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Farm Island Recreation Area
Overview
Farm Island Recreation Area offers a tranquil escape just minutes from South Dakota's state capital. Situated along the winding Missouri River, this park provides a lush, wooded environment that contrasts beautifully with the surrounding rolling plains. It is a highly-regarded destination for travelers seeking a serene riverfront setting while maintaining easy access to the historical sites and services of Pierre. The park combines natural beauty with practical amenities, making it a standout stop for those traversing the Great Plains.
Location & Surroundings
Located just east of Pierre, South Dakota, the park is actually an island connected to the mainland by a short, accessible causeway. It sits nestled between the calm waters of Hipple Lake and the main channel of the Missouri River. The landscape features dense cottonwood trees and provides a sanctuary for local wildlife, including deer and wild turkeys, creating a sheltered and private feel for visiting campers who want to feel immersed in nature.
Amenities & Park Features
The park caters well to modern RVers with over 90 spacious campsites designed to accommodate various rig sizes. Key facilities include:
- Large sites featuring 50-amp electrical hookups
- Modern restrooms and heated shower facilities
- A conveniently located dump station for RV sanitation
- Access to a sandy swimming beach and multiple boat ramps
These features ensure that while you are living in a natural island setting, you do not have to sacrifice the essential comforts of the RV lifestyle.
Nearby Attractions & Things to Do
Beyond the park boundaries, guests can explore the stunning South Dakota State Capitol or take a short drive to see the massive Oahe Dam. On-site, the eight miles of winding hiking and biking trails are a major draw for active travelers. The calm waters of Hipple Lake are perfect for kayaking and paddleboarding, while the river remains a premier spot for trophy walleye fishing and other popular water-based recreation throughout the summer months.
Who This Park Is Best For
This park is ideal for families and outdoor enthusiasts who prefer a natural, state park atmosphere over a paved commercial resort. It is a perfect fit for bird watchers, nature photographers, and hikers looking for accessible, scenic trails. Additionally, it serves as an excellent home base for history buffs visiting the capital or cross-country travelers needing a peaceful, shaded stopover with plenty of room to stretch their legs after a long day of driving.
Amenities
- Tenting
- Recreational Facilities
- Policies
- Rentals
- Other Amenities & Services
- Recreation Nearby (within 10 miles)
- Facility
- Hunting Nearby (within 20 miles)
- On-Site Rentals
- Sites
User Reviews
Nicholas Faccio
What a lovely recreation area and campground... very pretty views, well maintained sites and facilities, and an unexpectedly large array of rec options! We were there after October 1st, when most maintenance and services are stopped or limited, and it was still clean, stocked, and maintained. Sites are roomy and not packed together, which is SO nice. Just outside of town but even so, very little light pollution... we were able to catch a few meteors from the Orionids :)
Jon Boosinger
Always a great campground to stay in for grouse opener. Quiet, hot showers & close to everything you might need in Pierre.
jaime hanten
We are not new to camping, but we’re not veteran campers either and this was one of the more disappointing campground experiences we’ve had. We were first greeted by two unleashed dogs that ran full speed at our family and our dogs. Thankfully they were friendly, but it was very unsettling, especially with children, not knowing if they were safe. Staff seemed far more concerned with policing where people were fishing than addressing real issues. The actual fish cleaning station was roped off and not working, and instead they had a makeshift table set up that was filthy and covered in old fish guts. It was disgusting and completely unsanitary. The bathrooms were just as bad. Every single one had large spider webs and dead bugs, clearly showing they hadn’t been cleaned or maintained in a long time. To make matters worse, kids were hitting golf balls around the campground without supervision, and several nearly struck campers. That is a major safety issue that should never have been ignored. While staff patrolled late into the night to check fishing spots, they neglected basic safety, cleanliness, and upkeep throughout the park. The priorities here are completely misplaced, and the facilities are in desperate need of attention.
Buffy Chix
There are 2 Campground areas Main Campground & East Campground which is smaller but more mature trees. Big Rig and Dog Friendly. Easy in and out. 45’ Motorcoach had no issues checking in, finding our Site and backing in. Our Site 11E was 70’ long which made it easy to park our tow with the RV. Plenty of nice grass to hang out in between sites. Dogs loved it and the beachy area along the water. Picnic Table and fire pit. Hard packed gravel pad and quite level! Very well maintained park. They have planted a bunch of small trees that will make much needed additional shade. Electric only 30/50 $26/night, dump station. Easy to find. Route 83 South from Route 12 was very smooth with wide shoulder. Would stay again!
C. Hoffman
Warning to out of town guests - your reserved site may be taken by a local. We arrive a little after 8pm on a Friday night due to a long drive day. The representative at the check in window claimed to be unable to find our reservation until we could prove it with our reservation email. Then when we got to our lakeside site which was beautiful, there was a local couple who had set up there. They moved their car when asked but lingered on the water at our site awkwardly long while we tried to enjoy as a family before finally leaving after asking them to leave again. Perhaps both situations weren’t related… It made for a difficult and prolonged check in and set up process after a long travel day. Warning for weary travelers.
Thomas Woodenbach
Great place to spend time with family, dogs, and enjoy nature.
Daniel Nielsen
Fished here the 2nd week of October. Friendly staff at the gate. Well maintained areas. Quiet. Fishing was great. Docks were nice.
Janie Molvar
Beautiful place lovely location It was disturbed by the ,twice daily ,camp host running the generator to irrigate from the river . It ran for hours and ruined what what have been a most serene campsite. Tried to have sunset cocktails on the river but to no avail, hours of noise.
Tiffany Demarce
We were there for 8 days had 2 spots. Spent $400 on these sites. We were harassed by the staff from the moment we got there. They would clean the bathrooms at the most inconvenient times 8 to 9am when everyone would need to use them not only 1 at a time but would close all of them at once. Also alot of dogs running at large with no leashes.. Beautiful place clean area, but won't be back.
Alex Lewis
We stayed in the campground as we were passing through for the night. Nice staff at the gate. Decently leveled sites. Good amount of trees and green space. Campground is right on the water which is beautiful despite wildfire smoke everywhere. Easy dump and fill stations, dumpster and recycling available. For out of state folks, there’s an $8 per day fee to get into the park on top of the campground fee so a site in total was somewhere in the neighborhood of $43.