature play areas. Walhalla Riverside has a "brand new playground" according to reviewers, while Leistikow Park offers "a quick walk to playground, trails (and the pumpkin patch/corn maze in the fall!)" as Ashley I. mentions.
Educational ranger programs: Look for weekend activities at several parks. "Nice parks for the kids and ranger activities at night on the weekends," notes Jeff L. about Icelandic State Park, which also offers "different kids activities with the Park Rangers and some theme weekends," according to Stacy B.
Dog-friendly options: Icelandic State Park features a designated dog area. "We also appreciated that they have a dog park on site! I haven't seen that in a state park before," comments Janet R., while Leistikow City Park has "a big dog park" according to visitor reports.
Tips from RVers
Hookup configurations: Check utility locations before booking. At Leistikow City Park, "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," warns Bella S., also noting some sites have "utilities on the COMPLETE OPPOSITE side of standard RV connections."
Big rig access: Several rv parks near Walhalla, North Dakota can accommodate larger motorhomes. Schumacher Park in Drayton welcomes big rigs with "lots of trees it has water and electric hookups in a lot of the spots," according to Teresa T., though she notes it's primarily a stopover location.
Connectivity considerations: Cell service varies by location. At Icelandic State Park, "Our Starlink connection worked perfectly—open skies made for a strong, stable signal," reports Denis P., which helps RVers requiring reliable internet access for work or travel planning.
