Best Campgrounds near Pierce, NE

I didn't camp here, but I stopped as I was passing through. There are two camping areas, one area has 3 spots, this area is a little more private if you are the only one in this area. There is a little bit of road noise, you can see the highway through the trees.

The other area is a wider open space. It is farther from the highway and will have less noise.

The sites have water and electric. I only saw a 30A plug on the one I checked but other sites may have 50A. 

There is a downtown area a short distance away, probably a 5-10 minute walk.

Verizon and T-mobile were pretty slow here, but usable. On Verizon I got about 6Mbit down and 3 up. On T-mobile I got 5 down and 1 up. Both were 4G signals.

Located south of Yankton, SD and part of the South Dakota State Park system, this is a nice place to camp in a beautiful grove of cottonwood trees (I think). There are many campgrounds in the vicinity. This campground has 146 camping sites and 10 cabins.  Bike/hike trails run through the woods and also along the water to Pierson Campground. There is a bandstand and 3 areas with playground equipment. Bathrooms have flush toilets and hot showers. There is a dump station along the road by the water. Individual sites have electricity but not water hookups. Hydrants are scattered throughout the campground. Wildlife in the area includes geese, ducks, turkeys, eagles, and beavers that I have seen. The sites are large and paved. No tent platforms, but two sites toward the back of the campground are designated for tents. I have visited 3 or 4 times and always in the Spring or Fall. This last trip was April and they just got the bathrooms/showers turned on. Other things to do: fishing, kayak or paddleboard, biking, and walking.

https://gfp.sd.gov/parks/detail/chief-white-crane-recreation-area/

This is a dispersed campground that allows stays up to 14 days. This is a beautiful place. Trees are beautiful. The lake is beautiful. If you're a fly fisherman, this place is paridise if you can't get to usual fly fishing locations.

There is only one piece of playground equipment for children. It is a merry - go - round that swings as it goes around.

Pit toilets are filthy dirty and smell horrible.

Pads are uneven and made up of dirt or gravel in a couple of locations. Lots of tree shelter in the campground. Fire pits and elevated grills in each camp spot.

Lots of walking trails.

Sadly, I will never go back. The other campers were rude, arrogant, loud, drunk, filthy mouthed, and looking for fights. Generators ran all night and day. Night time bonfires were huge and out of control.

We got there, and there was one other camper, and it was delightful. The situation changed quickly, and in my humble, modest opinion, this is not a place for normal decent people. We did not feel safe at all.

P.S.

There is absolutely NO cell service in this campground.

We are staying at a basic tent camping site. There is available to us a pit toilet. Water is still shut down for the season.

Luckily, they do offer off-season rates. A Nebraska park permit is required for your vehicle.

Picnic table and fire ring are also here for us.

We are the only ones here in the entire park (mid-March 2025). Grounds are clean. Our site (site 5) is very large, and located on a small Bluff above the Missouri river.

Walking paths, frisbee golf, playgrounds, fishing, and boating are all available.

I have 4 bars of 5G cell service at my camp site. A WIFI hot spot is available at the camp office as well.