Best Equestrian Camping near Arlington, SD

Horse Campground at Oakwood Lakes State Park provides equestrian facilities with clean bathrooms, showers, and campsites. The campground features beach areas, boat ramps, and a frisbee golf course. Campsites are well-maintained with garbage stations, fill stations, and a dump station available. Lake Thompson Recreation Area, located on the north shore of Lake Thompson, offers multiple accommodation options including cabins for equestrian visitors. The recreation area maintains electric hookups, drinking water, and sanitary dump facilities. Some sites face the lake while others provide shade with open sky views. Campground facilities include multiple fresh water hookups throughout the grounds.

Pelican Lake Recreation Area offers year-round access for horse enthusiasts with electric hookups and accommodations for tents, RVs, and cabins. The recreation area features a pebble beach, playgrounds, and walking areas with flat parking for campers. Power is reliable and showers are generally clean. Joy Ranch Cowboy Campground provides a peaceful setting for equestrian camping outside Watertown. The campground offers electric hookups, water hookups, and sanitary dump facilities. Campground amenities include picnic tables, trash service, and areas for fires. The ranch environment creates a quiet atmosphere ideal for family camping with horses.

Best Equestrian Sites Near Arlington, South Dakota (5)

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Equestrian Camping Reviews near Arlington, SD

5 Reviews of 5 Arlington Campgrounds


  • AThe Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 7, 2024

    Lake Thompson Recreation Area

    Great beach & campground

    This campground has both electric standard sites for campers and tent sites. Two shower houses and multiple vault toilets throughout the campground for accessibility. Walking trails in grass or gravel. Three walkways down to the water’s edge with one being a large swimming area. Boating is permitted as well. Be sure to use bug spray as mosquitoes were all over- maybe due to wet weather. This is a natural lake formed by farmland that flooded in the 1980s.

  • SThe Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 14, 2025

    Lake Thompson Recreation Area

    Lovely lake site

    Beautiful location on the north shore of Lake Thompson. Some sites face the lake, others have shade with enough open sky for your StarLink dish. Beach access at the campground. Great fishing spots with cleaning stations available. For history buffs, campground is less than 10 miles from the Laura Ingalls Wilder homestead and De Smet. There are 4 dump stations near the campground entrance with multiple fresh water hookups around the campground. Staying here mid-week and there are few campers here.

  • Sethen E.
    Aug. 17, 2020

    Pelican Lake Recreation Area

    Family Friendly, too many cars on Friday

    Nice pebble beach, playgrounds, and walking areas. Flat camper parking. Power was great and showers were clean. Electric only. There is an area to dump waste on the exit. Stopped on Sunday on the way westward and the place was empty, stopped Friday on the way home and it was packed. Lots of kids and families, and almost every spot was full. Happy to see folks having fun. It was just a little busy for us. On the second time through one of the three bathrooms was very dirty, sad before the weekend- the showers remained clean. On the Friday stop there were a lot of people, some spots had 3-4 cars parked in the grass- it was too bad they allowed that. If one was to go here to find some quiet do so during the week or late weekend. It worked just fine as a quick overnight stop on our route. Lots of families having fun. Slept well. Well groomed area. Pretty views of lake. A little windy.

  • M
    May. 18, 2020

    Joy Ranch

    Peaceful, Quite and beautiful

    Joy Ranch campground is a hidden campground outside Watertown SD. If you are wanting to enjoy a peaceful weekend with your family, Cowboy Campground is the place for you!

  • TThe Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 20, 2025

    Horse Campground — Oakwood Lakes State Park

    Clean

    The bathrooms and showers were very clean. Also, the campsites are very clean beach areas and boat ramps were very clean. Also a nice frisbee, golf course and great beach access. Also not real expensive but you do need a park pass and they do charge out of stators $10 more for campsites but at the end of the day very nice and well worth it garbage and fill stations and dump station.


