Frontier Fort Campground

The Great Outdoors

You won't need to venture far out of town to get a whiff of the outdoors while camping at Frontier Fort Campground; over 35 miles of trails of varying difficulties weave in and around Jamestown alone. Begin with one of the easy mile-long (or shorter) trails located in Klaus Park, McElroy Park, and Meidinger Park.If you're ready to sweat a little more, hit the five-mile North Ridge Trail through rolling prairie, and you will be rewarded with scenic views of the lake and woodlands. Share the eight-mile Pipestem Trail with cyclists, and tackle the more challenging ten-mile White Cloud Trail along the James River for a chance to spot bison roaming in the pasture behind it. Together with the Pipestem Creek, a prime area for perch fishing, the James River makes for fantastic canoe and kayaking outings.Avid birders should consider booking the best RV rentals in Stutsman County to get them close to the Chase Lake National Wildlife Refuge. Spanning more than 4,000 acres, half of which is water, the refuge protects one of the largest breeding colonies of American white pelicans. Scope out the vast expanse of Chase Lake for nesting pelicans, or keep a sharp eye out for waterfowl and grassland birds. Hiking trails are open to the public, with a chance to explore some graveled or prairie trail in your Jamestown camper rental.Then take your rental RV for another spin down North Dakota's back ways. Half an hour's drive from your campsite at Frontier Fort Campground, State Highway 46 marks the start of the 35-mile Chan SanSan Scenic Byway through a valley carved out by glacial meltwater over 12,000 years ago. If you suspect Native American ties to the area, that's because Chan SanSan is the Yanktonai Sioux name for the James River, and Native American presence can be seen in earthen mounds located between Grand Rapids and Adrian. Pause at interpretive panels along the way to learn more about the history of the area, and follow the road until the stately LaMoure County Courthouse in LaMoure comes into view, signaling you’ve arrived.

Exploring the Area

Rent a camper near Frontier Fort Campground, and you’ll be thoroughly entertained even without leaving town. Start at "Dakota Thunder," the 26-foot-tall, 60-ton concrete figure that has stood as Jamestown's horned sentinel since 1959. This mammoth American buffalo guards the entrance to the Frontier Village, where antiques and artifacts illustrate the life of prairie pioneers. Stagecoach and pony rides not only make the visit more exciting for the kids but also provide a more immersive experience of North Dakota's frontiers for all ages.Close by is the National Buffalo Museum and a live buffalo herd roaming freely in 200 acres of pasture land. If you wish to learn the significance of bison to Native American Plains cultures, the animals' near extinction, and eventual restoration, the National Buffalo Museum is worth a good look around.For fans of frontier stories, walking in the footsteps of the prolific novelist Louis L'Amour should be in order. A self-guided tour of L'Amour's native town will bring you to the Franklin School, where he received formal education; Alfred Dickey Public Library, where he developed his thirst for the written word; and the L'Amour Home Site where his family's home once stood. The historic 1883 Stutsman County Courthouse, where L'Amour's father once served as county constable, is also part of this tour.As you can see, when you camp in an RV near Jamestown, there’s plenty going on that will occupy you for days. So book your RV rental in Jamestown, North Dakota today, and enjoy some of the tastiest bison steak burger and ribs around.