2 campgrounds with availability this weekend
Hartford Beach State Park Campground provides 30-amp electric hookups for RVs on wooded sites near Big Stone Lake. The campground has spacious pull-through sites in the upper area and more secluded, though sometimes uneven, lakeside sites in the lower section. Memorial Park in Watertown offers electric, water, sewer, and dump station services on its lakefront property, while Camping 109 RV Park in Big Stone City provides full hookup sites with 50-amp service, trash collection, and easy access for large rigs. Sites vary in levelness throughout the region, with some requiring additional setup work. "Very friendly staff, very well kept. The sites all have electricity, picnic tables and fire ring. At $21.00 it is a bargain."
Full hookup availability changes seasonally across these parks. Hartford Beach State Park operates from May to September with electric sites and dump station access, while Camping 109 RV Park remains open year-round. Several parks near Corona accommodate large motorhomes, with most offering at least electric service. Cellular coverage is generally good in the area, particularly at Hartford Beach where Verizon service was noted as reliable in reviews. Reservation systems vary between parks, with some requiring advance bookings during peak summer months. Pet policies are consistent, with all major RV parks allowing pets on leash. One camper observed that the upper campground at Hartford Beach has "HUGE and very nice" sites compared to the more cramped lakeside locations.
"15 units with full hookups on a dirt road. There is a kiosk at the entrance where you pay. $35/night, with a discount rate if you pay beforehand for a week or a month."
"A former resort, now home to just 12 full hook up RV sites, a couple of cabins, and an amazing supper club that opens at 5:00 daily. On the shores of Big Stone Lake. A nice beach and a boat landing."
"Situated right between a lake and a golf course. Very clean camp sites. Had a blast."
"Well equipped campground on the lake in South Dakota. Large sites, many are paved. There are cabins available too."
"It seemed like there are only a few campers here but a group of kids and their chaperones showed up later at night."
from $26 - $55 / night
"We were able to grab a quite corner spot with a great view of the lake looking over to South Dakota. There are canoe rentals an ok trail system and a great swimming beach."
"The hiking trails were very enjoyable and the swimming beach looked very nice. We will return with our kids to this campground!"
Campground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $24 - $34 / night
"We only overnighted here but there is a large lake and a pond. Lots of fowl. Showers were great."
ScoutWhat a wonderful campground! Bathrooms and showers are very nice, and kept clean. The campsites are nice and level. Well laid out, and numbered clearly. Reserving through the website is easy. What a spectacular view of the valley! I took a peek into one of the cabins - very nice. This place is a great value for the money.
ScoutThe community facilities are well kept and clean. Overall this site is beautiful and great for kids, we tried booking a spot by the lookout but unfortunately they only had electric hookups!
Either way the site we switched to was spacious and had two picnic tables. We will definitely be back!
GuideNice, clean, secure safe, scenic waterfront state campground...reasonably priced...nice level water/elec sites...no sewage or dump stage that I could find...last minute late evening online reservation.,..good location....small campground, easy to find reserved site. Highly recommend especially for travelers.
GuideAlmost no shady sites. Large open field overlooking the river below which is visible if in camper or standing. Sites have fire ring & picnic table. Main road is blacktop sites level gravel. Good separation but open.
GuideBeautiful sites and well marked, flat trails for the very civilized camper. 4.5 miles of trail, even though they have a horse camp....but the horse camp is nice. Just not a lot of trails to ride. No off road or off grid type experience here, if you are looking for that.
TravelerMinimal But it works for a couple of night
GuideNice spot for my overnight stay. The camp host was nice and polite. There was an add-on fee for phone, online, and apparently in person reservations. I didn't get it but, I payed it, Inwas there and I was tired. I was fortunate enough to score a tent spot very close to the bathrooms and showers, which weren't pristine but were also much better than using a hole in the ground or not showering. My spot was also right on the water. I feel asleep to the sound of water breaking on the rocks. Would definitely stay again in the future.
LegendLocated in the picturesque Coteau Des Prairies, Roy Lake State Park consists of two small units nestled on the northeast and northwest shores of Roy Lake.
