How much does camping cost at Cross Ranch Campground?

Camping fees at Cross Ranch Campground range from $15-$50/night. Prices may vary by site type (standard, hookup, premium) and season. Book online to see exact pricing for your dates.

Is Cross Ranch Campground first-come first-served or reservation?

Cross Ranch Campground accepts online reservations. We recommend booking in advance, especially during peak season (typically summer weekends). Use campsite alerts to get notified when spots become available.

Can I see photos of campsites at Cross Ranch Campground before I book?

Yes! Cross Ranch Campground has 16 campsite photos on Outdoorithm, contributed by campers who've stayed there. Browse real photos of individual sites to see what to expect before you reserve. You can also add your own photos after your trip to help the next family plan theirs.

What is the best time to visit Cross Ranch Campground?

Cross Ranch Campground is open Open year-round; contact the park for winter camping/overnight stays and generator approval.. The best time to visit depends on your preferences—summer offers the warmest weather and most activities, while spring and fall provide fewer crowds and milder temperatures. Check current conditions before your trip.

Are there showers at Cross Ranch Campground?

Cross Ranch Campground does not have shower facilities. Plan accordingly—nearby alternatives may include day-use areas or towns.

Can I have a campfire at Cross Ranch Campground?

Fire policies at Cross Ranch Campground: Many sites have fire rings with grills; follow park rules and any posted fire restrictions.. Always check current fire restrictions before your trip, as conditions change seasonally.

Is there cell service at Cross Ranch Campground?

Cell phone service at Cross Ranch Campground is generally available. Cell service is available. Coverage may vary by carrier and exact location within the campground.

How many campsites does Cross Ranch Campground have?

Cross Ranch Campground has 8 campsites. Sites vary in size, privacy, and amenities. Check availability online to find the best site for your needs.

Are dogs allowed at Cross Ranch Campground?

Yes, pets are allowed at Cross Ranch Campground. Dogs must typically be kept on a leash (usually 6 feet or shorter) and under control at all times. Be sure to clean up after your pet and check for any breed or size restrictions.

What amenities are available at Cross Ranch Campground?

Cross Ranch Campground offers: Restrooms, Potable Water, Dump Station, Electrical Hookups, Pets Allowed. See our detailed campground page for the full list of facilities and features.

Cross Ranch Campground

2 reviews

Top 13% in NDSummer

B+Report Card

Quick Facts

1,660 ft

Price

$15 - $50/night

Booking

Reservable

Sites

8 campsites

Season

Year-round

Cell

Has Service

Pets

Pets Allowed

Electric

Book on North Dakota Parks and Recreation Department Official Website

Get Directions

Quick Facts

1,660 ft

Price

$15 - $50/night

Booking

Reservable

Sites

8 campsites

Season

Year-round

Cell

Has Service

Pets

Pets Allowed

Electric

Book on North Dakota Parks and Recreation Department Official Website

Get Directions

Cross Ranch Campground

$15.00 - $50.00 / night

Campsite Fees

35 Standard Campsites (electricity) Price: $25-30 per night 6 Group Standard Campsites (electricity and the ability to put multiple units on one...

Standard Site Fee$25.00

Hookup Site Fee$50.00

Get Notified When Available

We'll monitor this campground and alert you the moment sites become available.

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256,000+ sites monitored · Email alerts to start; SMS and in-app with an account

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North Dakota State Parks

Provider

800-807-4723

I manage this campground

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Campground Map

Cross Ranch Campground

47.2137, -100.9999

Weather at Cross Ranch Campground

Best Time to Camp at Cross Ranch Campground

Summer brings warm, pleasant days averaging in the mid-80s°F—perfect for boating, fishing, and hiking the park's scenic trails. Winter transforms the landscape with temperatures dipping to the low teens, creating a stark and beautiful prairie solitude (though it's wise to contact the park before planning cold-weather overnight stays). The campground truly comes alive during the warmer months when the river beckons and the trails call out to explorers.

Best

Summer(Jun-Aug)

4.5 / 5

Top 13% in ND

Mid-80s summers ideal for boating, fishing and hiking; summer is a peak activity season.

Planning Tips

Operating Season: Open year-round; contact the park for winter camping/overnight stays and generator approval.

About Cross Ranch Campground

Discover one of North Dakota's hidden gems along the last free-flowing stretches of the Missouri River. Cross Ranch Campground welcomes you with electric hookup sites and a coveted riverside tent site, all with easy access to trails, river adventures, and a sprawling nature preserve where bison still roam wild.

A mostly primitive campground with one riverfront tent site and several (reported seven) electric back-in sites (20/30 amp) that accommodate campers and RVs; some units (Sanger unit) are best suited to boaters.

Historical Significance

The landscape reflects river corridor habitat historically used by Native American groups and follows the Missouri River corridor associated with historic expedition routes.

Weather and SeasonsSummer brings warm, pleasant days averaging in the mid-80s°F—perfect for boating, fishing, and hiking the park's scenic trails. Winter transforms the landscape with temperatures dipping to the low teens, creating a stark and beautiful prairie solitude (though it's wise to contact the park before planning cold-weather overnight stays). The campground truly comes alive during the warmer months when the river beckons and the trails call out to explorers.

