Best Cabin Camping near Canton, SD

Several state parks and private campgrounds near Canton, South Dakota provide rustic cabin rentals with varying amenities. Newton Hills State Park offers log cabins with electricity, heating, and basic furnishings including beds, tables, and chairs. Palisades State Park features "little log cabins" that provide shelter while maintaining a rustic camping experience. Big Sioux Recreation Area includes rental cabins with access to clean, functional restrooms and shower facilities. The cabins typically include picnic tables and fire rings with cooking grates. According to one visitor at Palisades State Park, "The park staff was extremely friendly. They always made sure that we had everything we needed."

Cabin options range from basic rustic structures to more comfortable furnished units with air conditioning. Sioux Falls KOA offers air-conditioned cabins that effectively reduce highway noise, providing a comfortable night's sleep even during hot summer months. Most state park cabins are pet-friendly, though policies vary by location. Reservations are essential, particularly during summer months when cabin camping is most popular. While some campgrounds like Newton Hills and Palisades State Park operate year-round, others such as Sioux Falls KOA are seasonal, operating from May through October. One KOA visitor noted, "We were grateful we chose to stay in a cabin with A/C," highlighting the comfort advantage over other accommodation types.

Most cabin rentals provide beds with mattresses but require guests to bring their own bedding, pillows, and towels. Kitchen facilities vary significantly between locations, with some offering only outdoor fire rings for cooking while others include small refrigerators or microwaves. Basic cooking utensils and dishware are rarely provided, so visitors should pack these essentials. Grocery stores and supply shops can be found in Canton and nearby Sioux Falls for provisions. State park cabins typically require an entrance fee in addition to the cabin rental fee, with discounts available for veterans and South Dakota residents. For extended stays, an annual parking pass ($32) offers better value than paying daily entrance fees.

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Best Cabin Sites Near Canton, South Dakota (16)

    1. Newton Hills Campground — Newton Hills State Park

    11 Reviews
    Canton, SD
    6 miles
    Website
    +1 (605) 987-2263

    "I had an amazing time at Newton Hills Campground in South Dakota with my family and young children."

    "This beautiful park set just 9 miles south of Canton, SD has something for everyone. If you enjoy water activities, spend some time at Lake Lakota swimming, kayaking, fishing, or just relaxing!"

    2. Big Sioux Recreation Area — Big Sioux

    35 Reviews
    Brandon, SD
    19 miles
    Website
    +1 (605) 582-7243

    "Located in Brandon not far from Sioux Falls. Clean bathrooms with showers. Firewood available to purchase. Each site has a picnic table and fire ring. Bike and hiking trails. Plus plenty of privacy."

    "Easy access from 90W, not much road noise and close to the town of Brandon for supplies. "

    3. Sioux Falls KOA

    28 Reviews
    Sioux Falls, SD
    22 miles
    Website
    +1 (605) 332-9987

    "Good selection in store open 8am to 9pm in July. Nice size pool and laundry room. Store seemed well stocked with a variety of items."

    "We decided to stay at this campground because it was close to Falls Park. It’s 4 miles away from the KOA to Downtown. It wasn’t crowded, very clean, met lots of Texans and the pet areas were awesome!"

    4. Sioux Falls Yogi Bear

    22 Reviews
    Brandon, SD
    21 miles
    Website
    +1 (605) 332-2233

    $40 - $200 / night

    "Our site was level with FHU on a rock pad and some shade, a fire pit, and a picnic table.  They did have a hot tub and pool for use as well. "

    "The place is very well kept, the staff are friendly and helpful, all the amenities like propane, dump station, ice, firewood, good little camp store, off leash dog run, heated pool, and lots to do for"

    5. Lake Pahoja Recreation Area

    2 Reviews
    Larchwood, IA
    8 miles
    Website
    +1 (712) 753-2313

    "Good distance from others, yet close enough for group. Near everything in the beautiful black hills. Several areas.  Clean, comfortable restrooms. Store at entrance to park."

    "Beautiful campground with plenty of room between sites, playground equipment for the kids, and nice restrooms/bath house. The Lake offers terrific fishing, canoeing, kayaking and swimming."

    6. Palisades State Park Campground

    30 Reviews
    Garretson, SD
    27 miles
    Website
    +1 (605) 594-3824

    "The park is not very big so there are not many campsites. Some have electric hook up, others are just for tent camping. All of them provide a picnic table and a fire pit."

    "We passed through Palisades State Park earlier this year and spent some time in the day-use area so we knew it was a good place to camp as we passed through South Dakota on another trip."

    7. Countryside Campgrounds

    2 Reviews
    Harrisburg, SD
    10 miles
    Website
    +1 (605) 372-4166

    "Super clean park. All pull through level sites. Clean bathrooms, clean laundry. A gem. Large green areas and a playground. A little bit of hiway noise."

