Crystal B.
Legend
LegendWest Unit — Pickerel Lake Recreation Area
Beautiful Lake
Well equipped campground on the lake in South Dakota. Large sites, many are paved. There are cabins available too.
Dog-Friendly Camping near Groton, SD
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Groton City Park features electric hookups, water, sewer connections, and picnic tables at each of its five pet-friendly sites. The small in-town campground allows campers to bring their dogs while enjoying the conveniences of full hookups. Four of the five paved sites can accommodate big rigs without interference from overhanging tree branches, though the pavement is aging and beginning to break up in places. The campground connects to a large city park offering additional space for dog walking. Richmond Lake Recreation Area, located north of Aberdeen, also welcomes pets at its campsites, cabins, and glamping accommodations. Sites include 50-amp electrical hookups, picnic tables, and fire rings where campers can relax with their four-legged companions. Night lighting near the bathrooms keeps the area illuminated for evening dog walks.
Wylie Park Campground offers a family-friendly environment where dogs are permitted throughout the developed campsites. The main campground features mature trees and reasonable site spacing, creating comfortable areas for pets and their owners. Sites include full hookups priced at $36+ per night, with water and sewer connections that make extended stays with pets more convenient. The park becomes particularly busy on weekends when families with children frequent the adjacent Storybook Land attraction. Midweek visits provide a quieter experience for those camping with dogs, with the campground typically at about 50% capacity. Webster City Park and Mina Lake Recreation Area present additional pet-friendly options, with the latter offering stunning waterfront sites where campers report the spacious grassy areas provide excellent opportunities for dog exercise.
Best Dog-Friendly Campgrounds near Groton (21)
1. Groton City Park
2. Wylie Park Campground & Storybook Land
"Great place right next to Storybook Land. Very clean, well laid out, everyone was very nice."
3. Pierpont City Park
4. Melgaard Park
5. Fort Sisseton State Park Campground
"Lots of camping extremely well maintained grounds and buildings and a good set of trails, along with access to a lake. The showers are gorgeous, there are cabins, wood for sale and all amenities."
6. Richmond Lake Recreation Area
7. Webster City Park
"Close to grocery, restaurants, and liquor store! Nice community pool amd park too!!"
8. Easton Castle/O-TE-LA Castle Campground Forest
from $13 - $20 / night
Check Availability9. Chamber of Commerce Campground - Webster
10. Mina Lake Recreation Area
"Some nice spots, some are to close to each other. Nice hiking trail. Kids love the beach."
"While we're staying in the Aberdeen area we took time out today to scope out the campground at Mina Lake State Recreation Area, and it is absolutely beautiful."
Drive Time
- 2 hrs 14 min from Fargo, ND
- 2 hrs 31 min from Sioux Falls, SD
- 3 hrs 9 min from Bismarck, ND
- 3 hrs 13 min from Grand Forks, ND
Recent Dog-Friendly Camping Photos near Groton, SD
5 Photos of 21 Groton Campgrounds
Dog-Friendly Camping Reviews near Groton, SD
45 Reviews of 21 Groton Campgrounds
Marc G.
GuideWylie Park Campground & Storybook Land
Quiet midweek, lots of kids on weekends
The main campground itself at Wylie Park is rather attractive with mature trees and reasonable site spacing (there's a secondary North Campground that's newer with less mature vegetation). Pricing is a little high at $36+/night for FHU, but the reason folks come here is for the park's other amenities including Storybook Land, Wylie Lake, go-carts, bumper boats, mini-golf, etc. This place is a kids' paradise.
Which leads to the situation on weekends: this place is positively overrun with kids. Kids crying, kids riding their bikes through your campsite (and ill-informed adults, too). The geese in the waterfowl pond adjacent to the campground made quite the racket, too, but that didn't bother us. The kids did. Fine if that's your thing, but to a couple of 50-somethings without kids anymore, this was annoying.
Midweek, though, the place was terrific, maybe 50% occupied. Staff was friendly and welcoming.
