South Dakota State Parks · South Dakota
Whetstone Bay Lakeside Use Area
South Dakota State Parks · South Dakota, United States
- Pets
- Yes
- Elevation
- 1,345 ft
- Dark sky
- Bortle class 1
- Cell coverage
- T-Mobile none · AT&T none · Verizon none (carriers' 4G LTE filings to the FCC, 2025-12; not measured here)
- Nearest town
- Bonesteel
- Address
- 36345 SD Hwy 1806 Bonesteel, SD 57317
- Phone
- 605-773-8239
Season dates aren't confirmed for this campground yet - opening and closing dates haven't been verified. Check the operator's page or call ahead before you plan a trip.
18 numbered sites are mapped one by one - the site map below shows each with its facts and pictures.
Site map
18 numbered sites are mapped one by one on the imagery, with the operator's own facts and pictures for each site where it publishes them. Tap a site to rate it, keep a note and add your own photos; press and hold the map for a pin of your own. Your ratings, notes, pins and photos are kept with the campground on your Saved list, the same list the camping map and the drive page keep.
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About
Whetstone Bay Lakeside Use Area is a South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks Lakeside Use Area with camping available.
Fees
South Dakota GFP's general statewide camping reference (no per-park camping-fee breakdown was found for this park): Statewide Modern (electric) sites ~$23/night, Statewide Basic (non-electric) sites ~$16/night, Electrical Fee add-on ~$7/night. Plus a required Park Entrance License at every GFP park/recreation area: Daily $10 resident / $15 nonresident, Annual $40 resident / $60 nonresident. (Source: gfp.sd.gov/pel-fees/ and each park's own Fees section.)
Weather, month by month
| Month | Typical high | Typical low | Coldest night | Hottest day | Years with a night below 32°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 30° | 13° | -16° | 54° | 11 of 11 |
| February | 38° | 18° | -20° | 69° | 11 of 11 |
| March | 50° | 29° | 7° | 75° | 11 of 11 |
| April | 61° | 36° | 16° | 86° | 8 of 11 |
| May | 69° | 52° | 38° | 87° | 0 of 11 |
| June | 85° | 64° | 52° | 105° | 0 of 11 |
| July | 89° | 69° | 61° | 102° | 0 of 11 |
| August | 85° | 67° | 59° | 97° | 0 of 11 |
| September | 84° | 62° | 41° | 94° | 0 of 11 |
| October | 65° | 43° | 27° | 82° | 2 of 10 |
| November | 53° | 34° | 12° | 76° | 7 of 10 |
| December | 36° | 22° | -4° | 59° | 10 of 10 |
Mid-month figures from 2016–2026 of daily weather at this spot (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, CC BY 4.0), in °F. Typical is the median; coldest and hottest are the extremes seen.
Nearby campgrounds
- North Wheeler Recreation Area · South Dakota State Parks · 5 mi · 25 sites
- Platte Creek Recreation Area · South Dakota State Parks · 8 mi · 36 sites
- Pease Creek Recreation Area · South Dakota State Parks · 10 mi · 28 sites
- Snake Creek Recreation Area · South Dakota State Parks · 17 mi · 115 sites
- Burke City Park Campground · City, County & Regional Parks · 19 mi
All public campgrounds in South Dakota · Every state and province · Facts read from the operator 2026-08-24. Confirm fees, rules and current status with the operator before you go.