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Best Glamping near Madison, SD

232 Reviews

Lake Thompson Recreation Area provides year-round glamping options alongside its standard camping sites near Madison, South Dakota. The recreation area features cabin rentals and glamping yurts situated on the north shore of Lake Thompson, allowing visitors to experience the lake with comfort and convenience. The campground maintains well-kept facilities including clean shower houses, multiple vault toilets, and freshwater hookups throughout the property. Some glamping accommodations face directly toward the lake, while others are positioned with enough open sky for satellite connectivity while maintaining shade coverage. The beach access directly from the glamping area provides swimming opportunities during warmer months. One reviewer noted, "Beautiful location on the north shore of Lake Thompson with some sites facing the lake, others have shade with enough open sky for your StarLink dish."

Visitors staying in glamping accommodations at Lake Thompson can enjoy the swimming area with its sandy beach, fishing opportunities with convenient cleaning stations, and walking trails throughout the property. The recreation area positions glampers just 10 miles from the historic Laura Ingalls Wilder homestead and De Smet, making it an excellent base for history enthusiasts. Boating is permitted on Lake Thompson, with multiple boat launch areas available. The glamping area provides easy access to hiking on grass or gravel trails with views of this natural lake formed when farmland flooded in the 1980s. A visitor highlighted, "This campground has walking trails in grass or gravel with three walkways down to the water's edge and one being a large swimming area." Bug spray is recommended during summer months as mosquitoes can be prevalent, particularly following wet weather.

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Best Glamping Sites Near Madison, South Dakota (14)

    1. 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."

    "Bathrooms well tended. Lake area is busy. Campsite I initially reserved was not suitable for a tent…the only flat area was right on top of the neighbor’s fire pit."

    2. Dakota Sunsets RV Park

    12 Reviews
    Canistota, SD
    26 miles
    Website
    +1 (605) 705-3234

    $30 - $55 / night

    "The office and store have ice and a wonderful selection of goodies, The park is surrounded by corn and soybean fields and is quiet. This is a real gem of a campground. Not a thing wrong with it."

    "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.  "

    3. Sioux Falls KOA

    28 Reviews
    Sioux Falls, SD
    34 miles
    Website
    +1 (605) 332-9987

    "There’s a fair size staff working; you could see 3-5 people at any given time. Good selection in store open 8am to 9pm in July. Nice size pool and laundry room."

    "Easily accessible from the highway. Felt clean and secure.  Staff was friendly.   We arrived on a Saturday, and there was a food truck at one of the sites!"

    4. Big Sioux Recreation Area — Big Sioux

    38 Reviews
    Brandon, SD
    39 miles
    Website
    +1 (605) 582-7243

    "They sell campfire wood for 6$ a bundle on site so we had some great campfires going. They have nice long paved trails for walking and biking."

    "Very nice bathroom and shower house. Easy drive in to Sioux Falls. Several trails around the park. This was our final stop on our South Dakota trip."

    5. Palisades State Park Campground

    30 Reviews
    Garretson, SD
    37 miles
    Website
    +1 (605) 594-3824

    "Some have electric hook up, others are just for tent camping. All of them provide a picnic table and a fire pit. They also have little log cabins. We stayed at campsite 6 which was a very good spot."

    "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."

    6. Blue Mounds State Park Campground

    53 Reviews
    Hardwick, MN
    50 miles
    Website
    +1 (507) 283-1307

    $20 - $35 / night

    "The bathroom facility at the drive-in campground is much nicer than the one for the tipis and cart-in sites."

    "New bath house. They have done a lot to make this park accessible. Grassy sites, some better positioned than others. Very good shade."

    7. River of the Double Bend Campground

    1 Review
    Dell Rapids, SD
    24 miles
    Website
    +1 (605) 428-5472

    8. Ingalls Homestead

    7 Reviews
    Lake Preston, SD
    33 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."

    "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."

    9. Lake Thompson Recreation Area

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

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

    "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."

    10. Tower Campground

    12 Reviews
    Sioux Falls, SD
    36 miles
    Website
    +1 (605) 332-1173

    "Clean showers and laundry room. We stayed on the west side. It’s literally in town but very easy on and off interstate. The airport is close by which made it neat to watch."

    "This campground is a great location when passing through Sioux Falls. It is right off I29, and there a quick in and out sites up front."

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Recent Glamping Photos near Madison, SD

12 Photos of 14 Madison Campgrounds

Glamping Reviews near Madison, SD

232 Reviews of 14 Madison Campgrounds

  • 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.

  • M
    Jun. 18, 2022

    Big Sioux Recreation Area — Big Sioux

    Clean and Dog Friendly

    Such a nice campground. Nice big shady trees and manicured lawns. They sell campfire wood for 6$ a bundle on site so we had some great campfires going. 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. The showers were very nice and hot without a lot of traffic. 

    There is no sewage hookup or water hook ups. They do that 50/30 amp sites available. There is a dump station right at the entrance to dump when you leave and it also has a separate fresh water station if you want to fill up right when you get there so youre not traveling with a bunch of water in your tank. 

    It was a great campground and the falls were close by and palisades state park was also in the area with a nice hike. 

    There is an extra $8 car fee per night that you have to pay on top of any camping fees. If you are staying longer than 5 days it better to just get the annual parking pass for $32, which would cover parking for all state parks and recreation areas in SD. 

    They have great discounts if you are a veteran and south dakota resident.

  • Melissa K.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 10, 2018

    Lake Vermillion Recreation Area

    Beautiful campground

    We stopped here on our way through south Dakota headed back to Colorado. The staff were really friendly when we pulled in. Got us checked in right away, gave us directions to our site and sent us off. Thry also sell firewood for $5 a bundle. We are in tent site 4. There are only 4 strictly dedicated tent sites. you park across the street and walk a very short distance, maybe 200 feet to the site. The bathroom is in the parking lot along with a water source. The lake is on the other side of the parking lot. There is also a dumpster there in the parking lot.

    The camp site is extremely spacious. plenty of room for tents if you have more then one. It's nice and mowed out with the bordering area still long providing an edge to the site. The four sites are clustered fairly close but the way it's landscaped, you won't see your neighbornuntil you step out to the path to your car. They all have fire rings with a grate to cook on. The picnic table has a nice shade canopy over top. The bathroom surprised me a little. most pit toilets are dark at night but this one has a light! it also has a trash can and hand sanitizer! it smells decent and it's very clean. it will quickly become BYTP but we are only here the one night so hopefully it won't run out. The lake is gorgous! it's a huge long lake and seems to be a favorite boat spot. water skis were abundant, which also meant it got pretty loud with boats buzzing, people partying and music blaring. this is why it lost a star. it was pretty loud up until probably 9 pm. The mosquitos are bad, bring bug spray!

  • KThe Dyrt PRO User
    Dec. 31, 2022

    Sioux Falls KOA

    Very noisy

    Lots of noise since it’s off the highway. Has running water and bathrooms at least.

  • Carolyn M.
    Oct. 23, 2019

    Big Sioux Recreation Area — Big Sioux

    Ok place to spend the night, but could have been better

    I spent the night here and had to pay the entrance fee to the park as well as the camping fee for my tentsite. They had only a few tentsites available amid all the RV sites, but they were right on the edge of the playground, so the families had to walk right through my campsite to get to the play area. Not too big a deal as no one wanted to use the play area at night while I was sleeping, but still.  I also looked over at the power lines. There was a flush toilet facility close by but there was a very bright light on all night. Good for families needing to navigate in the dark but not wonderful if you like sleeping in darkness. And though I was told that quiet hours began at 10PM, the site next to me was quite loud through the trees until at least midnight so the quiet hours are not enforced. Meh. I don't think I'll be going back.

  • Katrin M.
    Jul. 7, 2019

    Palisades State Park Campground

    A very nice getaway!

    We camped here over the weekend with our dogs. The campground is within 10 miles off of I90.

    The park is not very big so there are not many campsites. Some have electric hook up, others are just for tent camping. All of them provide a picnic table and a fire pit. They also have little log cabins. We stayed at campsite 6 which was a very good spot. Some of the other sites seemed very close together without much privacy or shade.

    The park staff (rangers, camp host and volunteers) was extremely friendly. They always made sure that we had everything we needed. The rangers also offer different programs on the weekend like learning about geocaching or how to make campfire desserts.

    There is one bathhouse for the entire campground. It seemed a little old but got cleaned daily. There are also several vault toilets around the area. From the campground you have access to the water. There are also several short hiking trails from where you can see the rock formations.

    It was just a very short ride to the Devils Gulch (Jesse James historical site) or Split Rock Park. There is also a Dollar General close by. We would definitely recommend the campground.

  • L
    May. 23, 2021

    Norwegian Creek Co Park

    Nice spots by the lake

    Electric and water hookups. Spots are very close together. Luckily several people cancelled for the weekend and we were allowed to pick any spot. Shower houses are nice. I'd stay again, although a lady in town said the hole in the mound county park nearby is much quieter. The ice cream man made a loop through the grounds.

  • rThe Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 10, 2021

    Tower Campground

    Friendly but noisy

    Very friendly and accommodating staff. This park is open year round and well set up for cold weather, the water spigot is heated so if you invest in a heated water line and have an insulated camper you should be good for the cold. Many units were tucked in for winter with skirting and large external propane tanks. The negatives are noise and lights. Highway noise was very very loud. Easy to see outside but not a lot of camp feel. Bright light through skylites while sleeping. Didn’t use bathrooms or showers so no comment on facilities.