- PPatrick S.
ScoutSilver Lake Rec Area
Beautiful campground
Very nice and well taken care of campground that surrounds silver lake. You could tell that the groundskeepers take a lot of pride in how well kept it is. Our site had a gravel pad that required very little leveling with very nice grass surrounding it. Our site had water and electric hookups however we shared a post with our neighbors and each post had one 30 amp and one 50 amp plug so you’ll need an adapter if your neighbor is already plugged in to 30 amp service. There was a very nice swimming beach and what appeared to be a new playground for the kids. There is a north section that is apparently for quiet people that don’t stay up late and south section for all the others. Dogs are welcome but must be cleaned up after and kept out of certain sections of the campground. I will defiantly be back
- Crystal B.Legend
Roy Lake West — Roy Lake State Park
Nice equipped campground with nice sites nearly lake
This is a large campground with lakeside campsites available. Hiking trails, beach, boating, paddling area. Campground has nice views and is well maintained.
Art S.LegendWest Unit — Pickerel Lake Recreation Area
Spacious grassy campground that is lakeside
I spoke with a man who remembered when he used to come here to fish with his Dad. That was enough to encourage a stop here. We followed the signs and ended up at the west campground. There is another one on the eastern shore. It seemed like there are only a few campers here but a group of kids and their chaperones showed up later at night. They were loud enough to be heard but kept together politely- good to see programs bringing people out into nature. It also looks like they had a full weekend due to the reservation slips still on the posts. Well tended grass abounds and the openness leaves room for the breeze. It might be different in a heat wave but the sun and breeze combo is quite relaxing and is keeping the bugs away.
We walked around camp and found cabins sprinkled throughout. A vault toilet is right next to the shower house leaving me wondering why they’re so close. A book exchange, playground, volleyball and horseshoe pit give entertainment options. A groomed trail leads right out of camp- bug spray needed for the trail. A boat launch and day use area is around the bend. This State Recreation Area has plenty to do and is beautifully maintained.
This is a great option for tonight!
Teresa T.LegendFort Sisseton State Park Campground
Very well maintained
This is a very pretty park. Lots of camping extremely well maintained grounds and buildings and a good set of trails, along with access to a lake. The showers are gorgeous, there are cabins, wood for sale and all amenities.
Bibs O.LegendGroton City Park
5 sites that are good for an overnight.
This is a small 5 site in town campground. It is connected to a large city park. Each site has 50 - 20 amp service. Each site has water and sewer. Picnic tables are available. No fire pits. Garbage dumpster next to campgrounds. Old and new trees on site. Bathrooms have a great deal to be desired. They are dirty and smell horribly. I've used pit toilets that are cleaner and fresher smelling. Night light next to bathrooms keeps area lit up at night. You need to back into sites from the street. Big rigs can get into 4 of 5 sites without interference from over hanging tree branches. Sites are paved, but they are old and starting to break up. It is located in a nice area.
- Bibs O.Legend
Melgaard Park
Sites are on top of each other, literally.
Beautifully shaded campground. A very large park to walk in. Sites are small, and each site has 2 campers, so your camper rear is nearly touching the next person's rear of their camper. Bathrooms are clean. No showers. Sites have 50-30-20 amp service. Honestly, this is NOT big rig friendly. The dump station is available. The water station is available across (the campground) from the dump station. Very busy road on west boarder. No fire pits. Tight maneuvering around the park. City maintenance building is here, so there is always lots of traffic. Picnic tables at each site.
- Natalie S.
TravelerDickinson City Park
Tiny quiet campground
2 spot next to a baseball field in a cute little town. Peaceful simple site to recoup after a long day of driving. The 2 negatives I will say was that the women's restroom was locked while we were here so we had to use the men's and the amount of yellow jackets at the site is scary to someone that allergic.