Natural Features and SceneryStep into a landscape where the Great Plains meet the mighty Missouri. The park weaves together diverse ecosystems—from windswept mixed-grass prairies on the uplands to cottonwood-filled river bottoms and sheltered woody draws. Just beyond your campsite lies a remarkable 5,000-acre nature preserve where you can witness bison grazing across open prairie, much as they did centuries ago. The riverbanks invite exploration by boat or on foot, where patient observers are rewarded with sightings of deer, wild turkey, and countless bird species against a backdrop of unspoiled prairie and waterway.

Geological RegionMissouri River valley: flatlands and riverbanks with mixed prairie, river-bottom forest and woody draws adjacent to the Missouri River

Scenic ViewsScenic Missouri River views, including a tent site situated directly on the river and general riverfront vistas from several sites.

Best Campsites

Curated by campers, for campers

Reveal picks

Reserving a campsite

Check-in

4:00 pm

Check-out

3:00 pm

Tents

Tents are allowed

RV vehicles

RV vehicles are allowed

Primitive

Primitive camping is allowed

Reservable

Reservations are allowed

Reservation PlatformsOnline reservation system (UseDirect-based) or by calling 800-807-4723. Campsites can be booked up to 95 days in advance.

Total Campsites8 campsites

Best CampsitesThe single tent site located directly on the river offers the most direct water access; seven back-in gravel electric sites provide picnic tables, fire rings with grills and privacy. The southern Sanger unit is best suited to campers with boats.

Need help booking Cross Ranch Campground?

Reservation tips, booking windows, and free cancellation alerts.

When to Book

Find your booking window

Cancellation Alerts

Free alerts for this campground

Amenities available

Basic, mostly primitive campground amenities with several electric sites, vault toilets, picnic tables, fire rings with grills, a boat ramp, and on-site potable water (well pump reported). No showers are reported; trash receptacles and a picnic shelter are mentioned in secondary sources.

Potable water

Electricity hookups

Flush toilets

Dump station

Fire rings

Picnic tables

I manage this campground

Activities you can enjoy

Riverfront recreation on the Missouri River with boating and fishing, plus extensive trails and access to a large nature preserve with wildlife viewing opportunities (including bison). The park offers hiking, cross-country skiing in season, swimming holes, and birding.

Hiking

Fishing

Swimming

Boating

Wildlife viewing

Planning your trip?Check out our camping packing checklist

Policies & Safety

Hazards & AlertsRiver currents and water hazards, presence of roaming bison in the adjacent preserve, and limited amenities in some units (e.g., vault toilets and few or no showers). Some access roads are unpaved and may be poor in wet conditions.

Trip Planning Tools

Set an AlertGet notified when sites open up Check WeatherHistorical weather data Gear for This TripMatched gear recommendations Packing ListCustomizable checklist

Questions & answers

Researching this campground? Ask anything — other campers and our team will weigh in. No visit required.

Tips from campers

Short heads-ups about the road in, gear quirks, timing, and more. You don't have to have been here to share what you know.

Reviews

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From Booking Sources

0.0

2 reviews

Limited Reviews

Cross Ranch Campground has limited reviews, placing it in the bottom % of campgrounds based on reviews

Generally positive reviews emphasize privacy, nice river views, and basic but functional amenities; common notes include limited facilities (no showers reported) and spotty cell service.

Review Summaries

Based on 2 reviews

What Campers Love

Secluded, peaceful Missouri River setting; at least some electric hookups; direct riverfront tent site; boat ramp and access to a large nature preserve with wildlife viewing.

Based on 2 reviews

Common Concerns

Limited cell reception was mentioned (1 bar T‑Mobile) by a reviewer. No other repeated complaints appear in these reviews.

Based on 2 reviews

Outdoorithm Community

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Cross Ranch Campground

$15.00 - $50.00 / night

Campsite Fees

35 Standard Campsites (electricity) Price: $25-30 per night 6 Group Standard Campsites (electricity and the ability to put multiple units on one...

Standard Site Fee$25.00

Hookup Site Fee$50.00

Get Notified When Available

We'll monitor this campground and alert you the moment sites become available.

Free to start · paid plans add 2-min scans

256,000+ sites monitored · Email alerts to start; SMS and in-app with an account

Learn more about alerts →

Share this campground

North Dakota State Parks

Provider

800-807-4723

Go if

Anglers, paddlers, and wildlife watchers who can do without showers will find the riverfront tent site and boat ramp hard to beat. Walleye, catfish, and pike in the Missouri, plus 17 miles of trails and real bison sightings nearby.

Skip if

No showers anywhere on site, vault toilets only, and T-Mobile users reported barely one bar. If a hot rinse after a river day or reliable cell coverage is non-negotiable, this small eight-site park will wear on you fast.

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Campgrounds

Cross Ranch State Park

Cross Ranch Campground

B+

Camper Report Card

How campers graded it

Rated higher than 86% of graded campgrounds

Graded on what 97 campers actually wrote - graded on 14 things that make or break a trip. Each topic is graded against every other campground on it - A is among the best, C about average. No star ratings.

Strengths

Grade A.Belonging
Grade A-.Things to do
Grade A-.Crowds & noise

Watch-outs

Grade C-.Bugs & weather
Grade C-.Value
Grade B-.Safety

Every grade - tap to see what campers said

Each topic is graded against every other campground on it; a topic campers liked never grades below C−. ± shows the 95% confidence range from the sample size.

How we grade →See how North Dakota grades overall