Farm Island Recreation Area, Pierre, South Dakota

Everybody in the area knows of this campground. I've camped here several times each year since 1980.

Campground Review

First, it is a clean and well run campground. The comfort stations are always clean and well maintained. The grounds are neat and regularly mowed. There is a causeway built by the CCC in the 1930's that connects the campground with the Island which is maintained as a natural area open to hiking and biking, with well maintained trails. It is only three miles from the capitol of South Dakota and other sites, such as the Archives and Discover Center. The Oahe Dam, the largest rolled earth dam in the world, is only eight miles north, with great walleye and northern fishing. It is on the site of the first Fort Sully, established by the military to protect the whites from Indians. Lewis and Clark also anchored near the Island on their stop in this area. The campground is on the Missouri River which was the main means of transportation until the railroad came through. There is a lot of history in this area and Farm Island State Park is centrally located for a lot of it.