Top Tent Camping near Watertown, SD

Looking for the best options for tent camping near Watertown? Find the best information on tent camping near Watertown, including sites, reviews, and tips for getting the most out of your camping experience. Each spot offers quick access to one or more of Watertown, South Dakota's most popular destinations.

Best Tent Sites Near Watertown, SD (0)


    Recent Tent Reviews In Watertown

    66 Reviews of 0 Watertown Campgrounds


    • D
      Camper-submitted photo from Lake Cochrane State Rec Area
      Sep. 3, 2024

      Lake Cochrane State Rec Area

      Camp host here

      Really a nice little park! We have been camp hosts here for the summer. Had never been here before, didn't know it existed. 30 back in sites with #30 being host site.

    • Michelle B.The Dyrt PRO User
      Camper-submitted photo from Ingalls Homestead
      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.

    • AThe Dyrt PRO User
      Camper-submitted photo from Lake Thompson Rec Area
      Jul. 7, 2024

      Lake Thompson Rec Area

      Great beach & 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. Walking trails in grass or gravel. Three walkways down to the water’s edge with one being a large swimming area. Boating is permitted as well. Be sure to use bug spray as mosquitoes were all over- maybe due to wet weather. This is a natural lake formed by farmland that flooded in the 1980s.

    • DakotaMiner
      Camper-submitted photo from Sexauer City Park
      Oct. 29, 2023

      Sexauer City Park

      Winter pass through

      Driving from far north down south, stopped for an overnight that we had reservations for. Apparently when temps reach towards freezing they close all restrooms and showers (only listed on Facebook), unfortunately our RV was winterized so we stayed overnight with zero accessible restrooms or showers.

    • George D.
      Camper-submitted photo from Sexauer City Park
      Aug. 27, 2023

      Sexauer City Park

      Quiet. Near highway 29

      Quiet small city campground. A few nice pullouts. Plenty of back ins, and a tent area. Showers and toilets clean and well lit. Pay at front of park or reserve online.

    • JThe Dyrt PRO User
      Camper-submitted photo from Campground 2 — Oakwood Lakes State Park
      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.

    • J
      Camper-submitted photo from Sexauer City Park
      Sep. 7, 2022

      Sexauer City Park

      Ideal small campground, reserve in advance!

      Although an envelope system is in use and we were told we didn't need one, reservation slips made out by the park (ON ORANGE) take precedence over the white slips (which are the duplicate layer of your registration form). After we came, found a pull- through spot open that night, filled and posted our form, we we left - and returned to a filled spot- THAT camper reserved by phone just hours earlier (perhaps while we were selecting). Fortunately we saw another spot where we could still stay hooked up. This is a really pleasant (under big oaks) electric only sites campground. 2 handicap shower/bathrooms. Picnic tables and fire rings. Little free library.

    • Alley-oop M.
      Camper-submitted photo from Memorial Park
      Jul. 8, 2022

      Memorial Park

      Family fun

      We had a great time at the lake our campsite was in view of the water beautiful Town beautiful atmosphere very green the one and only thing I would say is that there is a rocky very Rocky Lake other than that time spent was a week and it was really good

    • D
      Camper-submitted photo from Webster City Park
      Jun. 10, 2022

      Webster City Park

      Quaint and quiet

      An economical little spot within the City of Webster. Water and dump station available. Close to grocery, restaurants, and liquor store! Nice community pool amd park too!!

    • L
      Camper-submitted photo from Norland Park
      Sep. 10, 2021

      Norland Park

      City park with a small lake and island

      Passing town of Arlington and found a couple of city parks with electrical hookup and about six sites with picnic tables! On busy truck route but very quiet after dark! Nice town to bike or walk! Grocery store, gas mini mart and Main St all close. No vehicle needed!

    • Natalie S.
      Camper-submitted photo from Dickinson City Park
      Sep. 4, 2021

      Dickinson City Park

      Tiny quiet campground

      2 spot next to a baseball field in a cute little town. Peaceful simple site to recoup after a long day of driving. The 2 negatives I will say was that the women's restroom was locked while we were here so we had to use the men's and the amount of yellow jackets at the site is scary to someone that allergic.

