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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 nightChecked July 30, 2026Visit ↗Buffalo River State Park, MNBeach + campground 20 minutes east near GlyndonChecked August 14, 2026Visit ↗

Lake & woods (about an hour)

Maplewood State Park, MNWooded, hilly sites near Pelican RapidsChecked August 14, 2026Visit ↗Turtle River State Park, NDShaded sites and a tubing river near ArvillaChecked August 14, 2026Visit ↗Fort Ransom State Park, NDQuiet river-valley camping with horse trailsChecked August 14, 2026Visit ↗
Detroit Lakes campgrounds, MNPublic and private lakeside options near the beach

Book it

Reserve an ND state siteBook North Dakota park campsites onlineChecked August 14, 2026Visit ↗Reserve an MN state siteBook Minnesota park campsites onlineChecked August 14, 2026Visit ↗
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.

Every place on this page was read on its own website, and the date beside each one is the day we read it. What that date does and does not promise.

From the blog: Our First Family Campout: What I'd Change

More in this section: Travel & Day Trips in Fargo-Moorhead