Best Campgrounds near Platte, SD

The Missouri River region surrounding Platte, South Dakota features a diverse range of camping areas from established campgrounds to dispersed options. Snake Creek Recreation Area offers electrical hookups and shower facilities for RVs and tent campers, while Platte Creek State Recreation Area provides waterfront sites with good shoreline fishing access. Buryanek Recreation Area, located approximately 25 miles northwest of Platte, accommodates tent camping, RVs, and even offers cabin options. The region also includes Oacoma Flatts, a free dispersed camping area situated along the Missouri River with minimal amenities but river access.

Weather conditions and seasonal considerations vary throughout the year in this region. Most developed campgrounds remain open year-round but with reduced services during winter months. Several campgrounds like Snake Creek and Pease Creek maintain electrical service throughout the year while shutting down water systems in colder months. "Bathrooms and showers, along with water faucets, are all shut down for the season," noted one winter visitor to Pease Creek Recreation Area. Road access to camping areas typically involves a mix of paved highways and well-maintained gravel roads, with most sites accessible without high-clearance vehicles. Cell phone service can be spotty, particularly at Platte Creek where visitors report limited connectivity with major carriers.

Campers frequently mention the Missouri River access as a primary draw for recreation in the area. Waterfront sites at Platte Creek State Recreation Area are particularly sought-after, with one visitor describing it as "our favorite campground" where "the boat ramp is really close to the sites and most sites are on the water or really close to the water." Fishing opportunities abound throughout the region's recreation areas. At North Point Recreation Area, visitors appreciate the "large, well spaced out campsites" and amenities including beach access, walking paths, and nearby golf. The dispersed camping at Oacoma Flatts provides a more primitive experience but offers scenic views and river access without fees. Several campgrounds in the area feature electrical hookups, making them suitable for both tent campers and RV travelers looking for basic amenities.

Best Camping Sites Near Platte, South Dakota (52)

    1. Snake Creek Recreation Area — Snake Creek State Recreation Area

    11 Reviews
    Platte, SD
    14 miles
    Website
    +1 (605) 337-2587

    "Lesson learned to plan ahead while traveling through South Dakota."

    "clean bathrooms, playground area, hiking trails, kids fishing pond and beach area. Boat ramp across the street but nearby with a bar/restaurant. We had a great stay June 2018."

    2. Platte Creek State Rec Area

    2 Reviews
    Platte, SD
    9 miles
    Website
    +1 (605) 337-2587

    "The boat ramp is really close to the sites and most sites are on the water or really close to the water. The bathrooms are clean. Showers have private doors. Nice playground and beach area."

    3. Buryanek Recreation Area

    5 Reviews
    Platte, SD
    17 miles
    Website
    +1 (605) 337-2587

    $15 - $19 / night

    "Access to this area is off highway 44 but be prepared for several miles of minimally maintained dirt road (with some big hills) to get there."

    "Water was warm in Lake Francis Case on the Missouri River."

    4. Pease Creek Recreation Area

    6 Reviews
    Geddes, SD
    18 miles
    Website
    +1 (605) 487-7046

    $22 / night

    "Pease Creek Recreation Area is off the Missouri River out in the middle of nowhere but if you are a water/fishing person it is worth the drive for a quiet, laid back vacation."

    "A wooded campground, about .25 mile walk/drive to the river. Clean bathrooms and vault toilets. Nice shoreline to stroll along with dogs. Saw mountain lion tracks along shore..."

    6. North Wheeler Recreation Area

    1 Review
    Geddes, SD
    15 miles
    Website
    +1 (605) 487-7046

    7. Stickney City Park

    7 Reviews
    Mitchell, SD
    25 miles
    Website

    $15 / night

    "A diner is within walking distance, it’s super quaint with delicious ice cream and fries! This is a great location for an overnight spot."

    "Needed a quick night's stay to break up a long drive, and this was the perfect spot. We ended up being the only campers overnight."

    8. North Point Recreation Area

    8 Reviews
    Conestoga Lake, NE
    25 miles
    Website
    +1 (605) 487-7046

    "Kinda cool to say you SUP'd from South Dakota to Nebraska with a beer on the board. 

    Bathrooms were clean and had showers. Garbage and recycling on premises. AT&T signal was strong."

    "Beach, walking paths, fishing and golf nearby.

    Quiet and well manicured."

    9. White Lake Lodge & RV Campground

    6 Reviews
    Platte, SD
    24 miles
    Website
    +1 (605) 249-2295

    $35 - $40 / night

    "Open field with campsites next to each other. Some road noise since the interstate is close by."

