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Several RV campgrounds near Washburn, North Dakota offer options for travelers along the Missouri River, ranging from big-rig-friendly state park sites to full-hookup urban parks. Cross Ranch State Park Campground offers year-round access with electric hookups, thirty-amp service, and sewer connections on level pads. Sites accommodate larger RVs with big-rig friendly designations. "The sites are really not very private but at least they are under the trees out of the sun and wind," noted one camper about Cross Ranch. Lake Sakakawea State Park and Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park both feature fifty-amp electrical service with varying levels of hookups. The Center RV Park provides full hookups including water, electric and sewer, though spaces are positioned close together with minimal privacy in a more urban setting.
Planning considerations include seasonal variations in availability, with some parks maintaining all-year access while others like A Prairie Breeze RV Park operate from April to November. Full hookup sites tend to fill quickly during summer months. Most campgrounds accommodate pets, though restrictions vary by location. Dump stations are available at most parks, with Cross Ranch, Lake Sakakawea, and Fort Abraham Lincoln all offering sanitary dump facilities. Cell service varies throughout the region, with better connectivity near Bismarck-Mandan than in more remote locations. Travelers should note that some RV campsites have shared water sources—one visitor recommended bringing a water splitter as "campground does not always have extras."
"It is close to the road so I'm assuming you get road noise and I'm also assuming that during the summer of the park can be heavily used."
"We are on a two month long cross country road trip this summer, towing a 30ft travel trailer."
"The sites are laid out so the poles are shared in the middle, which makes for a bit of a tight fit for big rigs. No one on either side during our stay (with no slide outs), so had plenty of room."
"All sites have electrical and the two dump stations are easy to pull into and use. There are many hiking trails here and they are kept mowed and in great condition."
"Clean, friendly staff, private, walking paths are amazing and beautiful"
"There are a lot more trails then show on the map so happy exploring. While you are right next to the river, can't really see it from most of the RV campsites."
from $25 - $135 / night
Check Availabilityfrom $15 / night
from $15 / night
Check Availability"A boat marina, a swimming beach, tent-only sites, primitive grounds, water and electrical sites, hiking trails, playgrounds, clean shower facilities and flushing toilets!"
"Elbow woods, sanish, and van hook loops all have 30/50 amp and water for campers, there is also a primitive loop. Elbow woods is more spaced out and has great views of the lake."
from $15 - $70 / night
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TravelerWe needed a site for a night in the middle of a trip. This was it. Typical KOA. Clean, close to major roads. Easy to find. Easy to book online. Most of the sites are pull throughs in trees. It appeared that big rig spots were mostly back in. The bathrooms, which we utilize frequently since we are in a 15 foot Aliner, were well lit, clean, and the showers were hot!
LegendThis review is from an overnight versus destination point of view. However, this could easily be a destination park if you want to stay in the area and check out Bismarck. The campground (CG) is about a mile off I-94 and easy to find. Check-in was quick and easy, and we proceeded to pull through site 11 right past the check-in office, store, showers, and laundry facility. The gravel site was pretty level, with utilities placed mid-pad. As our next stop was dry camping, I asked for propane, which they gladly picked up our tanks, had them filled, and returned to our site. There’s no cable TV, but we did receive OTA channels, plus we had a good shot to the north sky for our Starlink. There are a lot of mature trees here, so that satellite could be iffy depending on the site. WiFi speed wasn’t very good, but we didn’t need to use it. We got 4 bars on Verizon. The water pressure was good. They have a nice fenced dog area. This is one of the nicer KOAs we’ve stayed in, with a very nice tent area. We enjoyed our overnight stay.
GuideWe are on a two month long cross country road trip this summer, towing a 30ft travel trailer. We needed a place with full hook-ups as we'd been boondocking for several days and this place was perfect. Reservations were taken care of with one call, but none are needed as they also offer 24 hour first-come, first-serve spots, too. There are tent camping, no-hookup and just electric/water hookup options also available and all sites are pull through. This is a simple place but right off I-94 and very easy to access.
TravelerThis is an interesting tiny campground run by the city of Bismarck. In a a Friday in July, we are one of four campers here. There a few 50 amp sites and several posts with 20 amp. Some 20amp are next to a traditional back in site. Others are in a grassy field and can be shared. That is what we chose. The 20 amp runs what we need. None of the sores have water or sewer and there is no dump station. However, there is a spigot with water. We filled our fresh tank before arriving. There are picnic tables and fire rings scattered throughout. It seems you could park out pitch a tent any where. There are 2 well maintained portolets and a dumpster. The location is right on the Missouri River and close to a state historic site. We originally booked 2 nights then decided to stay longer. For $12 per night, what is not to love!!
