A Quiet Devils Lake Camping Getaway for Campfires, Fishing and Big Skies

By evening, Devils Lake has a way of simplifying the schedule. The boats are back at camp, supper can move toward the fire, and the open water catches the last light of the day. Sunsets over the lake are one of the small daily pleasures here, especially after a day that has included as much—or as little—activity as anyone wants.

This is a campground built around time outside. Its lakefront setting combines wooded green space, water views and scenic places for a casual walk, with enough room in the day for fishing, kayaking, biking, swimming or simply sitting under the trees.

The atmosphere stays notably peaceful. Campers come for overnight stops, weeklong cabin visits and annual fishing trips, but the common thread is a relaxed stay near the water rather than a packed itinerary.

The range of lodging choices makes the park useful for different styles of travel. Primitive tent sites, electric sites, full-hookup RV sites, pull-through spaces, cabins and multiple campground areas give visitors more than one way to settle in.

Many of the campsites are generously sized and shaded by mature trees. Privacy and spacing vary from one campground area to another, but sites farther into the park tend to feel more spread out than those closer to the office.

The Howard Campground and the modern full-hookup loop have larger sites suited to longer RV stays. Some pull-through sites are especially long, and utility arrangements vary: some have full hookups, while others provide water and electricity.

One appealing advantage of a large site is the ability to arrange the rig for the view you want. In a full-hookup space, an RV can sometimes face a wooded area rather than another camper's windows—a modest detail that changes the feel of a multiday stay.

RV campers will want leveling blocks in the storage compartment. Some sites are not perfectly level, a normal enough campground reality but worth accounting for before the chairs and awning come out.

Tent camping has its own quieter character here. The tent area is wooded and scenic, with trees providing shade and a little separation from the more developed RV sections.

Restrooms are nearby, and tent campers can also use the bath and shower facilities in the camper area. That combination lets a simple tent stay retain some welcome conveniences after a day near the lake.

During lower-occupancy periods, the quiet is particularly noticeable in this part of the park. It is an easy setting for outdoor cooking, a campfire after dark and the sort of unstructured afternoon that does not need much more than a folding chair and a book.

Fishing is a central reason many people return to Devils Lake. The park has four boat launches, room to park boats at campsites and a fish-cleaning station for taking care of the day's catch without turning the campsite into a work area.

Northern pike and walleye are among the fish campers have caught here. Nothing is guaranteed on the water, of course, but the infrastructure makes it practical to plan an actual fishing trip rather than merely toss a line in from shore between other activities.

The fish-processing station is a particularly useful finishing point. After a long day in the boat, it means the cleanup has a place of its own before the evening settles into dinner and a lakeside sunset.

Boat owners also have an outside storage option for an RV or boat between visits. For campers who make Devils Lake a repeat destination, that can remove one piece of the usual travel-day shuffle.

The shoreline supports a looser mix of recreation, too. Kayaks, swimming, bicycle rides and casual walks all fit naturally into a stay, and the lake views give even a brief stroll a pleasant destination.

A designated swimming area includes a gravel beach. Lake conditions can change with wind, vegetation and algae, so swimming is best viewed as one option within a broader menu of waterfront recreation rather than the sole reason to come.

The walking routes are for taking things slowly. They are good for stretching your legs after the drive, listening for birds in the trees or wandering back toward camp without needing to make a serious hike of it.

Birdwatching can fill more time than expected. A variety of birds can be seen and heard around the park, adding a little activity to a morning coffee or a pause on a walk.

Deer sometimes move through the campground as well. Along with the mature trees and broad patches of green space, those sightings give the place a lived-in natural feel without making it seem remote or difficult to use.

The best rhythm may be alternating a little motion with a little idleness: a bike ride, an hour on the water, a walk through the trees, then back to camp. Devils Lake stays in view often enough to keep the setting present even when nobody is doing much.

Camping visitors with dogs have a useful extra amenity: a large off-leash dog park. It gives dogs dedicated room to run instead of asking every campsite loop to double as an exercise area.

That detail suits the general easygoing character of the park. A mixed group can divide the day among fishing, walking, relaxing and dog time without anyone needing to leave the grounds for every small errand or outing.

The practical side of camping is handled well. Large bath and shower buildings serve the campground, and the grounds, sites and facilities are kept clean and maintained.

A convenience store covers basic forgotten supplies, sparing campers an unnecessary run away from the lake for a small item. It is not glamorous, but a dependable place to replace something left on the kitchen counter is often one of the better campground amenities.

Staff and campground hosts maintain an active, welcoming presence. Help is available for campsite questions and, when a space needs to be changed, for finding an alternative arrangement.

There is no campground Wi-Fi, and cellular service can be spotty depending on the carrier. For some campers, that will be a drawback; for others, it may fit neatly with an evening spent watching the lake instead of a screen.

Warm-weather visits can bring mosquitoes, so repellent belongs with the camp stove and flashlight. The trees, water and quiet corners are worth having, but they come with the usual lakeside insect population.

A separate park pass is required. Daily and annual options have been available, though current fees and pass details are best confirmed before the trip.