Jamestown, North Dakota is a city with a rich history stretching back to its founding in 1872. It was founded as the first permanent settlement in the Dakota Territory and is now home to over 15,000 people who live and work in the city. Jamestown offers visitors a wide range of activities, including opportunities to explore nature, participate in recreational activities, and experience history. The city features many museums and galleries that provide an insight into its past, ranging from the National Buffalo Museum to the Frontier Village Museum. Additionally, numerous parks, such as Lowry Park or Comstock Park, offer plenty of outdoor recreation opportunities like hiking trails and playgrounds.
Jamestown is also known for its cultural attractions, such as Stutsman County Library, which offers a variety of books, audio-visual materials, and services. There are beautiful botanical gardens as well, including the Chautauqua Park Botanical Garden, which provides a tranquil atmosphere for visitors to relax and enjoy nature’s beauty. Visitors can also find great restaurants like Yolanda's Mexican Café & Bar or Loaf 'N Jug Burgers & Beer that offer reasonably priced delicious food. Also nearby are Lakewood Mall Shopping Center and Jamestown Mall Shopping Center, where shoppers can find anything from clothes to electronics.
Those who love shopping local boutiques and specialty stores should check out Downtown Jamestown, which features unique shops that sell everything from antiques to homemade gifts. And each year, on the Fourth of July holiday, they celebrate with fireworks displays over Jamestown Lake that draw large crowds from around the area.
Campgrounds Near Jamestown, North Dakota
Lindenwood Campground is a scenic campground located just outside of Jamestown, North Dakota. This park offers plenty of activities for the whole family to enjoy, such as camping, fishing, boating, and hiking. The park features two main campgrounds: the Long Creek Campground and the Hillsborough Campground. The Long Creek Campground features a variety of campsites, ranging from full-service sites with electric hookups to rustic primitive sites without electricity. This campground also has a boat launch and several picnic areas that are perfect for day trips or relaxing evenings outside.
The Hillsboro Campground is situated on the banks of Lindenwood Lake and boasts some beautiful lake views from its many campsites. There are sites suitable for tents as well as RVs available in this wooded setting, along with fire pits and picnic tables at each site. There are also water spigots throughout the campground where you can get fresh drinking water. Other amenities include restrooms with showers and flush toilets, plus an RV dump station nearby when you need to empty your tanks upon departure.
Nestled in the rolling hills of Jamestown, North Dakota lies Eggerts Landing Campground. It has over 30 tent- and RV-friendly sites, hookups for electricity and water, and clean showers and restrooms. Furthermore, visitors can take advantage of fishing spots along the James River and also explore nature trails that traverse stunning lush countryside views. Additional recreational activities such as horseshoes, volleyball, basketball, fire pits, and a playground provide entertainment for adults and children.
State Parks Near Jamestown, North Dakota
Fort Ransom State Park is located just west of Jamestown, North Dakota and is an excellent spot for outdoor recreation. With over 500 acres of diverse landscape, there are plenty of activities to choose from, including hiking, biking, wildlife viewing, fishing, and camping. There are two campgrounds in the park with sites that can accommodate tents or recreational vehicles. Each site includes electricity hookups and fire rings. A kitchen shelter with picnic tables, flush toilets, and showers provides extra convenience for campers. The park also has an 18-hole disc golf course with tees for players of all skill levels.
Turtle River State Park is another great option for outdoor adventurers near Jamestown, North Dakota. Located just north of town, this 1,200-acre park offers a variety of activities, including camping, swimming in the heated pool complex, boating on the lake, fishing, and more. The park has three separate campgrounds, each offering electric hookups and modern comfort stations with flush toilets and showers. The park also features nature programs during the summer and cross-country skiing trails in the wintertime.
Icelandic State Park is situated near Cavalier County in northern North Dakota and is a perfect destination for RVers looking to explore the area’s natural beauty. This 622-acre park features woodland trails that wind through red cedar forests leading to a view of Lake Renwick, where visitors can swim or fish for walleye or bass. In addition to its camping sites that offer electric hookups and modern comfort station facilities complete with flush toilets and showers, Icelandic State Park also features two picturesque sandy beaches for swimming and several picnic areas scattered throughout the grounds.
National Sites Near Jamestown, North Dakota
Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site is an excellent destination for RVers near Jamestown, North Dakota. It offers an incredible opportunity to explore the history of the Northern Plains Indians. The site stretches along the Knife River and includes earth lodges, village sites, and evidence of other past activities like hunting, gathering, and farming. With various interpretive programs and activities, visitors can gain a deeper understanding of life before Europeans arrived in North America. Additionally, RVers can camp out near the site at the Knife River Campground, which offers five campsites with electrical hookups and a modern shower house and restroom facilities.
Pipestone National Monument, located in Pipestone, MN, just over two hours from Jamestown, is another excellent destination for RVers interested in Native American history. This site is home to sacred pipestone quarries where Native Americans have gathered since pre-historic times to obtain red pipestone used in ceremonial pipes. Today, visitors can explore these quarries as well as other sacred sites throughout the area, such as Medicine Rock which was said to be used by Native Americans for prayer and spiritual ceremonies. The monument also offers camping opportunities at its campground which has 16 primitive campsites available for visitors that include picnic tables, fire rings, and toilets but no water or electric hookups.
Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site is just under two hours away from Jamestown in Williston, North Dakota. It provides another exciting destination for RVers looking to explore historical sites near Jamestown. Established in 1828, Fort Union was once one of the essential fur trading posts on the Upper Missouri River where trade goods were exchanged between traders from Europe and Native American tribes living across the Northern Plains region. Today, visitors can explore reconstructed buildings such as warehouses, clerk’s quarters, and more while also learning about key figures who played an essential role in shaping this unique corner of American history, such as Pierre Choteau, Jr., Manuel Lisa, John Jacob Astor, and more, through interactive interpretative programming offered on-site. There are no camping opportunities at Fort Union Trading Post; however, several nearby options along US Highway 2 offer full-service camping for RVers, including 20/30/50 amp electric hookups and primitive tent camping sites with access to restrooms and shower facilities with hot water included.
National Forests Near Jamestown, North Dakota
The Chippewa National Forest is located in northern Minnesota and covers nearly 1.6 million acres. It features over 450 lakes and rivers, providing some of the best outdoor recreation opportunities in the Midwest. Visitors can enjoy camping, fishing, boating, hiking, snowmobiling, and more. It’s also home to some of the most beautiful scenery in the region, with dense forests of pine and spruce trees along with rolling hills and abundant wildlife.
The Superior National Forest is located in northeastern Minnesota and spans over 3 million acres. While it offers some of the same recreational activities as Chippewa National Forest, such as camping, fishing, boating, and hiking, it also has its own unique set of attractions, including boat tours on Lake Superior and spectacular views from Lookout Mountain. Hikers will love exploring the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, which consists of over 1 million acres of uninterrupted wilderness. There’s also a plethora of wildlife here, including moose, bears, wolves, and bald eagles, which can be seen while exploring this majestic landscape.
Finally, Ottawa National Forest is located in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula on the shores of Lake Superior. This forest covers nearly 700 thousand acres, including vast stretches of old-growth forests and miles upon miles of shoreline along Lake Superior’s northern coast. Here, you can explore trails through the amazing forests or camp along its breathtaking beaches, offering unparalleled opportunities for solitude and relaxation among nature’s beauty.
