Camping

The park offers primitive, Leave-No-Trace camping with designated fire rings.

NPS Photo

Missouri National Recreational River offers primitive, Leave-No-Trace camping available at Bow Creek, Green Island, and Goat Island Recreation Areas. No camping fees are required but we do ask that you leave us your basic itinerary for your safety.

Please call 605-665-0209 and be prepared to share your name, phone number, the site location you plan to camp including the dates of when you will arrive and depart from park property.

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Other Camping Options

Nebraska

Corps Of Engineers
1-877-444-6777 or visit reservations

• The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers manages two campgrounds in the Gavins Point Dam area: Cottonwood and Nebraska Tailwaters, both in Nebraska. Reservations are taken for the period from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend.

Nebraska State Parks
402-471-1414 or visit reservations

• Lewis and Clark State Recreation Area - just above Gavins Point Dam - has 150 camping pads with hookup areas, 24 non-pad sites with electrical hook-ups and 140 non-pad sites without electricity.
• Niobrara State Park - just outside of the village of Niobrara 76 camping pads with electrical hookups,30 dispersed non-pad sites without electricity and 20 cabins that may be reserved.
• Ponca State Park - just 25 miles outside Sioux City, Iowa - has 92 camping pads with electrical hookups, 75 non-pad sites without electricity and 31 cabins that can be reserved.

Boat Landings / River Access Camping

Primitive camping is available at Nebraska Game and Parks Commission Game Management Areas river access areas unless posted otherwise at the following locations:

• Sunshine Bottoms River Access
• Verdel River Access
• Mulberry Bend River Access

Note: Game Production Areas are managed by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission’s Wildlife Division for the enhancement of wildlife habitat and for public hunting, trapping and fishing. However, they are open to many other activities, including hiking, bird watching, nature study and primitive camping. Camping is free and permitted for a maximum of 14 consecutive days during any 30-day period. Quiet hours are in effect from 10pm to 6am. Place all trash in receptacles or “Pack It Out”. For more information visit OutdoorNebraska.org.

South Dakota

• Clay County Park - Located 4 miles southwest west of Vermillion, South Dakota, this is a quiet, secluded campground with tall trees and nearby access to one of the last natural stretches of the Missouri River has 32 electrical campsites and restrooms with showers.

South Dakota State Parks
1-800-710-2267 or visit reservations

• Lewis and Clark Recreation Area - located just a few miles outside of Yankton, this is the most visited outdoor recreation area in the eastern half of South Dakota. It has hundreds of sites along with a number of rental cabins at five different campgrounds: Gavins Point, East Midway, West Midway, Yankton and Horse Trail Camp. The area also includes the Chief White Crane and Pierson Ranch campgrounds.
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• North Point Recreation Area - is just above Fort Randall Dam. It has 111 sites along with 6 cabins, including 2 that are handicap accessible.

• Randall Creek Recreation Area - is right along the banks of the Missouri River just downstream from Fort Randall Dam. It has 132 sites along with 4 cabins available.

• Springfield State Recreation Area - is between Yankton and Fort Randall, it lies just below the 39 mile reach of the Missouri National Recreational River. It has 22 sites along with 2 cabins available.

Camping in your National Parks

• Find your camp in a National Park near you!

Information on camping safety