Clausen Springs Park Campground

Nice place, well kept & only $15 for a tent site. Hot showers too.

This campsite has been one of our favorites that we found while traveling cross country. For only $15 you get nice, hot clean showers and a flush toilet, HUGE campsites that are private and shaded and full of small wildlife (we loved all the frogs at night), a playground for kids, well lit roads and trails, ample vault toilets for convenience and a beautiful lake that is swimmable, ample opportunity to fish and kayak. It's fun for the entire family. The camp hosts were respectful and extremely nice. We will definitely be coming back here.

We stayed one night after a long day of driving, there were a lot of people here but some sites are out away from the others. We stayed in the parking lot by the lake and left early the next morning. Good place to stay passing through

We arrived around midnight and we decided to camp in our cars in the parking lots since it was so dark, some of the sites were hard to see. It was super secluded. The view was beautiful in the morning and everything was clean. We loved it!

This rec area/campground is honestly a hidden gem (not trying to be cliché!) The area is very scenic and well kept, with a stream running throughout that feeds into a multi-use lake, unique and expansive campsites, groomed trails, multiple amenities and the laidback solitude and peace of the Midwest prairie/plains. If you choose to, it's easy to have enjoyable personal time and also not feel uneasy or isolated in your experience if you choose to adventure solo.

This campground is family friendly and also still very suitable for those solo stays. The campsites exist within many settings: wooded areas, more community-type settings, open prairies, and secluded nooks far away from the center of everything. Some of these sites are massive and some are quaint and tucked into the trees, down a wooded path. There have usually been multiple sites available when I've camped there towards the end of the week. 

Clausen Springs Campground is managed by the NDGF Department and Barnes County Park Board/Wildlife Federation; it is within the Clausen Springs Rec Area/Wildlife Management Area (545 acres.) This campground is about 20 miles out of Valley City, 17 miles off of I-94 and just a few miles off of ND HWY 1. (Very easy to locate, not a ton of gravel and not too far from a rural gas station/convenience store.)

The hiking trails are my favorite; they are well-maintained and interconnect with the North Country National Scenic Trail (NCT.) The lake provides swimming, fishing, and boat access for electric motored boats or kayaks/canoes. There is also a playground for the kids.

The RVs or TTs have access to electric hookups and dumpsites. We all have have access to rural drinking water, shower houses/bathrooms (very well-kept IMO,) picnic tables, and fire rings. Also present are a ball diamond and horseshoe pit. (There is also a historic aspect to this area and there are some pieces of interpretative information available.)

You are allowed an RV or Camper plus a tent ( or solely two tents) per site (max 8 people) $20/night for electric sites, $15/night for primitive. Also important to note that  sites 1-12, and 55 are reserve-able, all the rest are first come, first serve. There are 21 electrical sites and 57 primitive. 

 (I also realize I posted mainly photos of many of the sizeable, more open/exposed campsites; there are so many that are completely shaded and tucked into the trees as well! I will try to get photos in the future)

We loved this campground! Granted we were there on a Monday but were one of 4 sites occupied so very quiet and private. There are lots of sites available but many of them are still very private. We stayed at site 41a which was up on a hill with nice views of the water and land in the distance and a very large site. Only downside is the many mosquitoes at dusk and dawn so come prepared!

We stopped here on our cross country raid trip for one night. It was the perfect place for an overnight. Beautiful sunset over the hills and lake and perfect grill setup for dinner. LOTS OF BUGS! Bugs went away a little after twilight but it was bad!

Our first time here & it was great! Hubby had been here as a kid, so we wanted to start our 2020 camping here. Found our favorite site & love that the stream runs in the back of all main sites! Short walk to the lake, nice little trails, small playground. Friendly staff; Scott is awesome! We will visit again!

Campground is well kept with spacious sites. Nice walking trails and great beach for swimming.

I camp here often with my family. Even when the campground is full, it is still quiet. Lots of area to walk. My kids live fishing here.