Best Cabin Camping near Lake Preston, SD

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.

Best Cabin Sites Near Lake Preston, South Dakota (11)

    1. Ingalls Homestead

    7 Reviews
    Lake Preston, SD
    8 miles
    Website
    +1 (605) 854-3984

    "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. "

    2. Lake Thompson Recreation Area

    2 Reviews
    Lake Preston, SD
    4 miles
    Website
    +1 (605) 847-4893

    "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."

    "This campground has both electric standard sites for campers and tent sites. Two shower houses and multiple vault toilets throughout the campground for accessibility."

    3. Campground 1 — Oakwood Lakes State Park

    7 Reviews
    Bruce, SD
    20 miles
    Website
    +1 (605) 627-5441

    $26 / night

    "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."

    4. Campground 2 — Oakwood Lakes State Park

    5 Reviews
    Bruce, SD
    20 miles
    Website
    +1 (605) 627-5441

    $26 - $55 / 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."

    5. Lake Poinsett State Rec Area

    3 Reviews
    Arlington, SD
    18 miles
    Website
    +1 (800) 710-2267

    "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."

    7. Horse Campground — Oakwood Lakes State Park

    1 Review
    Bruce, SD
    20 miles
    Website
    +1 (605) 627-5441

    $22 / 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."

    8. Lake Herman State Park Campground

    5 Reviews
    Madison, SD
    28 miles
    Website
    +1 (605) 256-5003

    "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."

    10. Pelican Lake Recreation Area

    1 Review
    Watertown, SD
    35 miles
    Website
    +1 (605) 882-5200

    "Nice pebble beach, playgrounds, and walking areas. Flat camper parking. Power was great and showers were clean. Electric only. There is an area to dump waste on the exit."

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Recent Cabin Photos near Lake Preston, SD

3 Photos of 11 Lake Preston Campgrounds


Cabin Reviews near Lake Preston, SD

32 Reviews of 11 Lake Preston Campgrounds


  • Carrie F.
    Jul. 8, 2018

    Lake Herman State Park Campground

    Beautiful RV and tent camping around a gorgeous lake

    Large spots maintained very well. 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. There is a lower park that’s great for families, with activities on the weekends , a large playground, and easy lake access. The other park is mainly spaces, with a large grassy area in the center. They spray regularly for bugs, which is extremely important to me! The area has many geocaches as well!

  • Corinna B.
    Jul. 17, 2018

    Ingalls Homestead

    Magical Must-See for Kids & All Little House on the Prairie Fans

    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.

    The Campground

    The Ingalls Homestead consists of two main parts. First is the "campground," which is a basically a large grassy slope where you can set up your tent for just $10. It includes hot showers, flush toilets, and a few picnic tables and fire-pits throughout the field. There's also fairly basic RV parking for $30 with electric and water hookups and a dump site as well as some basic but cool covered wagons for $60. We arrived just as the sun was setting, found a lovely spot for our tent, and then paid in the shop the next morning. The bathrooms were clean, the showers were a little strange but also clean and hot (basically a large room cordoned off by several shower curtains).

    The Homestead

    De Smet is where the Ingalls family lived during the "Long Winter" of 1880-1881, and the Ingalls Homestead is a "family run business" that brings to life many activities from the 1880s such as visiting a one-room schoolhouse, making a corn on the cob doll, going on a covered wagon ride, etc. It's truly hands-on and some of our favorite time was spent hanging out in "Pa's" lean-to barn with the barn kitties and riding horses and ponies. My oldest son also learned how to drive the covered wagon to the schoolhouse down the road (another treat). 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, though no original buildings remain on the site. Visiting the homestead is an additional $15 per person over the age of five, and while you could camp without visiting the homestead, it was definitely worth a half or full-day visit.

  • JThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 20, 2023

    Campground 2 — Oakwood Lakes State Park

    Clean pleasant campground

    Camped in the more open area (72E in campground 2). 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.

