j
john C.
Scout
ScoutFort Buford State Historic Site
Boon docking
Camping on level ground, under shade trees, with picnic tables and campfire ring, with a view of the fort. No water or dump sites.
Tent Camping near Watford City, ND
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Tent camping opportunities near Watford City, North Dakota include several primitive sites within the rugged badlands terrain. Bennett Campground in Grassy Butte and Elkhorn Campground near Medora offer designated tent campsites within driving distance of Watford City. These sites provide basic accommodations for tent campers seeking to experience the stark beauty of western North Dakota's landscape, including areas near Theodore Roosevelt National Park and the Dakota Prairie National Grasslands.
Most tent campsites in the region feature minimal amenities and require self-sufficiency. Elkhorn Campground provides pit toilets and a manual water pump, though visitors note the water may appear brown and recommend bringing your own supply. According to one visitor, "Site had large picnic table and fire ring. Nice view of landscape and Trailhead nearby." Many sites use a simple self-registration system with payment envelopes. Campers should anticipate unpaved road access, as one reviewer mentioned traveling "about 35 miles on unpaved road" to reach Elkhorn. Fire rings are common at established sites, but services like trash removal are limited or nonexistent.
The tent camping experience in this region offers solitude and natural surroundings with opportunities for wildlife viewing. A camper noted that "This was one of our favorite campsite in ND. Very Badlands feel here. There are some nice long hiking trails, bison and other prairie critters." The open prairie setting means many sites lack shade and can become very hot during summer days. Walk-in tent sites at Fort Buford State Historic Site near Williston provide access to historical attractions alongside camping opportunities. During storms, the expansive views across the prairie create dramatic skies, making this a destination for those seeking both isolation and natural splendor. Weather can change rapidly, with thunderstorms rolling across the open landscape providing an unforgettable backdrop to the tent camping experience.
Best Tent Campgrounds near Watford City (5)
1. Bennett
"There are some nice long hiking trails, bison and other prairie critters. This is wide open country with no real facilities (no trash either). Yay: simple camping and lovely scenery, wildlife."
"This site has a water pump, fire rings, and tables. In the day time the temperature gets really hot and the restroom has a smell come out. This site was very big and could hols a couple tents."
2. Snowden Bridge
"Great fishing access, wooded and close to town. Have seen great wildlife, excellent summer stargazing. Not a very big spot and only two camp sites close to the vault toilet."
3. Elkhorn Campground
"We were in a spot with some shade for our tent. Close to clean pit toilet."
4. Confluence Access
5. Pouch Point - Three Affiliated Tribes
Drive Time
- 1 hr 59 min from Minot, ND
- 2 hrs 34 min from Bismarck, ND
- 4 hrs 28 min from Rapid City, SD
- 4 hrs 58 min from Grand Forks, ND
Recent Tent Camping Photos near Watford City, ND
2 Photos of 5 Watford City Campgrounds • uploaded by The Dyrt campers
Tent Camping Reviews near Watford City, ND
150 Reviews of 5 Watford City Campgrounds
Bob M.
RangerJuniper Campground — Theodore Roosevelt National Park
Great for TRNP North Unit
First time we ever boondocked in our 5th wheel. This place is nice & peaceful, well except for the 2 steer that went through our site lol.
Trey have one modern restroom, no showers. Excellent basecamp for the north unit. Plenty of wildlife & scenery to find.
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. Camphost was great. Watford City about 20 minutes away for groceries & gas.
MickandKarla W.
LegendJuniper Campground — Theodore Roosevelt National Park
Great Experience
The National Park North Unit and Campground(CG) is easy to find off US-85. We showed our Access Passes to get into the park and then proceeded to mile marker 5, where the CG is located. We pulled up to the information and sign-in board for this first come, first serve CG at about 11:30 AM Mountain Time(interesting that when we got to the north unit area, our phones went back to central time, and after a quick Google search, we found out that the north unit runs on central time). A gentleman let us know that he had just pulled in and grabbed a campsite near the entrance/exit and that we’d probably only fit in site 8(this CG is all dry camping) as the perimeter campsites, both back-ins and pull-throughs, were too short for us. The other longer sites were already taken. We proceeded to pull through site 8, which is a long, quarter moon-shaped asphalt site. We maneuvered around to stay away from tree branches and stay on the pad. The picnic table and stand-up barbecue were on the driver’s side, but since the sites are nicely spaced out, this was not a problem. We then filled out our registration envelope, placed $14 cash(Access Pass discount) in the folder, put the tab on our post, and deposited the envelope in the registration area. We could have also written a check or used a credit card to pay. We got on and off 1 bar on Verizon. We did have a good shot north for Starlink. They have a vaulted toilet and flush toilet building along with potable water at the dump station. There are about a half dozen sites for longer rigs, such as 32, 42, and 43, 49, with 5 being the best site. We had our two dogs with us, and there was plenty of room to walk them around the CG. There was plenty of bison poop in the CG, but we didn't see any during our two-night stay. Watford City is 17 miles north and has your major amenities. We enjoyed using this CG as a base to explore the North Unit.
- TTim K.
GuideFort Buford State Historic Site
Very basic free campground next to the Fort Buford Historic Site.
Free camping at a state historic site. Campers who check in at the Confluence Visitor Center can access sites with picnic tables, fire rings, and trash cans. Sites are shaded or open, and the campground rarely fills up. Cell service is available. Nearby, Confluence Access provides another option along the same stretch of river. History is the main draw here, with Fort Buford and Fort Union both within reach, making this a good fit for history-focused travelers passing through western North Dakota. It was pouring rain the first night I arrived so I spent the night in the Confluence Visitor Center parking lot. I spent 2 more nights in the campground and only 2 other campers showed up while I was there. There is plenty of room for any size camper. I attended the Fort Union Frontier Days Rendezvous at the fort a few miles away which was very interesting.
