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Best Dog-Friendly Camping near Arlington, SD

101 Reviews

Oakwood Lakes State Park campgrounds accommodate pets across multiple camping areas, including Campground 1, Campground 2, and the Horse Campground. All sites provide picnic tables and fire rings with pets permitted throughout the facilities. The bathrooms at Oakwood receive consistent praise for cleanliness with private, fully-enclosed facilities. Campground 2 features large grassy sites with spacious areas for dogs to relax while maintaining leash requirements. The park offers an extensive network of hiking trails suitable for dog walking along the shoreline and around Scout Island, providing natural terrain for pet exercise during stays.

Lake Poinsett State Recreation Area and Norland Park in Arlington both welcome pets with designated pet-friendly sites. Lake Poinsett maintains clean facilities with electric hookups and sits directly on the water, allowing convenient access for dogs who enjoy swimming. Sexauer City Park in nearby Brookings provides both drive-in and walk-in sites accommodating pets with showers and toilet facilities available from May through October. For travelers seeking more rustic experiences, Lake Preston City Park Campground permits pets at tent and RV sites with drinking water and sanitary dump stations available. Mosquitoes can be prevalent around the lakes, particularly after wet weather, making pet-appropriate insect protection advisable during summer camping trips.

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Best Dog-Friendly Sites Near Arlington, South Dakota (44)

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Showing results 1-10 of 44 campgrounds

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Recent Dog-Friendly Camping Photos near Arlington, SD

8 Photos of 44 Arlington Campgrounds

Dog-Friendly Camping Reviews near Arlington, SD

101 Reviews of 44 Arlington Campgrounds

  • Sarah A.
    Aug. 24, 2023

    Dakota Sunsets RV Park

    Beautiful + quiet

    This is just off the highway, but you wouldn’t know it when you’re in the rig. Super quiet and the owners were so sweet. They spaced us out with a beautiful pull through and plenty of room. They also gave us treats for the pups and cookies for us. Nice little thoughtful dog park with water and toys. Sunflowers right there for you to enjoy. The flies were definitely out, so had to manage getting in and out of the rig quickly as a few got in.

    We’d definitely stay again.

  • MickandKarla W.The Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 26, 2021

    Dakota Sunsets RV Park

    Very Nice Campground

    The super nice and informative couple who own the campground (CG) checked us in and then we were escorted to pull through site 41 with FHUs. The site was more than long enough for our 39’ 5th Wheel and F-450 truck. WiFi was average but there were not many RVs in the park for our 3 nights stay, and we got 4 bars on Verizon. They do not have cable and not being too far from Sioux Falls, we got a good amount of OTA channels. The CG was well taken care of and very clean. We did experience flies this time of year and they were aggressive about getting inside our RV. I had some insect fogger and that worked well spraying before entering our rig. There is no formal dog park, but plenty of area around the CG to walk. The town of Salem down the road has your basic amenities and we enjoyed playing a round of golf on their 9 hole course that is decently priced.  Well run little CG that we would definitely stay at again.

  • Corinna B.
    Jul. 17, 2018

    Ingalls Homestead

    Magical Must-See for Kids & All Little House on the Prairie Fans

    This is a truly magical place, and if you’ve ever read any of the Little House on the Prairie books and are anywhere near De Smet South Dakota, do yourself a favor and swing by.

    The Campground

    The Ingalls Homestead consists of two main parts. First is the "campground," which is a basically a large grassy slope where you can set up your tent for just $10. It includes hot showers, flush toilets, and a few picnic tables and fire-pits throughout the field. There's also fairly basic RV parking for $30 with electric and water hookups and a dump site as well as some basic but cool covered wagons for $60. We arrived just as the sun was setting, found a lovely spot for our tent, and then paid in the shop the next morning. The bathrooms were clean, the showers were a little strange but also clean and hot (basically a large room cordoned off by several shower curtains).

    The Homestead

    De Smet is where the Ingalls family lived during the "Long Winter" of 1880-1881, and the Ingalls Homestead is a "family run business" that brings to life many activities from the 1880s such as visiting a one-room schoolhouse, making a corn on the cob doll, going on a covered wagon ride, etc. It's truly hands-on and some of our favorite time was spent hanging out in "Pa's" lean-to barn with the barn kitties and riding horses and ponies. My oldest son also learned how to drive the covered wagon to the schoolhouse down the road (another treat). Each station on the self-guided tour has an activity with incredibly nice and informed hosts. Most of the buildings are based on the original plans and descriptions from the Ingalls family, though no original buildings remain on the site. Visiting the homestead is an additional $15 per person over the age of five, and while you could camp without visiting the homestead, it was definitely worth a half or full-day visit.

