Any campground suggestions near Fargo ND (can be in MN) and Sioux Falls SD?

[Boudicca908]

In September, my friend and I are going to be camping in Theodore Roosevelt NP (the North Unit) and Badlands NP & Rapid City SD environs.  After that, we are heading east and looking at spending a day near Fargo ND, and then a few days in the Sioux Falls SD area, to explore museums and local sights. West of Sioux Falls, we plan to go to the World's Only Corn Palace, in Mitchell SD. 

We prefer not to camp in the urban area. The closest federal camping I see is Cottonwood Recreation Area campground near Yankton SD (1.5 hours) and Left Tailrace near Thompson SD (2.5 hours). I've camped at Cottonwood and it was nice. But we would like to be closer to Sioux Falls. 

Any suggestions for the Fargo area and the Sioux Falls area would be appreciated. 

Edited 22 hours ago by Boudicca908

[Galileo]

We’re in Starbuck, MN - Glacial Lakes SP. 
 

The bathrooms are just OK - a bit dated.

5 miles from the town of Starbuck. (There’s no Starbucks in Starbuck.)

Bigger town of Glenwood a 20 drive - more stores and restaurants.

Alexandria about a half hour away. (This is where the Starbucks is)

Nice lake here. Also near Lake Minnewaska. Some hiking.

Quiet during mid-week. Typically full weekends. 

Electric-only sites - no water at sites. There is a place to fill and a dump station. Also primitive sites. 

Flies and mosquitoes ARE all here. (“Minnesota - Land of 10,000 lakes - and 10,000,000,000 mosquitoes.”)

Pretty much halfway between Fargo and Sioux Falls. 

We’re campground hosts until end of July. Our second year. This was our attempt at “cooler weather during the summer” - we didn’t go far enough North!

Edited 21 hours ago by Galileo
Typos/autocorrect

[jd1923]

6 hours ago, Boudicca908 said:

spending a day near Fargo ND

I highly recommend this campground (unless there's thunderstorms). Quiet and beautiful in the Sheyenne National Grassland, just one hour S-SW of Fargo. It's also very inexpensive accepting the National Senior Pass too!

We spent a night there last summer. Wanted to stay longer but we got a little muddy on the way in and feared storms coming in the next afternoon. But it's dry most of the time with nicely graded dirt roads the last few miles. We met some girls who brought their horses out for the weekend! Just gorgeous!

Dakota Prairie Grasslands | Hankinson Hills Campground | Forest Service

Edited 15 hours ago by jd1923

[Boudicca908]

 

 

7 hours ago, Galileo said:

Flies and mosquitoes ARE all here. (“Minnesota - Land of 10,000 lakes - and 10,000,000,000 mosquitoes.”)

Oh my -- the biting insects. Sometimes I do forget about them -- haha -- thinking that I have escaped by leaving southwest Florida for the summer, but ooohhh no.  They nailed me last year in eastern Wyoming at a low-lying campground.  

Also, @Galileo I find that it's not necessarily how far North you go, but how high in elevation. The mountains can really make a difference for beating the heat. 

2 hours ago, jd1923 said:

in the Sheyenne National Grassland

Thanks @jd1923 that looks great. It might be the ticket. 

[Galileo]

Yes @Boudicca908, we enjoyed the mosquitoes in the Everglades when we camped there a couple of years ago. They had a cute little sign with a movable arrow like you see telling what the fire danger is. Except this one was about mosquitoes. It was about mid-scale “moderate”. We had to RUN from the truck to the trailer to keep bites to less than about ten - and all intentions of a campfire or sitting outside were immediately scrapped. 

We did the “mountains” thing on the trip we’re wrapping up. Camped up to about 8,000 feet. There, it was wondering why you get out of breath on easy hikes. 

If memory of aviation planning holds, you get about 3 degrees Fahrenheit for each 1,000 of elevation. Too bad we’re not there now, as it was, in April and May we were getting into the 20’s and high teens at night. Heater hose is on my wish list for 2027!