Left Tailrace
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.
More like this: electric hookups in South Dakota · reservable in South Dakota · big rigs in South Dakota · pets allowed in South Dakota
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Standard with electric | 79 |
| Tent-only | 12 |
| Host/management | 2 |
Site guide
Will my RV fit
The longest site here provides 89 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.
91 sites in 4 loops. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Loop | Type | Entry | Fits, ft | Surface | Shade | Power | Waterfront | People / vehicles | Fires | Accessible | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 | Electric | Pull-through | Paved | Partial | 50 amp | Lakefront | 8 / 2 | Yes | Standard | |||
| 01 | Lower Loop Sites 1-12 singles | Electric | Pull-through | 89 | Paved | Partial | 50 amp | Lakefront | 8 / 2 | Yes | Standard | |
| 02 | Lower Loop Sites 1-12 singles | Electric | Pull-through | 84 | Paved | Partial | 50 amp | Lakefront | 8 / 2 | Yes | Standard | |
| 03 | Lower Loop Sites 1-12 singles | Electric | Pull-through | 76 | Paved | Partial | 50 amp | Lakefront | 8 / 2 | Yes | Standard | |
| 04 | Lower Loop Sites 1-12 singles | Electric | Pull-through | 76 | Paved | Partial | 50 amp | Lakefront | 8 / 2 | Yes | Standard | |
| 05 | Lower Loop Sites 1-12 singles | Electric | Pull-through | 74 | Paved | 50 amp | Lakefront | 8 / 2 | Yes | Standard | ||
| 06 | Lower Loop Sites 1-12 singles | Electric | Pull-through | 76 | Paved | 50 amp | Lakefront | 8 / 2 | Yes | Standard | ||
| 07 | Lower Loop Sites 1-12 singles | Electric | Pull-through | 79 | Paved | Partial | 50 amp | Lakefront | 8 / 2 | Yes | Standard | |
| 08 | Lower Loop Sites 1-12 singles | Electric | Pull-through | 80 | Paved | Partial | 50 amp | Lakefront | 8 / 2 | Yes | Standard | |
| 09 | Lower Loop Sites 1-12 singles | Electric | Pull-through | 80 | Paved | Partial | 50 amp | Lakefront | 8 / 2 | Yes | Standard |
Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 4:00 PM, checkout 4:00 PM.
Amenities & rules
| Hookups | Electric |
| Max vehicle length | 89 ft |
| Equipment | RVs & trailers, Tents |
| Pets | Allowed |
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
| Fees | Camping reservations can be made at Recreation.gov or by calling 1-877-444-6777. |
| Accessibility | Sites 27, 40, 41 are listed accessible |
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.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Weather by month
Getting there
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…
| Nearest town | Chamberlain, South Dakota |
| Coordinates | 44.0408° N, 99.4394° W · Directions ↗ |
Supplies & services
| Dump station | American Creek RV Dump Station ↗ | 16.3 mi |
| Outdoor gear | Bomgaars ↗ | 19.3 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
⛺ Left Tailrace Campground Review // Fort Thompson, SD // USACE
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.
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.
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Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
Do I need a reservation at Left Tailrace?
Sites at Left Tailrace are reservable on Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
How much does it cost to camp at Left Tailrace?
Camping reservations can be made at Recreation.gov or by calling 1-877-444-6777.
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Left Tailrace?
Check-in 4:00 PM, checkout 4:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
How many sites does Left Tailrace have?
93 sites, including 79 standard sites with power and 12 tent-only sites.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Left Tailrace?
Recreation.gov lists no practical vehicle capacity limit for the largest site here, which usually means pull-through or open parking. The sidebar tool checks a trailer or motorhome length against every site.
Source: Will my RV fit
Does Left Tailrace have hookups?
Yes, electric hookups at some sites.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are there showers or a dump station at Left Tailrace?
Left Tailrace Campground also offers men's and women's comfort stations with showers and toilet stalls.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are pets allowed at Left Tailrace?
Yes, pets are allowed at Left Tailrace. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at Left Tailrace?
Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are there accessible sites at Left Tailrace?
Sites 27, 40, and 41 are listed accessible on Recreation.gov. What that covers (a paved pad, an accessible table, a nearby accessible restroom) is on each site's booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
Is there cell service at Left Tailrace?
FCC coverage maps show Verizon 4G LTE, AT&T 5G, and T-Mobile 5G at the campground point. Terrain changes that from one site to the next.
Source: FCC Broadband Map
What is there to do at Left Tailrace?
Lake Sharpe provides many opportunities for outdoor recreation. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation