Buffalo Gap Campground
Buffalo Gap Campground offers a rustic camping experience with easy access to the Buffalo Gap Trail. The campground features 35 paved campsites with picnic tables and fire rings. A group pavilion picnic area is near the front entrance. The site also features two comfort stations with sinks, flush toilets, three showers (mid-May to mid-October), and one vault toilet.
Click an image to view the photo gallery in full-screen size and read the descriptive captions.
Active Alerts
Reservations
Make Reservations HereThe Buffalo Gap Campground offers 36 campsites. Five sites are available for reservations on Recreation.gov.
General Information
The Buffalo Gap Viewpoint Trail near the campground entrance road leads to a 600-foot hike up a steep scoria hill to an overlook offering a spectacular view of the area in every direction, and features a set of interpretive panels on the area's geologic history.
- A seasonal campground host is on-site Thursday through Sunday from Memorial Day to Labor Day.
- Leave No Trace - Pack in, Pack Out. rules apply. If you brought it with you, please take it out.
- Please do not put any trash in the vault toilets.
- Horses not allowed within campground boundary – trailhead day-use parking available at main road entrance for access to Buffalo Gap Trail.
- Tent camping and trailer camping spots are available. No RV hookups. Some campsites accommodate up to 60’ on paved parking pads.
- Campground rules and information are posted on kiosks located at the main entrance.
For specific questions, contact the Medora Ranger District Office.
Year-round (limited services in winter)
24/7
- Fire Restrictions may be in effect. Visitors are responsible for monitoring current conditions on the Alerts and Fire Danger Status page and NDResponse.gov.
- Stay limit of 14 consecutive days.
- All trails are intended for non-motorized travel only. Therefore, all motorized vehicles, including E-bikes, motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), utility terrain vehicles (UTVs), and snowmobiles, are prohibited.
- Horses not allowed within campground boundary – trailhead day-use parking available at main road entrance for access to Buffalo Gap Trail.
The Senior Pass and the Access Pass holders receive a 50% discount on camping fees per night. Discounts apply only to the site the pass holder occupies (not for additional guest sites).
Visit the Passes page for more information about the America the Beautiful National Park Passes.
Overnight Use:
Single Site: $20 per night
Payments may be made in one of two ways:
- Via the Fee Tube with fee envelopes (located at the campground entrance near the kiosk pictured in the photo gallery above).
- Via the Scan & Pay feature. Directions for this payment method are available here: Scan & Pay Information and Instructions. Note: to use this feature for First-Come, First-Served campsites, you must be physically present; therefore, the QR code is available only at the kiosk.
Pets are allowed but must remain leashed within the campground at all times. Keep our campgrounds clean. Please clean up after your animals.
Contact Name: Medora Ranger District office
Contact Phone: 701-227-7800
Address: 99 23rd Ave. W., Suite B, Dickinson, ND 58601
Phone: (701) 227-7800
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM Mountain Time (Closed on federal holidays)
Office Email: Medora.RD@usda.gov
Getting There
Latitude / Longitude
Latitude: 46.95388889
Longitude: -103.6744444
Directions
Approximately six miles west of Medora, ND, on I-94 at exit 18, just off of Forest Road 726A in Golden Valley County.
Parking
Trailhead day-use parking is available at the main road entrance for access to the Buffalo Gap Trail.
Facility and Amenity Information
Accessibility
Accessible shower facilities, bathrooms, vault toilets, and picnic shelter.
Restrooms
Flush toilet(s)Water
Potable water is not available at this site.
Running water (showers, water spigots, restrooms) is available from spring to fall seasons (turned off during winter).
Picnic Tables
Picnic tables are available at this site.
Other Amenities
Closest Amenities:
- Medora, ND – Gas station, hotels, restaurants.
Nearby Trails
Recreation Opportunities
Horseback Riding Info
Saddle or pack animals are allowed in recreation sites only where authorized by posted instructions. Hitching, tethering, or hobbling a horse that causes damage to live trees, soil, or water is prohibited.
Biking - Mountain Info
The USDA Forest Service considers E-bikes as motorized vehicles, restricted to established and paved roads, and prohibited on trails unless otherwise authorized. Motor Vehicle Use Maps are available on the Visitor Maps and Guides page.
OHV Road Riding Info
In the Dakota Prairie Grasslands, OHV use within established campgrounds is limited to entering and exiting the site using designated roads and parking areas. Cross‑country or off‑road riding is not allowed inside developed campgrounds. All OHVs must be state‑registered, and riders must follow posted speed limits and the OHV use on the Little Missouri National Grassland. Additional maps and resources are available on the Visitor Maps and Guides page.
Contact the Medora Ranger District Office for more information.
Picnicking - Groups Info
Buffalo Gap Campground in North Dakota features a large group picnic pavilion near the entrance, providing an ideal spot for gatherings and shared meals. The surrounding open grasslands offer plenty of room for visitors to spread out, set up their own seating, and enjoy a relaxed picnic in a wide, scenic prairie setting.
Picnicking - Single Info
Picnic tables are available within the established campsites at this location, offering convenient spots for a traditional sit‑down meal. However, the surrounding area is open and spacious, providing plenty of room to spread out a blanket and enjoy an old‑fashioned picnic wherever it feels most comfortable. It’s a flexible setting that works well for both structured and more relaxed picnic experiences.