Stefanie Z.GuideCcc Campground (Nd) — Dakota Prairie National Grasslands
Beautiful, clean, peaceful!
We stayed here two nights in a tent and loved it! Absolutely beautiful campground right across the river from Theodore Roosevelt National Park’s north unit. The scenery is breathtaking. There are three different loops A-C, and while most sites have no shade there are a couple in loop B (including ours #12) that have trees and provide good shade and wind protection. The pit toilets were some of the cleanest I’ve encountered in my history of camping. We were there in mid-September so the campground wasn’t full but there were a decent number of campers for being off season. Still, it was pretty quiet, save for the coyotes howling in the distance and a stray moo or two from nearby cows. There’s also trail access right to Maah Dah Hey and Long X trails right in the campground which is really nice! All in all this is a wonderful spot and one of my favorite campgrounds I’ve ever stayed at. 1 mi. gravel road to get in.
- JJodi P.
TravelerLewis & Clark State Park Campground
Nice sites
Nice campground, with restrooms/showers, playground, amphitheater, picnic tables. Pull through sites, tents sites, cabins. Close access to Lake Sakakawea, within walking distance.
Tim H.TravelerSather Lake
Sather Lake. Center loop.
Bare bones camping. Has a clean toilet, well pump, picnic tables and fire rings. Quiet. Pitch black at night. Great for stars.
- MMichelle B.Guide
Watford City Tourist Park
Camp within the City
This little spot is within the town of Watford City… ambitiously named
- JJennifer B.Traveler
Juniper Campground — Theodore Roosevelt National Park
Beautiful, clean and quiet
We spent two nights here and were pleased that we were able to have our pick of quite a few spots despite the campground being first come first serve. We arrived on a Wednesday evening. The campground is as advertised, no showers or electric. I was happy that they had quiet hours at 8 pm for generators. There were a great variety of spots, large grassy, secluded and shady, drive through and back in. 3 sites have a spectacular view of the bluff if you are able to snag those. pro: camp host was great, bathrooms were clean, a great selection of spots con: we found a few ticks crawling around
Guide to Watford City
Tent campsites near Watford City, North Dakota provide access to the unique terrain where the Great Plains meet the Badlands. Summer temperatures frequently reach the high 90s, creating challenging conditions for campers unfamiliar with prairie environments. Winter camping requires extensive preparation as temperatures regularly drop below zero and strong winds sweep across the unprotected landscape.
What to do
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Several trails near Bennett Campground offer chances to see bison and prairie wildlife in their natural habitat. According to one visitor, "There are some nice long hiking trails, bison and other prairie critters. This is wide open country with no real facilities."
Historical exploration: Fort Buford State Historic Site provides tent camping with access to significant historical landmarks. One camper noted, "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."
Water recreation access: Summer months offer fishing opportunities at several access points within driving distance of Watford City. A regular visitor to Snowden Bridge reports, "This is my go to for overnights and day trips. Right along the Missouri River. Great fishing access, wooded and close to town."
What campers like
Remote solitude: The isolation of camping areas around Watford City provides quiet experiences rarely found in more developed regions. At Fort Buford, a camper experienced, "The CG is free. They want you to check in at the Confluence Visitor Center. Nobody has pulled in around us. Nothing better than free camping with solitude these days!"
Night sky viewing: The lack of light pollution creates exceptional stargazing conditions. As one Snowden Bridge visitor shared, "Have seen great wildlife, excellent summer stargazing. Not a very big spot and only two camp sites close to the vault toilet."
Minimal development: Many campers appreciate the rustic nature of tent sites in the Watford City region. At Elkhorn Campground, a visitor found, "Campsites in valley in Badlands. Nice and clean. No power, no dumps, hand pump for water."
What you should know
Water supply limitations: Most primitive campgrounds near Watford City require bringing your own water supply. A camper at Elkhorn Campground discovered, "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."
Registration systems: Several campgrounds use self-registration with minimal oversight. According to one camper at Elkhorn, "$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."
Road conditions: Unpaved roads lead to many tent camping areas, requiring appropriate vehicles and extra travel time. Visitors should verify current conditions before departure, especially after rainfall.
Extreme weather preparation: The open landscape means campers face direct exposure to weather conditions with limited natural shelter. Temperatures swing significantly between day and night even in summer months.
Tips for camping with families
Heat management strategies: The intense summer heat requires planning for shade. At Bennett Camp, one visitor reported, "In the day time the temperature gets really hot and the restroom has a smell come out. This site was very big and could hold a couple tents."
Wildlife education opportunities: The prairie ecosystem provides excellent opportunities to teach children about native species and habitats. Bring field guides specific to Dakota wildlife.
Navigation considerations: Limited cell service means paper maps or downloaded directions are essential when traveling with children to remote tent campsites.
Activity planning: Most primitive campsites lack structured activities, so families should bring their own entertainment. Consider astronomy guides, wildlife identification cards, or historical information about the region.
Tips from RVers
Limited RV amenities: RV camping near Watford City typically means dry camping without hookups. At Elkhorn Campground, visitors noted the complete absence of RV services while still accommodating smaller rigs.
Size restrictions: Most primitive campgrounds cannot accommodate large RVs. One Fort Buford camper specified, "We camped here in a 35 ft 5th wheel. Lots of great history with the old forts (Buford and Union) nearby."
Supply planning: The distance from services means RVers must arrive fully stocked with essentials. Nearest supply points may be 30+ miles from campsites on rough roads.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Which is the most popular tent campsite near Watford City, ND?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Watford City, ND is Bennett with a 4.5-star rating from 2 reviews.
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