Left Tailrace Campground
Army Corps Of Engineers
Write a Review Highway 47 Fort Thompson, SD 57339 605-245-2255 Official WebsiteGPS: 44.041, -99.4396
Overview of Left Tailrace Campground
Last Price Paid: $11
Reported by Nomad Reign RV on 8/8/2024
Longest RV Reported: 42 feet
Reported by Our Moving House on 8/7/2017
Number of Sites 81
Reservations yes
Elevation 1,345 ft / 409 m
Tent Camping Yes
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Q&A - Ask the Community about Left Tailrace Campground
To ask questions of the owner or manager please contact the campground directly. 605.245.2255
camper-835735 asked on 10/7/2023
Can anyone go to this campground or do you need to be in the military?
Reviews of Left Tailrace Campground 33 people have reviewed this location.
Cell Phone Coverage
Confirmed by 19 Users
Last reported 9/29/2023
Confirmed by 12 Users
Last reported 8/8/2024
Confirmed by 1 User
Last reported 7/7/2022
“The campground remains a five-star find and comes highly recommended.”
Reviewed 8/8/2024
| Nightly rate: | $11 |
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| Days stayed: | 2 |
| Site Number: | 11 |
| RV Length: | 19' (Travel Trailer) |
Overall Rating
We camped here two years ago over the 4th of July and it was packed. In August of 2024 the campers were few. The person still in charge of check-in switched us over in 2022 to a site she felt was the best of all of them. However this time site 22A was not available. But due to a recent cancellation she changed us to site 11, a pull-thr... more
We camped here two years ago over the 4th of July and it was packed. In August of 2024 the campers were few. The person still in charge of check-in switched us over in 2022 to a site she felt was the best of all of them. However this time site 22A was not available. But due to a recent cancellation she changed us to site 11, a pull-through basically right across from the coveted spot. Site 11 is another great site that overlooks the water and is roomy and private enough.
What a wonderful park. The only downside is the lack of any good food in the area, not to mention any historical or interesting places (at least to our knowledge) to visit in the area. The Crow Nation inhabits this part of the country and the people populating the reservation appear quite poor. There is a casino and a convenience store where I tested their fried chicken two years ago and I didn't want to go back.
ATT provided three bars of service which enabled us to stream TV and take a much-needed break from our travels. We avoided TV viewing the first two months of our summer voyage, but we needed to have this entertainment value of late to prepare for our final last dash back into the stifling heat of the deep South. We’ve been on the road since the first Monday in June and we were tired and worn out.
The restrooms were clean and the showers excellent. The campground remains a five-star find and comes highly recommended. Boating and fishing seem to be the most popular activities, but we love relaxing here, reading books, enjoying the cool weather, and keeping informed with the news.
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AT&T 5G
Nomad Reign RV would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Nice Camp on a Lake”
Reviewed 7/2/2024
| Nightly rate: | $22 |
|---|---|
| Days stayed: | 7 |
| Site Number: | 20 A |
Overall Rating
A nice little campground on a lake. You're going to be a bit crowded in, sites that say A or B will be back to back. Choose the lower loop B side as it has a view of the lake and a bit more privacy. Bathrooms are clean with flush toilets and hot showers. Partial hookups. Water isn't available at the site, but is available th... more
A nice little campground on a lake.
You're going to be a bit crowded in, sites that say A or B will be back to back. Choose the lower loop B side as it has a view of the lake and a bit more privacy.
Bathrooms are clean with flush toilets and hot showers.
Partial hookups. Water isn't available at the site, but is available throughout the campground. Each site has electrical both 30 and 50 amp.
You can purchase both ice and firewood from the camphosts who are always readily available.
If you need a grocery store, there's a small market about 5 min away, but no real produce section there but they have the basics. For a larger store you'll need to travel about 30 minutes away, and the nearest Walmart is over an hour away, so be sure to come already supplied or you'll be driving a lot.
The wind can get intense here, they even have a siren that will go off if the wind reaches dangerous levels, which didn't happen while I was here, but it seems like wind is a normal thing. We got both calm days and windy days, but nothing too crazy.
I was able to use TMobile Home Internet and stream shows without a problem. Starlink works too.
Sites are level and they have both pull through and back in. Each site has a concrete picnic table and firepit. Both were clean.
