Left Tailrace
Lake Sharpe — lakeside, fishing
Location: CHAMBERLAIN, SD, SD
Price: From $16 per night
Price range: $16–$22 per night
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 (406 reviews)
Season: May through October
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.
Cell coverage (FCC estimate): strong signal. Actual signal may vary in remote areas. Best carrier: T-Mobile. Verizon 4G: 100%. AT&T 4G: 100%. T-Mobile 4G: 100%.
Amenities: Fire Rings, Picnic Tables, Drinking Water, Showers, Dump Station, Electric Hookups, Fishing, Boat Launch
Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/left-tailrace to be notified when sites open up.
Well-maintained federal campground on Lake Francis Case with spacious sites, good road navigation, and multiple playgrounds. Google reviewers consistently praise the site spacing and level pull-through options.
Wildlife alert: Whooping Crane sightings recorded in area; also American Tree Sparrow, Northern Flicker, and Common Snapping Turtle
Insider tips for Left Tailrace: Book early—this is a popular federal campground with high demand RV sites have picnic tables under shade structures Sites are well-spaced with good distance between them for privacy
Skip Left Tailrace if: You need full hookups—most sites have no hookups; only suitable for self-contained RVs. You plan to visit outside May-October—seasonal operations only.
Best time to visit Left Tailrace: May-October — Official operating season for campground.
Cell Phone Coverage at Left Tailrace
Cell signal at Left Tailrace (CHAMBERLAIN, SD): strong overall signal based on FCC broadband data. Best carrier: T-Mobile.
- Verizon 4G LTE: 100% coverage
- AT&T 4G LTE: 100% coverage · AT&T 5G: 100%
- T-Mobile 4G LTE: 100% coverage · T-Mobile 5G: 100%
Coverage data source: FCC Broadband Data Collection (BDC). Actual signal may vary due to terrain, tree cover, and distance from towers. Camper reports are more reliable than coverage maps in remote areas.
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.
Verified facts
RIDB / Recreation.gov official databaseAmenities
RIDB /facilities /campsites · owner-verifiedStraight talk
CamperWatch intel · curated from camper reportsKnown issues, each with the workaround. Read before you book.
Insider tips & when to go
CamperWatch intel · hand-curated entryBook early
this is a popular federal campground with high demand
RV sites have picnic tables under shade structures
Sites are well-spaced with good distance between them for privacy
Official operating season for campground
Things to do nearby
RIDB /activities /recareas + intelConditions today
LiveCell signal
FCC BDC · quarterly datasetFCC maps are theoretical — camper reports confirm signal. Best carrier: T-Mobile.
Wildlife nearby
iNaturalist · research-grade · 8 kmLocation
Leaflet · OpenStreetMap tiles
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 cro
Campground entrance
Google Maps APICommunity
#community · posts, photos & Q&A · AI-moderated (Claude Vision)Pro tips
- Book on recreation.gov exactly 6 months ahead at 10am ET — Lake Sharpe fills fast in peak season.
- Check current road conditions at Lake Sharpe before arrival — seasonal closures common.
Frequently asked questions
RIDB facts + intel · FAQPage schema, speakableHow much does Left Tailrace cost per night?+
What season is Left Tailrace open?+
Does Left Tailrace have hookups?+
What is the maximum RV length at Left Tailrace?+
How do I make reservations at Left Tailrace?+
What is the cell service like at Left Tailrace?+
What season is Left Tailrace open, and what are check-in times?+
Official resources
●Data sources on this page
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