    "Nice camp site tucked in near the interstate. 2 things not crazy about sound of trucks exiting off interstate using jakebrake (engine exhaust brakes) and sale barn near by."

    8. Rivers Bend Campground

    4 Reviews
    Rock Valley, IA
    15 miles
    Website
    +1 (712) 476-6065

    "There is a swimming hole with a little beach and walking/bike trail. They have tent sites that you have to walk to but they are right on the water away from all of the RV sites."

    "Only 4 stars due to neighbors leaving their dog outside barking constantly until they returned. Against park rules so maybe a one off. Water front on 80% of spots."

    9. Island Park - Rock Rapids

    7 Reviews
    Larchwood, IA
    23 miles
    Website
    +1 (712) 472-3456

    $5 - $45 / night

    "Very cheap , 15$ a night for rv with electric and water, 5$ for tents. Huge swimming area with slides for kids, and river with a lot of fish!!! Brand New shower houses ."

    "Pool available. I would stay again."

    10. Lake Vermillion Recreation Area

    32 Reviews
    Canistota, SD
    36 miles
    Website
    +1 (605) 296-3643

    $15 - $55 / night

    "There are only 4 strictly dedicated tent sites. you park across the street and walk a very short distance, maybe 200 feet to the site. The bathroom is in the parking lot along with a water source."

    "South Dakota charges a day use fee ($6) plus a fee for tent camping ($17); I opted to pay for an Annual Pass of $30 since I plan on doing more SD camping this year."

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Cabin Reviews near Canton, SD

202 Reviews of 16 Canton Campgrounds


  • Katrin M.
    Jul. 7, 2019

    Palisades State Park Campground

    A very nice getaway!

    We camped here over the weekend with our dogs. The campground is within 10 miles off of I90.

    The park is not very big so there are not many campsites. Some have electric hook up, others are just for tent camping. All of them provide a picnic table and a fire pit. They also have little log cabins. We stayed at campsite 6 which was a very good spot. Some of the other sites seemed very close together without much privacy or shade.

    The park staff (rangers, camp host and volunteers) was extremely friendly. They always made sure that we had everything we needed. The rangers also offer different programs on the weekend like learning about geocaching or how to make campfire desserts.

    There is one bathhouse for the entire campground. It seemed a little old but got cleaned daily. There are also several vault toilets around the area. From the campground you have access to the water. There are also several short hiking trails from where you can see the rock formations.

    It was just a very short ride to the Devils Gulch (Jesse James historical site) or Split Rock Park. There is also a Dollar General close by. We would definitely recommend the campground.

  • Carolyn M.
    Oct. 23, 2019

    Big Sioux Recreation Area — Big Sioux

    Ok place to spend the night, but could have been better

    I 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.

  • Melissa K.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 10, 2018

    Lake Vermillion Recreation Area

    Beautiful campground

    We stopped here on our way through south Dakota headed back to Colorado. The staff were really friendly when we pulled in. Got us checked in right away, gave us directions to our site and sent us off. Thry also sell firewood for $5 a bundle. We are in tent site 4. There are only 4 strictly dedicated tent sites. you park across the street and walk a very short distance, maybe 200 feet to the site. The bathroom is in the parking lot along with a water source. The lake is on the other side of the parking lot. There is also a dumpster there in the parking lot.

    The camp site is extremely spacious. plenty of room for tents if you have more then one. It's nice and mowed out with the bordering area still long providing an edge to the site. The four sites are clustered fairly close but the way it's landscaped, you won't see your neighbornuntil you step out to the path to your car. They all have fire rings with a grate to cook on. The picnic table has a nice shade canopy over top. The bathroom surprised me a little. most pit toilets are dark at night but this one has a light! it also has a trash can and hand sanitizer! it smells decent and it's very clean. it will quickly become BYTP but we are only here the one night so hopefully it won't run out. The lake is gorgous! it's a huge long lake and seems to be a favorite boat spot. water skis were abundant, which also meant it got pretty loud with boats buzzing, people partying and music blaring. this is why it lost a star. it was pretty loud up until probably 9 pm. The mosquitos are bad, bring bug spray!

  • Lee D.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 26, 2019

    Palisades State Park Campground

    Nice stay in a state park

    We passed through Palisades State Park earlier this year and spent some time in the day-use area so we knew it was a good place to camp as we passed through South Dakota on another trip. One main (clean) bathhouse with two showers plus two pit toilets for those camping farther away on the loop. A mix of cabins, tent, and electric sites. Lots of trees. LONG driveways and some sites (such as 34E) are very large. The website allows you to view sites, so you know in advance what to expect. Nice walking trails and picnic areas.

