Best Campgrounds near Madison, SD
Madison is an ideal place for camping adventures of all kinds. Enjoy the scenic camping, fun activities, and sights and sounds of Madison. Search nearby campsites and find top-rated spots from other campers.
Best Camping Sites Near Madison, South Dakota (66)
1. Lake Herman State Park Campground
5 ReviewsMadison, SD3 milesWebsite+1 (605) 256-5003"I was right next to a little lake on one side and Lake Herman about 150ft away. Nice hiking trails just outside my door. Will definitely be back."
"We stayed next to the lake. Bathrooms were decent."
2. Walkers Point Recreation Area
2 ReviewsMadison, SD5 milesWebsite+1 (605) 256-5003$15 - $55 / night
"Smallish campground on the lake. Sites are a bit close together. Huge thunderstorm came during the night but winds were blocked somewhat by location and trees."
"Fantastic campsites right by the lake. The sites themselves seem a little small and closer together than I would prefer but was a great experience!"
3. Lake Vermillion Recreation Area
32 ReviewsCanistota, SD29 milesWebsite+1 (605) 296-3643$15 - $55 / night
"We stopped here on our way through south Dakota headed back to Colorado. The staff were really friendly when we pulled in."
"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."
4. Pioneer / Montrose City Campground
10 ReviewsCanistota, SD21 milesWebsite+1 (605) 363-5065$25 / night
"Beautiful little campground with electric n water hook ups Great setting in park near river and towns Rec fields. Fun local bar, Post Office and coffee shop are short walk. Lots of walking paths."
"Lots of grass and places to walk the dog. Bath house was clean and close by. There is a small play area and also a pool with a lifeguard. It does cost extra but I’m sure it’s affordable."
5. Colman City Park
2 ReviewsDell Rapids, SD15 milesWebsite"Right next to the golf course. Very reasonable rates for daily, weekly or monthly. Will definitely be back."
6. Dakota Sunsets RV Park
12 ReviewsCanistota, SD26 milesWebsite+1 (605) 705-3234$30 - $55 / night
"This is a great little place right off of the highway. Facilities are clean and well maintained. There is a nice little playground for the kids. Staff was friendly and helpful."
"The only issue I will say is that our site was next to the “Stinky Waste” Water Lagoon and it did stink pretty bad when they started up the pump in the morning. "
7. Sioux Falls KOA
28 ReviewsSioux Falls, SD34 milesWebsite+1 (605) 332-9987"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."
8. Palisades State Park Campground
29 ReviewsGarretson, SD37 milesWebsite+1 (605) 594-3824"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."
9. Big Sioux Recreation Area — Big Sioux
35 ReviewsBrandon, SD39 milesWebsite+1 (605) 582-7243"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."
10. Sioux Falls Yogi Bear
22 ReviewsBrandon, SD36 milesWebsite+1 (605) 332-2233$40 - $200 / night
"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."
Recent Camping Photos near Madison, SD
67 Photos of 66 Madison Campgrounds
MickandKarla W.
Dakota Sunsets RV Park
Audrey F.
Lake Thompson Recreation Area
Kelsey L.
Lake Vermillion Recreation Area
Ashley K.
Campground 1 — Oakwood Lakes State Park
Brian C.
Ingalls Homestead
Sherri C.
Sioux Falls KOA
Ray A.
Sioux Falls Yogi Bear
Cody H.
Split Rock Park
Inez W.
Palisades State Park Campground
Janet K.
Split Rock Creek State Park Campground
Stephanie P.
Fruit of the Coop
Nathan L.
Big Sioux Recreation Area — Big Sioux
Recent Reviews near Madison, SD
360 Reviews of 66 Madison Campgrounds
- R
Robert
TravelerMitchell KOA
KOA
Nice, clean and friendly operators
Jennifer K.
RangerBlue Mounds State Park Campground
Beautiful and peaceful
Super friendly people all around. Very quiet and beautiful campground. Well minus the semitrucks going down the road here and there. Beautiful clean bathrooms and showers. Pathway is well lit without being obnoxious. Seems to be mostly electric sites. There's a dump and water fill with small clean dumpsters throughout. The hosts were super nice to talk to. Sites are clean and manicured and pretty level. Would definitely stay here again. Beautiful little oasis amid what seems to be endless farmland. Just such a welcome stop after a long drive.
Karla J. B.
GuideBlue Mounds State Park Campground
Peaceful prairie getaway
We went to Sioux Falls for a concert and added a few night to our trip to camp at Blue Mounds. Sites were not full on the weekend, even less so on Sunday night. Do the prairie tour, interesting and worth the time and the $15. Some sites were smaller and closer together than others, so your experience may vary. But people were quiet and respectful, so I’m sure you can enjoy your stay. The naturalists here are friendly and knowledgeable, take advantage of programming! Visit the nearby Pipestone National Monument while in the area. Misc notes: Others have mentioned clean facilities, we did get manure smell with the breeze, but very few mosquitoes, great sunsets!