  • L
    Jun. 28, 2018

    Blue Mounds State Park Campground

    No water and biting flies

    This campground is still charging $17 for a camp site, $7 transaction fee and $7/day entrance fee despite the fact they have no running water. The toilets still flush. In the morning our car filled up with flies that bit us for hours before we were able to eliminate all of them. It is a 5 mile drive back to Luverne if you need supplies, and I was unable to locate a grocery store.

    Two good things; they have a Free Little Library and at night the lawn was covered with fireflies

    The campground was so miserable that the campground host had abandoned their trailer and was never present. We did have several locals drive through the campground to spy on us, presumably to see who was stupid enough to camp there. You are entirely responsible for knowing what site you reserved because there was no attempt to label reserves sites.

    There is no privacy between sites. This is just a big lawn with driveways, picnic tables and fire pits. The landscaping is nicely done with blackberries popping out of some hedges and providing eye-level interest at the base of trees.

    .

Guide to Madison

Lake Thompson Recreation Area stands about 1,610 feet above sea level in eastern South Dakota. The recreation area surrounds a 12,500-acre lake that formed in the 1980s when heavy rains flooded farmland. Winter temperatures can drop below 0°F while summer days typically reach the mid-80s with occasional thunderstorms.

What to do

Fishing activities: Lake Vermillion Recreation Area offers excellent fishing opportunities with convenient facilities. "Great fishing spots with cleaning stations available" reports a visitor at Lake Vermillion Recreation Area. The park maintains accessible points along the shoreline for anglers of all skill levels.

Prairie hiking: Palisades State Park features distinctive quartzite formations and prairie hiking trails. A visitor notes, "This is a sweet little tucked away oasis near Sioux Falls featuring trails, bluffs and climbing options" at Palisades State Park Campground. The park's Split Rock Creek offers scenic overlooks.

Wildlife viewing: Bird watching is popular with spring migration bringing hundreds of species. "Spring was coming alive with gobbling turkeys and cackling pheasants; we even got a show from a strutting tom turkey," explains a camper at Lake Vermillion Recreation Area. Morning hours typically yield the best wildlife sightings.

What campers like

Shower facilities: Campers appreciate the well-maintained bathroom facilities at Big Sioux Recreation Area. One visitor commented, "Clean bathrooms with showers very nice." The park maintains both flush toilets and shower facilities for overnight guests.

Spacious campsites: Site spacing at glamping locations provides privacy without isolation. A visitor to Big Sioux Recreation Area reported, "Our site was nice, level, spacious, and had plenty of grass coverage (instead of dirt)." Many glamping yurts and cabin sites include shade trees for summer cooling.

Quiet evenings: The peaceful setting allows for stargazing away from city lights. "Overall, a quiet and scenic stay with great wildlife viewing and lake views," notes a camper at Lake Vermillion Recreation Area. Most campgrounds implement quiet hours beginning at 10 p.m.

What you should know

Reservation requirements: Book early for summer weekends, especially at popular glamping destinations near Madison. "Residents of South Dakota love their camping, so book a site as early as allowable," advises a visitor at Lake Vermillion Recreation Area.

Additional fees: Non-resident campers should budget for extra costs beyond base rates. "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," reports a camper.

Weather considerations: Prairie winds can make glamping tents and yurts noisy during storms. Temperature swings between day and night can exceed 30 degrees, particularly in spring and fall. Pack layers for comfort.

Tips for camping with families

Playground access: Many glamping sites position families near play areas. Blue Mounds State Park Campground offers "plenty of things to do for kids with nice playground areas and hiking trails," according to a visitor.

Educational opportunities: History enthusiasts can combine glamping with historical sites. The Ingalls Homestead offers unique 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," explains a camper at Ingalls Homestead.

Swimming options: Most children enjoy the beach areas during summer months. Big Sioux Recreation Area includes "three walkways down to the water's edge with one being a large swimming area," according to a recent visitor. Water temperatures are typically warmest from late June through August.

Tips from RVers

Site selection: RVers should consider shade versus satellite reception when booking. "Some sites face the lake, others have shade with enough open sky for your StarLink dish," notes a camper at Lake Thompson Recreation Area.

Seasonal considerations: Some glamping facilities operate with limited services in shoulder seasons. "During the off-season, sep thru mid May (when the kids are in school) is the perfect time to stay at this state park," recommends a visitor to Lake Vermillion Recreation Area.

Utility access: Check hookup locations when setting up at glamping areas with RV options. "The electric hookup is at the back; we needed about 30 of cord," reports an RVer at Lake Vermillion Recreation Area. Most sites provide 30-amp service rather than 50-amp.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular glamping campsite near Madison, SD?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular glamping campground near Madison, SD is Lake Vermillion Recreation Area with a 4.5-star rating from 33 reviews.

What is the best site to find glamping camping near Madison, SD?

TheDyrt.com has all 14 glamping camping locations near Madison, SD, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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