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Planning On Camping In North Dakota

By
Services for Real Estate Pros with Ward County Notary Services 607851

There are many great places to camp throughout North Dakota but my family and I particularly like one site because it's close to home and on a lake that is excellent for swimming, fishing, and all activities related to camping. The site is on Lake Audubon, a man made lake created along with Lake Sakakawea when the Garrison Dam was built in 1947 to 1953 .

On occasion we are unable to get our camping spot of choice and that is what this blog post is about, how to secure the camping spot of your choice.

Not every campsite is Federally operated but our spot is, most are State, County, Municipal, or privately owned. To secure our site we must go to RECREATION.gov.

The next step is to click on the picture below that says Camping & Lodging.

Because I always log in the site recognizes me thus it comes up with sites in my area with our favorite spot on top. Until you set up a login you need to fill in your area on the next page.

You can be specific at this point or be general and give a State. A State map will come up and it will show you where the Federal sites are. At that point you can click on the location on the map and go forward from there. For me the next step looks like this:

You can click on either a picture on the left or the tent on the map to the right to get details of the campsite. Either way the campground will show up with general information and various pictures as well as a scheduling calendar.  Pick the exact site you want your camper or tent to set on, scroll through the calendar for that one spot and see if it is available (A= available). For weekends you need to include 3 days, for Holidays 4 days). Once you select the days, if available, you will be asked a series of questions concerning what camping gear you will be bringing and finally after all that you will go to the checkout.

It is a complicated system so have patience as it is the ONLY way you can camp at a Federal site. You can NOT just show up and ask if they have a spot open, you have to go through the website. The advantage is that you will get a clean site with clean and safe facilities. Another advantage is safety. Several times a day an officer drives by from both State and the Sheriffs departments and the campground host.

One last note, the reservation site closes down after Memorial Day and reopens on New Years day. This is important if you want to reserve a spot on a perticular day. Many, like myself, book within days of the opening of reservations. If you wait till July 1st to book for the 4th it's NOT going to happen.

Plan and take action early!

This is my 4th and final entry into the January challenge by Leanne Smith and Will Hamm , Planning for 2025.

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Lew Corcoran
Better Living Real Estate, LLC - East Bridgewater, MA
Expert guidance. Exceptional results.

Thanks for sharing such valuable tips on securing a camping spot, Bob "RealMan" Timm! It seems like starting on the ‘Rain is the perfect way to dive into planning a great trip—appreciate your insights!

Jan 24, 2025 12:53 PM
Bob "RealMan" Timm

I don't know how valuable the advice is Lew Corcoran but I appreciate your saying so. I honestly can not tell you why we like camping as we are a close family anyway so I'd guess it's just getting away from work for two or three days.

Jan 24, 2025 06:48 PM
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

Thanks, Bob, for sharing your camping experience and advice. I have not done any camping since I was a kid.

Jan 24, 2025 01:08 PM
Bob "RealMan" Timm

You are welcome Roy Kelley . Funny thing is I never went camping but then again my parents owned a lake home and I spent a lot of time exploring the woods or on the lake fishing.

Jan 24, 2025 06:56 PM
Mark Artesani
Keller Williams Realty - Fountain Valley, CA
Huntington & Newport Beach, Fountain Valley Homes

Sounds like a great place to camp

Jan 24, 2025 01:53 PM
Bob "RealMan" Timm

Hey Mark Artesani 😊, good to meet you. I am hoping that when my wife retires we will take a winter off and pull the camper once around the USA. There are several Active Rain friends I'd like to meet in CA so who knows, maybe in the next two years we may be in your neighborhood two.

Jan 24, 2025 07:02 PM
Jeff Masich-Scottsdale AZ Associate Broker,MBA,GRI
HomeSmart Real Estate - Scottsdale, AZ
Arizona Homes and Land Group/ Buy or Sell

Planning to have FUN in 2025. I love it! By the way than little trailer in the primary photo may put those TINY HOMES out of business, hey you can GO SOMEWHERE! Jeff

Jan 24, 2025 08:31 PM
Bob "RealMan" Timm

The Scamp brand camper has been around since 1971 and that is a 1972 model. I love it but we did also purchase the second one pictured. The new scamp have a few more goodies in it and it is so popular that now Winnebago and others are copying it. You can even pull it with a four cylinder car.