TravelerThis was our maiden voyage in our first camper! South loop Campsite 36 was easy to park. Our electrical and water hookups were close. Dump station was easy. We were right next to comfort station which was well maintained. Kid Park was new and close to our site. There was lots of bike and walking trails. Since you are a state park expect fees but I think it helped keep the park quiet. It is right along the river and in walking distance to the forts, museum, historic Indian village, train ride and trails. Great for families of all ages!
LegendThis campground is nice for larger groups and has a lot of long-term campers. The campground does have cabins and they are well kept and clean. Lots of family activities like horseshoes, basketball court, frisbee golf, and volleyball. Kayak rentals are available as well!
Bring water shoes if you plan on swimming in the lake as it is rocky. All campsites include one picnic table and one fire pit.
LegendWhat a great park for families! That was my first thought. It just looks like a great place for kids to play. There's a playground, wide open spaces, easy trails, a river, and remnants of the fort and an Indian village. There's a paved bike path that you can take from the campground all the way to Bismarck (10+ miles). Or you can ride over to the cavalry and infantry areas of the fort and to the Indian village.
There is a separate $7/day entrance fee in addition to the camping fee. We chose a primitive site (no water, no electric) because those sites are along the river, and the fee was $17. Sites with electricity and water are $25. There are also a couple tipis for $35 and two cabins for $60. There is a clean shower facility plus other restrooms. Each site has a picnic table and fire ring, and there's a dump station. We have camped at so many Forest Service sites that all these amenities make it feel like glamping!
My only complaint is that there is no path from the primitive sites to a restroom other than the road. It would have been nice if there were a few paths between sites. No one wants to take a long route to a restroom in the middle of the night. And cutting through an occupied site is poor camping etiquette.
LegendThis state park and the corresponding campground(CG) were easy to find off I 94 and then through Mandan. You check in at the gate where along with your camping fees, you still have to purchase an ND state-park vehicle pass for$7 a day or$35 a year. We then proceeded to back-in site 71 with water and electric(50/30/20 AMP). The back-in was easy and the site was plenty long enough for our 39’ 5th wheel and F450. We received an electrical error from our Watch Dog surge protector and went back to the gate and reported the issue. A ranger showed up about 5 minutes later and swapped the 50 AMP breaker so all was good. We shared a water post with our neighbor and had great water pressure of 60+ so used a reducer. We got quite a few OTA channels and could have used our satellite. We also got 2 bars each on Verizon and T-Mobile. Site 71 had a nice-sized front yard. The rangers regularly patrol the CG and there’s firewood plus ice for sale near the camp host site. There are plenty of trails to explore either by walking or biking. In addition, the state park has a lot of Custer-era calvary history. Be sure to check out the park’s visitor center then visit the Slant Indian Village that’s adjacent to the visitor center. Be careful when selecting a pull-through site, as most, if not all of them, are actually set up as two sites. So, if you were to arrive after your neighbor, you will actually be backing into your site. We enjoyed our 3-day stay and would not hesitate to come back.
TravelerThe campground isn't a resort, but it's well-kept and the FHU site worked for me. The sites are laid out so the poles are shared in the middle, which makes for a bit of a tight fit for big rigs. No one on either side during our stay (with no slide outs), so had plenty of room. It's about 15 minutes to Bismarck, so a good place for restocking. Nothing at the exit -- you have to go 10 minutes or so down the highway for gas and groceries. Laundry was small, but just $1.25/$1.00 for wash and dry. Self-checkin with cash or check, which was fine. I think the trailer at the end on one corner is the host, but I never needed him, so I didn't ask. My only complaint-- #21 was underwater after an overnight rain. A pond of about 2-3 inches of water completely surrounded my rig. I looked around and I seemed to be the only one with that much water. Luckily I had seen the forecast and had hitched up the night before. But that's something the owners need to address.
Camping options near Washburn, North Dakota center around the Missouri River, which creates a natural corridor through the region's rolling prairie landscape. The area sits at approximately 1,700 feet elevation with summer temperatures averaging 80°F during peak season. Winter camping remains available at select locations where temperatures can drop below 0°F, requiring proper cold-weather gear and equipment.
