American River, South Australia — interactive Google street map, satellite and terrain views, Street View, live local weather conditions and 7-day forecasts, real-time local and world news, and an editorial description of American River, in the Kangaroo Island Council local government area.
| Locality | American River |
| State | South Australia (SA) |
| Local Government Area | Kangaroo Island Council |
| Country | Australia |
| Timezone | Australian Central Time (ACST/ACDT) |
| Remoteness | Remote Australia |
| Latitude | -35.7816 |
| Longitude | 137.76888 |
| Population | 255 |
| Density | 69.1 /km² |
| Area | 3.7 km² |
| Elevation | 27 m |
| Postcode | 5221 |
| Area Code | 08 |
| Distance to Adelaide | 121 km southwest |
American River is a locality in the Kangaroo Island Council local government area of South Australia, Australia. It is a small community with a population of 255. The locality covers an area of 3.7 km², giving a population density of about 69.1 people per km². It sits at an elevation of around 27 m above sea level. It lies approximately 121 km southwest of Adelaide. American River is located at 35.7816°S, 137.7689°E. It observes Australian Central Time (ACST/ACDT). Postcode: 5221. The Australian Bureau of Statistics classifies the area as Remote Australia.
American River lies at the heart of Kangaroo Island's eastern embrace, a tranquil inlet where salt-laced air mingles with the earthy scent of eucalypts. It lies 100.6 km south-west of Morphett Vale, SA (from Morphett Vale, SA: bearing 223°T), and is situated 19.9 km south-east of Kingscote. The water itself, a soft, milky green, laps gently against low, sandy shores and scrub-covered hills that roll inland, their slopes a mosaic of muted greens and ochres. Beyond the immediate curve of the river mouth, the landscape opens to the broader expanse of the Backstairs Passage, its steely grey waters often flecked with whitecaps, hinting at the wilder ocean beyond. Here, the light at dusk possesses a peculiar softness, a diffused glow that catches the dust motes dancing in the still air and paints the weathered bark of the paperbark trees with a subtle, ephemeral beauty.
This is a place where the echoes of a more boisterous past still resonate, though muted by the passage of years and the quiet diligence of the present. The name itself speaks of a curious chapter in maritime history, a brief but significant encounter that left its mark. Today, the economy of American River is woven from the threads of its natural bounty; fishing boats, their hulls bleached by sun and spray, bob patiently at moorings, their catches destined for local tables and further afield. Small-scale aquaculture also plays a part, a quiet cultivation of the sea's offerings. For the traveller, it is a haven of understated charm, a place to breathe deeply and watch the pelicans glide with effortless grace across the placid waters, their shadows momentarily disturbing the glassy surface.
Loading news…
Loading news-world…
Loading news-world…
This page provides an interactive Google map of American River, South Australia with street, satellite and terrain views and integrated Street View imagery. Live weather conditions with current observations and a 7-day forecast are powered by Open-Meteo. Real-time local news and world news feeds keep the page current, while an editorially written description provides background on American River, in the Kangaroo Island Council local government area.
Detailed location data for American River includes the postcode (5221), telephone area code (08), and local government area (Kangaroo Island Council), with an ABS remoteness classification of Remote Australia. These are among the most commonly searched location details for any Australian city, town or locality.
Location data is drawn from Geoscape Administrative Boundaries (GDA2020) and enriched with GeoNames and Australian Bureau of Statistics data, matched by coordinate proximity — ensuring the correct American River is identified even where the name is shared across multiple localities.
| Page generated | June 2026 |
| Location data | Geoscape Administrative Boundaries (GDA2020); enriched with GeoNames and ABS 2021 Census data, matched by coordinate proximity |
| Description | Editorial description generated with AI assistance from verified Geoscape, ABS and GeoNames location data. |