Jan 25, 2025 12:54 PM
Endre Barath, Jr.
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties - Beverly Hills, CA
Realtor - Los Angeles Home Sales 310.486.1002

Bob "RealMan" Timm  it has been over 30+ years since I have been camping... growing up with my parents it was a regular weekend event.... then when I grew up being in the military going on field trips I considered it like camping.... thanks to meeting Diane... she hates camping, no shower no bath tub etc no we are not and have not doing it for 30+ years:)Endre

Jan 24, 2025 10:50 PM
Bob "RealMan" Timm

Diane just needs one of those $100,000 campers Endre Barath, Jr. and then all would be good. 😉

Jan 25, 2025 12:51 PM
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

Hello Bob - I camped when I was a child but rarely, I can think of only once since that I have.  The likelihood of that practice is long gone but thank you for sharing these suggestions.   

Jan 25, 2025 01:36 AM
Bob "RealMan" Timm

You are welcome Michael Jacobs and thanks for leaving your thoughts. There are several aspects of camping I like such as the family sitting around a good campfire.

Jan 25, 2025 12:49 PM
Brian England
Ambrose Realty Management LLC - Gilbert, AZ
MBA, GRI, REALTOR® Real Estate in East Valley AZ

I am not much of a camper and I certainly wouldn't want to camp in a cold weather area, haha.

Jan 25, 2025 05:13 AM
Bob "RealMan" Timm

I'm with you Brian England on NO winter camping but I guess it's something that is really growing.

Jan 25, 2025 12:47 PM
Kat Palmiotti
eXp Commercial, Referral Divison - Kalispell, MT
Helping your Montana dreams take root

I have used recreation.gov to make reservations for campgrounds as well. I don't remember it being particularly tricky!

Jan 25, 2025 05:38 AM
Bob "RealMan" Timm

Kat Palmiotti I think when you muddle through it once it's not as tough subsequent times.

Jan 25, 2025 12:46 PM
Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Real Estate Broker

Good morning, Bob... one thing I can tell you without reservation (no pun intended) it's that I'm not making any reservations to camp anywhere. I went camping once with the Girl Scouts around 1959/1960... and I've seen no reason to repeat that experience! :)

Jan 25, 2025 06:32 AM
Nina Hollander, Broker

Bob "RealMan" Timm camper, schmamper... we are talking living outdoors... no, no, no I don't do that! My outdoor living consists of sitting on my front porch when the weather is nice! :)

Jan 25, 2025 12:53 PM
Bob "RealMan" Timm

I remember you saying that Nina Hollander, Broker BUT did each girl get their own 18' camper? 😄

Jan 25, 2025 12:44 PM
Bob "RealMan" Timm

I'd be happy to join you on that porch out front as well Nina Hollander, Broker .

Jan 25, 2025 12:57 PM
Nina Hollander, Broker

Bob "RealMan" Timm you're always welcome... and it's convenient to the fridge, the microwave, the bathroom What more could one ask for?

Jan 25, 2025 12:58 PM
Leanne Smith
Dirt Road Real Estate - Golden Valley, AZ
The Grit and Gratitude Agent

I am sure when going on a camping trip, the planning ahead works very well as this particular areas seems very busy. Thank you for your 4th entry.

Please make sure you return to the main URL for this month's challenge and post your link there. With all the contributions, I may have missed it.

Jan 26, 2025 07:40 AM
Bob "RealMan" Timm

I'm confused Leanne Smith as I've posted all 4 in the same place did I not?

Jan 26, 2025 05:25 PM
Scott Seaton Jr. SLS Home Insp
SLS Home Inspections-Kankakee Will Iroquois Grundy Counties - Bourbonnais, IL
The Home Inspector With a Heart!

with an Eagle scout son and as a Scoutmaster for 9 years, I have camped alot, and just wish my wife was into it the same way. She's more into cabin camping, which is cool too. 

Feb 01, 2025 06:44 AM
Bob "RealMan" Timm

I hear you Scott Seaton Jr. SLS Home Insp but I will say my wife has come along a good ways since we purchased a camper with a bathroom.

Feb 01, 2025 07:22 AM