Campgrounds and RV parks near Watford City, ND

The North Unit scenic drive runs from the entrance station to Oxbow Overlook and passes bison range, prairie dog towns, and the Cannonball Concretions pullout. Hikers staying at Juniper Campground can access the Little Mo Trail and the longer Achenbach Trail, which climbs from river bottomland through the Achenbach Hills and reaches Oxbow Overlook along the way. Lake Sakakawea anchors the water-based side of the trip. Lewis and Clark State Park has a swimming area and day-use beach, a marina with boat ramps when water levels allow, and excellent fishing for walleye, sauger, and northern pike. Coteau, Greenhorn, and Eskers trails wind through native prairie and geological formations in the park. Mountain bikers and hikers can also access the Maah Daah Hey Trail, a roughly 144-mile singletrack through the Little Missouri National Grasslands with a northern terminus near Watford City.

The practical camping season runs from May through September. A dump station at Juniper Campground is available May through September, and there is no water available October through April. Lewis and Clark State Park runs its full campground from about May 1 through October 31. June produces the heaviest rainfall of the year, and late spring storms can leave gravel park roads and Maah Daah Hey trailhead approaches soft or rutted. During hot and dry summer months, fire restrictions are common and campfires including charcoal fires may be prohibited in the national park. September and early October are the quietest window with usable weather. Cottonwood trees surrounding the campsite turn golden in the fall, bison rut activity picks up, and reservable state park sites open up mid week. Winter camping is possible but temperatures routinely drop well below zero Fahrenheit and services are minimal.

Hookups vary widely. Juniper Campground has no showers or hookups for water, sewer, or electric, though a dump station operates May through September, flush toilets with running cold water are available, and each site has a picnic table and grill. Lewis and Clark State Park offers electric sites, modern restrooms, and two seasonal camping cabins along the lake in the Siltstone Loop. Wildlife is close. Buffalo sometimes wander into the campground, something to be aware of, and bighorn sheep, mule deer, and prairie dogs are regular sightings on the scenic drive. Keep food secured and give animals distance. Cell coverage is patchy inside the North Unit and on grasslands roads but generally reliable in Watford City and at the private parks. Firewood is not for sale in the park, and the closest place to buy wood is Watford City, approximately 20 miles away.