Dakota Prairie National Grasslands

Recreational Activities - Campgrounds

All campgrounds are on a first-come first-served basis.
Sorry, a reservation system is not available yet.

Please consult the Little Missouri National Grassland map below for the exact locations of campgrounds. Put your cursor over the name of the campground area (if you get the hand icon, then there is more information), click and more information is shown below. You can also link to the campground areas from the names in the table below the map.

For Your Safety:

Before hiking the trails and for more information, trail updates, and maps, contact the US Forest Service Medora Ranger District at (701) 225-5151 or the McKenzie Ranger District at (701) 842-2393.

For information on Theodore Roosevelt National Park, contact the South Unit at (701) 623-4466 or the North Unit at (701) 842-2333.

For information on Sully Creek State Park call (701) 328-5357.

Located 7 miles west of Medora via I-94 and ¼ mile north at exit 18; the campground features two comfort stations with sinks and flush toilets, one vault toilet, 75 person picnic shelter, 11 water hydrants, 37 camping units with picnic tables and fire rings, 5 units are handicap accessible, and 3 coin operated showers. All roads and camping spurs are paved.

Scenic features include a prairie dog town and a paved trail to a scenic vista overlooking the Badlands. The campground is open from Memorial Day to Labor Day and the cost is $6.00 per night.

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Located 15 miles south of Watford City, off Highway 85, south of the North Unit of Theodore Roosevelt National Park. Turn west on road # 842 just south of the Long X bridge over the Little Missouri River, travel 1 mile west to the entrance.

This newly remodeled and expanded campground remains a favorite for those planning on traveling on the Maah Daah Hey Trail from the North Trailhead. The campground has three loops, containing 38 camping spurs, a parking area at the North Trailhead of the MDH Trail, and access to the Long X Trail and Summit Trail.

The campground has handicap accessible vault toilets, picnic tables, and fire rings. There are horse tie-up areas on the west and east ends of the campgrounds and a well with potable drinking water. The campground also contains an informative kiosk at the entrance. Overnight camping is $6.00 per night during the summer months.

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Located 18.5 miles south of Watford City on Highway 85. Turn west at either sign and travel approx. ½ mile where a well-maintained gravel road will lead you to the campgrounds. There are two walk-in tent sites with picnic tables and fire grates. There are also two picnic areas with shelters and pull through camping units for RV's and other vehicles. The campground has a handicap accessible vault toilet.

A 100 yd hiking trail leading west from the campgrounds gives a scenic view of underlying valley. The Summit Trail head is in the north end of the campground on the west side of the road. The campground has sufficient parking space that can also be used for a meeting point for the Summit Trail.

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Located 26 miles southwest of Watford City or 22 miles northeast of Sidney MT. on Highway 68, the campground has space for approximately 50 people. There is a paved loop with picnic tables with shelters, fire grates, and two vault toilets on the north end of the area. There are no hookups, although there are spaces for RV's and primitive camping areas on the east and west sides of the dam.

A handicap accessible floating fishing pier and two boat ramps are available and the dam is currently stocked with rainbow trout, bass, & bluegill. This campground is scheduled for reconstruction to become fully handicap accessible in late 2002 or early 2003.

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Whitetail Picnic Area is a 10 unit picnic grounds nestled in the densely wooded area of the Whitetail Creek Drainage. Fire grates are available and a vault toilet. There is ample parking space available for most size vehicles.

The picnic area is located 0.5 mile north and 4 miles west of Fairfield, off Highway 85. The road to the picnic area crosses Whitetail Creek via a low water crossing that may be impassable during periods of high runoff.

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These four overnight campgrounds can be utilized as access points (Trailheads) for the Maah Daah Hey Trail or as a meeting place at the end of a beautiful day on the Trail.

All of the site facilities are handicap accessible.

All overnight camp spurs, parking lots, and roads are gravel surface.

Consult a Maah Daah Hey Trail map for exact road and camp locations.

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Bennett Campground

Located 7.5 miles north of Grassy Butte on Highway 85, then west 4 miles. Turn south on road #824 across the green cattle guard, and approximately 1 mile south and west to the camp.

This fenced camp has 9 camp spurs and 4 pull through camp spurs. A handicap accessible vault toilet and potable water well are available during the summer months. This is the Bennet trailhead for access to the MDH trail, 3 miles west of the camp.

A day use parking lot is located west of the campground.

Peacefulness and serenity are major attractions of this camping area.

Magpie Campground

Turn west on Road #712 at the Magpie Camp sign, located 1.5 miles north of Fairfield on Highway 85; travel 15.5 miles on gravel road #712. The campground is located ¼ mile northeast off road # 712. A day use parking lot right adjacent to the MDH trail is located ½ mile south of the campground.

This fenced camp features 11 camp spurs. A handicap accessible vault toilet and a potable water well are available during the summer months.

A convenient meeting area for those traveling to Devil's Pass or the Ice Caves. A great shaded area in the summer!

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Elkhorn Campground

From the Camel Hump (Sentinel Butte) exit 10, on I-94, go west and northeasterly 15.5 miles on County Road #11 to Road # 708. Then travel 11.5 miles north and east on road #708 to road FH2; then travel east for 1 mile to the camp entrance.

This fenced campground has a handicap vault toilet, 8 camp spurs and 1 pull through camp spur.

Features a scenic canyon (2.5 miles west) of the Theodore Roosevelt Elkhorn Ranch Site.

Wannagan Campground

From the Sentinel Butte exit on I-94 go east 3 miles and then 14 miles northeast, on road #726 to the camp.

The camp has 6 single unit camp spurs and 4 pull-through camp spurs. This fenced campground has a handicap accessible vault toilet and a potable water well available during the summer months. A day use parking lot is located ¼ mile south of the camp along the south side of road #726.

A great meeting area for the north end of the Buffalo Gap Trail. The switchbacks located on the Maah Daah Hey Trail offer a sweeping vista of the region, including a scenic view of many large buttes.

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Burning Coal Vein Campground is a five unit, primitive campground approximately 30 miles south of Medora. Fire pits, sheltered picnic tables, and a vault toilet is available. The coal vein is no longer burning but you may view the area from the parking lot at the campground. The Columnar Juniper area offers a scenic lookout and a short trail just south of the campground. The Ponderosa Pines are south and west of the campground, also.

The campground can be accessed from highway 85 approximately 10 miles south of Belfield, traveling 20 miles on gravel roads #767 and #742. The campground may also by accessed approximately 14 miles northwest of Amidon. From Amidon, go west 2 miles on Highway 85 and turn onto the gravel road. Go west 1 mile and then turn north on road #742, travel north about 9 miles until you reach the campground turnoff sign. The campground is approximately 1 mile east.

The access road goes through private land to reach the campground so please stay on the road.

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US Forest Service - Dakota Prairie Grasslands
Last Modified: Monday, 07 April 2008 at 17:27:21 EDT