Brandon's camping options span prairies and creek-side environments in eastern South Dakota, where the elevation averages around 1,600 feet. The region features a continental climate with warm summers and cold winters, creating diverse camping seasons with April through October being most popular. Most campgrounds within 20 miles of Brandon maintain unpaved sites with electrical hookups.
What to do
Rock climbing at quartzite formations: Palisades State Park Campground offers unusual geological features along Split Rock Creek. "Stunning quartzite formations make for some great climbing. It's a really small park which is both good and bad. The trails aren't very long, but it's not usually overcrowded," notes one visitor to Palisades State Park Campground.
Disc golf course access: Big Sioux Recreation Area includes a frisbee golf course alongside its trail system. A visitor mentioned, "I didn't partake but they do have a Frisbee golf course. Took a short walk on their trail system to the suspension walking bridge."
Swimming and beach activities: Lake Vermillion Recreation Area features a sand beach for swimming during summer months. As one camper observed, "There is a very nice sand beach, playgrounds, fishing, star gazing, and four campgrounds." Another added, "We stayed here at site 69 E for one night in August 2020. The campground was fairly empty, but there were many families enjoying the lake on Sunday afternoon."
What campers like
Spacious campsites with privacy: Big Sioux Recreation Area receives positive feedback for site spacing. "Our site was nice, level, spacious, and had plenty of grass coverage (instead of dirt). Bugs were a pain but not much you can do about that," shared one camper. Another noted, "The campsites are clean, spacious, and beautiful."
Clean shower facilities: Campground cleanliness stands out at Lake Vermillion Recreation Area. A camper reported, "Rangers are nice, park Host is amazing, facilities are clean." Another mentioned, "Definitely not roughing it but beautiful setting with possibly the best kept campsites and restrooms I've experienced on public ground!"
Family-focused amenities: Sioux Falls Yogi Bear emphasizes activities for children. "Great for kids! We had a slight issue with inconsiderate neighbors who kept driving their golf carts through our camp (which can happen anywhere) but otherwise it's a great place for families to camp," noted one family. Another visitor shared, "Our family spent a long weekend here enjoying all of the activities they had to offer. Everything from laser tag to chocolate milk chugging contests."
What you should know
Additional fees for non-residents: State parks charge extra fees beyond the base camping rate. A visitor to Big Sioux Recreation Area explained, "I made my reservations online ($30 for the reservation, $1.26 tax, $0.45 for more tax, and $10 for the non-resident reservation fee). I had no sooner settled in, and a woman knocked on my van asking that I pay a city tax, an additional $15."
Limited tent-only options: Designated tent camping areas can be scarce among RV sites near Brandon, South Dakota. One camper noted about Big Sioux, "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."
Train noise at some locations: Certain campgrounds experience railroad noise. A Palisades State Park visitor mentioned, "The trains ran close by, and the flies were terrible."
Tips for camping with families
Kid-friendly programming: Sioux Falls Yogi Bear offers organized children's activities throughout summer. One family reported, "Saturday night was the yogi bear parade and it was the highlight of our entire stay." Another mentioned, "The staff was friendly and quite helpful. The people visiting where nice and easy to talk to. I had a great relaxing week."
Playground access considerations: Some camping sites sit adjacent to playground equipment. As one visitor to Big Sioux Recreation Area noted, "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."
Off-season camping benefits: Visiting outside peak summer months can provide more space. A camper at Lake Vermillion Recreation Area advised, "During the off-season, sep thru mid May (when the kids are in school) is the perfect time to stay at this state park. I do not stay during the high occupancy times since I don't like crowded camping."
Tips from RVers
Check site lengths before booking: RV sites near Brandon, South Dakota vary in length accommodations. A visitor to Dakota Sunsets RV Park shared, "The sites were level enough that we didn't even half to unhook our trailer for our quick overnight stay." Another camper noted, "The site was more than long enough for our 39' 5th Wheel and F-450 truck."
Internet connectivity varies: Cellular and wifi service differs significantly between campgrounds. A camper at Lake Vermillion reported, "King also offers free Wi-Fi with a download speed of 22 Mbps, while Queen has no T-Mobile service. However, King provides 15 Mbps of service." Another camper at Dakota Sunsets RV Park noted, "The Wifi was really fast…the best we have seen in over 1 yr and full time camping."
Early dump station lines: Prepare for morning congestion at sanitary facilities. At Dakota Sunsets, one RVer mentioned, "The only issue I will say is that our site was next to the 'Stinky Waste' Water Lagoon and it did stink pretty bad when they started up the pump in the morning."