Negatives to report... not really, it's a great little campground. Just know there's not a lot of privacy, and the stores are far away, so if you're expecting that in advance, you'll enjoy it.
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AT&T 5G
Lisa_Travels would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Ok campground good for a night stay”
Reviewed 9/29/2023
| Days stayed: | 1 |
|---|---|
| Site Number: | 25 |
Overall Rating
We were on site 25 electric A good Campground. The sites were fairly spacious and not too close together. Easy set up since it was level. Well maintained with great bathrooms. Google maps routed us an odd way but we found the campground. Since we were there only 1 night it is hard to tell how it would be for more than that. Very... more
We were on site 25 electric
A good Campground. The sites were fairly spacious and not too close together. Easy set up since it was level. Well maintained with great bathrooms. Google maps routed us an odd way but we found the campground. Since we were there only 1 night it is hard to tell how it would be for more than that. Very close to the dam.
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Verizon 4G
Mpolys would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Great overnight spot”
Reviewed 9/26/2023
| Nightly rate: | $11 |
|---|---|
| Days stayed: | 1 |
| Site Number: | 11 |
| RV Length: | 39' (Bus) |
Overall Rating
Stayed here overnight as we drove thru SD. COE park with plenty of water around. Our site was #11 a pull-thru with 50A power. Water spigots located around the CG and there's a central dump station. Roads are wide and level sites making it big rig friendly. Good cell service. If you're coming NB on SD 47 to the park, the right turn int... more
Stayed here overnight as we drove thru SD. COE park with plenty of water around. Our site was #11 a pull-thru with 50A power. Water spigots located around the CG and there's a central dump station. Roads are wide and level sites making it big rig friendly. Good cell service. If you're coming NB on SD 47 to the park, the right turn into the park entrance is rather sharp. Driving around the region of COE is lovely. Finding a map of the park isn't easy so I include one for this review.
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Verizon 4G
kerry_atx would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Great sites, wonderful hosts. ”
Reviewed 8/30/2023
| Nightly rate: | $22 |
|---|---|
| Days stayed: | 7 |
| Site Number: | 24 |
Overall Rating
Did get a spotty 1 down and 0.5 up on my t mobile hotspot. Cell roamed onto ATT. If you have ATT this may work, but 'no' tmobile essentially. Starlink saved the day as per usual, Sites are wide, paved, have concrete picnic tables with shade shelters. Mostly pull through with a ring of backins on the edges. 30 minutes to a dece... more
Did get a spotty 1 down and 0.5 up on my t mobile hotspot. Cell roamed onto ATT. If you have ATT this may work, but 'no' tmobile essentially. Starlink saved the day as per usual,
Sites are wide, paved, have concrete picnic tables with shade shelters. Mostly pull through with a ring of backins on the edges. 30 minutes to a decent grocery store/ace hardware/mcdonalds in Chamberlin. Couple of gas stations, small grocery, and Family Dollar in Fort Thompson 4 minutes away. Walmart is over an hour away in Pierre.
Dump station and water fill as you come in, and several water fills around the camp. Showers and flush toilets in camp.
Hosts were extremely friendly, moved me to a shaded spot for my stay when I was checking in, as I just picked a random site when booking. Seem to put a lot of care into the campground.
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T-Mobile
KnM would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Beautiful And Clean ”
Reviewed 7/30/2023
| Nightly rate: | $22 |
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| Days stayed: | 2 |
| Site Number: | 19 |
Overall Rating
Exceptionally clean and relatively quiet. The hosts take really good care of the campground and the bathrooms. We were in sites 21b (great view of the lake) and 19b (sliver of a view). The only reason for not giving it five stars was because it was impossible to download anything off the Internet.
English would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Beautiful setting ”
Reviewed 7/27/2023
| Nightly rate: | $22 |
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| Days stayed: | 3 |
| Site Number: | 19 |
| RV Length: | 28' (Truck Camper) |
Overall Rating
For those who need your phone...
You can make calls but forget watching any videos/streaming.
Will not be able send family and friends any photos of this beautiful place. Time to go old school and read a book. Today's temperature is 100 degrees. 🥵
Capt. Bryan would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Clean, well spaced sights”
Reviewed 7/28/2022
| Days stayed: | 1 |
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| RV Length: | 33' (Fifth Wheel) |
Overall Rating
Stayed overnight in this well maintained Corp of Engineering campground. Clean, nicely spaced sights. Most sights were pull through with fire rings, picnic table and shelter.