  • L
    Sep. 10, 2021

    Norland Park

    City park with a small lake and island

    Passing town of Arlington and found a couple of city parks with electrical hookup and about six sites with picnic tables! On busy truck route but very quiet after dark! Nice town to bike or walk! Grocery store, gas mini mart and Main St all close. No vehicle needed!

  • Shelly S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 12, 2020

    Norland Park

    Functional

    We visited Arlington, SD on our way west and easily located this cute little campground on the main drag. The sites back right up to a cute little park with a lake/pond complete with bridge and small island. Nothing fancy , very functional though with electric and nice shade. Not much in the way of privacy however you also shouldn’t be bothered and no reason for the locals to drive through. It just seemed very peaceful. Amenities nearby , good for overnight or visiting local events, relatives. You pay at the Municipal Bldg/ Firehall 202 W Elm St.

  • Shelly S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 12, 2020

    Maxwell Park

    Adequate

    A very utilitarian campground in Arlington, SD. Best feature aside from the shade is there is a laundrymat in the same lot! Electric, shade and a shrub row separates you from the road. This would be an ideal spot to stop overnight or stay at to attend a local event or visit relatives in the area. Stop by the Municipal Bldg\ Firehall at 202 W Elm St to pay your fee , after hours use the drop box.

  • JThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 20, 2023

    Campground 2 — Oakwood Lakes State Park

    Clean pleasant campground

    Camped in the more open area (72E in campground 2). Large grassy sites with fire pit and picnic table. Clean bathrooms with hot showers. Nice path around lake for walking the dog. Lots of families having a good time! Very pleasant evening.

  • B
    Jul. 11, 2025

    Pioneer / Montrose City Campground

    Great overnight stop

    This campground was not far off I90 and was easy to find and navigate. Gravel sites in the pull through. Water and electric with a dump station. Lots of grass and places to walk the dog. Bath house was clean and close by. There is a small play area and also a pool with a lifeguard. It does cost extra but I’m sure it’s affordable. The camp host were so very nice and friendly. We had a small problem when we were getting ready to leave. And he was there ready to help and offer any assistance. And she called a place nearby to check on hours and service.
    We ate the nice restaurant in town…My Place… and it was very good! Would definitely return and recommend!

  • G
    Jul. 15, 2018

    Memorial Park

    No contact from host

    We had a reservation and told them we would be coming in late due to a family reservation in another campground. The woman I spoke with said that wasn't a problem and that, if the office was closed, she'd be in the house next door. The office WAS closed so I knocked on the door. No answer. I called and left a message that we had arrived and needed help finding our site. No return call. We finally found our site only to discover a truck parked in front of the pull through. Once the owner was found and moved the truck, we had to make a sharp turn between two trees on either side of the drive. We didn't even unhook as we had to be out at noon the next day. The next morning, we discovered the site had dead birds with flies buzzing around them, dog poop that hadn't been cleaned up, and cigarette butts on the ground. The dead birds had been there a while as had the evidence of dogs (we have a dog we always clean up after and follow leash rules). The park is nothing special but it is on the lake and may have some decent fishing access. The neighbors on one side had a dog off leash and it came over to check out our on-leash dog. Rules are not enforced and the hosts apparently don't check on things. We never did hear from them. The campground is a winding ways from I29 but we have Google maps so it wasn't a problem finding it. It just wasn't very convenient at all. We were not impressed with the service or lack of.

Guide to Arlington

If you're looking for a great spot to camp with your furry friends near Arlington, South Dakota, there are several welcoming options that cater to pet owners.

Pet owners like the amenities available at these campgrounds

  • At Lake Poinsett State Rec Area, you'll find spacious sites with electric hookups and clean facilities, perfect for a comfortable stay with your pet.
  • Sexauer City Park offers a quiet environment with well-maintained restrooms and showers, ensuring a pleasant experience for both you and your pet.
  • Norland Park features picnic tables and a small lake, providing a lovely setting for you and your dog to relax and enjoy nature.

Tips for camping with dogs near Arlington

Dog-friendly activities while camping near Arlington

  • Enjoy hiking and exploring the trails at Campground 2 — Oakwood Lakes State Park with your dog, as the park offers beautiful scenery and plenty of space to roam.
  • Take your pet for a swim at the beach area in Lake Thompson Recreation Area, where they can cool off and have fun in the water.
  • Participate in family-friendly activities at Ingalls Homestead, where your dog can join you while you explore the historical sites and enjoy the open prairie.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Arlington, SD?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Arlington, SD is Campground 1 — Oakwood Lakes State Park with a 4.4-star rating from 7 reviews.

What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Arlington, SD?

TheDyrt.com has all 44 dog-friendly camping locations near Arlington, SD, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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