West Whitlock Recreation Area RV & Campground Guide
South Dakota
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The West Whitlock Recreation Area is one of the favorite parks along Lake Oahe. West Whitlock covers 260 acres of a peninsula jutting into Lake Oahe, a 370,000-acre reservoir created by the Oahe Dam that helps control the Missouri River. The park is so popular that Gettysburg, SD, which is 18 miles east, claims it as a part of its town identity. Located near the center of South Dakota, the park is an easy drive from large urban areas like Pierre and Aberdeen, SD.
Spring 20-68 F
Summer 54-85 F
Fall 21-74 F
Winter 6-29 F
RV Resorts & Campsites in West Whitlock Recreation Area
Anytime you take a vacation or weekend trip in South Dakota, the most advantageous method of camping is with an RV. RVs provide a comfort level that you look forward to enjoying after a day of hiking the trails or fishing on Lake Oahe. Once you reach your destination, it is easy to set up camp using one of these vehicles. Finding an RV to rent in a nearby area is easy with RVshare.
West Whitlock Recreation Area Campground
West Whitlock Recreation Area Campground offers 105 campsites, all of which are back-ins. Each site is 22 feet wide and 75 feet long, leaving plenty of room to deploy any slide-outs. All RV pads are packed gravel, making leveling a simple task. A boat ramp provides easy access to the vast reaches of Lake Oahe. The park staff organizes periodic outdoor games for the enjoyment of guests. All facilities are ADA-accessible. A playground is provided for the entertainment of children. Horseshoe pits are available for guests to engage in a friendly game. However, keep in mind that water hookups are unavailable during the winter months.
Water hookup: Yes
Electric hookup: 20/30 amps
Sewer hookup: Yes
Wi-Fi available: Yes
Pet-friendly: Yes
Other amenities: Restrooms with flush toilets, fire rings, picnic tables, warm showers, dump station
Fee: $16 to $26 per night
South Whitlock Resort Campground
The South Whitlock Resort Campground is a privately owned and operated facility that offers 71 RV campsites, all of which are back-ins. Located on the east shore of Lake Oahe, directly opposite of the West Whitlock Recreation Area, this resort offers the same lake access and fishing opportunities as West Whitlock, with a slight upgrade in campground amenities. A camp store provides access to firewood, ice, groceries, propane, and a snack bar. Playgrounds are dispersed throughout the campground as are outdoor courts where older kids and adults can work off excess energy.
Water hookup: Yes
Electric hookup: 30/50 amps
Sewer hookup: Yes
Wi-Fi available: Yes
Pet-friendly: Yes
Other amenities: Restrooms with flush toilets, warm showers, fire rings, picnic tables, dump station, laundry facilities
Fee: $27 per night
West Prairie Resort Campground
West Prairie Resort Campground is 30 miles south of the West Whitlock Recreation Area, approximately halfway between the recreation area and Pierre, SD. The resort provides 16 RV campsites, all of which are back-ins. Like the West Whitlock Recreation Area, West Prairie Resort sits on the shores of Lake Oahe and shares in the tremendous fishing potential found there. Unlike West Whitlock, however, West Prairie also has immediate access to the Cheyenne River and its sport fishing. Hunters enjoy this campground because it sits in the center of South Dakota’s pheasant country and because every campsite provides full hookups through the pheasant hunting season. A camp store provides access to firewood, ice, groceries, fish bait, and a snack bar.
Water hookup: Yes
Electric hookup: 20/30 amp
Sewer hookup: Yes
Wi-Fi available: Yes
Pet-friendly: Yes
Other amenities: Restrooms with flush toilets, warm showers, fire rings, picnic tables, dump station
Fee: $35 per night
What to Do at
West Whitlock Recreation Area
Inside West Whitlock Recreation Area
The number-one item that brings visitors to West Whitlock Recreation Area is Lake Oahe. Water sports of all types – water skiing, windsurfing, swimming, canoeing, kayaking, and fishing – are enjoyed by all who visit here. Anglers pursue several fish species on this lake, including walleye, smallmouth bass, white bass, sauger, chinook salmon, northern pike, and perch. However, the park itself, graced with five miles of trail and long sandy beaches, is just as entertaining. A walk from the campground brings you to an interpretive nature pavilion and a replica of an Arikara lodge.
Outside West Whitlock Recreation Area
There are only a few small communities spaced miles apart on the vast plains surrounding West Whitlock Recreation Area. Most of these communities harbor quaint shops and franchise restaurants. To find unique eateries and shops in abundance, visitors to the park must make a day trip to cities like Aberdeen or Pierre, SD. Along the way, visitors can stop at several locations to enjoy a museum, local botanical garden, or the architecture of a celebrated home.
