Lake Thompson Recreation Area and Ingalls Homestead provide cabin lodging options in the Lake Preston area with electricity and basic furnishings. Lake Thompson cabins feature electric hookups, picnic tables, and access to showers and toilets, while accommodations at Ingalls Homestead include water connections and fire pits. "Very nice, our spot was large with electric. Quiet this weekend. 50 Amp service," noted one visitor about the Lake Poinsett State Recreation Area, which is another cabin option in the region. Each location maintains clean facilities with flush toilets, and most sites include trash service and drinking water access.
Rustic and deluxe cabins are both available, depending on the location. The Horse Campground at Oakwood Lakes State Park offers more primitive cabin accommodations with toilet access but no showers. North Shore Lodging and Campground provides cabins without many amenities but does accept reservations. Lake Herman State Park Campground maintains cabin units with more comprehensive hookups including water, electric, and sewer connections. "We had a wonderful experience dry camping here. There are only a few sites with water and electric," commented one guest about the Ingalls Homestead, highlighting the limited but adequate facilities.
Most cabins include beds but require visitors to bring their own linens, towels, and toiletries. Kitchen facilities vary significantly between locations, with some offering only outdoor fire pits for cooking while others may provide basic indoor amenities. The Ingalls Homestead has a country store for purchasing souvenirs and essential items. Lake Thompson Recreation Area includes a market where basic provisions can be purchased. Oakwood Lakes State Park campgrounds feature clean bathrooms with hot showers but limited on-site shopping options, so planning ahead for supplies is recommended when booking cabin stays.
"This is a truly magical place, and if you’ve ever read any of the Little House on the Prairie books and are anywhere near De Smet South Dakota, do yourself a favor and swing by."
"For $30, we had W&E, fire pit (firewood not sold), picnic table and free access to the homestead. Bathrooms were so clean and smelled like cedar wood. "
"Very pretty very nicely well maintained park. In true, South Dakota fashion, I think it's pretty expensive."
"Beautiful location on the north shore of Lake Thompson. Some sites face the lake, others have shade with enough open sky for your StarLink dish. Beach access at the campground."
"One of the few places I've ever camped where you get a full bathroom to yourself. Plus it was very clean."
"In addition to natural beauty there are games to rent, playground, etc. Yay: Choice of traditional campsites or cabins.
Nay: campsites are very open and unshaded. Only a few are by the water."
from $26 / night
"Large grassy sites with fire pit and picnic table. Clean bathrooms with hot showers. Nice path around lake for walking the dog. Lots of families having a good time! Very pleasant evening."
"Wasn’t busy, kids liked playground, walking path, and checking out Mortimer’s cabin. Electric hook-ups."
from $26 - $55 / night
"Playground was at the other camp loop, but we spent some time playing before we left. Found some geocaches in the park, which was fun!"
"Very nice, our spot was large with electric. Quiet this weekend. 50 Amp service."
"They also have a number of trails making the best of the smaller park. The water is very green. I don't think it is very deep but this green this early in the season is concerning."
from $22 - $55 / night
"The bathrooms and showers were very clean. Also, the campsites are very clean beach areas and boat ramps were very clean. Also a nice frisbee, golf course and great beach access."
from $22 / night
"RV spots have electric. Many spots have shade, some are near the lake, and some with lake views. They have small cabins for rent, as well as paddle boards, kayaks, and canoes."
"Had days of warm weather, spring rain showers and 5 inches of snow. I was right next to a little lake on one side and Lake Herman about 150ft away. Nice hiking trails just outside my door."
"Called last minute to see if they had anything available, as we had been driving for 2 days without a shower. They had a primitive tent site available and in 1 hour we were taking a nice hot shower!"
"Close to beach, fishing dock and close to playground for kids!"
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.
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.
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.
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. 
LegendEverything is in great shape, well maintained and ready for spring. They also have a number of trails making the best of the smaller park. The water is very green. I don't think it is very deep but this green this early in the season is concerning.
LegendDesigned more for month to month camping. There are spots open as you can see in the pictures and it is very well maintained and orderly. We were staying at the state recreation area.
LegendWe stayed in spot number 2 back hidden under the trees. Because the wind was so bad. Early season, bathrooms are closed, so pit toilets were open. Very pretty very nicely well maintained park. In true, South Dakota fashion, I think it's pretty expensive. It's forty dollars for a spot with electric only if you're from out of state and you still need to pay your park entrance fee on top of that if you don't have a state parks pass.
LegendThe sites is very well maintained with what look to be a number of new investments like trails, docks, shooting range for bows. It was early in the season so bathrooms weren't open but the spigots were on and the pit toilets were clean. Nice lake views and a few short trails for hiking or horses. Boat dock for big boats, fishermen and canoeing. Might be super busy in summer but early season was beautiful.
