Can you reserve a site at Left Tailrace?

Yes, Left Tailrace is reservable through Recreation.gov.

How many campsites does Left Tailrace have?

93 sites in total, of which 91 can be booked.

What is the maximum RV length at Left Tailrace?

89 ft. That is the longest vehicle the sites here are recorded as taking; individual sites may be shorter.

Are pets allowed at Left Tailrace?

Yes, pets are allowed at Left Tailrace.

Are campfires allowed at Left Tailrace?

Campfires are allowed at Left Tailrace. Check for a current fire restriction before you go.

Left Tailrace

Campground · South Dakota · 91 bookable sites ·

Managed by the US Army Corps of Engineers

Sharpe Recreation Area (Recreation Area) · Open Access

91
Bookable sites: 89 ft
Max rig length: up to 8
People per site: 3
Accessible sites: 1,367 ft
Elevation

Lake Sharpe — Photo: U.S. Army Corps Of Engineers · Recreation.gov

Overview

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. Tribal bison herds can be seen grazing the lake area's grasslands north of the towns of Fort Thompson and Lower Brule. The shoreline areas of the lake also offer excellent waterfowl, upland game birds and big game hunting opportunities. Big game animals include whitetail and mule deer, elk, bison, coyotes and wild turkeys. Waterfowl and upland game birds include ducks, geese, pheasants, prairie chickens, and grouse. Hunting regulations are established and enforced by the State of South Dakota, and the Lower Brule and Crow Creek Tribes.

For more information, visit the Big Bend Project website .

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.

Facilities

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.

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.

Contact Info

For facility specific information, please call (605) 245-2255.

Nearby Attractions

Charges & Cancellations

Reservation changes and cancellations can be made on Recreation.gov or by calling 1-877-444-6777.

For more information on rules and policies regarding reservation cancellations and changes, please visit: https://www.recreation.gov/rules-reservation-policies.

The facts

91 bookable sites
93 sites in total, including non-bookable
3 accessible sites
Vehicles up to 89 ft
Up to 8 people per site
Loops: LEFT TAILRACE, Lower Loop Sites 1-12 singles, Lower Loop Sites 14-22 doubles, Tent Area, Upper Loop Sites 23-72

Site types

79 Standard Electric
12 Tent Only Nonelectric
2 Management

Amenities

Electric hookups
Campfires allowed
Picnic tables
Grills
Shade
Pets allowed

Not recorded upstream: water hookups, sewer hookups, fire pits.

