ABOUT LITTLE WHITE RIVER RECREATION AREA: Within the Recreation Area is an area for camping. It is not a designated campground with numbered campsites. It is an area of nice trees with restrooms and a grassy area right on the lake where camping is allowed for free. There are no hook-ups of any kind, no potable water, no dump station, just the restrooms, two picnic tables and one firepit. No reservations. First-come, first-served. No rules like check-in and check-out times.
The lake is actually a reservoir, and it’s beautiful. There is fishing and boating. There was a beach by where we were camping. It was private and quiet. With no rules and no one checking on things though, chances are that it could get rowdy, or who knows what. But we liked it when we were there for two nights. No site numbers. We just had a place to park the RV and car beside the lake and in the trees.
The Lacreek National Wildlife Refuge was just across the road. It had a long Auto Tour road which we drove several times. It was very nice. The two closest towns didn’t have much, but Martin was by far bigger than Tuthill (which was really maybe two farms and 4 houses and that was it). But you could probably get gas and groceries in Martin, probably…..
Little White River Recreation Area, between Tuthill & Martin, SD: This “campground” is in the Little White River Recreation Area, which is between the tiny town of Tuthill on the east and the small town of Martin on the west, on 293rd Street (a gravel road) across from Lacreek National Wildlife Refuge. Take US Highway 18 to Martin, then 292nd Street east of Martin to Project Road to 293rd Street. Once you find the Recreation Area across from the NWR, turn off on Pheasant Road and follow that road a fairly short distance to a group of trees by the lake on the left-hand side of the road. You should be able to see a couple of small buildings (restrooms). Near the restrooms on the lake side is an area with two picnic tables and a fire ring. Grab a spot anywhere. It’s okay to camp there for free, first-come, first-served. There are no signs indicating there is a campground. If you need more information, call (605) 685-6508, which is the phone number for the Wildlife Refuge.
- 2022 – 10/07-10/09