    "The campground is next to the highway, it is convienient but not at all scenic. Facilities were clean and comfortable. WiFi was good. There are washing machines and dryers."

    10. Oacoma Flatts

    33 Reviews
    Chamberlain, SD
    39 miles

    "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."

    "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"

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Recent Reviews near Platte, SD

256 Reviews of 52 Platte Campgrounds


  • Shirlee A.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 23, 2025

    Oamoca River Camping

    Stunning!!

    Open skies, beautiful river view and so peaceful!

    A perfect camping spot 🙌

  • Shirlee A.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 23, 2025

    Oacoma Flats

    WOW!!

    Free camping at one of the most beautiful spots I’ve seen!

    Super clean, quiet and serene with a stunning view of the river and sunset..

    Nights are chilly with wind but not bad

  • R
    Sep. 18, 2025

    Cedar Shore Resort

    Nice park on river

    Nice park on the river, and bike path. Large blacktop pads, with good space between sites. Access to hotel facilities. Bathrooms a little older & dated, but pretty clean. Good water pressure & flow in showers.

    Good dog walking areas.

  • Tracy K.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 16, 2025

    Lake Mitchell Campground

    Nice view, quiet campground

    This was the perfect campsite after driving 13 hours. I reserved in advance and got the spot right on the lake. Gorgeous view. Campground was quiet, nice bathrooms, staff that checked me in was wonderful! Make sure to bring your bug spray! I car camped, so I didn't use any of the hookups.

  • H
    Sep. 13, 2025

    Corsica City Campground

    Simple camping

    We stayed here while visiting family in the area. For $20 a night it’s well worth the money. Site was level, we had 50amp, and there is a concrete pad with a picnic table. There is a place to dump.

  • DThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 8, 2025

    Hills RV Park

    Good find

    Clean, friendly, convenient location just off interstate with Dollar General in walking distance. Nancy is great!

  • JThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 5, 2025

    Oacoma Flats

    VERY QUIET SPOT

    Not a place she would want to stay if it’s raining because it’s all dirt roads. They are also pretty unlevel so you have to drive slow but if you finagle your rig around, you could find something that’s halfway level. We have a Truck Camper and we are within tolerance of it being level at this point. Gorgeous view the river and very quiet!

  • AThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 31, 2025

    Stickney City Park

    Overnight stay

    We needed a place to stay overnight while we were passing through. This area is open, has bathroom and showers, it also has volleyball courts and possibly other recreational activities. It has electric hook up and fire rings. We were the only ones here overnight on a Saturday during Labor Day weekend.

  • J
    Aug. 24, 2025

    American Creek Campground

    Nice view of the river

    Just staying overnight and the campsites worked perfectly for our needs.


Guide to Platte

The Missouri River region near Platte, South Dakota sits at approximately 1,500 feet elevation with summer temperatures averaging 85°F and winter lows often dropping below 10°F. The area experiences distinct seasonal changes with strong winds common year-round. Camping sites near Platte, South Dakota provide direct access to Lake Francis Case, created by the Fort Randall Dam in 1953, offering 540 miles of shoreline for recreational activities.

What to do

**Fishing opportunities: Dedicated anglers frequent Snake Creek Recreation Area for its varied fishing spots. "Great fishing and fun swimming," notes one visitor. Another camper mentions a "kids fishing pond" among the amenities.

**Water recreation: The Missouri River provides swimming access at multiple points. At North Point Recreation Area, campers appreciate the "beautiful sunset over the Missouri River and the rolling hills of the southern shore." One visitor enjoyed "sunset paddle boarding on the river" noting it was "kinda cool to say you SUP'd from South Dakota to Nebraska with a beer on the board."

**Hiking options: Several campgrounds maintain walking paths of varying distances. North Point Recreation Area features the "North Shore Path, a 1.2 mile loop good for all levels mainly used for hiking." Buryanek Recreation Area offers more extensive hiking trails with options for horseback riding across its 600 acres.

What campers like

**Spacious sites: Many campgrounds in the region provide well-separated camping spots. Buryanek Recreation Area receives praise for its "big sites. A lot of room between sites" and one camper noted it has "large, well spaced out campsites."

**Privacy options: For those seeking seclusion, dispersed camping at Oacoma Flatts provides isolation. A visitor mentioned "the spots were really spaced out and it felt private" while another stated "there are several places to park just follow any number of dirt paths to the river."

