7 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Horse Campground at Oakwood Lakes State Park offers tent, RV, and cabin camping with equestrian access. The campground is situated along the shoreline with beach areas and boat ramps. Campsites are clean and well-maintained with picnic tables and fire rings. While the park does not feature dedicated horse corrals, it does allow horses in designated areas. The campground provides drinking water, sanitary dump stations, and restroom facilities. Visitors note the exceptionally clean bathrooms and shower facilities throughout the property. Non-residents pay an additional $10 fee for campsites in addition to the required park pass.
The park connects to several trail systems suitable for horseback riding through mixed prairie and wooded landscapes. Big Sioux Recreation Area, located approximately 53 miles south, provides additional horse-friendly camping options with more extensive trail networks. Both parks remain open year-round, allowing for seasonal riding opportunities. Lake Thompson Recreation Area, another horse-friendly option, features both electric standard sites and tent camping with multiple trail access points. The recreation area includes three walkways to the water's edge with a large swimming area where riders can cool their horses after trail rides. Bug spray is recommended during wet weather periods when mosquitoes are prevalent.
from $22 / night
Check Availability"South Dakota State Park, Brandon SD. Great stop. We spent 2 days. Very nice campground with lots to do and see. Big spacious sites ours backed up to the bike path and river."
"They have nice long paved trails for walking and biking. We got to walk our dogs on it to avoid tick contact from the grassy trails. There was a cool suspension bridge that was fun to walk on."
"Great trout stream, swimming, tubing, camping, horse trails, hiking... my kids loved it"
"Camp site was easy to access and close to the restrooms/showers. The camp sites along the river have little trails that go down to the water, beautiful river bottom scenery a few yards away."
from $24 - $75 / night
Check Availability"In true, South Dakota fashion, I think it's pretty expensive."
"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."
from $20 - $25 / night
"The sites is very well maintained with what look to be a number of new investments like trails, docks, shooting range for bows."
"Nice pebble beach, playgrounds, and walking areas. Flat camper parking. Power was great and showers were clean. Electric only. There is an area to dump waste on the exit."
"We stayed in the Upper Campground in the site closest to the equestrian campground. The kids loved being able to meet & visit with the horses. "
"Beautiful park with great trails and amenities... showers, dump stations, shelters, playgrounds, pit toilets, and more Plenty of activities for the family... fishing, hiking n camping, swimming, tubing"
TravelerSouth Dakota State Park, Brandon SD. Great stop. We spent 2 days. Very nice campground with lots to do and see. Big spacious sites ours backed up to the bike path and river. New bathhouse entire park was very clean. About half hour to Sioux Falls. Worth the trip to see the Falls and the bike/hike trail around the city.
LegendWe stayed in spot number 2 back hidden under the trees. Because the wind was so bad. Early season, bathrooms are closed, so pit toilets were open. Very pretty very nicely well maintained park. In true, South Dakota fashion, I think it's pretty expensive. It's forty dollars for a spot with electric only if you're from out of state and you still need to pay your park entrance fee on top of that if you don't have a state parks pass.
GuideSuch a nice campground. Nice big shady trees and manicured lawns. They sell campfire wood for 6$ a bundle on site so we had some great campfires going. They have nice long paved trails for walking and biking. We got to walk our dogs on it to avoid tick contact from the grassy trails. There was a cool suspension bridge that was fun to walk on. The showers were very nice and hot without a lot of traffic.
There is no sewage hookup or water hook ups. They do that 50/30 amp sites available. There is a dump station right at the entrance to dump when you leave and it also has a separate fresh water station if you want to fill up right when you get there so youre not traveling with a bunch of water in your tank.
It was a great campground and the falls were close by and palisades state park was also in the area with a nice hike.
There is an extra $8 car fee per night that you have to pay on top of any camping fees. If you are staying longer than 5 days it better to just get the annual parking pass for $32, which would cover parking for all state parks and recreation areas in SD.
They have great discounts if you are a veteran and south dakota resident.
TravelerBeautiful campground! Sites are well spaced. Lots of trees for great shade in the hot summer. Very nice bathroom and shower house. Easy drive in to Sioux Falls. Several trails around the park. This was our final stop on our South Dakota trip. It was a wonderful and restful campground for us. After we arrived, Park staff came around and shared maps and info on things to do in the area. The first night a storm rolled through and the host drove thru and knocked on doors to check on people and let them know where shelter was just in case. Definitely will keep this campground on our list for future trips.
GuideWe stayed in the Upper Campground in the site closest to the equestrian campground. The kids loved being able to meet & visit with the horses.
The sites were a good size, but not much privacy or tree coverage in the area we stayed. There were a lot of trails to hike and a river/stream that they said you could wade/swim in, but we didn't go into it.
There were a lot of playgrounds, and one really huge one the kids wanted to play on, but with COVID-19 still going strong, we didn't use it.
GuideThere are two campgrounds in this park - the upper one is on the prairie while the lower one is situated among trees along the river. We stayed in the lower campground in site 30. The lower campground is close to the playground and swimming pond but it rained the whole time we camped so we didn't use either.
Sites in the lower campground are fairly close together and we didn't have cell service (Verizon), which wasn't a big deal.
I brought my fat bike and bike the Bluebird and Dakota Valley trails. Both are mowed paths that go through prairie and wooded areas. The actual mountain bike trail was disappointing, it was overgrown, narrow, and hugged a high ridge.
Our site, 30, sloped away from the parking pad. You wouldn't be able to set up.chairs under your awning at this site and the picnic table sat in a low spot that got muddy after 2 straight days of rain. There is a river that runs behind the sites in this loop. Our boys played on the rocks and had a great time.