- kkenneth B.Guide
Lake Vermillion Recreation Area
As good as a KOA
Rangers are nice, park Host is amazing Facilities are clean Wifi is a little week for T-mobile but had star link for text Beautiful place view of lake, sites are paved, no stones Lots of trees and shade , i stayed in east campground
- DDouglas S.Ranger
Sioux Falls KOA
A small but well maintained KOA campground
Although this is not a large campground it is very well maintained and the staff are super friendly. Please see pictures and video for reference.
- TTony H.
ScoutHorse Campground — Oakwood Lakes State Park
Clean
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. Also not real expensive but you do need a park pass and they do charge out of stators $10 more for campsites but at the end of the day very nice and well worth it garbage and fill stations and dump station.
- SSteven W.Traveler
Lake Thompson Recreation Area
Lovely lake site
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. Great fishing spots with cleaning stations available. For history buffs, campground is less than 10 miles from the Laura Ingalls Wilder homestead and De Smet. There are 4 dump stations near the campground entrance with multiple fresh water hookups around the campground. Staying here mid-week and there are few campers here.
- JJim W.Guide
Tower Campground
Right on the highway, so convenient, but noisy
A parking lot style campground with nice green areas for pets. Level sites, full hookups. If you are looking for a convenient spot by Sioux Falls, this one fits the bill. Book online as staff is not in the office (or at least were not when we arrived).
- LLeon W.Scout
Palisades State Park Campground
Expensive
We made a reservation using the phone number provided. On short notice, we were charged 80+ dollars for two nights after requesting a tent site without electricity. 0n arrival, we were charged 30 dollars for entrance passes to put on the car. The trains ran close by, and the flies were terrible.
Guide to Madison
Camping near Madison, South Dakota, offers a mix of beautiful landscapes and family-friendly activities. Whether you're pitching a tent or parking your RV, there are plenty of options to enjoy the great outdoors.
What to do:
- Hiking and Exploring: Check out the trails at Newton Hills Campground. One visitor mentioned, "Great trails and a short scenic road, plus some nice open spaces." The park is perfect for a leisurely hike or a family adventure.
- Fishing and Swimming: At Lake Vermillion Recreation Area, you can enjoy a swim or cast a line. A reviewer noted, "Nice swim area, pretty campsites, especially the tent areas that sit high over the lake."
- Disc Golf: If you're into disc golf, Big Sioux Recreation Area has a course that many campers rave about. One camper said, "The disc golf course really took this park to the next level."
What campers like:
- Clean Facilities: Campers appreciate the cleanliness of the restrooms and showers. A visitor at Palisades State Park Campground remarked, "Bathrooms are exceptionally clean. Showers great."
- Spacious Sites: Many campgrounds, like Dakota Campground, offer roomy sites. A camper shared, "Full service pull through sites fully shaded."
- Friendly Staff: Campers often mention the helpfulness of the staff. One reviewer at Mitchell KOA said, "Mark was a very helpful host and takes the time to set you up in your spot."
What you should know:
- Noise Levels: Some campgrounds can be noisy due to nearby roads or activities. A visitor at Sioux Falls KOA noted, "Lots of noise since it’s off the highway."
- Limited Amenities: Not all campgrounds have extensive amenities. A camper at Lake Mitchell Campground mentioned, "I did not rate it 5 stars because it does not have a lot of amenities."
- Busy Weekends: If you plan to visit during peak times, be prepared for crowds. A reviewer at Newton Hills Campground said, "It was very busy with lots of families out and about."
Tips for camping with families:
- Kid-Friendly Activities: Look for campgrounds with playgrounds and activities. One family at Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park said, "It was an absolute blast for our kids with plenty of activities to keep them entertained."
- Choose Spacious Sites: Opt for campgrounds that offer larger sites for more room to play. A camper at Lake Vermillion Recreation Area noted, "Well spaced and clean RV sites."
- Plan for Meals: Bring easy-to-cook meals or check for nearby dining options. A reviewer at Big Sioux Recreation Area mentioned, "We got a good run in. My husband biked over to Brandon to get a good ride."
Tips from RVers:
- Check Site Sizes: Make sure the campground can accommodate your RV size. A visitor at Mitchell KOA said, "This campground has lots of RV and tent sites."
- Look for Full Hookups: Many RVers prefer campgrounds with full hookups. A camper at Dakota Campground shared, "Full hookup sites, swimming pool and a small arcade for the kids."
- Be Prepared for Weather: Check the forecast before you go. A reviewer at Palisades State Park Campground mentioned, "We were very happy to stay somewhere without a fire ban."
Camping around Madison, SD, has something for everyone, whether you're looking for adventure or a peaceful retreat.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular campground near Madison, SD?
Which is the most popular campground near Madison, SD?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Madison, SD is Lake Herman State Park Campground with a 4.8-star rating from 5 reviews.
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