South Dakota State Parks
South Dakota State Parks, run by South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks (GFP), Division of Parks and Recreation, has 13 state parks, 43 recreation areas, 5 natural areas and preserves, 1 state trail, 3 other park units in this directory. 56 units offer camping and 0 allow dogs under park rules.
The state reports 63 units (source); counts differ when the state includes or excludes areas such as trails, boat launches or undeveloped land. See coverage notes.
Fees, passes and reservations
Entrance fees and passes
Per vehicle park entrance license (daily or annual), resident/nonresident prices differ; Custer has its own 1-7 day license; Mickelson Trail per person.
- Annual park entrance license — $40 resident / $60 nonresident. Vehicle entrance to all state parks and recreation areas Details
- Daily park entrance license — $10 resident / $15 nonresident. Daily vehicle entrance Details
- Custer State Park temporary license — $25 per vehicle / $20 per motorcycle (1-7 days). Custer State Park Details
- George S. Mickelson Trail pass — $5 daily / $20 annual per person Details
Browse South Dakota parks by activity
Camping 56RV camping with hookups 48Cabins and lodging 38Swimming 35Fishing 57Boating and paddling 54Hiking 51Accessible features 9Historic sites 24Beaches 31Horseback riding 30Winter recreation 30
All 65 parks and units
Listed by designation. Fees shown are the main entrance fee where the park posts one.
State parks (13)
Custer State Park$25 per vehicleState Park · Custer · Camping, Cabins/lodging, Swimming, Hiking, Boating, Fishing, Accessible features
Fort Sisseton Historic State Park$10 per dayHistoric State Park · Lake City · Camping, Cabins/lodging, Hiking, Boating, Fishing
Hartford Beach State Park$10 per dayState Park · Corona · Camping, Cabins/lodging, Swimming, Hiking, Boating, Fishing
Lake Herman State Park$10 per dayState Park · Madison · Camping, Cabins/lodging, Swimming, Hiking, Boating, Fishing
Newton Hills State Park$10 per dayState Park · Canton · Camping, Cabins/lodging, Swimming, Hiking, Boating, Fishing
Oakwood Lakes State Park$10 per dayState Park · Bruce · Camping, Cabins/lodging, Swimming, Hiking, Boating, Fishing
Palisades State Park$10 per dayState Park · Garretson · Camping, Cabins/lodging, Hiking, Boating, Fishing
Roy Lake State Park$10 per dayState Park · Lake City · Camping, Cabins/lodging, Swimming, Hiking, Boating, Fishing
Recreation areas (43)
Angostura Recreation Area$10 per dayRecreation Area · Hot Springs · Camping, Cabins/lodging, Swimming, Hiking, Boating, Fishing
Big Sioux Recreation Area$10 per dayRecreation Area · Brandon · Camping, Cabins/lodging, Hiking, Boating, Fishing, Accessible features
Burke Lake Recreation AreaRecreation Area · Burke · Camping, Hiking, Boating, Fishing
Buryanek Recreation Area$10 per dayRecreation Area · Burke · Camping, Cabins/lodging, Swimming, Boating, Fishing
Chief White Crane Recreation Area$10 per dayRecreation Area · Yankton · Camping, Cabins/lodging, Hiking, Boating, Fishing, Accessible features
Cow Creek Recreation Area$10 per dayRecreation Area · Pierre · Camping, Cabins/lodging, Boating, Fishing
Farm Island Recreation Area$10 per dayRecreation Area · Pierre · Camping, Cabins/lodging, Swimming, Hiking, Boating, Fishing, Accessible features
Indian Creek Recreation Area$10 per dayRecreation Area · Mobridge · Camping, Cabins/lodging, Hiking, Boating, Fishing
Lake Cochrane Recreation Area$10 per dayRecreation Area · Gary · Camping, Cabins/lodging, Swimming, Hiking, Boating, Fishing
Lake Louise Recreation Area$10 per dayRecreation Area · Miller · Camping, Cabins/lodging, Swimming, Hiking, Boating, Fishing
Lake Poinsett Recreation Area$10 per dayRecreation Area · Arlington · Camping, Cabins/lodging, Swimming, Hiking, Boating, Fishing
Lake Thompson Recreation Area$60Recreation Area · Lake Preston · Camping, Cabins/lodging, Swimming, Hiking, Boating, Fishing
Lake Vermillion Recreation Area$10 per dayRecreation Area · Canistota · Camping, Cabins/lodging, Swimming, Hiking, Boating, Fishing