Book on Recreation.gov

93 campsites at Left Tailrace

Check-in 4:00 PM · Check-out 4:00 PM

Accessible only

Site	Loop	Type	Entry	Surface	Access	Water	Max rig	People
13	LEFT TAILRACE	Standard Electric	Pull Through	Paved	Drive In	Lakefront	—	8	🐾
01	Lower Loop Sites 1-12 singles	Standard Electric	Pull Through	Paved	Drive In	Lakefront	89 ft	8	🐾
02	Lower Loop Sites 1-12 singles	Standard Electric	Pull Through	Paved	Drive In	Lakefront	84 ft	8	🐾
03	Lower Loop Sites 1-12 singles	Standard Electric	Pull Through	Paved	Drive In	Lakefront	76 ft	8	🐾
04	Lower Loop Sites 1-12 singles	Standard Electric	Pull Through	Paved	Drive In	Lakefront	76 ft	8	🐾
05	Lower Loop Sites 1-12 singles	Standard Electric	Pull Through	Paved	Drive In	Lakefront	74 ft	8	🐾
06	Lower Loop Sites 1-12 singles	Standard Electric	Pull Through	Paved	Drive In	Lakefront	76 ft	8	🐾
07	Lower Loop Sites 1-12 singles	Standard Electric	Pull Through	Paved	Drive In	Lakefront	79 ft	8	🐾
08	Lower Loop Sites 1-12 singles	Standard Electric	Pull Through	Paved	Drive In	Lakefront	80 ft	8	🐾
09	Lower Loop Sites 1-12 singles	Standard Electric	Pull Through	Paved	Drive In	Lakefront	80 ft	8	🐾
10	Lower Loop Sites 1-12 singles	Standard Electric	Pull Through	Paved	Drive In	Lakefront	77 ft	8	🐾
11	Lower Loop Sites 1-12 singles	Standard Electric	Pull Through	Paved	Drive In	Lakefront	77 ft	8	🐾
12	Lower Loop Sites 1-12 singles	Standard Electric	Pull Through	Paved	Drive In	Lakefront	71 ft	8	🐾
14A	Lower Loop Sites 14-22 doubles	Standard Electric	Back In	Paved	Drive In	Lakefront	51 ft	8	🐾
14B	Lower Loop Sites 14-22 doubles	Standard Electric	Back In	Paved	Drive In	Lakefront	50 ft	8	🐾
15A	Lower Loop Sites 14-22 doubles	Standard Electric	Back In	Paved	Drive In	Lakefront	55 ft	8	🐾
15B	Lower Loop Sites 14-22 doubles	Standard Electric	Back In	Paved	Drive In	Lakefront	63 ft	8	🐾
16A	Lower Loop Sites 14-22 doubles	Standard Electric	Back In	Paved	Drive In	Lakefront	57 ft	8	🐾
16B	Lower Loop Sites 14-22 doubles	Standard Electric	Back In	Paved	Drive In	Lakefront	50 ft	8	🐾
17A	Lower Loop Sites 14-22 doubles	Standard Electric	Back In	Paved	Drive In	Lakefront	60 ft	8	🐾
17B	Lower Loop Sites 14-22 doubles	Standard Electric	Back In	Paved	Drive In	Lakefront	53 ft	8	🐾
18A	Lower Loop Sites 14-22 doubles	Standard Electric	Back In	Paved	Drive In	Lakefront	65 ft	8	🐾
18B	Lower Loop Sites 14-22 doubles	Standard Electric	Back In	Paved	Drive In	Lakefront	53 ft	8	🐾
19A	Lower Loop Sites 14-22 doubles	Standard Electric	Back In	Paved	Drive In	Lakefront	67 ft	8	🐾
19B	Lower Loop Sites 14-22 doubles	Standard Electric	Back In	Paved	Drive In	Lakefront	57 ft	8	🐾
20A	Lower Loop Sites 14-22 doubles	Standard Electric	Back In	Paved	Drive In	Lakefront	55 ft	8	🐾
20B	Lower Loop Sites 14-22 doubles	Standard Electric	Back In	Paved	Drive In	Lakefront	64 ft	8	🐾
21A	Lower Loop Sites 14-22 doubles	Standard Electric	Back In	Paved	Drive In	Lakefront	54 ft	8	🐾
21B	Lower Loop Sites 14-22 doubles	Standard Electric	Back In	Paved	Drive In	Lakefront	62 ft	8	🐾
22A	Lower Loop Sites 14-22 doubles	Standard Electric	Back In	Paved	Drive In	Lakefront	54 ft	8	🐾
22B	Lower Loop Sites 14-22 doubles	Standard Electric	Back In	Paved	Drive In	Lakefront	60 ft	8	🐾
T01	Tent Area	Tent Only Nonelectric	—	—	Hike In	Lakefront	—	8	🐾
T02	Tent Area	Tent Only Nonelectric	—	—	Hike In	Lakefront	—	8	🐾
T03	Tent Area	Tent Only Nonelectric	—	—	Hike In	Lakefront	—	8	🐾
T04	Tent Area	Tent Only Nonelectric	—	—	Hike In	Lakefront	—	8	🐾
T05	Tent Area	Tent Only Nonelectric	—	—	Hike In	Lakefront	—	8	🐾
T06	Tent Area	Tent Only Nonelectric	—	—	Hike In	Lakefront	—	8	🐾
T07	Tent Area	Tent Only Nonelectric	—	—	Hike In	Lakefront	—	8	🐾
T08	Tent Area	Tent Only Nonelectric	—	—	Hike In	Lakefront	—	8	🐾
T09	Tent Area	Tent Only Nonelectric	—	—	Hike In	Lakefront	—	8	🐾
T10	Tent Area	Tent Only Nonelectric	—	—	Hike In	Lakefront	—	8	🐾
T11	Tent Area	Tent Only Nonelectric	—	—	Hike In	Lakefront	—	8	🐾
T12	Tent Area	Tent Only Nonelectric	—	—	Hike In	Lakefront	—	8	🐾
23	Upper Loop Sites 23-72	Standard Electric	Pull Through	Paved	Drive In	Lakefront	84 ft	8	🐾
24	Upper Loop Sites 23-72	Standard Electric	Pull Through	Paved	Drive In	Lakefront	85 ft	8	🐾
25	Upper Loop Sites 23-72	Standard Electric	Pull Through	Paved	Drive In	Lakefront	75 ft	8	🐾
