Another year in South Dakota State Parks is upon us! Reservation windows are beginning to open, park entrance licenses are available for sale, and we’re excited to Make a Splash in 2025! As we prepare for another year in the park, we have a few reminders to make this your best year yet!
Campsite Reservation Reminders
We’re officially into the busy reservation season for South Dakota State Parks, but that doesn’t mean this is your only chance to get an awesome campsite. While traditionally, many of these holiday and popular camping weekends have filled quickly, just because you miss the 90-day window doesn’t mean you’ve missed out on a great camping weekend!
“We are so lucky to have the state parks and recreation areas that we do in South Dakota,” said Nick Harrington, Owner of Lip Ripper Fishing. “We have a world class state park system and many of them sit on our best fisheries too.”
South Dakota State Parks have a 90-day reservation window, with the exception of Custer State Park that accepts reservations 365 days in advance. Modern lodging options can also be reserved 365 days in advance. Reservations become available at 7 a.m. CT the morning of the 90-day window opening, and a complete list of arrival/reservation dates can be found in the 90-day calendar on the GFP website.
“My favorite component of our state park system is the modern lodging options,” continues Harrington. “If you’re looking to plan a fishing trip, these should be at the top of your list.”
Modern lodging options are exactly what they sound like, these are facilities that feature running water, bathrooms, kitchens, and other comforts of home while still being in the heart of the park.
“My favorite is probably Roy Lake State Park in northeast South Dakota, and the Oahe Downstream modern cabins are excellent as well,” details Harrington. “Frankly I’m not what you’d consider a camper, which is why these are my preferred choice. Our parks offer something for everyone.”
While advanced reservation windows make planning your trip easy, recently it’s become even easier to book a great camping trip on short notice too.
South Dakota Game, Fish and Park’s new cancellation policy has made getting quality campsites, on busy weekends, easier than ever before. Campsites can be cancelled prior to one week before arrival with no cancellation fee. Cancellations made within 7 days of arrival date are charged one half of one night of the camping fee.
This means that canceling a site has never been easier, and thus, finding a quality site on short notice has never been easier too! If you have the urge to go camping, plans change, or life simply happens and the opportunity to go camping presents itself, don’t think that you won’t find a great site available. In fact, you might find your new favorite site instead!
“There are a lot of people I talk to that are surprised at the quality of campsite you can get on short notice, even on the busy weekends,” concludes Harrington. “The game has really changed when it comes to campsite reservations, and it’s creating a lot of opportunities for campers who’s plans change.”
Save time, save money, and stay up to date on campsite availability by logging into your Go Outdoors South Dakota account!
New Nonresident Park Entrance License
As a reminder, South Dakota now has Nonresident Park Entrance Licenses. This functions similar to nonresident hunting and fishing licenses, and nonresidents will receive a special sticker for their vehicles indicating they are a nonresident.
Nonresident Park Entrance Licenses can be purchased for $60 for a single or $90 for a double. Transferable rear-view hang tags are only available for residents.
Receive a Limited Edition Make a Splash Sticker by March 15
Individuals who purchase their South Dakota State Park Entrance License online by March 15 will receive an exclusive Make a Splash limited-edition sticker. This opportunity has been available for the past several years, and this is individuals’ chance to ensure they can add 2025 to their collection.
