Best Campgrounds near Yankton, SD

The Missouri River region surrounding Yankton, South Dakota features multiple developed campgrounds with amenities ranging from basic to full-service. Lewis and Clark Recreation Area serves as the primary camping hub with several campground sections including East Midway, Chief White Crane, and Cottonwood areas. Most established campgrounds provide electrical hookups, picnic tables, fire rings, and access to restrooms. Both South Dakota and Nebraska state parks manage campgrounds in this area, offering tent sites, RV hookups, and cabin rentals. Facilities like Cottonwood Campground, Nebraska Tailwaters, and Pierson Ranch Recreation Area provide campers with direct access to Lewis and Clark Lake and the Missouri River.

Road conditions and access points vary across the region with paved sites dominating most developed areas. Water levels and seasonal closures affect campground availability, particularly at riverside locations. "The campground is easy to find if you take highway 81 south from Yankton and then turn right onto 121 west. The signage is easy to miss, but right where 121 makes a bend to the left, the road down to the Tailwaters campground departs on your right and descends down to the river," noted one camper about Nebraska Tailwaters. Many campgrounds require vehicle entry permits or camping fees ranging from $15-30 per night, with South Dakota and Nebraska each having their own permit systems. Most campgrounds around Yankton remain open year-round, though some facilities like showers close during colder months.

The shoreline campgrounds receive consistently high ratings for their proximity to water activities. Several camping areas feature boat ramps, fishing piers, and swimming access, making them popular with families and anglers. Mature cottonwood trees provide shade at many sites, particularly at Cottonwood Campground and Chief White Crane Recreation Area. According to visitor feedback, "The bathroom is in the parking lot along with a water source. The lake is on the other side of the parking lot." Campers frequently mention wildlife viewing opportunities, including bald eagles, deer, and waterfowl. Light pollution from security lights affects stargazing at some campgrounds. Recreational amenities beyond camping include disc golf courses, playgrounds, hiking trails, and fishing access points, with most trails connecting campgrounds along the river corridor.

Best Camping Sites Near Yankton, South Dakota (93)

    1. Yankton — Lewis And Clark Recreation Area

    18 Reviews
    Homme Lake, ND
    6 miles
    Website
    +1 (402) 388-4169

    $15 / night

    "South Dakota has it right with making reservations! Nebraska is HORRIBLE!!! We quit the Nebraska State parks years ago! Putting in coins to take a shower?! Really?! South Dakota doesn’t do that!!!"

    "We had a wonderfull Campside with view of the Lake .The campground is very big and Quiet. Very clean Bathhouses .Lot of Beaches and Playgrounds for Kids. We come back ."

    2. Nebraska Tailwaters

    11 Reviews
    Yankton, SD
    5 miles
    Website
    +1 (402) 667-2546

    $18 - $35 / night

    "In 1874 a group of Mennonites settled along the now Lewis& Clark Lake. Ground was broken in 1952 at the damsite."

    "This campground is situated along the Missouri River. There is a fishing pier and boat ramp. There are only about 10 tent campsites and a bunch of RV sites. The shower facilities were clean."

    3. Chief White Crane Recreation Area

    9 Reviews
    Homme Lake, ND
    5 miles
    Website
    +1 (605) 668-2985

    $8 - $55 / night

    "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)."

    "Located below Gavins Point Dam with easy access to Missouri River and Lake Yankton. The bathrooms are always clean and camping spaces are far apart."

    4. Cottonwood Campground

    9 Reviews
    Yankton, SD
    5 miles
    Website
    +1 (402) 667-2546

    $20 - $22 / night

    "Please contact the Lewis and Clark Visitor Center at (402) 667-2546 for more information.• The Gavins Point National Fish Hatchery and Aquarium• Visit nearby Yankton, South Dakota- the historic capitol"

    "There is access to water and restrooms in each loop. Some of the sites are right near Lake Yankton. There was decent fishing but nothing too special."

    5. Yankton - Missouri River KOA Journey

    6 Reviews
    Yankton, SD
    2 miles
    Website
    +1 (605) 260-1010

    $40 - $48 / night

    "Didn’t find too much to do in Yankton beyond walking across the old bridge to Nebraska and back! The town park had live music, a park, and was very nice to walk around."

