Did you know that 65% of campers like to bring a pet along with them? Bringing your pup may seem like a no-brainer, but finding dog-friendly campgrounds can be a bit more challenging than expected.
We love to take our two German Shorthaired Pointers camping, and there are a few simple amenities that we look for when finding the most dog-friendly campground. These amenities include a large off-leash area, spacious campsites, large open grassy areas, hiking trails, and shade trees. With that in mind, here's my list of the 5 most dog-friendly campgrounds in South Dakota!
Lewis and Clark State Recreation Area is located in the southeastern part of the state along the Missouri River near Yankton, South Dakota. It's also the 2nd most visited state park in South Dakota — taking a back seat only to Custer State Park in the Black Hills. While all of the state parks in South Dakota are dog-friendly, Lewis and Clark is a unique recreation area comprised of 3 modern campgrounds. We've spent some great weekends there.
Campsites are generously sized, allowing you to feel comfortable knowing your dog's leash won’t be able to reach the next site over. Almost every single campsite has mature tree coverage as well. Each of the shower houses have outdoor water spigots, making it easy to fill those water dishes and keep your dogs hydrated. There are no fenced-in off-leash areas but the campground does provide a lot of wide open grassy spaces to play fetch or frisbee with your dog. There are also more 10 miles of hiking and biking trails available. No additional pet fees.
Newton Hills State Park is located in the southeastern part of the state just south of Canton, South Dakota. The campground at Newton Hills offers 138 campsites and 3 shower houses that provide easy access to water. Campsites are generously sized and almost every single site has mature tree coverage as well. There are no fenced-in off-leash areas but the campground does provide a lot of wide open areas to play. There are more than 5 miles of hiking trails available. Lake Lakota is located just across the highway if you have an adventurous pup to take kayaking or canoeing! No additional pet fees.
Cedar Shore Campground is located on the western side of the Missouri River bank just across from Chamberlain, South Dakota. This campground has 44 full hook-up campsites camping cabins (no tent camping allowed) and offers direct access to Interstate 90. Dogs are also allowed at the onsite Waterfront Grill and Tiki Bar. While there is no fenced off-leash area on site, they do provide leashes and water dishes (in case you forget yours at home). Campsites are moderately sized, and about half of the sites offer a good amount of shade. The resort grounds offer plenty of grassy areas to play fetch or frisbee with your dog. There is a short, paved walking path along the river’s edge as well as many gravel roads for walks. There are no additional pet fees at the campground, but there is a $10 pet fee if you stay in the hotel.
Fort Welikit Family Campground is located along the gorgeous Peter Norbeck National Scenic Byway near Custer, South Dakota, at the edge of the Black Hills. From full service to rustic, this campground offers 100 sites from as well as some unique sleeping experiences including tipis and covered wagons! Water is also available. Fort Welikit provides a spacious fenced-in area with benches and pet waste bags. One drawback is that many of the campsites are very close together, although there are a few that are more spread out. Their website offers a site map to help find the best spot for you. However, almost every single campsite has mature tree coverage that offers a good amount of shade. No hiking trails are located on-site, but they can easily be found within a short five-mile drive. There are no additional pet fees at the campsites but there is a $10 per pet per night in cabins only.
The Mount Rushmore KOA At Palmer Gulch Resort Campground is a resort-status KOA located in the beautiful Black Hills of South Dakota just minutes from Mount Rushmore and many other popular attractions. There are a multitude of camping options that range from glamping-level amenities to rustic tent sites as well as dog-friendly camping cabins. Kamp K9 is a fenced-in off-leash area that is best for small dogs. It offers playground equipment for your dog as well as covered benches for their humans. Be aware that many of the sites are extremely close together and do not offer much shade. The resort provides lots of wide open spaces to play fetch or frisbee with your dog. There are more than 14 miles of trails in the area — and lots more within a short drive. The resort does charge a fee of $3 per pet per night in sites that do not have a bathroom, and $10 per pet per night in sites that do have a bathroom.
Camping with our dogs can be so much fun, especially when the campgrounds have amenities for them too. With an abundance of campgrounds to choose from, we hope these 5 locations will be at the top of your list when camping with dogs in South Dakota!