  • Myrna G.
    Jul. 24, 2019

    Big Sioux Recreation Area — Big Sioux

    Beautiful and peaceful

    Heading home needed a one night camp spot. This one fit the bill.
    Located in Brandon not far from Sioux Falls. Clean bathrooms with showers. Firewood available to purchase. Each site has a picnic table and fire ring. Bike and hiking trails. Plus plenty of privacy. Definitely will return.

  • Joe R.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 25, 2022

    Palisades State Park Campground

    Well Shaded Park

    We happened upon this park during the 50th anniversary of the park so there were lots of park events happening. This is a very clean and well maintained park. We tent camp so much of my observations are geared for the tent camper. We stayed at site 34E, a long but narrow and slanted site. We were lucky to find some awkward somewhat flat place for our two tents. This site would be just fine for RV camping but I’d steer clear for tent camping. I’d estimate that 50% of the sites are flat and suitable for tents.
    Here are some key take aways from our 3 night stay in late July 2022. -clean and well maintained park

    • fair wireless service for Verizon
    • well placed and clean shower / restroom houses
    • nice playgrounds
    • great options on the park for paddle boarding, kayaking, water play as well as additional options at near by Devil’s Gultch and Split Rock parks.
    • Very well shaded park
    • Grocery store less than 10 min away.
    • Mosquitos weren’t a problem during out stay with a little bug spray prevention.
    • Nice aluminum picnic tables at all sites. Standard fire pits with grilling attachments.
    • employees will enforce local approved fire wood use Negatives:
    • lots of biting flies
    • if you like private sites this isn’t for you The interesting:
    • this is easily the most heavily staffed state park I’ve ever stayed at. If you like a constant park employee presence you’ll like it. I found it to be excessive however. During a 30 min time period we counted 8 employee vehicles to two park visitors driving by. It seemed to create unnecessary road traffic and noise at times. Park employees walk the park on foot in the dark at the 11pm to enforce quite time. There aren’t going to be any site reservation mix ups there either. Park employees constantly check sites and make sure reservations are correct. The camp host was very nice and makes the round frequently.
  • Susan L.
    Sep. 5, 2020

    Big Sioux Recreation Area — Big Sioux

    Convenient camping near Sioux Falls

    This Recreation Area is large and  located off the Sioux River, which was slow flowing when I visited. It’s not the most picturesque river I’ve seen, so if you’re looking for that look further. However, because it was slow moving it made for a nice round trip paddle. 

    Easy access from 90W, not much road noise and close to the town of Brandon for supplies. 

    There’s a fantastic disc golf course complete with a creaky suspension foot bridge that spans the fiver. 

    Great hiking and biking trails too. I hiked the Valley of the Giants trail, which earns its name because of the many old, “giant” oaks in this river bottom area. It’s an easy hike with one slight incline/decline, but the loop was curtailed by a giant felled oak tree.  The path was completely covered and no matter which way I tried I couldn’t see the trail it had become so overgrown. Sadly it seems that this has been the fate of several the the Giants, perhaps due to the river flooding.

    The campground has gravel pads. My site backed up to the river but there was a bushy berm and the bike/walking bath between the site and the river. No problem to access the river though because there are little paths worn through the bushes. Lots of trees for shade and good space between sites. There’s electric but no water at site. Fill up by the restrooms or before you come. Picnic table and fire ring with grill connected. Fire ring is on a cement pad. I’d never seen that before. 

    There are also  cabins for rent and when I was there the restrooms looked clean and functional.  Picnic shelter and gazebo are on site as well as the Bergeson’s Homestead. It’s always nice to see history being preserved like this! When I’m passing through this area again, I’ll revisit this recreation area.

  • Carrie F.
    Aug. 28, 2019

    Lake Pahoja Recreation Area

    Gorgeous setting, awkward spots

    No hook ups. Gorgeous setting, several spots are not level, small size. Good distance from others, yet close enough for group. Near everything in the beautiful black hills. Several areas.  Clean, comfortable restrooms. Store at entrance to park. Boat rentals available, slip rental available.

  • Brittney  K.
    Jul. 17, 2020

    Sioux Falls KOA

    It could have been worse

    We are new to the KOA chain and just learned they are on a tiered system. This location is a journey KOA, which means it is right off the highway and more of a place to stop than a nature experience. We were so grateful we choose to stay in a cabin (which had a/c) the tent sites are literally in parking spaces next to each other in the grass surrounding a child’s play area...rude. There are bright lights around the buildings that shine into your sites. The pool has a chain link fence around it. Because we were in a cabin with the air running, the highway noise was significantly muted. However if that’s not your situation, I’d seriously reconsider. The bathrooms were not up to the regular KOA standards I had come to expect. They just didn’t feel/look clean. The bed was not terrible and we were able to get a good night sleep. I don’t plan on staying at journey locations in the future unless absolutely necessary.