    "It worked out perfectly, we had full hookups even in freezing weather, and access to laundry, bathrooms, and a playground."

    6. Weigand Campground — Lewis and Clark State Recreation Area

    8 Reviews
    Homme Lake, ND
    10 miles
    Website
    +1 (402) 388-4169

    $15 - $35 / night

    "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."

    "Pros: Well kept, scenic, fire pits, picnic tables, store onsite, golf course nearby, bar nearby Cons: Site 32 was a little shorter than the 50' length I expected, had to park the pull vehicle in the"

    7. East Midway — Lewis And Clark Recreation Area

    4 Reviews
    Homme Lake, ND
    7 miles
    Website
    +1 (605) 668-2985

    "The small cabins near the water was perfect for our small group! The bathrooms were close to our cabin and were very clean. There’s plenty of space, a nice lake, and some little beaches nearby."

    8. Gavins Horse Camp — Lewis And Clark Recreation Area

    3 Reviews
    Homme Lake, ND
    9 miles
    +1 (605) 668-2985

    "Great biking and walking paths for families - beautiful path along the waterfront!"

    9. Pierson Ranch Recreation Area

    2 Reviews
    Yankton, SD
    5 miles
    Website

    "Access to water was not convenient unless you drove.
    Most campers showed up in the evening. Campground was about 75% full by nightfall. Just up the road in Lewis and Clark SP."

    10. Ryken's RV Park

    1 Review
    Homme Lake, ND
    3 miles
    Website
    +1 (605) 661-6241

    "We were looking for a no-frills RV park in the Yankton area as a base camp. We looked at several other parks in the area and we found our home away from home at Rykens."

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Recent Reviews near Yankton, SD

279 Reviews of 93 Yankton Campgrounds


  • John D.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 7, 2025

    Lake Vermillion Recreation Area

    Very nice state park

    During the off-season, sep thru mid May (when the kids are in school) is the perfect time to stay at this state park. I do not stay during the high occupancy times since I don't like crowded camping, and this park is close to Sioux Falls and right off I90, which can make this place busy. There is a very nice sand beach, playgrounds, fishing, star gazing, and four campgrounds. I would not camp at the west side north area since it is very new and has very few trees. Great park if you're just passing through. Residents of South Dakota love their camping, so book a site as early as allowable. I would recommend the east campground. Very pretty. There are four very nice tent only sites in one area. I would give it five stars but to many people during the season.

  • Shirlee A.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 22, 2025

    Freeman City Park

    Perfect stop over

    What a great thing for the city to offer for travelers coming through!

    Flat fully leveled sites - 4 in total with electric hookups and a bathroom near by and a dump station.

    Right outside is a big park, playground, pool and volleyball court. Perfect to stop for the night for a very fair price.

  • LThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 17, 2025

    Mulberry Bend Wildlife Management Area

    Quiet but bugs

    This was a fine location. A few people stopped by the boat ramp but no one else stayed the night. I looked everywhere and saw no signs regarding camping here and I was not disturbed. Lots of mosquitos and flies made me stay indoors.

  • Morgan V.
    Sep. 15, 2025

    Modern Campground — Niobrara State Park

    Great little getaway

    We ended up having nearly the whole place to ourselves! Spots 43/44 were absolutely perfect! On the end which is always nice. Also far enough from the road so it wasn’t too noisy. It was downhill from the horse riding spot and there’s some dogs up there who were barking and came down to our camp twice. Level and spacious enough for our tent (some of the other spots were valleys). It was a short walk to the bathroom/shower.

    Right off of spot 43 is a path to a clearing right on the riverbank for fishing. You might not like that spot if it’s busy and people are walking through your camp set up to get to it.

    Showers and bathrooms were quite clean aside from bugs. Water had that icky egg smell lol.

    Lots of bugs around in general! Mosquitoes, gnats and spiders were especially bad for us.

    We drove around and looked at some of the other spots nearby. The primitive campsites looked super private and the cabins had some amazing views, I think cabin 10 would’ve been the best view but cost $170 per night.

  • RThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 14, 2025

    Union Grove State Park Campground

    Great overnight spot

    Right off the interstate, great access. On hill, treed sites. Large sites, with power. Some back in and some pull through. Great restrooms with showers. Campground host. Make reservations on line. Limited number of sites. Dump station. You can hear the interstate, but small nice campground

  • Travis A.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 8, 2025

    Mulberry Bend Wildlife Management Area

    Mulberry Bend Wildlife Management Area

    Nice spot to overnight for a day or two. Not a very large spot but enough room for 6 or 7 rigs. I tow a 20ft trailer Next to Vermilliom river. 1 picnic table, pit toilet, boat ramp. Easy to get to. Well maintained gravel road. No potable water. Walmart is 5.3 miles away.

  • RThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 16, 2025

    Mulberry Bend Wildlife Management Area

    Open in August 2025. No idea what all the fuss is about.

    I almost skipped this spot because people were complaining about it being roped off or closed, or it didn't look safe or whatever, and it couldn't be farther from the truth. Whoever is writing those is probably either overly conscious, or they're trying to dissuade other campers so that they can have the spot to themselves. But it's such a big place and a lot of places to park that it doesn't really make a whole lot of sense to do that, so I don't know what their motive was.

    There are trash cans and if you can do water procurement, there's the Missouri River. I don't see a grey dump though.

    No problem at all getting my bus in here.

  • kThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 10, 2025

    Lake Vermillion Recreation Area

    As good as a KOA

    Rangers are nice, park Host is amazing Facilities are clean Wifi is a little week for T-mobile but had star link for text Beautiful place view of lake, sites are paved, no stones Lots of trees and shade , i stayed in east campground

  • Nancy B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 27, 2025

    Elk Point City Park Campground

    Nice park

    What a great find. $15 with electric and some water hookups. Playground right there and a nice walking path


Guide to Yankton

Camping spots near Yankton, South Dakota provide direct access to Lewis and Clark Lake, formed by Gavins Point Dam on the Missouri River. The reservoir stretches approximately 35 miles with 90 miles of shoreline and reaches depths up to 45 feet. Winter temperatures often drop below freezing, allowing for ice fishing and cross-country skiing when conditions permit at many campgrounds that remain open year-round.

What to do

Disc golf courses: Cottonwood Campground features an on-site disc golf course where visitors can play a round surrounded by mature trees. "This campground sits about 100 yards from the Gavins Point Dam and right next to Lake Yankton. Campers are close to gas stations, mini golf, rental facilities, and restaurants. The campground contains a disc golf course, playground and restrooms," notes Max H.

Bike trails: Lewis and Clark Recreation Area offers extensive bike trails that connect multiple beaches. "This beautiful campground has a bike trail that connects all the beaches. It has hiking trails, parks, and a georgous lake for swimming or boating," writes Courtney G. The interconnected trail system allows cyclists to explore the entire recreation area without using roads.

Wildlife viewing: Winter visits to Cottonwood Campground provide opportunities for bald eagle watching when they congregate below the dam. "Located both upstream and downstream of Lewis and Clark Lake, visit the Missouri National Recreational River," suggests reviewer N I. The area around Gavins Point Dam serves as an important bald eagle wintering area from December through March.

What campers like

Lake access: Many campers appreciate the waterfront sites at Gavins Point Horse Camp. "Could see water from everywhere on site was nice and clean and very grassy," comments Isaac E. about the campground's location. Campsites positioned directly on the shoreline allow for fishing directly from your site.

Large campsites: Chief White Crane Recreation Area provides spacious sites with good separation between neighbors. "The spots were pretty large and very clean. We have two small children and the open space was great for them," reports Jennifer S. The campground features 146 camping sites and 10 cabins spread throughout a mature cottonwood grove.

Clean facilities: Nebraska Tailwaters receives consistent praise for its well-maintained restrooms. "The bathroom/showers are spotless," notes Dennis G. Another camper, Shannon C., adds: "The campsites are nice and clean, and the bathrooms are the cleanest bathrooms I have ever seen at a campground!"

