Looking for the best tent campgrounds near Canistota? You can find tent campsites by type, including drive-in, walk-in, and even hike-in for a backpacking adventure. Each tent site offers quick access to one or more of Canistota, South Dakota's most popular destinations.
Guide
This was a wonderful spot. Lots of really nice short hikes down by the water which was really beautiful with the cliffs on the water. Sites were very nice and clean. We were able to get a site on a Friday night last minute by calling ahead.
Legend
Well-maintained facilities, the team was very friendly and helpful, and the location provides easy access to I-90 and downtown Mitchell. It's a great spot to spend a couple of nights recharging if on a long trip-- the 24-hour laundry room is a nice touch for that. Or use it as your base to check out the world-famous Corn Palace. The sites and roads have plenty of room to maneuver in and out of and if you don't book a site with sewer, the dump station is easily accessed. Also, even though you're close to I-90 and the campground is on SD 38, you don't really hear road noise so it's quiet for sleeping.
Scout
This place is so cool! The falls was constructed during the Great Depression by the WPA, and the visitors center is made from the same pink quartz that lines the river. Really cool kayaking into Devils Gulch and up the Split Rock Creek. Will return to this nicely kept State Park. Gas station in town is quaint but has a public restroom and some basic supplies. Really lovely town. Falls lull you to sleep at night and the trains passing by are really neat to hear. Trains will go by till around midnight.
Guide
I found this on Campendium and google maps. It's a great little free park where you basically just park wherever. No designated spots, just park in the grass. The grass was not overgrown or anything, and there's a great little paved path that leads into town. Verizon cell service was pretty good and the park itself wasn't too crowded either. I imagine that the local county maintains it. Also tons of mulberry trees around! And be sure to go into town and pick up a breakfast sandwich and some donuts in the morning, it's a lovely walk in.
Ranger
This is a nice campground for an overnight on the way to Custer. It’s a Bono’s the freeway, so there’s none of that noise, just some from the main road. Sites are level and well marked, although somewhat small. Most have full hookups, and there’s a nice tent area. Very friendly host. Older bathroom/shower, but it was very clean. Had some hiking trails that weren’t super maintained, and the lake in Augusta was green with algae. Overall would stay here again if we need a short stay.
GuideNice swim area, pretty campsites, especially the tent areas that sit high over the lake and have pretty views of the water. Nice bathrooms and park. Very friendly park host, she came and introduced herself and welcomed us quickly.
TravelerTotally new entrance with easy access to new section that will handle larger RVs with toads. Open area with no shade but easy placement for satellite reception on RV or ground. New hard surface roads with gravel sites.
Ranger
Went to visit friends in SD. Park is clean and well kept. Right off the highway.
Legend
This is a very nice stop over. Sites 1 - 4 have water, electric (50, 30, 15 amp) and sewer. Those sites go for $25.00 per day. Dotes 5 - 6 are electric only and are infill sun. Site 7 is electric but has a sewer site as well. Shade found in sites 1 - 4. It is best to call ahead and make reservations. This campground stays busy.
Legend
This is a 3 site campground. 7 day maximum stay. No water, no garbage. 30 - 15 amp service only. Sites 1 and 2 are shaded until mid afternoon. Site 1 is shaded late afternoon. Locals bring their dogs out to "run." They don't pick up after, so watch your step. We are ¼ mile from highway and semi's Jake break a good deal, so it's quite until they go through. For a one lighter, this is a good cheap place to stop.
Legend
They have just recently added 4 more sites. Sites hVe 50 - 30 - 15 amp connections. Bathrooms ate across the playground. Showers at the swimming pool. Picnic house (open) has 15, 110 outlets. Site 3 offers most sun protection. The rest of the sites are sunny all day. Playground is very large for such a small village. Disk golf is also found here.
Scout
This campsite was great! We had a tent site, number 24, and it was tucked into the woods but still close to the parking lot!
The neighboring sites are far enough away where you still have privacy but if you had two next to each other with a large group it could still function as one. Beautiful hiking trails, play grounds, disc golf, volleyball net, and so much more. Also, the lady at the front was cute as a button!
Highly recommend!
TravelerWe booked this site last minute as we needed a place to stop for the night. The website was pretty easy to use to book the site. The ranger at the station was super friendly and helpful. Our camp site is beautiful and there is plenty of room. There are lots of trails here, so I got a good run in. My husband biked over to Brandon to get a good ride. There is a sweet disc golf course too! I’m mad I didn’t bring my discs!
Ranger
Excellent find and with electricity for only $10 a night. Pretty secluded with only one other camper. Some local traffic. Vault toilet withTP is far from where we camped and the old school toilets were a little too sketchy for me. If they were cleaned up I would have been brave enough to try. Such a beautiful place! Bugs are bad! Be prepared. Each site has picnic table and fire ring on nice concrete pad.
RangerLevel spots with electric. Has a nice bike bath and is very peaceful.