**Clean facilities: Multiple campgrounds maintain well-kept amenities. One camper at Snake Creek Recreation Area praised the "clean bathrooms, playground area, hiking trails" while another noted "bathrooms and showers kept very clean."

What you should know

**Weather considerations: The region experiences significant seasonal changes. Winter camping remains available at Pease Creek Recreation Area, though with limitations. A December visitor reported: "Wind was 24 mph gusts hit 45 mph... Sites are gravel and, for the most part, level. We didn't require any leveling blocks at all. 50 - 30 - 20 amp service with no errors at the electric box."

**Wildlife awareness: The area hosts diverse wildlife including bald eagles and occasional predators. A Pease Creek visitor reported "saw mountain lion tracks along shore" while another December camper noted "we were delighted with the company of 4 Bald Eagles. Hundreds of migrating Canadian Geese."

**Road conditions: Access to some sites requires preparation. At Buryanek Recreation Area, campers should "be prepared for several miles of minimally maintained dirt road (with some big hills)." Similarly, Oacoma Flatts can present challenges as "the roads look like they are a problem when it's really wet - lots of ruts and a few places where I could tell people get stuck."

Tips for camping with families

**Swimming beaches: Several campgrounds offer designated swimming areas. At Platte Creek Recreation Area, "nice playground and beach area" are available. Snake Creek Recreation Area provides a "beach area quite rocky but water was refreshing and we still enjoyed our time swimming and playing."

**Playground access: Many sites include recreational facilities for children. Snake Creek Recreation Area features a "playground for kids" and North Point Recreation Area offers additional options including "volleyball court & tennis courts."

**Bug prevention: Insect activity increases in summer months and near water. A visitor to Oacoma Flatts noted "the bugs also became an issue as it got darker, but it was fine once we were inside our tent." At Snake Creek, one camper mentioned "flies were annoying, but not terrible… might get worse?"

Tips from RVers

**Overnight convenience: For travelers passing through, Stickney City Park provides an accessible stopover. "Needed a quick night's stay to break up a long drive, and this was the perfect spot. Spots are mostly level - we didn't even have to unhook from our hitch." Another RVer noted it's "right on a park with a playground and a baseball field in a track very beautiful area in about 8 miles off of interstate 90."

**Hookup availability: Electric service is widely available but other connections vary. At Snake Creek Recreation Area, "water hookups throughout but we were farther than 50' feet and had to fill up when we arrived." Stickney City Park offers "2 sites that offer 30-20 amp service and short pads. 3 sites have 50-30-20 amp boxes."

**Leveling requirements: Site terrain varies considerably between campgrounds. Snake Creek Recreation Area has a "gravel mound on lots of sites so it was a bit tricky to back in and level but we managed" while Pease Creek sites are "for the most part, level. We didn't require any leveling blocks at all."

Frequently Asked Questions

What campgrounds are available in Platte, SD?

Platte, South Dakota offers several excellent camping options. Platte Creek State Rec Area is a small but popular campground with sites near or on the water, clean bathrooms with private shower doors, a playground, and beach area. The boat ramp is conveniently close to campsites, making it ideal for fishing enthusiasts. Another option is Famil-E-Fun Campground & RV Park, which accommodates both RVs and tent campers with clean, well-maintained bathrooms and showers. Other nearby options include Snake Creek Recreation Area, which is popular with families who enjoy boating and fishing on the Missouri River.

How far is Platte, SD from Yankton?

Platte, SD is approximately 60 miles from Yankton, which is about a 1-hour drive via SD-44 and SD-37. If you're planning to visit both areas, River City Campground in Yankton offers a convenient base with access through a small industrial area. When traveling between these locations, you might consider Pease Creek Recreation Area, which is situated along the Missouri River. Though somewhat remote, it offers quiet, laid-back camping experiences for water and fishing enthusiasts. The drive between these areas traverses South Dakota's characteristic long, straight roads with generally reliable GPS and cell phone signals.

What recreational facilities are available in Platte, South Dakota?

Platte, South Dakota offers excellent water-based recreation centered around the Missouri River. North Point Recreation Area provides electric hookups and pleasant camping with water access. For swimming, Hills RV Park features a refreshing swimming pool that's particularly welcome during hot summer days. The area boasts numerous fishing opportunities along the shoreline, boat ramps for water access, and beaches for swimming and relaxation. Families will appreciate the playgrounds available at several recreation areas. Hiking trails and wildlife viewing opportunities are also available throughout the region, making Platte an excellent destination for outdoor enthusiasts looking to enjoy South Dakota's natural beauty.