Paddling adventures: Cross Ranch State Park Campground offers river access with canoe and kayak rentals for Missouri River exploration. "We rented a canoe and 2 kayaks and were transported to Washburn and floated/paddled our way to Sanger boat launch. (Approx 9 miles) It took us about 3 hours and it was so beautiful!" reports camper Afton L.
Historic site visits: Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park Campground provides access to reconstructed historical areas. "We walked the on a slant village, the forts overlooking the Missouri river and of course General Custer's house and the barracks. Such a neat parks with lots to do!" notes Kristi D. The park includes a trolley that connects historical points and runs into Mandan.
Fishing opportunities: Lake Sakakawea offers prime fishing access with boat launch facilities and cleaning stations. Many campers report successful catches along the shoreline. The downstream area below Garrison Dam provides alternative fishing spots with river access via walking paths from the COE Lake Sakakawea Downstream Campground.
Spacious camping areas: Cross Ranch State Park Campground receives praise for site layout. "The spots, well they were close but situated in a way that you weren't sitting staring at your neighbor. There were trees and foliage between the rows so it was comfortable," reports Shelly S. The natural barriers between sites create visual privacy despite proximity.
Clean facilities: Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park Campground maintains high standards for bathrooms and showers. "The park staff was super friendly, bathrooms were the cleanest I have seen," writes Kristi D. The park includes modern shower facilities alongside more basic toilet options throughout the grounds.
River views: Many camping areas offer direct views of the Missouri River. "I had a very clear view of the water and the place was very clean. The sites were spaced out well enough where my neighbors weren't too close to me and I hardly heard any of them throughout the day or night," notes a camper at Lake Sakakawea State Park Campground.
Seasonal operations: Most rv sites near Washburn, North Dakota operate on limited schedules. A Prairie Breeze RV Park runs from April to November with "self-check in cash or check only" according to Kody Bear A. Winter camping options exist but with reduced services and facilities.
Water access variations: Lake Sakakawea State Park Campground turns off water in the off-season. "We arrived in 1 October and they had shut off the water so the bathrooms and showers were not functioning," notes Lisa M. Plan accordingly with water containers when visiting in shoulder seasons.
Campground layouts: Center RV Park offers full hookups but with minimal amenities. "This is really more of a man camp for permanent campers then a weekend camper spot. You have full hookups and no bathrooms or other services," reports Teresa T., noting the utilitarian layout designed primarily for long-term stays rather than weekend recreation.
Bug preparedness: Insects can be significant depending on season. "Only complaints were the long haul from the parking area, the vaulted toilets smelt very bad but could of been from the heat! (Vaulted toilet, no sink) And the bugs!!! Tons of flying ants and ticks everywhere, but we managed!" warns Brandi M. about Cross Ranch State Park.
Playground access: COE Lake Sakakawea Downstream Campground includes play areas for children. "Loops One and Two have playgrounds; the one in Loop Two appears more modern so if you have kiddos who like playgrounds, I would recommend this loop," advises Lee D. The campground also features hiking trails suitable for various skill levels.
Educational opportunities: Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park offers ranger presentations. "There is a nice visitor center with terrific displays, many about Lewis and Clark, also a reconstructed Mandan encampment," notes Janet R. These programs provide learning opportunities that engage children while teaching local history.
Swimming areas: Lake Sakakawea State Park includes designated swimming areas that remain calm even in windy conditions. "Beach is amazing with little bay area that is calm even on windy days for the kayaker or paddleboarder," reports Patti E., making this location ideal for families with younger children who want water recreation options.
Site selection strategy: When booking rv sites near Washburn, North Dakota, consider loop locations carefully. At Cross Ranch State Park Campground, "The sites are situated in a way that you weren't sitting staring at your neighbor. There were trees and foliage between the rows so it was comfortable," notes a camper.
Water management: At A Prairie Breeze RV Park, site drainage varies significantly. "My only complaint-- #21 was underwater after an overnight rain. A pond of about 2-3 inches of water completely surrounded my rig. I looked around and I seemed to be the only one with that much water," reports Mev W. Check site elevation when selecting spots during rainy seasons.
Power considerations: For larger RVs requiring consistent power, Lake Sakakawea State Park provides both 30 and 50 amp service in designated loops. "Elbow woods, sanish, and van hook loops all have 30/50 amp and water for campers, there is also a primitive loop. Elbow woods is more spaced out and has great views of the lake," explains Kyle O.
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According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular RV campground near Washburn, ND is Ball Park RV Park with a 4-star rating from 1 review.
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