95% of the state park is campground. There are a few tent sites, many RV sites, cabins, and a lodge suite (not sure on quantity) above the campground store/commons area. The store has some Roy Lake State Park branded items and some random foods, drinks, and camping tools. I wouldn’t put stock in them having exactly what you need/want — it’s very small. The commons area has giant picture windows overlooking the lake, a TV, comfy furniture, board games, a rotating pizza cooker, and a few other random things. There is also an outside seating area that overlooks the lake.
I stayed in the east unit, which is smaller and slightly calmer than the west unit. Each side has boat ramps, beaches (smaller on the east side), cabins, and playground.
Monday through Thursday morning in June, it was very quiet, with very few other campers. It was amazing. On Thursday, people started rushing in like a flash flood. It filled up almost completely and things got a bit noisier, but it was still quiet during quiet hours. I left on Friday, so I can’t attest to weekend behavior.
The bathhouse was nice and pretty clean. Heated with free, untimed showers. Very nice, but a long walk from our site.
We stayed in tent site T6, which shares a space with T7. T7 has a nice lake access spot that we used (before campers came on Thursday) to put in our kayak, swim, and fish. T7 is a lot smaller than T6, but T6 doesn’t have its own beach access. For these sites you must park in the parking area, and walk to the site. For some extra steps, you are afforded some privacy and a more natury feel. The cattail-filled field in front of our site lit up with lightning bugs at dusk.
The campground has tons of mature native trees. There is a lot of lawn, but they don’t spray it with chemicals, which I appreciate. Be warned that this means this park (and others nearby, like Sica Hollow) will have thistles, so bring closed shoes for hikes. We saw turtles, snakes, squirrels, ground squirrels, deer, rabbits, pelicans, ducks, geese, seagulls, tons of other birds, fish, and more — just in this park.
Roy Lake was clear in June, though I didn’t get to paddle as much as I had planned due to wind. It’s a pretty decent size (3 sq miles) and just one of hundreds of lakes in the glacial lakes area. The whole coteau area was so beautiful. Definitely worth reading up on the geology of the area before coming.
There is a bit more hiking in the area than is listed on AllTrails. I’ll include a picture of the trail map for Roy Lake State Park, which you can find at the campground store (outside on the wall) and also in the SD GFP app. There is also some hiking at Sica Hollow SP, Pickerel Lake Rec Area, and Waubay National Wildlife Refuge (these trails are also not on AllTrails, a few miles and a pretty tall and scary observation tower).
Closest decent sized grocery store and other needs are in Sisseton, a half hour drive through very picturesque countryside.
Though surrounded by water, the mosquitoes were never bad. Look at weather for Lake City, not Sisseton, as the elevation and wind over the lake (on the east side) mean cooler weather. We experienced severe enough storm during our stay that we sheltered in our car. We felt safe that the bathhouse would be a sufficient tornado shelter in that event. After the storm there were straight line winds attempting to flatten our tent, but there were no limbs down in the park, which means they watch for, and clear, deadfall risks.
The cell service was as good as it can get. We were actually able to stream videos on it. Don’t count on getting firewood from the host at the east unit. Get it from a nearby town or possibly the store in the west unit (though I don’t know its hours).
We stayed at this park while my son was attending a day camp in Sisseton. I will pick this campground again if he chooses to attend the camp in the future.
GuideGood primitive sites with fire rings and picnic tables. Water tap available. Pit restrooms, one of which is is poorly maintained and to be avoided. Parked on wide expanse of grassy area. Trails to nearby river. Some gravel roads to get to site, but well-maintained. Suggested fee of $20/night. Ideal for one-night stay while en route.
Hartford Beach State Park Campground in Corona, South Dakota sits on the western shore of Big Stone Lake at an elevation of about 1,000 feet. The park features upper and lower camping areas with distinct terrain differences – the upper area consisting of open, level sites while the lower area offers wooded lakeside spots that can be uneven. Most camping facilities in the Corona area remain open from May through September with varying levels of services during shoulder seasons.
Hiking trails: Hartford Beach State Park offers several hiking paths that connect the upper and lower camping areas. One camper noted, "They have nice hiking trails" while another mentioned discovering "the dock and bridge near our site" while exploring the trails.
