Are you planning a dispersed camping trip to Chamberlain? We've got you covered. Find everything from dispersed backcountry camping to boondocking with The Dyrt. You're sure to find the perfect dispersed campgrounds for your South Dakota camping adventure.
Scout
Free dispersed camping on the river. No amenities but great views. 7 night max limit according to sign. Plenty of room to drive up and park away from other campers. Roads are dirt and can be a bit muddy while raining.
ScoutTraveling from New England to PNW in mid to late April, none of the campgrounds were open, and no BLM or FS to the East. This was the first dispersed camping in this leg of our trip. Right on the shore of the lake. Beautiful on the shore with a near full moon last night. Just off the edge of town, but quiet. Only real down side was some very bright lights off in the distance across and down the lake.
Travelerfree camping, exactly as described
TravelerGreat dispersed camp site a minute or two off of I90 (can hear the road noise). There were other people there when I stayed in August but everyone was quiet and kept to themselves. Felt safe sleeping there in my car as a solo female traveler.
Ranger
This place is about as perfect as it gets! Free camping - dispersed so pull up where you want. Or choose a spot with a fire ring and table.
Views are OUTSTANDING! You can fish, kayak, hike, etc. Right off highway but very quiet and peaceful. Slept great.
They do have toilets (I didn't use them) and they do have a couple electric spots that are $20/night (I didn't use them).
Just super easy, super beautiful and a great place to call home for a night or a few.
Lots of mozzies at night - so use spray or plan to be in your tent/vehicle once the sun goes down.
Legend
On the west side of the water are a series of dirt loops. Choose one and you will find plenty of spots to disperse camp. There are no services so pack everything out. We parked right along the water and enjoyed the view. There is a gas station just down the road. Chamberlain is across the water and has a bunch of interesting places to check out. With 15 minutes of us being there we saw a couple police cars and a local who ran his dog around for a few minutes before leaving. I like how the community keeps an eye on things.
Ranger
Camping by the river was nice! This is a good spot to boondock, it’s free, theres a pit toilet, and the road to get in isn’t bad! There were about 5 other parties when I camped here, some noise from others and traffic. It wasn’t bad, good for one night!
GuideGreat place to boondocks. No amenities, but it was safe and quiet. Best of all it was right off the water and it was spacious enough for everyone to spread out
ScoutBoondocking area along the Missouri River. Easy to get to off highway. Access via dirt roads. Lots of wildlife. Only downside is mild noise from highway depending on the wind direction.
TravelerWe pulled in off i90 at about 8:30 on Labor Day weekend. It was our first time boondocking and we were pleasantly surprised that there were other campers out here enjoying and plenty of room to park.
Overall it feels safe and our dog loved the river!
We would recommend.
Scout
Dispersed Campsites don’t get better than this. Right on the river. Wow.
GuideJust passing through and saw the Chamberlain Rec Area. No signage so pulled to the back next to the river for the night to relax.
TravelerClose to the water. Secluded. We were the only ones there when we went. Pretty chill, relaxing, quiet area. There are no signs, so it’s easy to miss. Just a little gravel road.
GuideWe needed a dispersed place to stop overnight on a road trip. This spot fit the bill. We parked our trailer right next to the Missouri River. There were a few other people there but everyone had plenty of room and it was quiet.
TravelerThis is a must stay camping area! A short drive off the interstate to a the wide open river flats. Room for dozens and dozens of campers but I only saw one other overnighter. Pulled up near the river and had a perfect night. Lots of wildlife with numerous bird species everywhere.
There are no services here but the river is close. Houses are across the field so not secluded but still a gorgeous place to stay.
TravelerNo campsites or signs. Just the area near the river. Relaxing. Quiet and super peaceful. I pitched my tent just by the river.
GuideThe field and the river are nice and there’s tons of space, but when we arrived there were over 20mph winds so we didn’t pitch a tent or use sleeping bags since we didn’t want anything to blow away. It’s great that the site is free though and it’s a pretty easy stop mid road trip, but definitely better for RVs then tent camping (depending on wind).
TravelerCan't beat free! It's close to I-90, so not much driving off the freeway to get here, and it's in a beautiful location next to the Missouri River and a farm with rolls of bailed hay that made for a beautiful sunrise photos. Be careful after a rain, as there can be muddy areas where a heavy vehicle could get stuck. We camped in our Ford Transit, but saw some people in a tent next to us. Quiet and peaceful. As two single women, we felt safe to camp here, which is always appreciated!
ScoutGreat location right on the Missouri River also called Lake Francisca Case.
GuideThese roads can get muddy! And I don’t mean just a little muddy, I mean “need to get your car towed and it will be a multi hour event.” Before driving on these roads, get out and ensure the route you’re about to drive is dry!
TravelerThe best way to describe this place is to say it’s Labor Day weekend and there are still riverfront spots open. It’s very quiet, most spots are totally exposed to the sun, there’s 2 bars of LTE for Verizon and AT&T which is plenty good enough to work. There are multiple entrances but there is a pit toilet and picnic tables near the primary entrance which is about 100 yards away from the closest spot.
TravelerStopped here for the night for a cross country car camping trip. It was beautiful there a d very empty at this time of year. Definitely recommend this place
TravelerThis place was such an amazing peaceful stop. Camped right next to the river. Temperature was awesome. The only downside was there were ALOT of bugs that looked like ginormous mosquitos. However, they didn’t bite and stayed away with a small fire and moving a lantern at 10 feet away. Either way, did not ruin our trip.
TravelerSuper close to the highway. Close to the river. About 5 other people there camping plenty of room in between everyone. Nice scenery no road noise.
TravelerWe pulled in as the sun was setting. Large open field area near the river. About four or five other campers but really far apart. Quiet with the sound of the water. Good place to sleep for the night.
ScoutRiverside camping area with a handful of spots. No facilities
GuideGreat landing spot for a night when passing through the area. Signs make it VERY clear that camping up to seven days is allowed. Right off the highway.
Discover the beauty of dispersed camping near Chamberlain, South Dakota, where you can enjoy the great outdoors without the constraints of traditional campgrounds. With stunning landscapes and a variety of activities, these spots offer a perfect escape for nature lovers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dispersed campsite near Chamberlain, SD?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dispersed campground near Chamberlain, SD is Oacoma Flatts with a 4.4-star rating from 28 reviews.
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TheDyrt.com has all 7 dispersed camping locations near Chamberlain, SD, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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