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Lake Francis Case

Oacoma · Chamberlain, South Dakota — Charles Mix County.

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82,167Surface acres
18Public access sites

Surface area: The USGS National Hydrography Dataset outline (NHD Permanent ID 148215209).

Nearest airports

The closest airport with scheduled passenger flights to Lake Francis Case, plus larger airports within about 150 miles:

Compare car rentals near this lake

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Airports with scheduled airline service from OurAirports (large and medium airports); larger airports are FAA large, medium and small hubs by FAA CY2025 enplanements ("major airport" = FAA large hub). Distances are straight-line from the lake's center, not driving distance; road routes are longer.

Location & fast facts

Where Lake Francis Case is in South Dakota

The red circle marks Lake Francis Case.

Fast facts

About Lake Francis Case

  • Counties: Charles Mix, Gregory, Lyman, Brule, Buffalo
  • Cities & towns on the shore: Oacoma, Chamberlain
  • Mapped as: Lake or pond (USGS National Hydrography Dataset)
  • Distance: about 76 mi from Pierre and 129 mi from Sioux Falls, straight-line (not driving distance)

Towns and counties: U.S. Census Bureau boundaries overlaid on the USGS lake outline (South Dakota: incorporated places touching the lake, otherwise the nearest one).

Fishing in South Dakota

Official SD GFP pages. Rules and fees change; check before you go.

Good for & watch for

Good for

  • Boating. 18 public trailer launches listed (see access)
  • Camping. 9 campgrounds within 15 mi, 5 on the shore (list)

Watch for

  • Non-native/invasive species. Zebra mussel, Eurasian watermilfoil and Curly-leaf pondweed recorded. Clean, drain and dry your boat and gear.
  • Boat traffic. A public trailer launch means motorboats share the water; expect more traffic on summer weekends.

Built only from the data on this page: official access lists, OpenStreetMap beaches and trails, campground listings, state and USGS invasive-species records. We don't rate crowds or water quality.

Lake map

Lake Francis Case shoreline, boat launches & beaches

Right Tailrace - COE (campground)American Creek Campground (campground)Old Fort Thompson - COE (campground)Dude Rach DFG (campground)Snake Creek Recreation Area (campground)Oasis Campground (campground)Boat ramp (Boat launch)1Boat ramp (Boat launch)2Boat ramp (Boat launch)3Boat ramp (Boat launch)4Boat ramp (Boat launch)5Boat ramp (Boat launch)6Boat ramp (Boat launch)7Boat ramp (Boat launch)8Boat ramp (Boat launch)9Boat ramp (Boat launch)10Boat ramp (Boat launch)11Boat ramp (Boat launch)12Boat ramp (Boat launch)13Boat ramp (Boat launch)14Boat ramp (Boat launch)15Boat ramp (Boat launch)16Boat ramp (Boat launch)17Boat ramp (Boat launch)181 mileN

Numbers on the map match the list at rightbelow.

Boat launch Campground
  1. 1Boat ramp
    Boat launch
  2. 2Boat ramp
    Boat launch · Oacoma
  3. 3Boat ramp
    Boat launch · Chamberlain
  4. 4Boat ramp
    Boat launch · Chamberlain
  5. 5Boat ramp
    Boat launch · Oacoma
  6. 6Boat ramp
    Boat launch
  7. 7Boat ramp
    Boat launch
  8. 8Boat ramp
    Boat launch
  9. 9Boat ramp
    Boat launch
  10. 10Boat ramp
    Boat launch
  11. 11Boat ramp
    Boat launch
  12. 12Boat ramp
    Boat launch
  13. 13Boat ramp
    Boat launch
  14. 14Boat ramp
    Boat launch
  15. 15Boat ramp
    Boat launch
  16. 16Boat ramp
    Boat launch
  17. 17Boat ramp
    Boat launch
  18. 18Boat ramp
    Boat launch

Shoreline: USGS National Hydrography Dataset (NHD Waterbody, Permanent ID 148215209), public domain. State outline: U.S. Census Bureau TIGERweb. Points: OpenStreetMap boat ramps (no statewide agency ramp layer used) and OpenStreetMap boat ramps (ODbL). Interactive map: Leaflet with © OpenStreetMap contributors. Not for navigation.

Campgrounds near Lake Francis Case

We found 9 campgrounds and RV parks within 15 miles of Lake Francis Case, 8 of them within 5 miles. 5 are right on the shore. Distances are straight-line from the nearest point on the shoreline, so driving distance is longer.