LegendI think how much you like this. Place depends on what you're looking for and the time of year. It is right on the water. It does have a beautiful sandy beach. All the campsites have access to it, but that also means they're exposed. There's not a lot of shade and like today. It's pretty cold and there's pretty big wind miserable to be outside. There are bike trails to town and to county park, which is just a couple of miles away. I think the place is great. The bathrooms are probably standard. They have a couple of shelters, but we're not gonna stay for today because of the wind and the cold.
Cabin camping near Lake Preston, South Dakota offers options around Lake Thompson and several nearby state parks. The area sits on the Coteau des Prairies, a plateau rising between 300-600 feet above the surrounding plains in eastern South Dakota. Summer temperatures typically range from 65-85°F, with occasional thunderstorms that can bring sudden winds across the open prairie landscape.
Horseback riding trails: Oakwood Lakes State Park maintains dedicated horse trails and a separate Horse Campground. "Great place for horseback riding and canoeing, plush boating and fishing. In addition to natural beauty there are games to rent, playground, etc," notes one visitor.
Historical exploration: The Ingalls Homestead offers hands-on pioneer experiences alongside cabin stays. A camper explains, "Each station on the self-guided tour has an activity with incredibly nice and informed hosts. Most of the buildings are based on the original plans and descriptions from the Ingalls family."
Water recreation: Lakes throughout the region support multiple activities. "Kayaking, boating, fishing, and swimming are excellent!" shares a visitor to Oakwood Lakes. The park features "a swimming beach, several boat launches, handicap accessible fishing dock," according to another camper.
Clean facilities: Bathrooms at Campground 2 — Oakwood Lakes State Park receive consistent praise. "Clean bathrooms with hot showers. Nice path around lake for walking the dog," notes one visitor. Another adds this is "one of the best campsites I've been to! Large lots, campfires allowed, lakes, trails, friendly people and sooo incredibly quiet."
Spacious sites: Many cabin areas feature generous spacing. "Very nice, our spot was large with electric. Quiet this weekend," reports one camper about Lake Herman State Park Campground. Another visitor describes "large spots maintained very well. RV spots have electric. Many spots have shade, some are near the lake, and some with lake views."
Family activities: Entertainment options beyond cabins appeal to many. A Lake Herman visitor notes, "They have small cabins for rent, as well as paddle boards, kayaks, and canoes. There is a lower park that's great for families, with activities on the weekends, a large playground, and easy lake access."
Varied hookup options: While some cabins include electric, others are more primitive. At Lake Thompson Recreation Area, "This campground has both electric standard sites for campers and tent sites. Two shower houses and multiple vault toilets throughout the campground for accessibility."
Seasonal considerations: Mosquitoes can be prevalent, particularly after wet weather. "Be sure to use bug spray as mosquitoes were all over- maybe due to wet weather," advises one Lake Thompson visitor.
Booking recommendations: Weekdays typically see fewer visitors. One camper at Pelican Lake notes, "If one was to go here to find some quiet do so during the week or late weekend."
Pioneer activities: The pioneer-themed activities at Ingalls Homestead offer educational entertainment. "Friendly folks and simple camping. Lots of things for the kids to do and play just like its 1880," shares one camper. Another notes specific activities: "There's a one-room school house with tours, a barn with animals, a covered wagon ride where you (or your kids) can lead the horse-drawn wagon."
Playground access: Several cabin areas include play equipment. At Pelican Lake Recreation Area, you'll find "nice pebble beach, playgrounds, and walking areas" making it "family friendly" according to reviewers.
Swimming options: Beach areas provide safe water access for children. "The swim area was nice, no sand, but a nice place to swim where the water was clean!" reports one visitor about Lake Poinsett.
Dump station locations: Plan for waste management as hookups vary. "There is an area to dump waste on the exit," notes a Pelican Lake visitor, while at Ingalls Homestead, "Grey water dump is on a slight hill, with the ground washed away, and people sometimes park around it."
Site selection strategy: When choosing cabin or RV sites, consider navigation logistics. At Ingalls Homestead, one visitor suggests: "Our suggestion if you stay here is, pull in the parking lot and back up the driveway to the camp sites. Unless you have a small vehicle and camper, it is tricky to get turned around if it is full."
Utility connections: Many cabins offer some utilities but not full hookups. Lake Herman provides more comprehensive services with "large spots maintained very well. RV spots have electric" and some sites include sewer connections.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular cabin campsite near Lake Preston, SD?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular cabin campground near Lake Preston, SD is Ingalls Homestead with a 5-star rating from 7 reviews.
What is the best site to find cabin camping near Lake Preston, SD?
TheDyrt.com has all 12 cabin camping locations near Lake Preston, SD, with real photos and reviews from campers.
Keep Exploring