Guide to Canton

Cabin rentals near Canton, South Dakota offer outdoor access in the eastern part of the state, situated in Lincoln County at approximately 1,300 feet elevation. The region features gently rolling prairie landscapes punctuated by wooded areas along creeks and rivers. Winter temperatures often drop below freezing while summer months bring warm days that make air conditioning in some cabins particularly valuable.

What to do

Hiking trails for all abilities: At Newton Hills State Park, visitors can explore multiple hiking paths through wooded terrain. "This beautiful park set just 9 miles south of Canton, SD has something for everyone. If land is more your style, enjoy the multiple hiking trails, search for geocaches, bike around the paved roads or dirt paths," notes Lisa H.

Lake activities during warmer months: Lake Vermillion Recreation Area provides options for water recreation at their beach area. "There's both a shower house and vaulted toilets in the east area. Spring was coming alive with gobbling turkeys and cackling pheasants; we even got a show from a strutting tom turkey," reports MickandKarla W., highlighting the wildlife viewing opportunities.

Rock formations exploration: Palisades State Park features unique quartzite formations that attract climbers and hikers. "I love this park for both its camping and hiking. 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," shares Jessica B.

What campers like

Spacious cabin sites: Cabin renters appreciate the layout of many sites near Canton. At Big Sioux Recreation Area, visitors find well-spaced accommodations. "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. Bike trails are awesome," remarks Heidi M.

Wildlife viewing opportunities: Nature observation ranks high among cabin visitors. "Spring was coming alive with gobbling turkeys and cackling pheasants; we even got a show from a strutting tom turkey. Overall, a quiet and scenic stay with great wildlife viewing and lake views," notes one visitor at Lake Vermillion.

Family-friendly atmosphere: Sioux Falls Yogi Bear campground, another option for cabin stays near Canton, receives praise for its kid-friendly environment. "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. The sites were extremely well maintained," shares Alec S.

What you should know

Seasonal limitations: Some campgrounds operate with restricted schedules. "Only stayed one night, but very nice campground! Nice sites and everything was very clean and well kept!!" notes Kim N. about Sioux Falls KOA, which operates seasonally from May through October.

Temperature variations: Summer cabin stays can be particularly warm. "Very clean park. All pull through level sites. Clean bathrooms, clean laundry. A gem. Large green areas and a playground. A little bit of highway noise," reports Jeffrey J. about Countryside Campgrounds.

Site privacy considerations: Cabin placement affects the experience. "Newton Hills and found the park to be lovely, but it was very busy with lots of families out and about which made for a bit of a loud evening. If you have a family it'll be a great spot—if you're looking for quiet and calm, maybe something else. Spots are fairly spacious, but not a lot of privacy," shares Cari E.

Tips for camping with families

Playground access: Families staying in cabins near Canton should consider sites near play areas. "We had a tent site, number 24, and it was tucked into the woods but still close to the parking lot! Beautiful hiking trails, play grounds, disc golf, volleyball net, and so much more," notes Nathan L. about Big Sioux Recreation Area.

Educational opportunities: Plan for nature learning activities. "Awesome hiking path surrounds the lake with benches to take breaks and educational signs to help you learn about the area!" recommends Lisa H. about Lake Pahoja Recreation Area.

Swimming options: Several cabin locations offer swimming access. "I had an amazing time at Newton Hills Campground in South Dakota with my family and young children. The spacious and clean facilities provided the perfect backdrop for our outdoor getaway, offering a blend of adventure and relaxation away from the city," reports Nicholas S.

Tips from RVers

Road noise considerations: When booking cabins near Canton, consider proximity to highways. "Nice camp site tucked in near the interstate. 2 things not crazy about sound of trucks exiting off interstate using jakebrake (engine exhaust brakes) and sale barn near by. Beside that, clean sites easy hook ups and friendly staff," advises Kevin C. about Countryside Campgrounds.

Utility hookup planning: Know what utilities your cabin provides. "We stayed on our way from IL to Black Hills SD. Super easy access as well as easy pull through. Level enough to not unhook. Nice play area and pool. Also a neat little micro brewery walking distance, across the road," suggests Jeff G.

Site selection strategy: Choose cabin location based on your priorities. "We got a spot right in front of the playground which was perfect for our toddler. The trees provided nice shade. They even let us drive our car up. There's also a brewery in walking distance," mentions Laura C. about Sioux Falls KOA.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular cabin campsite near Canton, SD?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular cabin campground near Canton, SD is Newton Hills Campground — Newton Hills State Park with a 4.6-star rating from 11 reviews.

What is the best site to find cabin camping near Canton, SD?

TheDyrt.com has all 16 cabin camping locations near Canton, SD, with real photos and reviews from campers.