Reservations possible?
No
RV Hookups
No
Potable water
Yes
Please respect the outdoors by practicing Leave No Trace. Learn more about how to apply the principles of Leave No Trace on your next outdoor adventure here.

Magpie Campground is located about halfway between Theodore Roosevelt National Park’s south and north units. It is about 90 minutes from Medora by car, a drive that takes you through the farm-and-oil roads of North Dakota. It is nestled in a wooded area surrounded by buttes, which make up the landscape of North Dakota’s badlands. The campground offers trail access to the Maah Daah Hey Trail, which is open to horseback riding, hiking, and mountain biking.

The campground features 10 campsites that include a fire pit, picnic table, and vehicle accommodation for one or two cars. Some campsites can fit a small RV, camper, or trailer, but there are no hookups available. There is a vault toilet, which typically has toilet paper, but you might want to bring your own just in case.

It also features running water. The water may be turned off during the winter months, and if you arrive in early spring, April or May, you may have to pump for quite awhile to get any water, up to 30 minutes. Bring your own water; it is very sparse in the badlands. If the spigot does not produce water, you are out of luck. During the summer months, there should not be any issues with the water since the campground is occupied more frequently. Campsites are first-come, first-served. 

Logistics + Planning

Preferable season(s)

Spring
Summer
Fall

Parking Pass

Not Required

Pros

Views. Secluded. Nearby trail.

Cons

Hard to find.

Pets allowed

Allowed

Managed by

Forest Service

Features

Vault toilet
Potable water

Recommended Campsites Without Photos

3 , 4

Location

Nearby Adventures

Nearby Lodging + Camping

Northwestern Great Plains, North Dakota

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