Fishing access: The Corona area provides multiple fishing opportunities along Big Stone Lake. At Lac qui Parle Upper Campground, campers can access "boat/canoe launch in lower campground about 10 minutes from Upper Campground" making it convenient for anglers.
Wildlife viewing: The region attracts diverse bird populations, particularly at Big Stone Lake. A visitor to Big Stone Lake State Park Campground observed "lots of wildlife and nice trails. Fishing is free from the park boundaries with lots of shoreline."
Swimming beaches: Several campgrounds maintain swimming areas for summer recreation. At Memorial Park, sites are "close to beach, fishing dock and close to playground for kids!" making it easy to enjoy water activities.
Midweek tranquility: Many campgrounds experience significantly lower occupancy during weekdays. One Hartford Beach camper reported, "Very nicely maintained campground and facilities. Mid week stay so nearly empty."
Sunset views: Lakefront campsites provide exceptional sunset viewing opportunities. At Camping 109 RV Park, a camper noted the park was "near a river" while at Hartford Beach, another remarked, "Spectacular sunsets and sunrises. Cell phone pictures do not do it justice."
Budget-friendly options: Several campgrounds offer affordable rates compared to more popular tourist destinations. City Park in Browns Valley provides "functional park with hookups and shade" at reasonable prices, while Pomme De Terre Campground offers "water and electric. Bathhouse, walking trails, fishing and beautiful lake views" described as "well worth the money."
Lake access: Multiple Memorial Park visitors appreciate the waterfront location, with one noting it's "right on beautiful lake Kampseka" providing "clean, quiet, open space."
Site leveling challenges: Lower campground sites at Hartford Beach can require additional setup work. A camper warned, "The sites near the lake are very wooded, a bit smaller and pretty uneven. The sites themselves are even but your canopy might be overhanging a slope."
Seasonal mosquitoes: Insect activity can be significant, especially after rain. A visitor to Lac qui Parle Upper Campground observed, "The mosquitos were awful. Stayed right after a mosquito hatch sadly."
Variable cellular coverage: Connectivity differs between campgrounds. At Hartford Beach, "Cell signal: Good (Verizon)" while at Lac qui Parle, a camper reported "Verizon cell signal is poor."
Weekend availability: RV campgrounds near Corona, South Dakota fill quickly during weekends. A visitor to Lakewood Supper Club RV Park noted, "There are normally no open sites, we are told, as they are all rented for the season."
Playground access: Several campgrounds include play areas for children. At Pomme De Terre Campground, families enjoy "walking trails, fishing and beautiful lake views" with "bathhouse" facilities that work well for family needs.
Beach activities: Big Stone Lake State Park Campground provides "a very relaxing evening at the campground. The hiking trails were very enjoyable and the swimming beach looked very nice."
Site selection: For family groups, the upper campground at Hartford Beach offers significantly more space. A reviewer emphasized the difference: "The upper sites are HUGE and very near nice! The bathrooms where clean as well as campsites."
Off-season visits: For quieter family camping experiences, consider spring or fall trips. Big Stone Lake State Park has "canoe rentals an ok trail system and a great swimming beach" with fewer crowds outside summer peak.
Upper vs. lower campground choice: RVers should carefully consider site location at Hartford Beach. A reviewer explained: "There are 2 separate camp areas with 2 completely different types of sites. The sites near the lake are very wooded, a bit smaller and pretty uneven."
Full hookup availability: Year-round RV camping options exist at Camping 109 RV Park where "the sites are roomy and well maintained as the owner mowed the sites often" and accepts Passport America discounts for 50% off rates.
Site spacing: RV campgrounds around Corona offer varying degrees of privacy. At Lac qui Parle, "Lots of space between sites. There are not many trees so not much shade. Sites are gravel and relatively level, not much leveling required."
Utility distances: Electric hookup placement can require planning. At Hartford Beach State Park, "The electric hook up is pretty far from the picnic table/fire ring area. Have a long cord."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular RV campsite near Corona, SD?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular RV campground near Corona, SD is Lakeshore RV Park Inc with a 0-star rating from 0 reviews.
What is the best site to find RV camping near Corona, SD?
TheDyrt.com has all 36 RV camping locations near Corona, SD, with real photos and reviews from campers.
Keep Exploring
