Lake Oahe stretches 231 miles from Pierre, South Dakota to Bismarck, North Dakota, with campgrounds concentrated around the southern portion. The area experiences extreme seasonal temperature shifts, from below-freezing winters to summer highs regularly reaching 90°F. Camping options range from basic tent sites without hookups to full-service RV facilities with 30-50 amp electrical connections.
What to do
Fishing access: Oahe Downstream Recreation Area Campground 3 provides excellent fishing opportunities directly from campsites. "Hubby could walk out of the camper and fish," notes one camper. The recreation area includes boat launches and shoreline access for anglers seeking walleye, pike, and bass.
Bird watching: The Missouri River corridor hosts significant bird populations, especially in spring and fall. "The bird watching is wonderful here and the Bald Eagles will put on a show for you," reports a visitor to Oahe Downstream Recreation Area. Winter roosting eagles can be observed from November through March, though campers should maintain distance to avoid disturbing them.
Disc golf and archery: Several Lake Oahe campgrounds maintain recreational facilities beyond water activities. Oahe Downstream Recreation Area offers "disc golf, archery, biking, birding, boating, fishing, horseshoes, lawn games, swimming with sand beach," according to visitor reports. Most of these amenities operate seasonally from April through October.
What campers like
Waterfront sites: Fischers Lilly Park in Fort Pierre offers direct river access. "The location right on the banks of the Missouri River can't be beat, and it's the perfect location for exploring all that the Pierre area has to offer," writes one reviewer. Sites cost $15 for water/electric hookups.
Clean facilities: Campground maintenance receives consistent praise across Lake Oahe locations. "The bathrooms/showers are clean as is the campgrounds," notes a visitor to Oahe Downstream Recreation Area. Another camper at Fischers Lilly Park reported their site was "immaculate" with "bathrooms at the park" though requiring "a good walk to get to."
Value pricing: Okobojo Point Recreation Area offers budget-friendly camping at $16.91 per night plus a $4 gate fee. One visitor noted the campground features "well marked campsites" with "vault style restrooms" and appreciates that sites are "really spread out" with "pretty views of the river from almost all sites."
What you should know
Registration systems vary: Some campgrounds require advance reservations while others operate on first-come, first-served basis. At Okobojo Point, a camper found it "hard to register without appropriate forms (the post was out of envelopes)." At Big Pines, visitors praised the "super easy" check-in process.
Cell service fluctuations: Mobile coverage varies significantly around Lake Oahe. At Fischers Lilly Park, one camper reported "cell signal on Verizon was a solid 3 bars," but coverage decreases in more remote areas, particularly north of Pierre.
Winter camping limitations: While some areas remain open year-round, most campgrounds restrict winter access. Oahe Downstream Recreation Area campgrounds close to camping from "November 15 through the last Friday in March" because "Bald eagles are winter roosting and can be easily disturbed."
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: River View RV Park provides recreational facilities for children. One visitor noted, "Playground, basketball goal, sand volleyball for the kids." The campground also offers "a table for games or visiting and a collection of books and games to use."
Swimming beaches: Several Lake Oahe campgrounds maintain designated swimming areas during summer months. Cow Creek State Recreation Area visitor remarked this is "an ideal campground for those with a boat for fishing or playing on Lake Oahe" and recommended families "be out on the water all day and then relax at the campground at night."
Educational opportunities: The Lake Oahe area contains significant historical sites. At River View RV Park, a camper suggests visiting "the Verendrye monument just down the road, it's a surprising bit of history from 400 years ago!"
Tips from RVers
Site selection: At Country Cabins & RV Park in Mobridge, RVers appreciate the "big sites, has all of the hook ups needed for an RV" with "pull through sites." One visitor noted the sites offer "good space overall" though cautioned about potentially being "overcharged" for last-minute stays.
Seasonal availability: RV sites near Lake Oahe operate on different seasonal schedules. Country Cabins & RV Park runs from "April to November," while some facilities like River View RV Park remain open through December, and Oahe Downstream maintains limited year-round operations.
Water access planning: Many rv campgrounds around Lake Oahe offer only electrical hookups at sites. At Oahe Downstream Recreation Area, campers advise that "sites are electric only but you can fill water before you come in." Most campgrounds provide communal water spigots throughout the grounds for refilling tanks.
