71 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Camping options around Dell Rapids, South Dakota include developed campgrounds, RV parks, and tent sites situated along rivers and natural areas. The City of Dell Rapids Campground near Rickman Field provides local camping with electric hookups and basic amenities. Within a short drive, visitors can access several state parks and recreation areas including Palisades State Park, which offers both tent and RV camping as well as cabin accommodations. Big Sioux Recreation Area, located approximately 25 miles south, features spacious sites with abundant shade trees and access to the Big Sioux River.
Most campgrounds in the region require reservations during peak summer months, particularly on weekends. South Dakota state parks charge both a camping fee and a vehicle entrance fee, with annual passes available for frequent visitors. One camper noted, "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." Winter camping availability is limited, with many campgrounds closing after Labor Day through Memorial Day. Weather conditions can change rapidly in this prairie region, with strong winds common throughout the year and thunderstorms frequent during summer months.
Campsites along water features receive consistently positive reviews, particularly those at Big Sioux Recreation Area and Palisades State Park. As one visitor shared: "Beautiful campground! Sites are well spaced. Lots of trees for great shade in the hot summer. Very nice bathroom and shower house. Easy drive in to Sioux Falls." Many campgrounds in the area feature electricity and water hookups for RVs, while tent sites are typically more limited but often offer greater privacy. The region's campgrounds provide good access to outdoor activities including hiking, fishing, and paddling. Most established camping areas maintain clean facilities with showers and flush toilets, though amenities vary by location. For visitors seeking more rustic experiences, some parks offer tent-only areas with fewer amenities but more natural settings.
"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."
"South Dakota is known for its well-maintained state park campgrounds, and this area offers two great options: King and Queen."
"South Dakota State Park, Brandon SD. Great stop. We spent 2 days. Very nice campground with lots to do and see. Big spacious sites ours backed up to the bike path and river."
"They have nice long paved trails for walking and biking. We got to walk our dogs on it to avoid tick contact from the grassy trails. There was a cool suspension bridge that was fun to walk on."
"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!"
"Also a neat little micro brewery walking distance, across the road. Very nice staff and an RV dealer next door. Very close to I-90 and it’s noise, but that comes with the easy access."
"At the time of our visit I-90 was being rebuilt nearby so access from the interstate was more difficult, but this isn’t the fault of the campground."
"Location is right on interstate and easy to find. Not for nature lovers."
from $40 - $200 / night
Check Availability"There was a really nice dump station outside of the park near entrance to Devil’s Gultch."
"A well maintained city campground with vault toilets and convenient nearby dump station just outside the park. Night time train traffic may be a negative for light sleepers."
"Quiet place with nice bike and walking paths. Electric only 30amp water close by. Full dump station."
"Even though it's just adjacent, 13 had a nice little secluded area for our tent, and a *private* riverside walk out to the cliffs overlooking the river!"
from $24 - $50 / night
Check Availability"The airport is close by which made it neat to watch."
"This campground is a great location when passing through Sioux Falls. It is right off I29, and there a quick in and out sites up front."
"This campground is located on the Big Sioux River near the ball diamonds. A train runs often nearby and the quarry does blasting. It’s not especially peaceful with all that going on!"
from $25 - $35 / night
Check Availabilityfrom $20 / night
Check Availability
RangerStayed here for a stop over. $30/night plus $10 day permit. Very large campground with good space between sites and electric hookup at the site which is a god send to run AC in this heat and humidity. They sprayed for mosquitos too. Overall very nice.
TravelerNot bad for $20 a night with electricity. Only 8 spots that are all back in. Has a city pool and disc golf. easy walk to main st where there’s a bar and grocery store. Very laid back.
Travelertent sites are not very private but you are up next to the woods. lots of really nice hiking trails
Travelernice shaded tent sites right beside the big sioux river and a hiking trail
GuideOur favorite spot to date! Spacious, immaculate bathhouse, well-designed dump station, lengthy lots. We will be talking about this spot for a long time.
LegendThis is a moderate size rv park. (90-100 sites) Half are on an asphalt lot, half in a shaded grass area. Some are pull through but those in the grassy area are backin. Full hookups. 30/50 amp. Very nice Bathroom/Showers, laundry, (but no bathroom tissue !) Dog park,dump station. We didn’t see anyone from the park during our stay. No one in the office! Very bright obnoxious flood lights all night and lots of road noise made sleeping difficult! If I’m in the area again I would find somewhere else!
ScoutAs a campground in general, beautiful and peaceful; however, staff seem a bit impatient and more caring about catering to campers who are visiting for local events.
TravelerPrices now $20 for electric, $15 otherwise. Still bargain.
TravelerThey really do a great job of taking care of the state park. It’s very clean and well-kept and it’s very beautiful. 
Camping options near Dell Rapids, South Dakota include a mix of county and state parks within a 30-mile radius. The region sits at approximately 1,500 feet elevation in the prairie landscape, characterized by the Big Sioux River watershed. Winters can bring temperatures below 0°F, while summer temperatures typically range from 60-85°F with occasional thunderstorms requiring weather preparedness at campsites.