What you should know

Reservation timing: Summer weekends fill quickly at the most popular campgrounds. "If it is during peak season, you want to reserve a site 90 days in advance," advises Courtney G. about Lewis and Clark Recreation Area.

Seasonal facilities: Some campground amenities close during colder months. "This last trip was April and they just got the bathrooms/showers turned on," mentions Judy B. about her spring visit to Chief White Crane Recreation Area.

Light pollution: Security lighting affects stargazing at Nebraska Tailwaters. "My only complaint is the 'yard lights' that are on all night. They are incredibly bright. It would have been nice to have it dark and see the sky," writes Judy B.

Site selection: At East Midway campground, shade coverage varies significantly between sites. "I evidently chose the one site that has no daytime shade. There was shade early and late, but nothing in the middle of the day," warns Leslie B. about nearby Pierson Ranch, which shares similar vegetation patterns.

Tips for camping with families

Playground access: Pierson Ranch Recreation Area offers multiple play areas for children. "Really fun campground with parks for kids and nice green grass with tons of sports offered," notes Isaac E. The recreation area maintains several playground structures throughout the campground.

Swimming beaches: Multiple small beaches provide safe swimming areas around Lewis and Clark Lake. "Lots of campsites with lake views, swimming beaches and bike trails as well as water equipment rental in the area," shares Kristen P. Swimming areas feature gradually sloping sandy bottoms ideal for younger children.

Cabin options: For families wanting a camping experience without tents, multiple recreation areas offer cabin rentals. "The small cabins near the water was perfect for our small group! The bathrooms were close to our cabin and were very clean," explains Molly K. about East Midway campground's lakeside cabins.

Tips from RVers

Electrical service only: Most sites in the area provide electricity but not full hookups. "Sites are electric only and sites get booked fast," mentions Courtney G. about Lewis and Clark Recreation Area.

Fill stations: Weigand Campground lacks water connections at individual sites. "Only electricity is available at the pads, dump station had no water to clean out as of 10/2022," reports Chris A. RVers should fill fresh water tanks before parking at their sites.

Site length limitations: Some sites accommodate smaller rigs better than others. "Site 32 was a little shorter than the 50' length I expected, had to park the pull vehicle in the grass to stay off the road," notes Chris A. about Weigand Campground. RVers with longer setups should verify site lengths before booking.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where are the best campgrounds in Yankton, South Dakota?

Yankton offers several excellent camping options. Chief White Crane Recreation Area is highly rated with 146 camping sites nestled in beautiful cottonwood groves. It features bike/hike trails through the woods and is part of South Dakota's well-maintained state park system. Yankton — Lewis And Clark Recreation Area is another fantastic choice with great reservation systems and clean facilities. Other notable options include Nebraska Tailwaters for riverside camping and Cottonwood Campground for those seeking electrical hookups and water access. Each offers unique experiences along the Missouri River with varying amenities and natural settings.

What camping amenities are available at Lake Yankton?

Cottonwood Campground at Lake Yankton provides excellent amenities for campers. The campground features 7 electrical sites, modern bathhouses and toilets, trash service, water access, and cell phone coverage. An RV dump station is conveniently located just north of the campground off Toe Road. East Midway — Lewis And Clark Recreation Area near Lake Yankton offers well-maintained facilities with marina and lake access points. The area provides fishing opportunities, though catches may vary in quality. Most sites around Lake Yankton are reservable online, making planning your stay easier. The area operates seasonally, typically from mid-April through mid-October.

Are there cabin rentals available at Yankton campgrounds?

Yes, cabin rentals are available at several Yankton area campgrounds. Chief White Crane Recreation Area offers 10 cabins alongside its 146 regular camping sites. These cabins provide comfortable accommodation options within the beautiful cottonwood setting. The South Dakota State Park system manages these facilities, which typically feature better amenities compared to some neighboring state parks. Cabins in the Yankton area generally require advance reservations, especially during peak seasons. For visitors seeking alternative lodging options, Pierson Ranch Recreation Area also provides accommodation choices near Yankton. Rental rates and availability vary by season, so booking ahead is recommended.