Hazelton Recreation Area
Lake Oahe — lakeside, fishing
Location: BISMARCK, ND, ND
Price: From $14 per night
Price range: $14–$18 per night
Rating: 4.4 out of 5 (34 reviews)
Season: May through October
Hazelton Recreation Area is located on the east bank of the Missouri River on Lake Oahe just south of Bismarck, North Dakota. The lake is formed by the Oahe Dam in South Dakota, which was built during the Flood Control Act of 1944, commonly called the Pick-Sloan Plan. The lake and dam are named for the Oahe Indian Mission established in 1874 among the Lakota Sioux Indians.
Cell coverage (FCC estimate): strong signal. Actual signal may vary in remote areas. Best carrier: AT&T. Verizon 4G: 100%. AT&T 4G: 100%. T-Mobile 4G: 100%.
Amenities: Fire Rings, Picnic Tables, Vault Toilets, Electric Hookups, Fishing, Boat Launch
Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/hazelton-recreation-area to be notified when sites open up.
Hazelton Recreation Area offers 30 sites on the east bank of the Missouri River on Lake Oahe with a 4.5/5 Google rating. The campground provides fire rings, picnic tables, vault toilets, electric hookups, and access to fishing and boating activities.
Wildlife alert: White-tailed Deer, Brown-headed Cowbird, American Avocet, Eastern Kingbird, and Western Meadowlark are present in the area.
Insider tips for Hazelton Recreation Area: Book early as this is a federal campground with high demand Water fill stations are available around the campground despite no water hookups at individual sites Sites are available on a first-come, first-served registration basis
Skip Hazelton Recreation Area if: You require full RV hookups — only electric hookups available, no water or sewer. You need year-round camping — seasonal operations only May through October. You prefer spacious site spacing — sites are described as close together.
Best time to visit Hazelton Recreation Area: May-October — Campground operates seasonally May through October only.
Nearby campgrounds: Beaver Creek Recreation Area (BISMARCK, ND).
Cell Phone Coverage at Hazelton Recreation Area
Cell signal at Hazelton Recreation Area (BISMARCK, ND): strong overall signal based on FCC broadband data. Best carrier: AT&T.
- Verizon 4G LTE: 100% coverage
- AT&T 4G LTE: 100% coverage · AT&T 5G: 100%
- T-Mobile 4G LTE: 100% coverage
Coverage data source: FCC Broadband Data Collection (BDC). Actual signal may vary due to terrain, tree cover, and distance from towers. Camper reports are more reliable than coverage maps in remote areas.
Hazelton Recreation Area is located on the east bank of the Missouri River on Lake Oahe just south of Bismarck, North Dakota. The lake is formed by the Oahe Dam in South Dakota, which was built during the Flood Control Act of 1944, commonly called the Pick-Sloan Plan. The lake and dam are named for the Oahe Indian Mission established in 1874 among the Lakota Sioux Indians.
Verified facts
RIDB / Recreation.gov official databaseAmenities
RIDB /facilities /campsites · owner-verifiedStraight talk
CamperWatch intel · curated from camper reportsKnown issues, each with the workaround. Read before you book.
Insider tips & when to go
CamperWatch intel · hand-curated entryBook early as this is a federal campground with high demand
Water fill stations are available around the campground despite no water hookups at individual sites
Sites are available on a first-come, first-served registration basis
Campground operates seasonally May through October only
Things to do nearby
RIDB /activities /recareas + intelConditions today
LiveCell signal
FCC BDC · quarterly datasetFCC maps are theoretical — camper reports confirm signal. Best carrier: AT&T.
Wildlife nearby
iNaturalist · research-grade · 8 kmLocation
Leaflet · OpenStreetMap tiles
Getting there →
From Bismarck, ND, take University Drive south (road becomes Highway 1804). Continue 25 miles south. Recreation area will be on the right side of the road.
Campground entrance
Google Maps APICommunity
#community · posts, photos & Q&A · AI-moderated (Claude Vision)Pro tips
- Book on recreation.gov exactly 6 months ahead at 10am ET — Lake Oahe fills fast in peak season.
- Check current road conditions at Lake Oahe before arrival — seasonal closures common.
Frequently asked questions
RIDB facts + intel · FAQPage schema, speakableHow much does Hazelton Recreation Area cost per night?+
What season is Hazelton Recreation Area open?+
Does Hazelton Recreation Area have hookups?+
What is the maximum RV length at Hazelton Recreation Area?+
How do I make reservations at Hazelton Recreation Area?+
What is the cell service like at Hazelton Recreation Area?+
What season is Hazelton Recreation Area open, and what are check-in times?+
Official resources
●Data sources on this page
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