North Shore Recreation Area

Managed by the Army Corps of Engineers, North Shore Recreation Area is open to the general public and costs nothing to camp there. There are no reservations, very few people camping there, and plenty of spaces to choose from. You get a beautiful view of the Missouri River, low-but-usable Verizon 4G signal, and level, paved campsites. So what’s the catch? Well, it is about 30 minutes away from the modern amenities of Chamberlain, SD, and you can expect gnats and mosquitoes during the warmer part of the year. But if free camping is your game, you may actually find North Shore Recreation Area to be a hidden gem.