    • Neil T.The Dyrt PRO User
      Camper-submitted photo from Hartford Beach State Park
      Aug. 31, 2021

      Hartford Beach State Park

      Uncrowded and Beautiful

      Vibe: Almost empty on Monday night. Quiet natural lake setting. 

      Cleanliness: Exceptional. 

      Facilities: Updated and well maintained. 

      General spots: Good size, good spacing, ok privacy. Lots of trees 

      Our site: 20. Across from our site was a little trail down to the lake. In the evening we saw tons of fish and an otter. The electric hook up is pretty far from the picnic table/fire ring area. Have a long cord. 

      Noise: Only 4 sites were occupied out of 30 or so. Completely quiet all evening. 

      Cell signal: Good (Verizon)

      Other: Spectacular sunsets and sunrises. Cell phone pictures do not do it justice.

    • Bret S.
      Camper-submitted photo from Lakewood Supper Club
      Jul. 27, 2021

      Lakewood Supper Club

      Great food, beautiful location - but sites are limited!

      What an amazing little gem of a place! A former resort, now home to just 12 full hook up RV sites, a couple of cabins, and an amazing supper club that opens at 5:00 daily. On the shores of Big Stone Lake. A nice beach and a boat landing. There are normally no open sites, we are told, as they are all rented for the season. We got lucky because there was a site available, said Elmer. So we showed up and we’re greeted by the super- friendly residents who helped us into our site. At five we went down for supper- enjoyed a cocktail, a fantastic steak, then another drink while we watched the sun go down. Just perfect. If you can’t camp here, check out the state park - then come over for dinner!

    • T
      Camper-submitted photo from Campground 1 — Oakwood Lakes State Park
      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.

    • L
      Camper-submitted photo from Ingalls Homestead
      Jul. 17, 2021

      Ingalls Homestead

      We'll be back!

      We had a wonderful experience dry camping here. There are only a few sites with water and electric. There are no dedicated sites and they asked us to park our pop-up at the far end/bottom of the parking lot next to the grass. It was quite level and the tent campers next to us were very nice. A few other tents were further out in the field. The bathrooms are simple, but very clean. Little Horse on the Prairie fans, you MUST stay here!

    • Michael M.
      Camper-submitted photo from County Line Campground
      Apr. 8, 2021

      County Line Campground

      Good enough overnight

      Stayed here while moving across the country because there wasn’t much else available. It was a nice surprise that it was as good as it is. Well kept up and reasonable prices but man was it tight! Very crowded and the owner was one of those folks who wants to help you back in whether you need help or not. There is a big gas station just out of town near the highway so it’s a convenient place to refuel and recharge for another day.

    • Chelsea R.
      Camper-submitted photo from County Line Campground
      Nov. 12, 2020

      County Line Campground

      Great Overnight Stop

      Nice little stop on your travels up or down I29. Located in a cute little town, with a multitude of spots that can accommodate even the largest RV. Full hookups available, even when it's below freezing. The office has propain, ice, and some food supplies available. Bathrooms & laundry. The spots are mostly side by side, with grass patches between though there are bigger campsites available. A gas station with multiple fast food options is located just down the highway. Would definitely stay here again when traveling through.

    • Jeff G.
      Camper-submitted photo from Big Stone Lake State Park
      Oct. 11, 2020

      Big Stone Lake State Park

      A nice gem

      Have spent a great deal of time at this park. Beautiful sunsets, lots of wildlife and nice trails. Fishing is free from the park boundaries with lots of shoreline. Great access to the lake if you have a boat. Only 7 miles into town for forgotten supplies or a specialty coffee. Con, flies can be an issue and the wind has an open shot from the south.