Restaurants
Bob’s Steakhouse
At Bob’s Steakhouse, the meat just keeps coming. The menu includes a mix of steak and seafood that is cooked to perfection. If you developed a tremendous hunger during a day of fishing or hunting, order their large steak – a 32-oz top sirloin that is char-broiled to bring out the hidden taste of steak that so many restaurants miss.
Type: American
Location: 29336 United States Highway 212, Gettysburg, SD 57442
RedRossa Italian Grille
The RedRossa Italian Grille insists on drawing the most passionate flavors possible from its meals. Even their appetizers, like the firecracker shrimp, bring reactions from the palate. Try their country pot roast steeped in red wine for a meal your mouth will remember forever.
Type: Italian
Location: 808 West Sioux Avenue, Suite 200, Pierre, SD 57501
Pounders Pub and Grub
If you make the trip to Aberdeen, make sure to stop by Pounders Pub and Grub for a quick and filling meal. This restaurant presents all the classics, many of which have a delightful Cajun twist. Try one of their mac and cheese meals and then drive back to your campsite fully satisfied.
Type: American
Location: 1702 6th Avenue, Aberdeen, SD 57401
Shopping
Song’s Gift Nook
When you visit Pierre, make sure to stop by Song’s Gift Nook. Their shelves are crowded with unusual gifts for family and friends. Among other items, you find creative coffee mugs, decorative plates, and unusual Christmas ornaments.
Location: 358 South Pierre Street, Pierre, SD 57501
Capital Marine and Sport
Before you travel north to Lake Oahe and the West Whitlock Recreation Area, drop by Capital Marine and Sport. At this store, you find all the angling equipment that you need to fish Lake Oahe. Expert staff members let you know the best locations on the lake to fish for a specific species and the techniques that work the best.
Location: 762 West United States Highway 14/34, Fort Pierre, SD 57532
Sightseeing
Dakota Sunset Museum
The Dakota Sunset Museum presents historical documents and artifacts to the public. A celebrated item is the 40-ton Medicine Rock rescued from the banks of the Missouri River when it was threatened with inundation by the construction of Oahe Dam. The rock face is imprinted with several prehistoric human footprints and a handprint. Other items celebrate the 200 Civil War veterans who settled in the area after the cessation of hostilities.
Location: 205 West Commercial Avenue, Gettysburg, SD 57442
South Dakota State Historical Society Museum
To get a perspective on the area, visit the South Dakota State Historical Society Museum. The museum features displays of the Great Plains region as it was before settlement. These incredible exhibits of buffalo, river floods, and vast horizons will stick with you for years.
Location: 900 Governors Drive, Pierre, SD 57601
How to Get to
West Whitlock Recreation Area
The nearest urban center to West Whitlock Recreation Area is Pierre, SD, the state’s capital. To take the quickest route from Pierre, get onto U.S. Highway 14 East (US-14 E) and drive for 15.83 miles. Turn left onto United States Highway 83 North (US-83 N) and go for 35.3 miles. Turn left onto United States Highway 212 West (US-212 W). Drive for 6.12 miles on US-212 W and turn right to get onto South Dakota Highway 1804 (SD-1804). Travel SD-1804 for 4.31 miles and turn left onto 160th Street. After 1.67 miles, 160th Street becomes West Whitlock Road. Drive West Whitlock Road for 1.4 miles. The entrance to West Whitlock Recreation Area is on the right.
Entering West Whitlock Recreation Area
West Whitlock Recreation Area is open year-round from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. for day-use activities.
West Whitlock Recreation Area Entry fee per vehicle (1-4 adults) : $6.0
You’ll make memories that last a lifetime when you take an RV adventure to West Whitlock Recreation Area. If you don’t have an RV of your own, rent one with RVshare! If you share your trip photos on social media, be sure to tag us, or send them to [email protected] for a chance to be featured on our blog.
Frequently Asked Questions About West Whitlock Recreation Area
West Whitlock Recreation Area Campground has 105 back-in RV campsites available. All of the RV campsites, which are 22 feet wide and 75 feet long, are equipped with full RV hookups.
West Whitlock Recreation Area is very warm during the summer and freezing during the winter. The temperatures can reach as high as 90 degrees in July and as low as 3 degrees in January. There's also occasional snowfall during winter.
The best times to visit the park are generally between May and September. Between late spring and early autumn, you should get to enjoy warm, comfortable weather for recreational activities.
West Whitlock Recreation Area is a pet-friendly park as long as you follow the rules. You'll need to clean up any messes your pets make and keep them on leashes no longer than 10 feet.
Yes, West Whitlock Recreation Area makes a strong effort to cater to disabled guests. Within the park, there are ADA-accessible camping cabins and group picnic shelters. Additionally, all of the campsites are accessible for disabled visitors.