Charging Into the Wild: My First EV Car Camping Trip Through the Dakota Grasslands
Sweetbriar: The Free Campsite That Felt Like a Secret
The first stop was Sweetbriar Lake in North Dakota, a free campsite that felt like it was hidden in plain sight. No reservation system, no crowds, just an open prairie sky and a lake that mirrored the clouds, and lots of room for my mini aussies to chase, play, and swim. Pulling in silently with the EV felt almost stealthy — no engine rumble to disturb the geese or the breeze through the grass. That night, I watched the sun drop behind the horizon and realized: camping without the sounds of a gas engine is a whole new kind of peaceful.
Makoshika: Where the Badlands Get Even Wilder
From Sweetbriar, we drove west into Montana’s Makoshika State Park — a rugged stretch of badlands with otherworldly rock formations. The park’s name means “bad land” in Lakota, but I think “epic land” would be more fitting. We hiked miles of steep, rocky trails, the kind where we were rewarded with views that stretch forever. Back at camp, the EV doubled as a base station — keeping phones charged and serving as our nightly critter-proof storage.
Wannagan Camp and the Legendary Maah Daah Hey Trail
One of uur last stops was the Wannagan Campground in the North Dakota badlands. Rustic and quiet, it sat right on the Maah Daah Hey Trail, a 144-mile route that winds through grasslands, canyons, and buttes. We hiked some miles and enough to understand why it’s beloved by both hikers and mountain bikers. The trail tested my legs and lungs — but also my appreciation for untouched landscapes.
Traveling Light, Traveling Quiet
The EV was a game-changer for this trip. Sure, I had to plan charging stops (more carefully than in town and need to research adapters for the next trip), but the trade-off was worth it. There was something fitting about exploring wild places in a way that felt low-impact and almost whisper-quiet.
Would I take an EV on another rustic car camping trip? Absolutely. The Dakota Grasslands were the perfect testing ground — and they left me hungry for more miles, more hikes, and maybe even that full Maah Daah Hey Trail next time.
