Newton Hills State Park provides year-round camping with sites situated on wooded hills rising 200 feet above the Big Sioux River valley. Located 9 miles south of Canton, South Dakota, the park encompasses 1,063 acres of dense forest within a predominantly agricultural region. Winter temperatures can drop below 0°F, while summer camping conditions typically range from 70-85°F with moderate humidity.
What to do
Hiking trails: Newton Hills State Park offers multiple hiking paths through wooded terrain. "If you enjoy water activities, spend some time at Lake Lakota swimming, kayaking, fishing, or just relaxing! If land is more your style, enjoy the multiple hiking trails, search for geocaches, bike around the paved roads or dirt paths," notes a Newton Hills Campground visitor.
Lake activities: Lake Vermillion Recreation Area provides water-based recreation 30 miles northwest of Canton. A camper reports, "There is a very nice sand beach, playgrounds, fishing, star gazing, and four campgrounds" at Lake Vermillion Recreation Area.
Frisbee golf: Big Sioux Recreation Area maintains a disc golf course near camping areas. One camper 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."
What campers like
Privacy between sites: Newton Hills campground offers well-spaced sites. A visitor described them as "Beautiful, quiet, shaded, level sites with plenty of space between. Great trails and a short scenic road, plus some nice open spaces."
Clean facilities: Dakota Sunsets RV Park maintains exceptionally clean amenities. "This RV campground is perfect. The attention to detail you see in this park is not something we have seen a lot during our travels. The gravel roadways to each campsite are groomed perfectly level," notes a camper at Dakota Sunsets RV Park.
Convenient highway access: Most rv sites near Canton, South Dakota offer easy access from major roadways. A visitor to Sioux Falls Yogi Bear noted, "Easy on and off freeway. Pull thu sites are just big enough for truck and camper."
What you should know
Additional fees for non-residents: South Dakota parks charge separate entrance fees. At Big Sioux Recreation Area, a camper reported: "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). The campsites are clean, spacious, and beautiful. Absolutely loved it there. I had no sooner settled in, and a woman knocked on my van asking that I pay a city tax, an additional $15."
Seasonal limitations: Several campgrounds restrict operations during winter months. Dakota Sunsets RV Park operates from April 15 to October 31, while Sioux Falls Yogi Bear runs from April 1 to November 30.
Cell service quality: Connectivity varies across camping locations. One visitor to Lake Vermillion reported, "Verizon had 3 bars, T-Mobile had 2, and our T-Mobile house internet clocked 207 Mbps down/ 3.49 Mbps up."
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Sioux Falls Yogi Bear provides extensive children's activities. One family reported, "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."
Organized activities: Some campgrounds offer scheduled events for children. A visitor to Sioux Falls Yogi Bear 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."
Site selection for privacy: When camping with kids, consider location relative to common areas. At Big Sioux Recreation Area, a tent camper noted their sites "were right on the edge of the playground, so the families had to walk right through my campsite to get to the play area."
Tips from RVers
Electric-only sites: Many rv sites near Canton, South Dakota provide electric hookups without water or sewer. A camper at Lake Vermillion noted, "All sites here are electric only and nicely spaced apart. Site 43 offered a beautiful lake view, which we enjoyed during our peaceful four-night stay."
Site length considerations: Parker RV Campground offers limited full-hookup options. A visitor reported, "Sites 1 - 4 have water, electric (50, 30, 15 amp) and sewer. Those sites go for $25.00 per day. Sites 5 - 6 are electric only and are in full sun."
Internet options: For remote workers, consider campgrounds with strong connectivity. At Dakota Sunsets RV Park, a visitor reported, "The Wifi was really fast…the best we have seen in over 1 yr and full time camping... We had over 50Mbps on our Verzion and ATT hot spot as well as the RV park's Wifi system."