Legend
This place is great. Water available. 15, 30 amp service for free. Location is in city limits. No dump site. Great stop over location. Nearby traffic can seem heavy at times.
Legend
There is little left of this park. After each spring flood, they clean it up, but there is not much there any longer. They do have 15 and 30 amp connections in one location. Pit toilet remains destroyed due to floods. In the back corner of the park is a large area to turn around in and set up a short stay camp.
A boat ramp is available. A short walking trail is also available.
This is located next to a busy highway, and it is noisy with traffic much of the time we were there.
Legend
2 fire pits. 1 porta-potty. Open area you can camp anywhere. No water, no electric, no dump station, no potable water.
Town is 2 miles away, and they have a free dump station. Town also offers free showers. The laundry mat is available next to showers.
One mile out of town is a paid campground at the Lake Carthage campgrounds.
In town at the city park is a paid campground ss well.
LegendCAMPING IS NOW ONLY ALLOWED BETWEEN MEMORIAL DAY THROUGH LABOR DAY. NO WINTER CAMPING IS ALLOWED ANY LONGER.
Gunderson Park is a nice little boondocking location just ½ mile from the downtown area of Centerville. They have 2 fire pit locations, but, after speaking with the official at city hall we found out you can camp pretty much anywhere in the park you would like.
It is free to camp here, you can stay virtually as long as you wish to according to that same official. There are no hook-ups. No bathroom facilities. No picnic tables. No playground for children. You may fish with a South Dakota license in the lazy rolling Vermillion River that skirts the park on 3 sides. They have a cement boat ramp. I will say when we stayed there the river was so low you would have had great difficulties getting a boat launched. On the west side of the park there are park benches at the beginning (or end of the walk depending on your start location) with a cemented walk way along the road to the park and the Vermillion River. It runs close to a quarter mile long with benches about half way through the walk. The city keeps this park mowed during the summer months. This is an old old park dating back to 1800's. The trees are massive and just as old providing beautiful shade. There are remnants of old stone items remaing in the park, grape vine thingy, a stone fireplace and pillars. Our stay favored us with Bald Eagle sightings. 2 hung around the trees on the other side of the river in full view, it was wonderful.
At the city park you can dump your tanks. We didn't need to so we didn't visit this location. At the four way stop sign located at the center of the town, turn west, travel one block and on the south side of the street you will find city hall. There they will tell you how to find the dump site.
This seems to be a favorite location for locals to drive through. Sometimes we found traffic through the park on the heavy side but most of the time very quiet. People are small town friendly. Population is around 900 people. Town has a grocery store, convenience store, bank, medical clinic, pharmacy, restaurant, bowling alley, auto parts store, bakery and other businesses. We noticed 4 churches in our drive around the town. At the city park they have a community swimming pool, Frisbee golf, 2 ball diamonds, tennis courts, playground equipment, volleyball courts, 2 picnic house areas and a location for 4 RV campsites with electrical plug ins [2 50 amp and 2 30 amp) for $10.00 a night with limited stay.
GuideThe host here is the sweetest, busiest woman I've ever seen! The campgrounds are nice and shady. Restrooms and showers are clean! Price is very reasonable. $29 for tent site with electric.
GuideIt is a beautiful little park. Good place for kayaking or fishing. I was just there to camp. The park is small. There are no showers or toilets, just outhouses, and they were a good distance for me to walk being disabled. If you have T-Mobile, there is absolutely NO service.
Scout
Lovely sites by a small river. Clean and well maintained. Free showers and even a pool in season. For $30 for hook-ups the price can’t be beat.
Scout
Reserved a spot at Dakota Campground the day before arrival. Reservation was a snap to make, and the price was outstanding. Full service pull through sites fully shaded. The next morning, when hitching up trailer had a problem with my hitch mechanism. The owner, Josh was so helpfull in assisting me with repairs and even made a custom part for the hitch. He got us in the road and his help and generosity was greatly appreciated. I would highly recommend Dakota Campground.
ScoutIt was an easy drive -thru . Well kept up . But the water is bad there . We use a filter on our water hose . It still messed up our faucets and toilet. Inside the filter was a bunch of black stuff in it . We had problems with the toilet for the rest of our 2 week trip . Don't think I would stay there again.
ScoutWe just picked up our teardrop and this was our first stay on the way home. They could not have been more friendly and helpful. We got lucky making this our first. Bathrooms immaculate. Site level. Downwind from the cows wasn't always great but it got better. Definitely would stay again.
Scout
Nice, easy quick in and out overnight while traveling through. Not sure if it’s plowed in the winter. No snow this year.
LegendWe were headed home from visiting our kids in Spokane and blew an engine on I-90. The tow truck driver helped up find this place, and towed both our Jeep and travel trailer 80 miles to get here. The manager helped us find a repair shop that only needed 3 days to find and replace the engine. This campground has lots of RV and tent sites. They have a pool, and mini golf. Mitchell is home to the Corn Palace. If you haven’t been there don’t go!