Lewis and Clark Recreation Area$10 per dayRecreation Area · Yankton · Camping, Cabins/lodging, Swimming, Hiking, Boating, Fishing, Accessible features
Little Moreau Recreation AreaRecreation Area · Gettysburg · Camping, Boating, Fishing
Mina Lake Recreation Area$10 per dayRecreation Area · Mina · Camping, Cabins/lodging, Swimming, Hiking, Boating, Fishing, Accessible features
North Point Recreation Area$10 per dayRecreation Area · Lake Andes · Camping, Cabins/lodging, Swimming, Hiking, Boating, Fishing, Accessible features
Oahe Downstream Recreation Area$10 per dayRecreation Area · Fort Pierre · Camping, Cabins/lodging, Swimming, Hiking, Boating, Fishing, Accessible features
Okobojo Point Recreation Area$10 per dayRecreation Area · Fort Pierre · Camping, Swimming, Boating, Fishing
Pease Creek Recreation Area$10 per dayRecreation Area · Geddes · Camping, Swimming, Hiking, Boating, Fishing
Pelican Lake Recreation Area$10 per dayRecreation Area · Watertown · Camping, Cabins/lodging, Swimming, Hiking, Boating, Fishing
Pickerel Lake Recreation Area$10 per dayRecreation Area · Grenville · Camping, Cabins/lodging, Swimming, Hiking, Boating, Fishing
Pierson Ranch Recreation Area$10 per dayRecreation Area · Yankton · Camping, Cabins/lodging, Swimming, Hiking, Boating, Fishing
Platte Creek Recreation Area$10 per dayRecreation Area · Platte · Camping, Swimming, Boating, Fishing
Randall Creek Recreation Area$10 per dayRecreation Area · Pickstown · Camping, Cabins/lodging, Hiking, Boating, Fishing
Richmond Lake Recreation Area$10 per dayRecreation Area · Aberdeen · Camping, Cabins/lodging, Swimming, Hiking, Boating, Fishing, Accessible features
Rocky Point Recreation Area$10 per dayRecreation Area · Belle Fourche · Camping, Cabins/lodging, Swimming, Hiking, Boating, Fishing
Sandy Shore Recreation Area$10 per dayRecreation Area · Watertown · Camping, Cabins/lodging, Swimming, Hiking, Boating, Fishing
Shadehill Recreation Area$10 per dayRecreation Area · Shadehill · Camping, Cabins/lodging, Swimming, Hiking, Boating, Fishing
Sheps Canyon Recreation Area$10 per dayRecreation Area · Hot Springs · Camping, Cabins/lodging, Hiking, Boating, Fishing
Snake Creek Recreation Area$10 per dayRecreation Area · Platte · Camping, Cabins/lodging, Swimming, Hiking, Boating, Fishing
Springfield Recreation Area$10 per dayRecreation Area · Springfield · Camping, Cabins/lodging, Hiking, Boating, Fishing
Walker's Point Recreation Area$10 per dayRecreation Area · Wentworth · Camping, Cabins/lodging, Swimming, Hiking, Boating, Fishing
West Bend Recreation Area$10 per dayRecreation Area · Harrold · Camping, Cabins/lodging, Swimming, Hiking, Boating, Fishing
West Whitlock Recreation Area$10 per dayRecreation Area · Gettysburg · Camping, Cabins/lodging, Swimming, Hiking, Boating, Fishing
Natural areas and preserves (5)
Adams Homestead and Nature PreserveNature Area · McCook Lake · Hiking
Beaver Creek Nature AreaNature Area · Valley Springs · Hiking
Big Stone Island Nature AreaNature Area · Ortonville · Hiking, Boating, Fishing
LaFramboise Island Nature AreaNature Area · Pierre · Hiking, Boating, Fishing
Spearfish Canyon Nature AreaNature Area · Spearfish · Hiking, Fishing
State trails (1)
Other park units (3)
Amsden Lakeside Use AreaLakeside Use Area · Groton · Camping, Swimming, Boating, Fishing
Lake Carthage Lakeside Use AreaLakeside Use Area · Huron · Camping, Swimming, Boating, Fishing
Spirit Mound Historic PrairieHistoric Prairie · Vermillion · Hiking
Coverage notes
Inventory source: GFP 'Find a State Park' map JSON. We re-check it weekly and keep renamed, merged and closed parks traceable.
Not included: ~67 other lakeside use areas (Listed only on the lakeside-use-areas page as boat-ramp/access sites ('Facilities and services vary'), not in the park directory; standalone access sites are excluded. Amsden and Lake Carthage Lakeside Use Areas are included because the park directory lists them.); Marina/resorts (Concession facilities within parks.).
Statewide information last reviewed Oct 29, 2026.