Map showing campground location near Beresford, South Dakota

Camper submitted image from Gunderson Park

Gunderson Park

SUMMARY PRESENTED BY

Free camping at Gunderson Park runs from Memorial Day through Labor Day only, with no winter camping permitted. The park sits roughly half a mile from downtown Centerville, a small town of around 900 people with a grocery store, restaurant, pharmacy, and other everyday services within walking distance via a paved path. There are no hookups, no restroom facilities, no picnic tables, and no designated sites. Campers simply pull into the grass wherever space allows, and the city mows the grounds regularly through the summer months.

The Vermillion River borders the park on three sides, and a concrete boat ramp provides water access for small watercraft and kayaks, though water levels can run low in summer. The park's old-growth trees provide substantial shade, and remnants of stone structures from the park's 19th-century origins are still visible on the grounds. "Also tons of mulberry trees around," notes Erin G. Anglers can fish the Vermillion River with a valid South Dakota license, and bald eagle sightings have been reported by multiple visitors.

Verizon cell service gets decent marks from reviewers. Occasional ATV traffic and highway noise have come up in reviews, so light sleepers may want to note the park's proximity to a nearby road. Crowd levels tend to stay low, with most reviewers reporting only one or two other groups present. Campers heading further into South Dakota can look into campsites near Beresford or the nearby Viborg City Campground for additional stops along the way. A tank dump station is available at the main city park in Centerville; check with city hall for directions.

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Map & DirectionsGunderson Park is located in South Dakota near Beresford

Public Campground

Coordinates

43.12677597800546 N
96.96595345336539 W

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Connectivity

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Good Coverage
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Good Coverage
Verified by 8 users
Last on 7/28/26
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Excellent Coverage

Connectivity

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Good Coverage
Verified by 4 users
Last on 7/28/26
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Good Coverage
Verified by 8 users
Last on 7/28/26
AT&T5G
Excellent Coverage

Access

Drive-In
Park next to your site
Walk-In
Park in a lot, walk to your site.
Hike-In
Backcountry sites.
Boat-In
Sites accessible by watercraft.

Site Types

Tent Sites
RV Sites
Dispersed
Group

Features

For Campers

ADA Access
Phone Service
Alcohol
Pets
Fires

For Vehicles

Big Rig Friendly

Enjoy camping on government land. Limited or no services at this camping area.

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Contact

General Info

Drive Time

36 min from Sioux Falls, SD
55 min from Sioux City, IA
2 hrs 15 min from Omaha, NE
3 hrs 1 min from Lincoln, NE

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Reviews8 Camper Reviews - Gunderson Park

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5 Stars

4 Stars

3 Stars

2 Stars

1 Star

4.5

out of 5

8 Reviews

Visitors often highlighted this free municipal park's spacious, well-maintained sites with flexible camping and long-term stay options. Many mentioned the primitive setup with no hookups or facilities, but most found it peaceful with ample room to spread out.

SUMMARY PRESENTED BY

Erin G.

Guide

Reviewed Aug. 10, 2024

Great Simple Free Spot!

I found this on Campendium and google maps. It's a great little free park where you basically just park wherever. No designated spots, just park in the grass. The grass was not overgrown or anything, and there's a great little paved path that leads into town. Verizon cell service was pretty good and the park itself wasn't too crowded either. I imagine that the local county maintains it. Also tons of mulberry trees around! And be sure to go into town and pick up a breakfast sandwich and some donuts in the morning, it's a lovely walk in.

Month of VisitAugust

(6) View All

Bibs O.

Legend

Reviewed Jul. 2, 2024

Up to 14 days free camping

CAMPING IS NOW ONLY ALLOWED BETWEEN MEMORIAL DAY THROUGH LABOR DAY. NO WINTER CAMPING IS ALLOWED ANY LONGER.

Gunderson Park is a nice little boondocking location just ½ mile from the downtown area of Centerville. They have 2 fire pit locations, but, after speaking with the official at city hall we found out you can camp pretty much anywhere in the park you would like.

