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Best Campgrounds near Madison, SD

371 Reviews

Madison, South Dakota features several established campgrounds and recreational areas with diverse camping accommodations. Lake Herman State Park Campground, situated on the shores of Lake Herman, provides tent, RV, and cabin options with electric hookups and modern amenities. Nearby Walkers Point Recreation Area offers lakeside sites with water access. Lake Vermillion Recreation Area, approximately 40 miles south, includes cabins and glamping opportunities alongside traditional camping areas. The region contains both state-managed recreation areas and smaller municipal campgrounds like Pioneer/Montrose City Campground and Colman City Park.

Most campgrounds in the area operate year-round, though some municipal sites like Pioneer/Montrose City Campground have seasonal availability from spring through fall. Electric hookups are standard at most locations, with water and sewer connections varying by site. Reservations are recommended, particularly during summer months when lakeside sites fill quickly. As one visitor noted, "Very nice place to stay. Spent 2 weeks here in the spring. Had days of warm weather, spring rain showers and 5 inches of snow." Weather conditions can change rapidly in this region, with potential for thunderstorms during summer and significant snowfall in winter months. Campers should monitor forecasts and prepare accordingly.

The campgrounds near Madison receive consistently positive reviews for their water recreation opportunities and family-friendly amenities. Lake Herman State Park features fishing docks, hiking trails, and beach access, with reviews highlighting the outdoor recreation options. A camper mentioned the park has "large spots maintained very well" with "many spots have shade, some are near the lake, and some with lake views." Smaller municipal campgrounds like Pioneer/Montrose provide quieter alternatives with reasonable rates. Most campgrounds maintain clean restroom facilities and showers, though amenities vary between locations. Several sites offer boat launches and swimming areas, making water activities a central feature of camping in this region. Wildlife viewing and fishing opportunities enhance the outdoor experience at lakes throughout the area.

Map showing campgrounds near Madison, South DakotaExplore the Map

Best Camping Sites Near Madison, South Dakota (66)

    1. Lake Herman State Park Campground

    5 Reviews
    Madison, SD
    3 miles
    Website
    +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 Reviews
    Madison, SD
    5 miles
    Website
    +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

    33 Reviews
    Canistota, SD
    29 miles
    Website
    +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 Reviews
    Canistota, SD
    21 miles
    Website
    +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 Reviews
    Dell Rapids, SD
    15 miles
    Website

    "Right next to the golf course. Very reasonable rates for daily, weekly or monthly. Will definitely be back."

    6. Dakota Sunsets RV Park

    12 Reviews
    Canistota, SD
    26 miles
    Website
    +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 Reviews
    Sioux Falls, SD
    34 miles
    Website
    +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. Big Sioux Recreation Area — Big Sioux

    38 Reviews
    Brandon, SD
    39 miles
    Website
    +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."

    9. Palisades State Park Campground

    30 Reviews
    Garretson, SD
    37 miles
    Website
    +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."

    10. Sioux Falls Yogi Bear

    23 Reviews
    Brandon, SD
    36 miles
    Website
    +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."

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Recent Camping Photos near Madison, SD

71 Photos of 66 Madison Campgrounds

Recent Reviews near Madison, SD

371 Reviews of 66 Madison Campgrounds

  • Erik R.
    Oct. 17, 2025

    Blue Mounds State Park Campground

    Meh, ups and downs

    In many ways, this is just like any other MN State Park campground. Most of the campground caters to RVs. Here are the things that make this place unique. #1 They have tipis you can reserve! They look cool, but they are hard to come by. There is no seasonal information available about these, but I can tell you they aren’t available in October. I am here now and they are empty with no way to rent. Bummer. That would have been cool. #2 Here is what I really dislike about this campground. It is sooo loud. The noise from the nearby interstate is constant, like all night constant. Really takes away from the experience. #3 other than the tipis and noise if you know what it is to stay at a MN State Park campground, you know pretty much everything else to expect.

  • Donna H.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 11, 2025

    Big Sioux Recreation Area — Big Sioux

    Beautiful but pricey.

    The park is on the outskirts of a little town just east of Sioux Falls. I made my reservations online ($30 for the reservation, $1.26 tax, $0.45 for more tax, and $10 for the non-resident reservation fee). The campsites are clean, spacious, and beautiful. Absolutely loved it there. I had no sooner settled in, and a woman knocked on my van asking that I pay a city tax, an additional $15. I really don't mind paying the fees as that's what supports the park...What I didn't like was that it wasn't mentioned when making the reservations. Other than that little "gotcha" it was a wonderful experience. Would definitely visit again.

  • John D.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 7, 2025

    Big Sioux Recreation Area — Big Sioux

    Nice for occasional family camping.

    This SD State Recreation site is next to Sioux Falls. Make reservations early. It will get filled on weekends and holidays. Not a bad park for a family, first timers, or those who want to just get outside. This park may be in the city limits of Brandon SD. Grocery store, restaurants, and gas stations within about two miles. This is a very good park if you are visiting someone in the area or a traveler.

  • John D.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 7, 2025

    Lake Vermillion Recreation Area

    Very nice state park

    During the off-season, sep thru mid May (when the kids are in school) is the perfect time to stay at this state park. I do not stay during the high occupancy times since I don't like crowded camping, and this park is close to Sioux Falls and right off I90, which can make this place busy. There is a very nice sand beach, playgrounds, fishing, star gazing, and four campgrounds. I would not camp at the west side north area since it is very new and has very few trees. Great park if you're just passing through. Residents of South Dakota love their camping, so book a site as early as allowable. I would recommend the east campground. Very pretty. There are four very nice tent only sites in one area. I would give it five stars but to many people during the season.

  • Emer O.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 28, 2025

    Sioux Falls Yogi Bear

    Great night stay family orientated

    Just booked as a stopover. Friendly staff, everything needed available as a couple travelling lovely to see families enjoying themselves. Recommend stop

  • TThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 26, 2025

    Big Sioux Recreation Area — Big Sioux

    Another overnight stop.

    Just another overnight stop on my drive to Iowa. I spent the night in a non-electric tent site so I can't really comment on the other parts of the campground. It does have nice bathrooms with running water and showers. The non-e tent sites are in a forested section, all shaded. Sites include picnic tables and fire rings. Sites are located a very short walk from the designated parking. I had a great night's sleep as it was relatively quiet. I didn't partake but they do have a Frisbee golf course. Took a short walk on their trail system to the suspension walking bridge. My complaint would be the fees. I thought i was paying one fee for the non-e tent site but then there was an additional fee for non-res and another fee for park day use fee or permit. This fee was confusing whether I was supposed to pay this or not. So what looked like a small fee to spend the night turned into much more.

  • Shirlee A.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 22, 2025

    Freeman City Park

    Perfect stop over

    What a great thing for the city to offer for travelers coming through!

    Flat fully leveled sites - 4 in total with electric hookups and a bathroom near by and a dump station.

    Right outside is a big park, playground, pool and volleyball court. Perfect to stop for the night for a very fair price.

  • Shirlee A.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 18, 2025

    Norwegian Creek Co Park

    Beautiful & Perfect stop

    So beautiful to wake up to the sunrise on the lake. Perfect stop in our way .. great location for kids - there are 2 parks and little “beaches” with sand to play next to the lake

  • Tracy K.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 16, 2025

    Lake Mitchell Campground

    Nice view, quiet campground

    This was the perfect campsite after driving 13 hours. I reserved in advance and got the spot right on the lake. Gorgeous view. Campground was quiet, nice bathrooms, staff that checked me in was wonderful! Make sure to bring your bug spray! I car camped, so I didn't use any of the hookups.

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?

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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