Kelley Hill would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Nicest USACE campground so far!”
Reviewed 7/7/2022
| Nightly rate: | $11 |
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| Days stayed: | 2 |
| Site Number: | 08 |
| RV Length: | 34' (Fifth Wheel) |
Overall Rating
Stayed July 5th-6th. It had stormed quite badly during the 20 miles of back roads to get there, but stopped shortly after arrival. Staff were exceptional nice/helpful, the park was very well kept, clean showers with Temp control. The sites are electric only, but water fill and waste dump near by. It is obvious that the main draw to... more
Stayed July 5th-6th. It had stormed quite badly during the 20 miles of back roads to get there, but stopped shortly after arrival. Staff were exceptional nice/helpful, the park was very well kept, clean showers with Temp control. The sites are electric only, but water fill and waste dump near by. It is obvious that the main draw to this campground is the fishing in the Missouri River tail-waters of the Dam, as they have a nice, fish-cleaning station.
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T-Mobile 4G
DustyNC would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“just as the gatekeeper promised”
Reviewed 7/5/2022
| Nightly rate: | $16 |
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| Days stayed: | 2 |
| Site Number: | 22A |
Overall Rating
It was a beautiful scene coming down the hill to the dam upon arrival at the Left Trace Campground. The hills were a brilliant green and the campsites below us were filled with campers of all kinds. Of course, luck was again not with us as we had arrived two hours before check-in and the prior campers had not yet left due to their chec... more
It was a beautiful scene coming down the hill to the dam upon arrival at the Left Trace Campground. The hills were a brilliant green and the campsites below us were filled with campers of all kinds. Of course, luck was again not with us as we had arrived two hours before check-in and the prior campers had not yet left due to their check-out being the same time of 4PM. This rarely happens but was sort of expected being the 4th of July holiday.
We came here for two days of rest before heading further northeast to the prairie town of De Smet and the Laura Ingalls Wilder Homestead. As reported there is literally nothing to do here but relax or fish. The closest grocery store is in Chamberlain about twenty miles away. But there is a convenience store up the hill to the north in Crow country which offers tacos, fried chicken, and pizza and assorted comestibles.
Our site #22A was a change from the site we had previously reserved. Due to seeing more than enough rock formations rising in The Black Hills and The Badlands we were eager to move on and spend more time in the prairie, specifically Laura Ingall Wilder’s Homestead and the small town of De Smet. But this site 22A at the far end of the campground was the best, just as the gatekeeper promised. It was like having an entire front yard to ourselves overlooking this large body of water and beautiful hills. Of course, we paid a penalty for switching sites which brought our total cost to $16 per night. The restrooms were clean, the showers good, with water spigots situated around the camp as well as a dump station. We had a very violent and wind driven thunderstorm the first night which lasted over four hours off and on. South Dakota can get suddenly frightening and dangerous so it is always a good idea to watch the weather app and keep informed. The winds were strong as expected in this part of the country, but what a dream of a place to rest in.
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AT&T 4G
Nomad Reign RV would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
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“Sorry We’re Closed! 9/17/24-9/22/24”
noted 9/18/2024
We arrived around 7pm after being on the road all day ready to set up and relax. I chose this location because they had electric and we wanted to run the ac because it was going to be in the 80’s overnight. When we arrived we were told “sorry we’re close”. No signs, no warning. Apparently they are chip sealing the asphalt and won’t re open for a week. We ended up dry camping on the other side of the dam. It was uncomfortably warm in the camper and we didn’t get much sleep.
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3 reviews
Planes, boats and bicycles--sv & rv Odin: Campground Review, Left Tailrace. Chamberlain, SD
Courtesy of US Army Corp of Engineers website After ten days in Forest City, Iowa it's time to hit the road. We've decided to take the scenic route to Colorado. We're heading north into Minnesota,...
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Amenities
Hookups
- 50 Amp
- 30 Amp
- 20 Amp
- Partial Hookups
Recreation
- boat ramp
- fishing
- horseshoes
- playground
- water access
Site Amenities
- big rig
- picnic table
- pull thru
Facilities
- dump station
- restrooms: flush
- showers
- trash
- water available
Pets
- pets
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