Guide to Groton
Pet-friendly camping options near Groton, South Dakota range from well-maintained city parks to lakeside recreation areas with electrical hookups. Located in northeastern South Dakota, Groton sits in the James River Valley at an elevation of approximately 1,300 feet. Winter temperatures can drop below zero, making late spring through early fall the primary camping season for this region.
What to do
Fishing access: Richmond Lake Recreation Area offers excellent fishing opportunities with boat ramps that allow anglers to easily access walleye, northern pike, and bass. "Beautiful area. We stayed a few days longer than we originally planned because we loved the area," reports Mari N.
Historical exploration: Fort Sisseton State Park Campground provides access to restored 19th-century military buildings and interpretive displays. "It was fun to explore the historical buildings. A couple of wild turkeys came by in the evening," notes Leslie B., highlighting the park's unique combination of history and wildlife.
Swimming: Mina Lake Recreation Area features a swimming beach popular with families during summer months. "Kids love the beach," mentions Nick G., while Marc G. adds that the campground has "most sites back up right to the water," making water access particularly convenient.
What campers like
Storybook Land attraction: Wylie Park Campground's adjacent Storybook Land provides unique entertainment. "Great place right next to Storybook Land. Very clean, well laid out, everyone was very nice," writes Ross B. The campground also offers numerous playgrounds for younger visitors.
Clean facilities: Fisher Grove State Park earns high marks for maintenance. "This is a very pretty park. Lots of camping extremely well maintained grounds and buildings and a good set of trails," says Teresa T., adding that "the showers are gorgeous, there are cabins, wood for sale and all amenities."
Space between sites: Unlike some cramped campgrounds, several locations offer comfortable spacing. At Wylie Park's main campground, Marc G. notes it has "mature trees and reasonable site spacing," especially during midweek stays when occupancy drops to around 50%.
What you should know
Seasonal availability: Most campgrounds in the Groton area operate seasonally. Wylie Park Campground is available from April 1 to October 31, while Melgaard Park is open April 15 to October 31. Some state recreation areas like Richmond Lake remain open year-round but with limited winter amenities.
Varying site quality: Site conditions can vary significantly even within the same campground. At Melgaard Park, one camper notes, "Sites are small, and each site has 2 campers, so your camper rear is nearly touching the next person's rear of their camper."
Bathroom conditions: Bathroom quality varies between locations. While some campgrounds receive praise for clean facilities, others struggle. At Webster City Park, Debra G. describes it as "Almost boondocking! Water, dump station and super inexpensive!!!" but notes limited amenities.
Tips for camping with families
Midweek visits: For families seeking quieter experiences, timing matters. At Wylie Park Campground, one reviewer observes, "Midweek, though, the place was terrific, maybe 50% occupied." This contrasts with weekends when the campground becomes "positively overrun with kids."
Multiple playgrounds: Family-friendly campgrounds offer dedicated play areas. "Great, clean park for families with young kids. Numerous playgrounds scattered all over with a small theme park," reports Mason about Wylie Park Campground.
Beach access planning: When camping at lakeside locations, arrive early to claim beach space during peak summer weekends. Beach areas at Mina Lake can become crowded, but the "well-spaced sites, nice grassy lawns" provide alternative play spaces.
Tips from RVers
Site selection for size: RVers should check site dimensions before booking. At Groton City Park, one camper notes "Big rigs can get into 4 of 5 sites without interference from over hanging tree branches," but cautions that "Sites are paved, but they are old and starting to break up."
Dump station locations: Not all campgrounds offer on-site dump stations. Webster City Park provides a dump station that one visitor describes as having "Water, dump station and super inexpensive!!!" making it a practical overnight stop.
Electric hookup variability: Amperage varies between locations, with some offering 50-amp service while others provide only 30-amp. At Chamber of Commerce Campground in Webster, Shelly S. notes it offers "Grass, electric hook up" but reminds that it's "your basic campground in the middle of town when your visiting nearby or passing through."
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According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Groton, SD is Groton City Park with a 3-star rating from 1 review.
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