It’s not often we take a chance on a first come, first serve campsite, but since we didn’t plan ahead for the busy Labor Day weekend we decided to drive there and see what happened anyway. And I’m so glad we did!
This post may contain affiliate links. At no cost to you, any purchase made through these links may earn us a small commission.
Once I decided I wanted to spend Labor Day weekend camping with my family I set out to find a campground or dry camping spot to set up camp for a couple nights. My first choice was Buffalo Gap Campground, just a 10-minute drive west of Medora, ND. The entire campground is first come, first serve, so I knew we were taking a chance. I had a few other places in mind if this one didn’t work out, but luckily for us it did.
CAMPGROUND INFORMATION
- Location: between Medora, ND and Sentinel Butte, ND
- Check-in: 1:00pm
- Check-out: 11:00am
- Cost: $20/night ($10 per night with an Interagency Access or Senior pass)
- Amenities: Flush toilets, vault toilets, showers, fresh water, dumpster, picnic area, fire pits, picnic tables
- Connectivity: No cell service with any of the major carriers (we did not try Starlink here)
- Booking: First come, first serve year-round
- Nearby Places to Visit: Medora, ND, Theodore Roosevelt National Park, Dakota Prairie National Grasslands
SITE SPECIFIC INFORMATION
- Site Number: 24
- Site type: Back-in
- Site ground and size: Asphalt, approx. 10’x45′
- Fire ring? Yes
- Grill? Yes
- Close to Amenities? Short walk to flush toilets via a trail at the back of the site
- Noise level: Some noise from the interstate but not disruptive
When we arrived at this campground around 1:30pm on Saturday afternoon we were greeted by the camp host, who informed us that there was one site that would probably fit us, out of the few sites that were left. We headed over to Hidatsa loop to site 24 to determine if it would fit us (it would!) and then pulled around back to the entrance to fill our fresh water tank. Back to the site to back in and get set up, then off to do some hiking. When we returned we had to park in the parking lot, since the site wasn’t quite large enough to fit our truck.
One thing to note, which is true for most federally and state run campgrounds we’ve been in: You are not allowed to drive or park off the pavement. If your vehicle doesn’t fit with all four tires in your site and on the pavement you have to park elsewhere.
This campground is surprisingly quiet despite being so close to the interstate. Even with a couple generators running for a bit (including ours), the noise was barely noticeable.
The toilets were very clean, the campground was very clean, and there was plenty of fresh water to be had. In our particular site, the picnic table and fire ring were on the “wrong” side (i.e. the opposite side of our door) but we didn’t actually mind since we could keep an eye on the dog and kids from most of our windows. We did have several people stop at the fresh water spigot at our site but again, we didn’t mind.
We did not have cell service here with either AT&T or Verizon. I was able to pick a bar once or twice but nothing usable. Most people could pick up a signal at the top of the hill if they really needed to. Although we have Starlink, we didn’t feel the need to set it up here since our goal was to disconnect for the weekend. However, a few sites have a clear view of the sky and would be fine for satellite internet.
Most sites are pretty shady, including the one we were in, so if you rely on solar you might be out of luck. Again, though, a few sites are open enough to get a good amount of sun during the day.
There are hiking trails here, including the Buffalo Gap Loop, Buffalo Gap Trail, and the much longer Maah Daah Hey Trail. My oldest daughter and I hiked the Buffalo Gap Loop Monday morning before we left and it was a great half-hour or so hike through the grassland. I also hiked up to the top of Buffalo Gap viewpoint to get an overview shot of the campground before hooking up to the camper and heading home.
We would absolutely stay here again if we’re in the area. It’s a great spot to explore the natural beauty of the grasslands and nearby Theodore Roosevelt National Park.
Have you stayed at this campground before? What did you think of it? Let us know in the comments! You can also find us on Instagram and Facebook @simplejoyfuljourney, or email me at alicia@simplejoyfuljourney.com. And don’t forget to subscribe to our newsletter at the bottom of the page before you go. Have a great week!