Farm Island State Recreation Area Campground Review: Spacious RV Camping Near Pierre, South Dakota
During our travels through South Dakota, we spent three nights at Farm Island State Recreation Area near Pierre, and this turned out to be a wonderfully quiet place to stop for a few days.
And before we get too far, here’s something we learned almost immediately: although it looks like it should be pronounced the French way, the locals pronounce Pierre more like “Peer.” We had already been corrected!
Farm Island State Recreation Area sits along an offshoot of the Missouri River and offers something we always appreciate in a campground: room to spread out.
Our campsite had an enormous grassy yard, plenty of distance between us and our neighbors, and water just beyond the campground. For a state recreation area, we were really impressed.
Our Campsite at Farm Island
We stayed in Site 9, and one of the first things we noticed was how nice the camping pad was.
We needed very little leveling, which always makes setting up the trailer a little easier.
Our site also had a huge grassy area beside it. We may have gotten particularly lucky with the size of our “yard,” but even the neighboring sites seemed to have considerably more space between them than we find at many campgrounds.
If you don’t enjoy being packed tightly beside the next RV, that’s a big plus.
Water and Electric Hookups
At the time of our visit, our campsite had water and electric hookups, which was plenty for our needs.
We paid $21 per night during our stay.
Keep in mind that campground fees and amenities can change over the years, so check current information before planning your trip. The prices we’re sharing are what we experienced when this video was filmed.
Camping Along the Missouri River
One of the prettiest features of Farm Island State Recreation Area is its setting.
The water behind our campsite was connected to the Missouri River, giving us some lovely scenery right from the campground.
A man-made causeway leads across the water to Farm Island itself, which is where the recreation area gets its name.
It’s a beautiful setting and made the campground feel much more like a destination than simply a place to park the RV for the night.
Hiking on Farm Island
Across the causeway, you’ll find hiking trails on Farm Island.
We explored some of them during our stay, and having trails right there in the recreation area was another feature we appreciated.
When you’re traveling full-time, it’s nice to have somewhere you can get outside and explore without having to get back into the truck and drive to another attraction.
It’s also a good opportunity to stretch your legs after spending hours on the road.
South Dakota State Park Pass
One additional expense to remember when camping in South Dakota’s state recreation areas is the park entrance fee.
During our visit, the daily park pass was $6, or you could purchase an annual pass for $30.
For someone spending only a couple of days in the state parks, the daily pass could make sense. But if you’re planning to visit several South Dakota state parks or recreation areas during your trip, it was worth doing the math to see whether the annual pass would save money.
Again, those were the prices during our visit, so be sure to check current South Dakota park fees before you go.
A Quiet Place to Camp
We spent three nights at Farm Island, and one of the things we enjoyed most was simply how quiet it was.
We met some friendly campers from the area, including people who regularly made the trip from Sioux Falls to camp here.
That’s usually a pretty good endorsement of a campground. When locals are willing to return again and again, there’s probably a reason.
Between the large campsites, grassy surroundings, nearby water, and hiking opportunities, we could certainly understand the appeal.
What We Liked About Farm Island State Recreation Area
For us, the biggest positives were the space and peaceful atmosphere.
Our favorite features included:
- Large, well-spaced campsites
- Water and electric hookups
- Easy-to-level camping pad
- Huge grassy area beside our site
- Missouri River scenery
- Hiking trails on Farm Island
- Quiet campground atmosphere
- Convenient location near Pierre
This wasn’t a fancy RV resort filled with organized activities and elaborate amenities.
And that’s part of what we liked about it.
Sometimes we just want a nice campsite, a little room around the trailer, somewhere to walk, and a peaceful place to relax for a few days.
Farm Island gave us exactly that.
Is Farm Island State Recreation Area Worth Staying At?
Based on our stay, yes, we would happily camp here again.
If you’re traveling through central South Dakota or planning to spend some time exploring Pierre and the surrounding area, Farm Island State Recreation Area is definitely worth considering.
We especially recommend taking a close look if spacious campsites matter to you. Having that much grass and distance between neighboring RVs made our stay particularly enjoyable.
It’s also a nice choice for travelers who prefer state park camping to tightly packed commercial RV parks.
Final Thoughts
Some campgrounds become memorable because of their swimming pools, recreation centers, or elaborate amenities.
Farm Island State Recreation Area was memorable for almost the opposite reason.
It was simple, spacious, quiet, and pretty.
We had water and electric hookups, a nice level site, a huge yard, beautiful water nearby, and hiking trails to explore.
What more do you really need?
It was another lovely stop on our journey through South Dakota, and we’re glad we found it.
We’ll see you down the road…and Over The Hills!
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