There are nearby train tracks and trains ran by several times a day, though luckily they don't blow the horn so we didn't notice them much.
ScoutGreat trout stream, swimming, tubing, camping, horse trails, hiking... my kids loved it
GuideI spent the night here and had to pay the entrance fee to the park as well as the camping fee for my tentsite. They had only a few tentsites available amid all the RV sites, but they were right on the edge of the playground, so the families had to walk right through my campsite to get to the play area. Not too big a deal as no one wanted to use the play area at night while I was sleeping, but still. I also looked over at the power lines. There was a flush toilet facility close by but there was a very bright light on all night. Good for families needing to navigate in the dark but not wonderful if you like sleeping in darkness. And though I was told that quiet hours began at 10PM, the site next to me was quite loud through the trees until at least midnight so the quiet hours are not enforced. Meh. I don't think I'll be going back.
LegendThe sites is very well maintained with what look to be a number of new investments like trails, docks, shooting range for bows. It was early in the season so bathrooms weren't open but the spigots were on and the pit toilets were clean. Nice lake views and a few short trails for hiking or horses. Boat dock for big boats, fishermen and canoeing. Might be super busy in summer but early season was beautiful.
Horse Campground at Oakwood Lakes State Park provides cabin accommodations for visitors seeking equestrian camping options near Aurora, South Dakota. Situated approximately 25 miles from Aurora, the campground offers access to mixed terrain trails through prairie and wooded landscapes. The park maintains year-round operations with varying seasonal conditions affecting trail accessibility. Winter temperatures often drop below freezing while summer months typically range from 65-85°F.
Trail riding opportunities: Riders at Big Sioux Recreation Area can access multiple trail systems. "Bike trails are awesome," reports Heidi M., who noted the peaceful setting of this state campground located about 53 miles from Aurora.
Fishing access: Lake Thompson Recreation Area provides ample fishing opportunities with designated cleaning stations. Steven W. notes, "Beautiful location on the north shore of Lake Thompson. Great fishing spots with cleaning stations available."
Swimming areas: Families can cool off at designated beach areas after trail rides. "Three walkways down to the water's edge with one being a large swimming area," according to Audrey F., who visited Lake Thompson Recreation Area during summer months.
Historic exploration: Equestrian campers can combine trail riding with historical tours. The Lake Thompson area offers proximity to historical sites as Steven W. mentions, "For history buffs, campground is less than 10 miles from the Laura Ingalls Wilder homestead and De Smet."
Clean facilities: Horse Campground maintains high cleanliness standards throughout its facilities. Tony H. specifically noted, "The bathrooms and showers were very clean. Also, the campsites are very clean beach areas and boat ramps were very clean."
Privacy between sites: Many riders appreciate adequate spacing between campsites for horse trailer parking. At Big Sioux Recreation Area, Myrna G. found that sites offer "plenty of privacy" and noted the campground is "beautiful and peaceful."
Water access for horses: Equestrian campers value the ability to cool horses after trail rides. Lake Thompson Recreation Area provides multiple water access points, which riders find convenient during warmer months.
Trail variety: The combination of prairie and wooded trails offers diverse riding experiences. Camden State Park Campground features "great hiking and biking trails" according to Kyle B., who visits "for a quick getaway a few times a year."
Reservation requirements: During peak season (May-September), reservations for Horse Campground and other equestrian sites fill quickly, especially on weekends. The campground requires both camping fees and state park entrance permits.
Seasonal mosquito activity: Lake Thompson Recreation Area experiences significant mosquito activity during wet weather periods. "Be sure to use bug spray as mosquitoes were all over - maybe due to wet weather," advises Audrey F.
Limited water hookups: Most equestrian campsites offer electric hookups only. Steven W. notes about Lake Thompson: "There are 4 dump stations near the campground entrance with multiple fresh water hookups around the campground."
Parking regulations: Some areas limit the number of vehicles per campsite. Sethen E. observed at Pelican Lake Recreation Area that "some spots had 3-4 cars parked in the grass - it was too bad they allowed that."
Playground access: Garvin County Park offers family-friendly amenities near equestrian camping areas. Sarah O. reported, "The kids loved being able to meet & visit with the horses. There were a lot of playgrounds, and one really huge one the kids wanted to play on."
Swimming options: Camden State Park Campground provides a swimming pond suitable for families with children. Kyle B. notes the park has a "swimming pond and right on the redwood river."
Multi-use trails: Families can utilize shared trails for both riding and hiking. Emma V. mentions that Garvin County Park has "plenty of activities for the family... fishing, hiking n camping, swimming, tubing, disc golf, sledding, playgrounds, plus historic sites to explore."
Weekend crowding: Plan weekday visits for a quieter experience with children. Sethen E. advises, "If one was to go here to find some quiet do so during the week or late weekend."
Site selection for shade: Camden State Park offers varying degrees of tree coverage depending on campground section. Lynn A.C. recommends, "Go to the lower park, more to do, more to see. Upper camp, not much to see, plus our site was really steep."
Electric site availability: Most equestrian campgrounds offer electric sites for RVs but limited full hookups. At Garvin Park, electric sites are available with water access points strategically located throughout the campground.
Dump station access: Steven W. notes that at Lake Thompson Recreation Area, "There are 4 dump stations near the campground entrance" which provides convenient access when departing.
Leveling considerations: Some campgrounds have uneven terrain. Makayla B. observed at Camden State Park: "Our site, 30, sloped away from the parking pad. You wouldn't be able to set up chairs under your awning at this site."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Aurora, SD?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Aurora, 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 Aurora, SD?
TheDyrt.com has all 7 equestrian camping locations near Aurora, SD, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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