Campgrounds around Watford City, North Dakota offer access to the badlands terrain and Little Missouri River in Theodore Roosevelt National Park. Summer temperatures can reach into the 90s, while spring and fall bring more moderate conditions with occasional high winds. The area features numerous dog friendly campgrounds near Watford City with varied pet policies and wildlife considerations.
What to do
Hiking on the Maah Daah Hey Trail: Access this renowned 100+ mile trail system from Magpie Campground, located about 25 minutes off the highway on dirt roads. "From there, either head west towards Devil's Pass or east towards the ice caves. At dusk, be sure to listen for coyotes barking in the distance," notes Cullen C.
Attend ranger presentations: CCC Campground provides easy access to the North Unit of Theodore Roosevelt National Park. "The ranger on duty was super helpful," reports Angie B. from Little Missouri State Park, while at Juniper Campground, "Park Rangers provide educational classes from Thursday-Sunday evenings," according to Cable A.
Stargazing opportunities: The remote location offers exceptional night sky viewing. "Pitch black at night. Great for stars," writes Tim H. about Sather Lake. Jenny K. notes that at Magpie Campground, "The stars were beautiful and the camp was so quiet."
What campers like
Wildlife encounters: Juniper Campground campers regularly observe wildlife wandering through. "We had a great spot in the juniper camp ground... Lots of wildlife came through the camp," reports Tammy P. Another camper, Chris A., shared, "While we were camped here, 2 small herds of bison grazed through the camp."
Peace and seclusion: Little Missouri State Park Campground offers a quiet retreat. "You'll experience starry skies and the howls of coyotes," writes Jessica S. At Magpie Campground, "The sites are spaced apart and surrounded by trees," and "We camped here in the middle of the week and we saw only three other camping groups during our two days here," reports Laura C.
Affordability: Budget-conscious campers appreciate the reasonable fees. "This place is a steal for the price they charge! I watched the sun rise over the ND badlands!" writes Angie B. about Little Missouri State Park. The CCC Campground is described as "Great inexpensive campground" by Scott D., while Summit Campground is free with "3 boondocking sights with picnic tables, 2 have canopies over them," according to Emma A.
What you should know
Water availability varies: At Summit Campground, there are no water hookups, and facilities are limited to "a pit toilet," according to Brett D. At CCC Campground, "There's a well here, but the water looked pretty brown. We boiled it," reports Nicole C., while at Juniper Campground, Jennifer K. notes, "The only drinking water is at the bathroom and not meant to fill your rv with."
Road conditions: Many campgrounds require driving on unpaved roads. "The road in (1 mile) is well maintained," reports Scott D. about CCC Campground. However, at Magpie Campground, Melissa B. cautions about "the long drive on the rough/unpaved roads. My Toyota Corolla isn't the best 'off roading' car, but we got there safely."
Time zone confusion: The area sits near a time zone boundary. "The campground is on the border of the time zone border, so my devices would change times and I thought there was a problem, took me a while to figure it out," shares Deborah C. about Juniper Campground.
Tips for camping with families
Educational opportunities: Park programs provide learning experiences for children. "The ranger presentation on prairie dogs" was especially enjoyed by Lee L.'s kids at Juniper Campground. At Little Missouri State Park, Tyler C. shared, "Kids loved the horses that people brought to ride."
Wildlife safety protocols: Camping with children requires vigilance due to wildlife. "During the drive you can see buffalo on the side eating," reports jasmine L. At Juniper Campground, Jillian C. warns, "Bison will definitely stroll through your sites if you're over by the field like we were."
Pet-friendly considerations: Watford City Tourist Park welcomes pets but with limitations. At CCC Campground, pets are allowed but Cable A. notes Juniper Campground is "Not a good park for walking dogs." Most pet-friendly campgrounds in the region require leashed pets at all times.
Tips from RVers
Site selection for large vehicles: At Juniper Campground, Bob M. advises, "When this place was built, they never envisioned large rigs. So if you have one over 30 feet, just be aware you might have to wiggle your way into a site." Similarly, Jennifer K. notes, "We're in spot 30 and its pretty spacious but not private at all."
Limited services: Most campgrounds have minimal hookups. Chris A. explains that Juniper "has 50 primitive sites available on first come first serve basis... There is a dump station, but no potable water for RV tanks." At CCC Campground, Holly E. recommends to "come with your black/grey tanks empty and water tank full."
Arrival timing strategy: Competition for spots can be fierce. Jennifer K. cautions about Juniper Campground: "The absolute anxiety of getting here and not knowing whether we'd be able to get a spot or not is off the charts. We got here at about 1pm on a Sunday thinking there shouldn't be a problem, yet there were probably only about 4 spots left."
