1. Badlands: Theodore Roosevelt National Park
In the far west half of North Dakota is Theodore Roosevelt National Park. In 1883 Roosevelt came to North Dakota for bison hunting and fell in love with the vast wilderness. He was instrumental in wildlife conservation and helped preserve the western area of North Dakota. You can still see bison roaming the park today as well as elk, longhorns, pronghorns and mule deer. You can also park at the Caprock-Coulee parking area and hike about a mile to a prairie dog town! There are two campgrounds to choose from at the park, one in the north and one in the south. Cottonwood campground has 76 sites that can accommodate small RV’s and tents. There are no hookups but restrooms and water are available. Half of the sites are reservable. The Juniper campground is in the northern half of the park and has 50 campsites, again no hookups, but there are restrooms and water. Both are beautiful settings for camping this summer in North Dakota.
2. Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park
Right along the shores of the Missouri and Heart River is the Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park, the oldest state park in the state. You can visit the old Fort McKeen as well as reconstructed earthlodges from the times the Mandan Native Americans lived in on the land. You can also visit the Custer House from when Custer led the outpost at Fort McKeen. There are also miles of trails for hiking, horseback riding and mountain biking. The campground has 100 campsites with 15 right on the shore of the Heart River. The other sites are just steps to the Rivers which come together at the bend of the Heart and Missouri. Bring your fishing gear for some of the best walleye and pike fishing. You can also fish for trout and salmon right from the shore. Maybe you can catch your dinner to fry up at the campfire.
3. Lake Sakakawea State Park
The third largest man-made reservoir in the U.S. is Lake Sakakawea, situated along the Missouri River. The lake is a 360,000-acres recreational lake popular for boating, swimming, fishing as well as catching some great wind for windsurfing and sailing. It is known to produce some good sized northern pike, walleye and chinook salmon. Take your boat out to some of the deeper waters for the best salmon fishing. The campground is right on the lake with 149 modern sites with electric and water as well as 42 primitive sites. Check out the swimming beach, play some sand volleyball, or get some ice cream at the marina. Then head back to you campsite for some star gazing and time by the fire.
4. Lewis and Clark State Park
Upstream from Lake Sakakawea State Park, right on one of the upper bays is the Lewis and Clark State Park. Rent a kayak to explore the bays and coves and look for shorebirds like piping plover, spotted sandpipers and American woodcocks. There are also canoe and SUP rentals to get you out on the water enjoying the lake. The fishing in this area is great for walleye, pike and sauger. Head out early in the morning when you are just crawling out of your tent or late in the evening to find the most (and hopefully biggest) walleye. The campground has 41 full hookup sites, 47 with water and electric and 8 walk-in primitive sites. There are also 2 cabins available to rent for a more modern camping experience. Spend the day fishing, swimming, hiking and more at one of the best places to camp in North Dakota this summer!
5. Fargo: Lindenwood Campground
Certainly not a mega-city, but Fargo does have some museums and zoos that are worth the visit. You can check out the Plains Art Museum to see regional artwork, contemporary pieces and Native American art. Then stop by the Fargo Air Museum to learn about both modern and vintage aircraft including a plane that looks like a smiley emoji! The Red River Zoo is a good sized zoo featuring meerkats, red pandas and gray wolves. After a day on the town there is a great campground right in Fargo and right on the Red River. There are 47 campsites all with water and electric as well as a picnic table and fire ring. You can rent bikes or kayaks to explore the park or spend some time chasing the kids at one of the two playgrounds. With the wooded campsites and the sounds of the river flowing you will forget that you are actually in the city. The best of both worlds and one of the best places to camp in North Dakota this summer!
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