It is free to camp here, you can stay virtually as long as you wish to according to that same official. There are no hook-ups. No bathroom facilities. No picnic tables. No playground for children. You may fish with a South Dakota license in the lazy rolling Vermillion River that skirts the park on 3 sides. They have a cement boat ramp. I will say when we stayed there the river was so low you would have had great difficulties getting a boat launched. On the west side of the park there are park benches at the beginning (or end of the walk depending on your start location) with a cemented walk way along the road to the park and the Vermillion River. It runs close to a quarter mile long with benches about half way through the walk. The city keeps this park mowed during the summer months. This is an old old park dating back to 1800's. The trees are massive and just as old providing beautiful shade. There are remnants of old stone items remaing in the park, grape vine thingy, a stone fireplace and pillars. Our stay favored us with Bald Eagle sightings. 2 hung around the trees on the other side of the river in full view, it was wonderful.

At the city park you can dump your tanks. We didn't need to so we didn't visit this location. At the four way stop sign located at the center of the town, turn west, travel one block and on the south side of the street you will find city hall. There they will tell you how to find the dump site.

This seems to be a favorite location for locals to drive through. Sometimes we found traffic through the park on the heavy side but most of the time very quiet. People are small town friendly. Population is around 900 people. Town has a grocery store, convenience store, bank, medical clinic, pharmacy, restaurant, bowling alley, auto parts store, bakery and other businesses. We noticed 4 churches in our drive around the town. At the city park they have a community swimming pool, Frisbee golf, 2 ball diamonds, tennis courts, playground equipment, volleyball courts, 2 picnic house areas and a location for 4 RV campsites with electrical plug ins [2 50 amp and 2 30 amp) for $10.00 a night with limited stay.

Siteopen area

Month of VisitMay

(23) View All

Atlas_Shrugz

Scout

Reviewed Aug. 3, 2023

Clean, well maintained

Stayed overnight here on my ride to Sturgis. The park was very well taken care of with plenty of space for lots of campers and tents. The grass is mowed and nicer than my yard. It is otherwise primitive camping with no amenities like toilet, shower, water. It is close to a country road with occasional traffic. ATV’s are apparently popular as a few came through and were noisy but it was relatively quiet after 11p. I was one of two people there. The park is located just outside of a quaint small town with a couple mom and pop restaurants and a gas station. The townsfolk I encountered were very friendly. I felt very safe at this location. There is a sign at the gate to the park that states camping is only allowed between Memorial Day and Labor Day.

SiteSites not marked

Month of VisitAugust

Pennington R.

Scout

Reviewed Jul. 30, 2023

Nice Area!!

Huge level areas. No “designated” spots, that said, pull up a spot and set up. Will accommodate big rigs, but is dry camping. The place has a concrete boat ramp for jon boats and kayaks. No facilities. Good trees and walking paths.

Site1

Month of VisitJuly

Jonah

Scout

Reviewed Sep. 25, 2022

Convenient

Quite nice. The park is away from the town and surrounded by water from 3 sides, making it feel decently isolated despite being close to amenities. There's a portapottie, trash cans and a fire pit or two. The highway does pass right by the park, so if you're a light sleeper, might not be the best for you.

Month of VisitSeptember

Sawyer M.

Scout

Reviewed Sep. 25, 2022

Great Free spot

10/10 would stay again. Great for car camping with a tent. One other group was there. Close to town and seems very safe. Saw someone driving around the loop in the morning apparently just checking in on the space.

Siten/a

Month of VisitSeptember

J T.

Traveler

Reviewed Jul. 30, 2022

well maintained park

Slept here on way from Davenport IA to Rapid City. No services picnic tables designated spots or fire pits. just a loop dirt road with grass and plenty of space to camp on both sides. Slept fine in tent with my german shepherd. just two other vehicles were there, plenty of space to spread out. grass was more wild prairie gras looking, but only 5-6” high.

Month of VisitJuly

Anna W.

Guide

Reviewed Aug. 8, 2021

Fine for a free night

We stopped late on our way to the Badlands and found a clean little municipal park with a creek and some brick structures. No amenities. We didn’t stay long but it was a safe, free place to pitch a tent.

Month of VisitAugust