Hiking quartzite formations: At Palisades State Park Campground, trails follow Split Rock Creek through unique rock formations. "I love this park for both it's 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," reports Jessica B.
Kayaking on Split Rock Creek: The water access points at Split Rock Park provide excellent kayaking opportunities along the river. "Really cool kayaking into Devils Gulch and up the Split Rock Creek. Will return to this nicely kept State Park," shares Carolyn M., who adds that "the falls lull you to sleep at night and the trains passing by are really neat to hear."
Prairie wildlife viewing: Blue Mounds State Park Campground offers ranger-led prairie tours to see bison and native plants. "Do the prairie tour, interesting and worth the time and the $15. The naturalists here are friendly and knowledgeable, take advantage of programming," advises Karla J. B., who recommends visiting nearby Pipestone National Monument while in the area.
Tree cover for summer heat: Campsites with mature trees provide relief during hot summer days. "Sites are in the woods so all sites have shade. All types of camping is available, tent, RVs trailers, 5th wheels, Class A, etc," notes Bruce P. about Blue Mounds State Park Campground.
Accessible outdoor facilities: Many campers appreciate the well-maintained bathrooms and shower facilities. "The bathrooms and showers were okay and the people were very nice. It was my first time ever pulling and backing up a camper and I was struggling and one of the park rangers came and helped me," shares Wilanrie B. about their experience at Palisades State Park.
Water features for recreation: River access points enhance camping experiences with fishing and swimming opportunities. "Beautiful spot. Easy water access. Only hitch is you're very close to train tracks and the trains tend to be quite loud as they pass," notes ryan W. about Split Rock Park, highlighting both the pros and cons of riverside camping locations.
Train noise considerations: Several campgrounds near Dell Rapids have nearby train tracks with nighttime traffic. "Trains will go by till around midnight," notes one camper at Split Rock Park, while another warns: "they don't just pass, they blow a LOUD horn right as they go by. It happened multiple times throughout the night, felt like every hour."
Limited tent-only areas: Most campgrounds prioritize RV sites with hookups, with fewer dedicated tent camping areas. At Big Sioux Recreation Area, "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," reports Carolyn M.
Reservation timing strategy: Reserve sites well in advance for summer weekends. "Sites were not full on the weekend, even less so on Sunday night," notes Karla J. B. about Blue Mounds State Park, suggesting weekdays or shoulder seasons might offer better availability for last-minute trips.
Playground proximity benefits: Sioux Falls Yogi Bear offers extensive family programming and amenities. "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. Saturday night was the yogi bear parade and it was the highlight of our entire stay," shares Alec S.
Safety considerations for young children: Some natural areas have terrain hazards requiring supervision. "We love the tent camping. Large sites. Dog friendly. Trees for the hammock. We have 3 kids 5 and under. They like it too, but there are cliffs and water, so plan accordingly," cautions Cody H. about Split Rock Park.
Kid-friendly campsite selection: Choose sites with natural play features and shade. "We requested a specific site and they were very accommodating. So friendly. We got a spot right in front of the playground which was perfect for our toddler. The trees provided nice shade," notes Laura C. about Sioux Falls KOA.
Year-round hookup options: Tower Campground provides winter camping with heated water connections. "This park is open year round and well set up for cold weather, the water spigot is heated so if you invest in a heated water line and have an insulated camper you should be good for the cold," shares Robert, noting that "many units were tucked in for winter with skirting and large external propane tanks."
Dump station locations: Not all campgrounds offer on-site dump stations. "There was a really nice dump station outside of the park near entrance to Devil's Gultch," notes Meredith J. about Split Rock Park, providing helpful information for RVers planning longer stays.
Site selection for big rigs: Level sites with adequate clearance are available at several campgrounds. "We have 46 foot toy hauler," mentions Bruce P. about Blue Mounds State Park, confirming that larger RVs can be accommodated despite the park's natural setting.
Frequently Asked Questions
What amenities are available at the City of Dell Rapids campground?
The City of Dell Rapids campground offers essential camping amenities including potable water access, clean toilet facilities, and reservable campsites. For comparison, Palisades State Park Campground features similar basic amenities with one main bathhouse with showers and additional pit toilets throughout the campground. Lake Vermillion Recreation Area provides additional context for typical South Dakota campground amenities, which often include firewood for purchase, designated tent sites, and day-use areas.
Where is the Dell Rapids campground located in South Dakota?
The City of Dell Rapids Campground near Rickman Field is located in Dell Rapids, South Dakota, approximately 20 miles north of Sioux Falls. This convenient location makes it an excellent stopover point when traveling through the region. For reference, Big Sioux Recreation Area is about 30 minutes away in Brandon, SD, offering another nearby camping option with access to the Big Sioux River.
Are there photos available of the Dell Rapids camping facilities?
Photos of the Dell Rapids camping facilities are available on The Dyrt website. When browsing campground listings like Newton Hills Campground, you'll find user-submitted photos showcasing campsite layouts, facilities, and surrounding landscapes. Similarly, W.H. Lyon Fairground and other South Dakota campgrounds feature extensive photo galleries from campers showing bathroom facilities, site conditions, and recreational areas. These visual resources help you better plan your stay at Dell Rapids.
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