Camping in the Grasslands

Located within the scenic Sheyenne National Grassland, three miles northwest of Hankinson, North Dakota, the campground offers a secluded, year-round, semi-primitive camping experience featuring 15 shaded sites and direct access to an 8-mile hiking and equestrian trail.

Jorgen's Hollow Campground provides a rustic, year-round camping experience nestled in the oak savanna of the Sheyenne National Grassland, offering 14 primitive sites and direct access to the North Country National Scenic Trail.

Located in the heart of North Dakota’s Badlands, Buffalo Gap Campground offers a shaded, year-round camping experience with paved sites, free hot showers, and easy access to the Little Missouri National Grassland.

Bennett Campground is a secluded, first-come-first-served campground located within the Little Missouri National Grassland near Grassy Butte, North Dakota. It offers a peaceful, rustic experience with 13–18 sites suitable for tents or RVs.

Located in the heart of Little Missouri National Grassland, Burning Coal Vein Campground is a remote, scenic destination offering rustic, spacious campsites and direct access to the Maah Daah Hey Trail.

Located in the scenic Little Missouri National Grassland just south of Theodore Roosevelt National Park's North Unit, the CCC Campground offers a rustic, recently renovated camping experience with direct access to the Maah Daah Hey Trail.

Located south of Medora in the Dakota Prairie Grasslands, Coal Creek Campground offers a rustic, year-round camping experience with 10 sites providing direct access to the Maah Daah Hey Trail and the Custer Auto Tour.

Elkhorn Campground is a serene, scenic campground nestled in the heart of the grasslands—perfect for those seeking a peaceful, out-of-the-way basecamp. Located north of Medora and just steps from the Maah Daah Hey Trail, it offers a genuine Badlands experience amid rolling prairie and rugged buttes.

Nestled between rugged badlands and the scenic Magpie Creek, Magpie Campground is a remote, shaded, and quiet retreat offering easy access to the renowned Maah Daah Hey Trail in the Dakota Prairie Grasslands.

Nestled within the rugged, colorful badlands of North Dakota’s largest national grassland, the Little Missouri National Grassland campgrounds provide scenic, tranquil, and often primitive camping opportunities right in the heart of the scenic Maah Daah Hey Trail system.

Located near Grassy Butte, North Dakota, Summit Campground is a small, free camping area offering scenic views of the surrounding plains and convenient access to nearby hiking trails.

Wannagan Campground is a remote, year-round camping destination nestled in the North Dakota Badlands, offering rustic sites with immediate access to the scenic Maah Daah Hey and Buffalo Gap trails.

The Whitetail Campground/Picnic Area in the grasslands offers a rustic, 10-unit, natural getaway set within the wooded Whitetail Creek Drainage. It provides a quiet setting with fire grates and easy access to nature.  

Discover the unique experience of camping in the national grasslands! From wide-open skies to quiet prairie nights, this guide covers everything you need to know. Learn about developed, first-come, first-served sites, how to prepare for unpredictable weather, and essential information on fire safety.

Protecting the Dakota Prairie Grasslands depends on responsible waste management. Whether you are camping, hiking, or visiting with pets, please follow Leave No Trace principles by properly disposing of all human and pet waste to keep our land and water clean.

The Dakota Prairie Grasslands (DPG) offer wide‑open spaces, big skies, and the chance to enjoy a quieter, more natural kind of camping experience. Dispersed camping—camping outside designated campgrounds—is a great way to explore these public lands, and we’re glad you’re here to enjoy them responsibly.

The Dakota Prairie Grasslands provide excellent opportunities for horseback riding and camping. Visitors can choose from developed campgrounds, dispersed camping sites, and designated horse trails, such as the Maah Daah Hey and the North Country Scenic Trail.