The Missouri River curves around this Army Corps of Engineers campground on a small peninsula below the Big Bend Dam. Pull-through sites dominate the layout, with most offering electric hookups and views toward Lake Sharpe's waters. Campers navigate rock riprap to reach the shoreline, where steep banks make shore fishing challenging without a boat.
Wind sweeps across the open terrain regularly, making the curved wooden windbreaker screens at each site a practical necessity rather than decoration. Terri D. notes "Most sites were pull through which is quite convenient for us trailer people" and describes spacious layouts with fire pits and concrete picnic tables. The bathhouse draws consistent praise for cleanliness, though the water spigots require some figuring out to operate.
Anglers use the boat ramp and fish cleaning station to access deeper waters beyond the rocky shoreline. The campground includes a disc golf course, playground, and horseshoe pits spread across the peninsula. A siren sounds periodically from the nearby dam operations. Camp hosts sell firewood and ice with extended evening hours, and several reviewers mention their helpfulness with directions and local information.
Access requires following GPS carefully, as signage along State Route 47 doesn't clearly mark the campground turnoff. Some sites pair campers end-to-end on shared pads, creating close neighbor situations. For additional camping choices in the region, explore campgrounds near Chamberlain. The season runs May through September, with reservations available through Recreation.gov for the 81 electric sites and 12 non-electric options.
Description
Overview
Left Tailrace Campgound at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers - Big Bend Project, sits on the shore of Lake Francis Case on the Missouri River below Big Bend Dam. Just upstream of Left Tailrace, Lake Sharpe, a popular recreation destination in the Great Plains,was created by the completion of Big Bend Dam in 1966.Today, approximately 80,000 acres of public lands and water provide a variety of benefits to the public including flood control, recreation, conservation of our natural resources, fish and wildlife habitat, irrigation, and hydropower production.It is possible to view many types of wildlife on the Missouri River at Lake Sharpe. Tribal bison herds can be seen grazing the lake area's grasslands north of the towns of Fort Thompson and Lower Brule. The shoreline areas of the lake also offer excellent waterfowl, upland game birds and big game hunting opportunities. Big game animals include whitetail and mule deer, elk, bison, coyotes and wild turkeys. Waterfowl and upland game birds include ducks, geese, pheasants, prairie chickens, and grouse. Hunting regulations are established and enforced by the State of South Dakota, and the Lower Brule and Crow Creek Tribes. For more information, visit the Big Bend Project website .
Recreation
Lake Sharpe provides many opportunities for outdoor recreation. Recreation areas vary from primitive to highly developed areas like the Left Tailrace area located below the dam. Facilities at the Left Tailrace include campsites with electrical hookups, comfort stations with showers, a dump station, boat ramp, fish cleaning station, courtesy dock, picnic shelters, tables, grills, drinking water, disc golf, etc. Fishing is the main attraction to the area, with walleye being the primary sport fish, although sauger, smallmouth bass, white bass, channel catfish and northern pike also provide great fishing action.
Facilities
Left Tailrace Campground offers 81 electrical hookups and 12 non-electrical tent sites. Electrical sites have a 30 and 50 amp pedastal, paved pull-thru and back-in sites. Left Tailrace Campground also offers men's and women's comfort stations with showers and toilet stalls. Each site has a picnic table and most with shelter covering, fire ring and shade nearby. Tents sites have fire rings and picinic tables. The area also offers large day use areas with shelters and grills, play grounds and a nine-hole disc golf range.
Natural Features
Left Tailrace Campground is located in central South Dakota, three miles from the town of Fort Thompson, 20 miles from Chamberlain and 65 miles from Pierre, which is the state capitol. Lake Sharpe was the last of the Missouri River reservoirs completed and follows a serpentine course of 80 miles between Big Bend Dam and Pierre, SD.
Contact Info
For facility specific information, please call (605) 245-2255.
Charges & Cancellations
Reservation changes and cancellations can be made on Recreation.gov or by calling 1-877-444-6777. For more information on rules and policies regarding reservation cancellations and changes, please visit: https://www.recreation.gov/rules-reservation-policies.
Fee Info
Camping reservations can be made at Recreation.gov or by calling 1-877-444-6777.
Location
Public CampgroundLeft Tailrace - Lake Sharpe is located in South Dakota
Directions
From west bound I-90 take exit 265 at Chamberalin SD, turn right on to Highway 50 travel approximatly 16 miles, turn left on to BIA Highway 4, travel 8 miles to FT. Thompson SD, turn left on to highway 47 travel 3 miles then take a left at the Left Tailrace Campground sign on Big Bend Dam then travel approximately 1 mile to the Left Tailrace Campground. From East bound I-90 take exit 248 at Reliance SD take a left onto Highway 47 north bound, travel 18 miles to Big Bend Dam. Turn right after crossing the Power House bridge, then turn right at the Left Tailrace Campground sign, and travel about 1 mile to the Left Tailrace Campground.
Coordinates
44.0408333 N
99.4394444 W
Connectivity
T-Mobile5GExcellent CoverageVerified by 3 usersLast on 3/12/26
VerizonLTEGood CoverageVerified by 13 usersLast on 3/12/26- AT&T5GExcellent CoverageVerified by 3 usersLast on 3/12/26
Connectivity
- T-Mobile5GExcellent CoverageVerified by 3 usersLast on 3/12/26
- VerizonLTEGood CoverageVerified by 13 usersLast on 3/12/26
- AT&T5GExcellent CoverageVerified by 3 usersLast on 3/12/26
Access
- Drive-InPark next to your site
- Walk-InPark in a lot, walk to your site.
Site Types
- Tent Sites
- RV Sites
- Standard (Tent/RV)
- Group
- Tent Cabin
Features
For Campers
- Trash
- Picnic Table
- Firewood Available
- Phone Service
- Reservable
- WiFi
- Drinking Water
- Electric Hookups
- Pets
- Fires
For Vehicles
- Sanitary Dump
- Pull-Through Sites
- 50 Amp Hookups
- Big Rig Friendly
Drive Time
- 2 hrs 21 min from Sioux Falls, SD
- 2 hrs 48 min from Rapid City, SD
- 3 hrs 23 min from Sioux City, IA
- 3 hrs 50 min from Bismarck, ND