26	Upper Loop Sites 23-72	Standard Electric	Pull Through	Paved	Drive In	Lakefront	84 ft	8	🐾
27	Upper Loop Sites 23-72	Standard Electric	Pull Through	Paved	Drive In	Lakefront	80 ft	8	♿ 🐾
28	Upper Loop Sites 23-72	Standard Electric	Pull Through	Paved	Drive In	Lakefront	84 ft	8	🐾
29	Upper Loop Sites 23-72	Standard Electric	Pull Through	Paved	Drive In	Lakefront	85 ft	8	🐾
30	Upper Loop Sites 23-72	Standard Electric	Pull Through	Paved	Drive In	Lakefront	85 ft	8	🐾
31	Upper Loop Sites 23-72	Standard Electric	Pull Through	Paved	Drive In	Lakefront	83 ft	8	🐾
32	Upper Loop Sites 23-72	Standard Electric	Pull Through	Paved	Drive In	Lakefront	84 ft	8	🐾
33	Upper Loop Sites 23-72	Standard Electric	Pull Through	Paved	Drive In	Lakefront	75 ft	8	🐾
34	Upper Loop Sites 23-72	Standard Electric	Pull Through	Paved	Drive In	Lakefront	77 ft	8	🐾
35	Upper Loop Sites 23-72	Standard Electric	Pull Through	Paved	Drive In	Lakefront	78 ft	8	🐾
36	Upper Loop Sites 23-72	Standard Electric	Pull Through	Paved	Drive In	Lakefront	77 ft	8	🐾
37	Upper Loop Sites 23-72	Standard Electric	Pull Through	Paved	Drive In	Lakefront	77 ft	8	🐾
38	Upper Loop Sites 23-72	Standard Electric	Pull Through	Paved	Drive In	Lakefront	79 ft	8	🐾
39	Upper Loop Sites 23-72	Management	Pull Through	Paved	Drive In	Lakefront	79 ft	8	🐾
40	Upper Loop Sites 23-72	Management	Pull Through	Paved	Drive In	Lakefront	75 ft	8	♿ 🐾
41	Upper Loop Sites 23-72	Standard Electric	Pull Through	Paved	Drive In	Lakefront	73 ft	8	♿ 🐾
42	Upper Loop Sites 23-72	Standard Electric	Pull Through	Paved	Drive In	Lakefront	—	8	🐾
43	Upper Loop Sites 23-72	Standard Electric	Pull Through	Paved	Drive In	Lakefront	—	8	🐾
44	Upper Loop Sites 23-72	Standard Electric	Pull Through	Paved	Drive In	Lakefront	47 ft	8	🐾
45	Upper Loop Sites 23-72	Standard Electric	Pull Through	Paved	Drive In	Lakefront	55 ft	8	🐾
46	Upper Loop Sites 23-72	Standard Electric	Pull Through	Paved	Drive In	Lakefront	54 ft	8	🐾
47	Upper Loop Sites 23-72	Standard Electric	Pull Through	Paved	Drive In	Lakefront	56 ft	8	🐾
48	Upper Loop Sites 23-72	Standard Electric	Pull Through	Paved	Drive In	Lakefront	56 ft	8	🐾
49	Upper Loop Sites 23-72	Standard Electric	Pull Through	Paved	Drive In	Lakefront	60 ft	8	🐾
50	Upper Loop Sites 23-72	Standard Electric	Pull Through	Paved	Drive In	Lakefront	59 ft	8	🐾
51	Upper Loop Sites 23-72	Standard Electric	Pull Through	Paved	Drive In	Lakefront	58 ft	8	🐾
52	Upper Loop Sites 23-72	Standard Electric	Pull Through	Paved	Drive In	Lakefront	56 ft	8	🐾
53	Upper Loop Sites 23-72	Standard Electric	Pull Through	Paved	Drive In	Lakefront	52 ft	8	🐾
54	Upper Loop Sites 23-72	Standard Electric	Back In	Paved	Drive In	Lakefront	56 ft	8	🐾
55	Upper Loop Sites 23-72	Standard Electric	Back In	Paved	Drive In	Lakefront	52 ft	8	🐾
56	Upper Loop Sites 23-72	Standard Electric	Back In	Paved	Drive In	Lakefront	54 ft	8	🐾
57	Upper Loop Sites 23-72	Standard Electric	Back In	Paved	Drive In	Lakefront	51 ft	8	🐾
58	Upper Loop Sites 23-72	Standard Electric	Back In	Paved	Drive In	Lakefront	48 ft	8	🐾
59	Upper Loop Sites 23-72	Standard Electric	Back In	Paved	Drive In	Lakefront	44 ft	8	🐾
60	Upper Loop Sites 23-72	Standard Electric	Back In	Paved	Drive In	Lakefront	47 ft	8	🐾
61	Upper Loop Sites 23-72	Standard Electric	Back In	Paved	Drive In	Lakefront	48 ft	8	🐾
62	Upper Loop Sites 23-72	Standard Electric	Back In	Paved	Drive In	Lakefront	47 ft	8	🐾
63	Upper Loop Sites 23-72	Standard Electric	Back In	Paved	Drive In	Lakefront	49 ft	8	🐾
64	Upper Loop Sites 23-72	Standard Electric	Back In	Paved	Drive In	Lakefront	47 ft	8	🐾
65	Upper Loop Sites 23-72	Standard Electric	Back In	Paved	Drive In	Lakefront	45 ft	8	🐾
66	Upper Loop Sites 23-72	Standard Electric	Back In	Paved	Drive In	Lakefront	46 ft	8	🐾
67	Upper Loop Sites 23-72	Standard Electric	Back In	Paved	Drive In	Lakefront	44 ft	8	🐾
68	Upper Loop Sites 23-72	Standard Electric	Back In	Paved	Drive In	Lakefront	46 ft	8	🐾
69	Upper Loop Sites 23-72	Standard Electric	Back In	Paved	Drive In	Lakefront	46 ft	8	🐾
70	Upper Loop Sites 23-72	Standard Electric	Back In	Paved	Drive In	Lakefront	45 ft	8	🐾
71	Upper Loop Sites 23-72	Standard Electric	Back In	Paved	Drive In	Lakefront	46 ft	8	🐾
72	Upper Loop Sites 23-72	Standard Electric	Back In	Paved	Drive In	Lakefront	45 ft	8	🐾