3 more within 15 miles

All campgrounds & RV parks in South Dakota

Green tent icons on the lake map mark campgrounds near the shore, and the interactive map shows the closest 12. Amenities are listed only where a source records them; call or check the campground's website before you go, since seasons and rates change every year.

Campground data: Recreation.gov (RIDB) · OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Pulled Oct 12, 2026.

Conditions right now

Air temperature & conditions (nearest NWS station)Loading…
Fetching the latest National Weather Service observation…

Live from the National Weather Service API for the lake's coordinates (43.5540, -99.3123). The nearest station may be several miles away. NWS forecast for Lake Francis Case. No live water-temperature sensor is shown because we haven't found a public one for this lake.

Sun, moon & best fishing times

Sun & moon at Lake Francis Case

Best fishing times

Major periodMinor periodDaylight

    Based on solunar theory, an estimate. Major periods (about 2 hours) center on when the moon is directly overhead or underfoot; minor periods (about 1 hour) center on moonrise and moonset. The 0–100 activity score rises during those periods and gets a boost near sunrise and sunset and around the new and full moon. Weather, water temperature and pressure often matter more. Sun and moon times are calculated in your browser from the lake's coordinates with standard astronomy formulas, shown in CT (America/Chicago), and accurate to within a few minutes.

    Boat launches & access sites

    18 public access sites listed, 18 with a boat ramp or trailer launch.

    SiteTownOwnerTypeParkingFeeUsesMap
    Boat ramp——Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp——Boating43.3941, -99.1201
    Boat rampOacoma—Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp——Boating43.8305, -99.3394
    Boat rampChamberlain—Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp——Boating43.8146, -99.3255
    Boat rampChamberlain—Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp——Boating43.8198, -99.3294
    Boat rampOacoma—Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp——Boating43.8092, -99.3582
    Boat ramp——Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp——Boating43.3862, -99.1151
    Boat ramp——Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp——Boating43.0507, -98.5844
    Boat ramp——Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp——Boating43.0861, -98.5713
    Boat ramp——Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp——Boating43.0807, -98.5430
    Boat ramp——Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp——Boating43.0853, -98.6655
    Boat ramp——Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp——Boating43.1004, -98.7621
    Boat ramp——Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp——Boating43.1445, -98.7358
    Boat ramp——Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp——Boating43.1651, -98.8205
    Boat ramp——Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp——Boating43.4154, -99.1689
    Boat ramp——Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp——Boating44.0368, -99.4387
    Boat ramp——Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp——Boating43.5654, -99.3127
    Boat ramp——Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp——Boating43.2987, -99.0015
    Boat ramp——Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp——Boating43.0814, -98.5566

    OpenStreetMap boat ramps (no statewide agency ramp layer used) and OpenStreetMap boat ramps (ODbL)

    Fees, hours and rules change; confirm with the site owner before you go.

    Non-native/invasive species

    Reported on or near Lake Francis Case

    Clean, Drain, Dry. Remove plants and mud, drain all water, and dry your boat, trailer and gear before moving to another water.

    USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species database

    USGS records matched to this water by location (within about 150 m of the outline) or by the place name in the record. A record shows a sighting was reported; it doesn't prove the species is still there. As of Oct 10, 2026.

    Contact & official info

    Questions about Lake Francis Case

    How big is Lake Francis Case?

    Lake Francis Case covers about 82,167 acres in Oacoma and Chamberlain, South Dakota (Charles Mix County).

    Is there a public boat launch on Lake Francis Case?

    Yes. 18 public trailer launches are listed: Boat ramp, Boat ramp and Boat ramp. Check posted fees and parking rules.

    Are there campgrounds near Lake Francis Case?

    Yes. We list 9 campgrounds and RV parks within 15 miles, 8 of them within 5 miles.

    What towns are on Lake Francis Case?

    Lake Francis Case touches Oacoma and Chamberlain in Charles Mix County, Gregory County, Lyman County, Brule County and Buffalo County, South Dakota.

    Share a tip or fishing report

    Know Lake Francis Case? Tell us about the launch, parking, where they're biting or anything a first-time visitor should know. Tips go privately to the LakeRipple editor; nothing is posted automatically. Helpful tips may be featured on this page (we'll use your first name only if you give one).

    Lakes & ponds nearby

    Straight-line distance between lake centers. All South Dakota lakes & ponds · All waters in Oacoma