Lake Oahe
Lake Oahe is a large reservoir behind the Oahe Dam on the Missouri River; it begins in central South Dakota and continues north into North Dakota in the United States. This one stands 37 mi north of Draper. Expect 69–80°F afternoons in the mildest months, May, June and September.
A lake, 37 mi north of Draper
Plan where you’ll sleep
The nearest town with many places to stay is Murdo, 42 miles south. Where to stay ↓
Winters are cold
January nights drop to 11°, with about 49" of snow a year. When to go ↓
Best months: May, Jun and Sep
May, June and September are the mild months, with highs of 69–80°. When to go ↓
An airport 7 miles away
Pierre Regional (PIR) has airline service, about 7 miles from Lake Oahe.
Written from NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Overture places to stay, Census town figures, Wikidata and Wikipedia.
The year’s weather
Every month near Lake Oahe is set out below.
Lake Oahe
Lake Oahe is a large reservoir behind the Oahe Dam on the Missouri River; it begins in central South Dakota and continues north into North Dakota in the United States. The lake has an area of 370,000 acres (1,500 km2) and a maximum depth of 205 ft (62 m). By volume, it is the fourth-largest reservoir in the US. Lake Oahe has a length of approximately 231 mi (372 km) and has a shoreline of 2,250 mi (3,620 km). 51 recreation areas are located along Lake Oahe, and 1.5 million people visit the reservoir every year. The lake is named for the 1874 Oahe Indian Mission.
- Type
- Lake
- Elevation
- 1,647 ft
- Wikipedia readers
- 20K a year
Nights near Lake Oahe
The closest towns with hotels, motels or campgrounds are Murdo (9) and Presho (4).
Compare 3 towns
Getting there
Nearest airports with airline service
Visiting Lake Oahe
What town is Lake Oahe near?
Draper, SD, about 37 miles south.
When is the best time to visit Lake Oahe?
May, June and September, with highs of 69–80°.
What is the closest airport to Lake Oahe?
Pierre Regional (PIR), about 7 miles away.
Where should I stay near Lake Oahe?
Murdo (42 mi, 9 places to stay) and Presho (41 mi, 4 places to stay).
Local tips in Draper
Tips will appear here once someone posts in Draper’s Town Square.
Sources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · NOAA climate normals · U.S. Census.