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Camping Spots Within an Hour
From a first backyard-style night in town to real lakeside sites — where to pitch the tent.
You don't have to drive to the mountains for a good first campout. Start close with an easy in-town site, then graduate to the state-park lakes east of the metro. All of these take reservations online. Distances are from Fargo.
Start close
Lindenwood Park Campground, FargoRiverside sites right in town — perfect for a first, bail-out-able nightVisit ↗Buffalo River State Park, MNBeach + campground 20 minutes east near GlyndonVisit ↗
Lake & woods (about an hour)
Maplewood State Park, MNWooded, hilly sites near Pelican RapidsVisit ↗Turtle River State Park, NDShaded sites and a tubing river near ArvillaVisit ↗Fort Ransom State Park, NDQuiet river-valley camping with horse trailsVisit ↗Detroit Lakes campgrounds, MNPublic and private lakeside options near the beachVisit ↗
Book it
Reserve an ND state siteBook North Dakota park campsites onlineVisit ↗Reserve an MN state siteBook Minnesota park campsites onlineVisit ↗
Dad Tip
For a kid's first campout, book a site you can drive away from — Lindenwood is 10 minutes from home, so a 2 a.m. meltdown is a short ride to your own bed instead of a ruined trip.