Guide to Arlington

Equestrian camping near Arlington, South Dakota offers access to several recreation areas with dedicated horse facilities. The region contains multiple lakes surrounded by prairie landscape, with summer temperatures averaging 80-85°F during peak camping season. Campgrounds range in elevation from approximately 1,700 to 1,900 feet above sea level, creating relatively flat terrain suitable for horse trails.

What to do

Fishing opportunities: Lake Thompson Recreation Area provides excellent fishing spots with dedicated cleaning stations. Located less than 10 miles from the Laura Ingalls Wilder homestead and De Smet, the area combines outdoor recreation with historical attractions.

Swimming areas: Pelican Lake Recreation Area features a pebble beach with designated swimming areas. "Nice pebble beach, playgrounds, and walking areas. Flat camper parking," notes camper Sethen E., who appreciated the family-friendly atmosphere.

Beach activities: Lake Thompson Recreation Area offers multiple water access points. "Three walkways down to the water's edge with one being a large swimming area. Boating is permitted as well," explains Audrey F., highlighting the variety of water activities available.

What campers like

Clean facilities: At Horse Campground in Oakwood Lakes State Park, maintenance standards receive high marks. "The bathrooms and showers were very clean. Also, the campsites are very clean beach areas and boat ramps were very clean," reports Tony H., who also mentioned the "frisbee golf course and great beach access."

Quiet weekday camping: Timing your visit can significantly impact your experience. At Pelican Lake Recreation Area, "Stopped on Sunday on the way westward and the place was empty, stopped Friday on the way home and it was packed," notes Sethen E., suggesting weekdays offer more tranquility.

Historical attractions: The proximity to historical sites enhances the camping experience. "For history buffs, campground is less than 10 miles from the Laura Ingalls Wilder homestead and De Smet," mentions Steven W. about Lake Thompson Recreation Area, highlighting educational opportunities during your equestrian camping trip.

What you should know

Seasonal crowds: Weekend camping brings significant changes to campground atmosphere. "Lots of kids and families, and almost every spot was full. Happy to see folks having fun. It was just a little busy for us," explains Sethen E. about Pelican Lake Recreation Area during Friday visits.

Weather considerations: Wind and insects can affect camping comfort in this region. At Lake Thompson, Audrey F. advises, "Be sure to use bug spray as mosquitoes were all over - maybe due to wet weather."

Water access points: Horse Campground in Oakwood Lakes State Park offers "great beach access" according to Tony H., who also noted the reasonable pricing: "not real expensive but you do need a park pass and they do charge out of staters $10 more for campsites."

Tips for camping with families

Less crowded timing: For equestrian camping with children near Arlington, weekdays offer more space. "If one was to go here to find some quiet do so during the week or late weekend," suggests Sethen E. regarding Pelican Lake.

Campground layout: Lake Thompson Recreation Area offers diverse site options. "Some sites face the lake, others have shade with enough open sky," notes Steven W., allowing families to select locations based on preference for views or shade.

Peaceful environment: For a truly quiet family experience, consider Joy Ranch. "If you are wanting to enjoy a peaceful weekend with your family, Cowboy Campground is the place for you!" recommends Morgan W. about this lesser-known option for horse camping.

Tips from RVers

Electric hookup options: Lake Thompson Recreation Area provides practical amenities for RV campers. "This campground has both electric standard sites for campers and tent sites. Two shower houses and multiple vault toilets throughout the campground for accessibility," reports Audrey F.

Utility access: RVers appreciate the comprehensive facilities. "There are 4 dump stations near the campground entrance with multiple fresh water hookups around the campground," notes Steven W. about Lake Thompson Recreation Area, highlighting the conveniences for longer stays.

Site capacity: Pay attention to seasonal regulations regarding vehicles per site. At Pelican Lake Recreation Area, one camper observed, "some spots had 3-4 cars parked in the grass - it was too bad they allowed that," indicating potential crowding during busy periods.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Arlington, SD?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Arlington, SD is Horse Campground — Oakwood Lakes State Park with a 5-star rating from 1 review.

What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Arlington, SD?

TheDyrt.com has all 5 equestrian camping locations near Arlington, SD, with real photos and reviews from campers.