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 Campground.
From East bound I-90 take exit 248 at Reliance SD take a left onto Highway 47 north bound, travel 18 miles to Big Bend Dam. Turn right after crossing the Power House bridge, then turn right at the Left Tailrace Campground sign, and travel about 1 mile to the Left Tailrace Campground.

44.04083, -99.43944 · 44°2'27.0"N 99°26'22.0"W

Directions (Google Maps) · Directions (Apple Maps)

Typical weather

Typically 88°F in Jul, down to 29°F in Jan.

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
High °F	29	35	46	59	71	80	88	86	78	62	46	34
Low °F	7	10	20	31	44	55	61	59	50	36	23	11
Precip in	0.5	0.5	0.9	1.8	3.1	3.8	2.8	2.2	2.0	1.6	0.4	0.3

1991–2020 averages from the nearest NOAA station, 1.9 mi away — not measured at the facility itself, and elevation can make a real difference over that distance.

Map

Fees and stay limits

Camping reservations can be made at Recreation.gov or by calling 1-877-444-6777.

From Recreation.gov, which is not always current. The operator's own page is the authority on what you will be charged.

More photos

Big Bend campground — Photo: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers · Recreation.gov

View of Left Tailrace Campground — Photo: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers · Recreation.gov

Member photos

Add a photo

Common questions about Left Tailrace

Can you reserve a site at Left Tailrace?: Yes, Left Tailrace is reservable through Recreation.gov.
How many campsites does Left Tailrace have?: 93 sites in total, of which 91 can be booked.
What is the maximum RV length at Left Tailrace?: 89 ft. That is the longest vehicle the sites here are recorded as taking; individual sites may be shorter.
Are pets allowed at Left Tailrace?: Yes, pets are allowed at Left Tailrace.
Does Left Tailrace have hookups?: Electric.
Are campfires allowed at Left Tailrace?: Campfires are allowed at Left Tailrace. Check for a current fire restriction before you go.

Comments

Contact

Recreation.gov last updated this record on 2026-03-11.

Facility information and photographs from Recreation.gov (RIDB). SpotOpened is not affiliated with Recreation.gov or any federal agency.