    • Hazel
      Camper-submitted photo from Stokes-Thomas Lake Campground
      Sep. 19, 2020

      Stokes-Thomas Lake Campground

      It’s great, $25 per spot tent/camper

      Nice location, by the water with playgrounds for kids. Clean bathrooms. Shady spots. It is however by the road so you’ll hear vehicles driving by all day/all night.

    • Shelly S.The Dyrt PRO User
      Camper-submitted photo from Norland Park
      Sep. 12, 2020

      Norland Park

      Functional

      We visited Arlington, SD on our way west and easily located this cute little campground on the main drag. The sites back right up to a cute little park with a lake/pond complete with bridge and small island. Nothing fancy , very functional though with electric and nice shade. Not much in the way of privacy however you also shouldn’t be bothered and no reason for the locals to drive through. It just seemed very peaceful. Amenities nearby , good for overnight or visiting local events, relatives. You pay at the Municipal Bldg/ Firehall 202 W Elm St.



    Guide to Watertown

    Camping near Watertown, South Dakota, offers a mix of beautiful landscapes and unique experiences. Whether you're looking for a quiet spot by the lake or a family-friendly campground, there's something for everyone.

    What to do:

    • Explore the Laura Ingalls Wilder Homestead: At Ingalls Homestead, you can tour the historic buildings and enjoy activities like hayrides. One visitor said, "Check out the dugout, house, barn, schoolhouse, church, and garage."
    • Enjoy the Beach: Hartford Beach State Park Campground has a lovely beach area. A camper mentioned, "The beach was nice! It was a decent walk there, but at least had a trail to the beach."
    • Fishing and Boating: At Big Stone Lake State Park Campground, you can fish right from the shore. One reviewer noted, "Fishing is free from the park boundaries with lots of shoreline."

    What campers like:

    • Clean Facilities: Campers appreciate the cleanliness of the bathrooms. A visitor at Sexauer City Park said, "Showers and toilets clean and well lit."
    • Quiet Atmosphere: Many enjoy the peacefulness of the campgrounds. One camper at Hartford Beach State Park Campground mentioned, "Only 4 sites were occupied out of 30 or so. Completely quiet all evening."
    • Family-Friendly Activities: Campgrounds like Lake Herman State Park Campground offer playgrounds and trails. A family shared, "Great campground with a lot to do. Nice beach and walking trails."

    What you should know:

    • Limited Amenities: Some campgrounds, like Campground 2 — Oakwood Lakes State Park, do not have water hookups. A camper noted, "Clean bathrooms with hot showers. Nice path around the lake for walking the dog."
    • Seasonal Closures: Be aware that some facilities may close during the off-season. A visitor at Sexauer City Park mentioned, "Apparently when temps reach towards freezing they close all restrooms and showers."
    • Reservations Recommended: Popular spots can fill up quickly. One camper at Campground 1 — Oakwood Lakes State Park advised, "Reserve in advance!"

    Tips for camping with families:

    • Choose Campgrounds with Activities: Look for places like Ingalls Homestead that offer educational tours and fun activities. A family said, "Little House on the Prairie fans, you MUST stay here!"
    • Bring Outdoor Games: Many campgrounds have open spaces perfect for games. A visitor at Lake Herman State Park Campground mentioned, "The area has many geocaches as well!"
    • Pack Snacks for the Beach: If you're heading to Hartford Beach State Park Campground, make sure to bring snacks for a beach day. One camper said, "Spectacular sunsets and sunrises."

    Tips from RVers:

    • Check Site Sizes: Make sure your RV fits the site. A camper at Big Stone Lake State Park Campground noted, "Only electric on the inner loop."
    • Bring Long Cords: Some sites have electric hookups far from the picnic area. A visitor at Hartford Beach State Park Campground mentioned, "The electric hookup is pretty far from the picnic table/fire ring area."
    • Be Prepared for Slopes: Some campgrounds have uneven terrain. A camper at Ingalls Homestead warned, "The grey water dump is on a slight hill."

    Camping around Watertown, SD, is a great way to enjoy nature and create lasting memories with family and friends. Whether you're in an RV or tent, there's a spot waiting for you!