A popular destination for boaters, paddlers, and water skiers, Lake Vermillion is a 512-acre artificial reservoir on the East Fork of the Vermillion River. Both the river and the lake are named for the red quartzite stone found along the river’s banks. Lake Vermillion is popular with area anglers for its abundance of walleye, bluegill, crappie, and northern pike. Two boat ramps provide easy access for fishing on the lake, as well as putting in other recreational watercraft. There are plenty of onshore activities at Lake Vermillion as well, with various sports fields, horseshoe pits and a short nature trail, all located within the lake’s camping and picnic areas.      

The year-round campground at Lake Vermillion, just 30 minutes west of Sioux Falls, features more than 90 tent and RV campsites in three areas, on the northwest and northeast shores of the lake. Most sites are equipped with electrical hookups, and all include picnic tables with sun shades, and fire pits with grills. There are also four rustic, walk-in tent sites, two ADA accessible sites, and seven camping cabins. All camp areas have water faucets, and access to flush restrooms, vault toilets, and showers; a dump station is located near the campground entrance. The West Campground also has a kid’s play area, picnic area, swim beach and fishing dock. Campsite rates are $17–$21/night, plus entrance fee; cabins are $45/night.

Lake Vermillion Recreation Area

Beautiful sites right on the lake about 30 minutes west of Sioux Falls. Very popular campground, especially on the weekends, so would highly recommend a reservation if you are planning on camping here. There are also cabins available. Stayed on the east loop at a site along the water, which was technically referred to as an electric site (meant for RV's). Had a hard time finding a flat place to put the tent. The sites are very close together. I was not thrilled with the cost of this campground. It was $21 for the site plus a $7 out of state fee, which I paid online. Upon arriving I was told I had to pay an additional entrance fee for the recreation area even though I was only camping, which cost an additional $6/per car ($12 total). All in all it cost me $40 to camp here, which was much more than I would ever want to pay for camping.

Pretty but expensive, very crowded

We stopped here on our way through south Dakota headed back to Colorado. The staff were really friendly when we pulled in. Got us checked in right away, gave us directions to our site and sent us off. Thry also sell firewood for $5 a bundle. We are in tent site 4. There are only 4 strictly dedicated tent sites. you park across the street and walk a very short distance, maybe 200 feet to the site. The bathroom is in the parking lot along with a water source. The lake is on the other side of the parking lot. There is also a dumpster there in the parking lot. 

The camp site is extremely spacious. plenty of room for tents if you have more then one. It's nice and mowed out with the bordering area still long providing an edge to the site. The four sites are clustered fairly close but the way it's landscaped, you won't see your neighbornuntil you step out to the path to your car. They all have fire rings with a grate to cook on. The picnic table has a nice shade canopy over top. The bathroom surprised me a little. most pit toilets are dark at night but this one has a light! it also has a trash can and hand sanitizer! it smells decent and it's very clean. it will quickly become BYTP but we are only here the one night so hopefully it won't run out. The lake is gorgous! it's a huge long lake and seems to be a favorite boat spot. water skis were abundant, which also meant it got pretty loud with boats buzzing, people partying and music blaring. this is why it lost a star. it was pretty loud up until probably 9 pm. The mosquitos are bad, bring bug spray!

Beautiful campground

Spacious campsites right by the lake if desired. Plenty of things to do for kids with nice playground areas and hiking trails.

Love it

South Dakota charges a day use fee ($6) plus a fee for tent camping ($17); I opted to pay for an Annual Pass of $30 since I plan on doing more SD camping this year. The park had East and West areas, the tent sites (4) are only in the West side. As typical, the more scenic lakeside camping is for RV's, with flushing toilets and showers, but the trade off for privacy and seclusion at the tent site was worth it. Picnic tables have built in sun covers which were really great and with winds I didn't experience any bugs or mosquitoes. There is no tree cover so I enjoyed the night sky. The staff is friendly and helpful. There was only one trail, Otto Stream (no stream, no otters), which is about 1.5m trail thru restored prairie.

Nice but pricey

We stopped to camp here for one night as we headed to the Badlands. We stayed in one of the four designated tent sites. You have to park and haul your gear to the site, but it is a short and easy walk. The 4 tent sites are near each other, yet feel secluded and private. Each site had a picnic table with built in sun shade and a fire ring. The park has a lake with a beach area - looked to have quite a bit of algae while we were there in early July. The area is very busy with boaters, and not a lot more than that to do. It was also a little pricey, as they charge extra fees upon arrival regardless of having paid online at time of making reservation. Overall, it was what we needed for a quick one night stop on an extended road trip, and we lucked out with a killer sunset. 

Just passing through...

Definitely not roughing it but beautiful setting with possibly the best kept campsites and restrooms I've experienced on public ground! We stayed in the east Campground in one of the pull off sites. Handled our rooftop tent quite nicely. We stayed in June and the mosquitos were fierce. Overall great spot, worked well for us on our way through SD headed west.

Nicest State Park Out There!

Nice, quiet campground by a beautiful lake. Friendly staff. Would stay here again!

Quiet and very clean

Ok- I just did a quick little hang here for an hour during a snowstorm - one of the most gorgeous things I have ever seen. 

Large picnic area, with grills, vaulted toilet  close by, a cute little secluded picnic area with fire ring off to the side, and a paved trail to the rec area. 

Great day use area on a gorgeous lake. 

Breathtaking 

We stayed here at site 69 E for one night in August 2020. Nice, clean campground with partial shade in some sites. The campground was fairly empty, but there were many families enjoying the lake on Sunday afternoon. Good stopover site on way to black hills.

Good stopover site on way to black hills

This was a nice campground. Typical RV style sites. Not a lot of trees so you can see all the other campers. We stayed here the end of March so it was very quiet. We stayed on the lake at site 13. It’s a small lake. Very quiet and dark. 

Nice campground 

Stayed a night in March at the east campground. We stayed at the west campground a week earlier. We were by ourselves which was great. We got the largest site and it felt a little more private than the others, but still pretty open. Vault toilets were very clean - it was March. They likely don’t get much business in spring. I’m guessing this place is very busy during the summer as we passed a seasonal, permanent RV campground just down the road. Both places had playgrounds. 

East campground - nice, large sites  

Well maintained sites.  Pretty lake, with swimming and non motorized water fun.

Great family campground 

Camp host was beyond friendly! Awesome spot right by the lake for 15 a night. There is a 7 dollar serivce fee and an 8 dollar park entrance fee though.
Small gas station/bar right up the road was awesome.
Showers and nice bathrooms near the camp host. 
East and west camp grounds. West has tent only sites. Everywhere else is an electric site for 28 a night plus fees mentioned above. 

Lake vermillion 

Stayed in spot 122 in Maple, which faces east and is somewhat protected by trees. But very many spots are completely exposed. 

Very nice, but very little shade

Kids enjoyed playing in the water. Wasn’t the clearest water ever but the kids didn’t mind. Bathrooms and showers were nice. 

Nice Lakeside campground 

Great sites right on the water. Nice facilities. 

Beautiful 

We were here just overnight but wish we could’ve stayed longer. We stayed on site 14 and it was so spacious and just lovely! We will be back if we are this way again. 

A great campground!

About a half hour to Sioux falls! Amenities include picnic tables, showers, beaches, hiking trails, biking trails, boat launch, and basketball hoops