  • Lora H.
    Jun. 20, 2019

    Ingalls Homestead

    Laura would be honored

    We have traveled in a RV for 6 years and been to 48 states (3 or 4 times each), visited 300 plus small towns and I can say this was one of my favorite camp spots. There are only 4 RV lots, and they are pretty close together, but we stayed before season, so we had the place practically to ourselves. 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.  There is a dump station but be fore warned it's on a slope, so emptying your tanks completely will be a challenge. Also a sign says grey water only, this is not true, you can dump your black water too. Since we were off season, during the day, they had school trips daily, so there were a lot of children, having fun playing right behind our rig. But it was only for a short period of time during the afternoon. There's a museum right next to the sites, which is always open. There's also is a tower you can climb to get some really great views. Several houses and buildings are on the property you can explore and hay rides are available. They also have a nice country store where you can by your souvenirs. If your a Laura Ingalls Wilder fan, like me, this is a must stop, if only for a night! I also want to mention that the camp hosts and gal that ran the store, couldn't have been nicer.

  • T
    Jul. 26, 2021

    Campground 1 — Oakwood Lakes State Park

    Excellent bathrooms

    The bathrooms are amazing for a campground. One of the few places I've ever camped where you get a full bathroom to yourself. Plus it was very clean. Seems to be a family oriented place rather than a "nature/wilderness" type of camping experience. Lots of groups gathered and up late hanging out, kids running through campsites. I got very quick responses via email from this place too which was great.

  • Ason S.
    Jun. 23, 2020

    Campground 2 — Oakwood Lakes State Park

    Nice campgrounds

    We stayed here in Aug 2019 - although it was a short visit, we had a nice time. Wasn’t busy, kids liked playground, walking path, and checking out Mortimer’s cabin. Electric hook-ups.

  • Brian C.
    May. 1, 2019

    Ingalls Homestead

    Very Cool and Unique Campsite on the Grounds of the Laura Ingalls Homestead

    A very cool and unique campsite on the grounds of the Laura Ingalls Homestead near De Smet, SD. Unique in that you can camp right on the open prairie and for only $10 a night. Just pick a spot of grass and you’re good to go. There are some picnic tables you can choose to be near or just head out on the frontier. There are also options to camp in a covered wagon as well as a bunkhouse. RV spots are available and include water and electric hookups. Well appointed and clean bathrooms (electricity and flush toilets) are on site with showers.

    The other really cool thing about this spot—especially for families—are all of the fun activities at the homestead itself. 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, opportunities to learn how to make a jump rope, twist hay, wash clothes—all things the Ingalls family had to do on a farm from long ago.

    A night or two in the summer is great though with no shade for the campsites field, it can get warm but evenings on the prairie are gorgeous. All in all, a great spot to set up that is cheap but with nice facilities and staff.

  • Sethen E.
    Aug. 17, 2020

    Pelican Lake Recreation Area

    Family Friendly, too many cars on Friday

    Nice pebble beach, playgrounds, and walking areas. Flat camper parking. Power was great and showers were clean. Electric only. There is an area to dump waste on the exit. Stopped on Sunday on the way westward and the place was empty, stopped Friday on the way home and it was packed. Lots of kids and families, and almost every spot was full. Happy to see folks having fun. It was just a little busy for us. On the second time through one of the three bathrooms was very dirty, sad before the weekend- the showers remained clean. On the Friday stop there were a lot of people, some spots had 3-4 cars parked in the grass- it was too bad they allowed that. If one was to go here to find some quiet do so during the week or late weekend. It worked just fine as a quick overnight stop on our route. Lots of families having fun. Slept well. Well groomed area. Pretty views of lake. A little windy.

  • Michelle B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 7, 2024

    Ingalls Homestead

    Love the quaintness!

    Love that there are only 4 sites. We stayed here with family and had 3 of the sites. Beautiful land! 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. $20pp to tour the property for the whole time you are staying. Check out the dugout, house, barn, schoolhouse, church and garage.


Guide to Lake Preston

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.

What to do

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.

What campers like

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."

What you should know

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."

Tips for camping with families

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.

Tips from RVers

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 11 cabin camping locations near Lake Preston, SD, with real photos and reviews from campers.