Camping Near Me in Tulare
Fort Sisseton Historic State Park
11907 434th Avenue, Lake City, SD
Named after the nearby Sisseton Indian Tribe, this historic fort is now a picturesque state park that unfolds the area's past. Walk the grounds where the officers' quarters, stone barracks, powder magazine, guard house, and other buildings that remain from the time of the western frontier.
This 1864 fort, atop the Coteau des Prairies (or hills of the praries), was originally a frontier army outpost called Fort Wadsworth. The site was chosen because it provided a strong natural defense, an ample supply of lime and clay for making bricks, an abundance of lake water for drinking and a thick stand of trees for timber and fuel.
Visitor Center with interpretive displays and gift shop is open daily from Open House Weekend through September. Guided tours are available, please call ahead.
Join the festivities for entertainment, culture and history during the annual Fort Sisseton Historical Festival. The festival features period entertainment and activities and attracts thousands of visitors each year.
Activities:
Birdwatching
Boating
Camping
Canoeing/Kayaking
Fishing
Hiking
Historical interest
Snowshoeing
Amenities:
Boat Ramp
Campground
Camping cabins
Canoe/kayak rentals
Drinking water
Electric campsites
Flush toilets/showers
Game checkout
Life Jacket Checkout
Picnic Shelter
Snowshoe checkout
Visitor Center
Roy Lake State Park
11545 Northside Drive, Lake City, SD
Roy Lake is known for its excellent fishing, but you don't have to be an angler to enjoy all this park has to offer. Visitors will find sandy beaches, campgrounds, picnic areas, boat ramps and an island trail to keep them busy.
The earliest known inhabitants of Roy Lake were members of the Woodland Culture, who built large burial mounds. Artifacts dating between 900 and 1300 A.D. have been found near the park. The Roy (or Roi) family is credited with building the area's first white settlement. Local American Indians called the crops planted along the lakeshore the "Roy Planting" and the name persisted.
Roy Lake Resort is privately operated under agreement with the Division of Parks and Recreation. Roy Lake Resort provides concessionaire services to the park through modern cabins and lodge-style accommodations, bait, convenience store and boat rentals.
Activities:
Basketball
Boating
Camping
Disc Golf
Hiking
Horseshoes
Swimming
Volleyball
Amenities:
Beach
Boat Ramp
Campground
Camping cabins
Canoe/kayak rentals
Drinking water
Dump station
Electric campsites
Fish cleaning station
Fishing dock
Fishing pole checkout
Flush toilets/showers
Game checkout
Paddleboard rentals
Picnic Shelter
Playground
Resort
Ski beach
Vault toilets
Lake Herman State Park
23409 State Park Drive, Madison, SD
Melting glacial ice formed this 1,350-acre lake thousands of years ago. Lake Herman State Park is located on a peninsula and offers visitors spectacular views of Lake Herman. Camping, boating, fishing, and cross country skiing are favorite activities at the park. Observe wildlife in the native oak woodlands and prairie grasses that inhabitat a variety of birds and animals.
Lake Herman has been a popular campsite for hundreds of years. Before white settlers entered the region, it was popular among Native Americans traveling to nearby Pipestone quarries.
The first settlers at Lake Herman were Herman Luce and his son, William. They settled the timberland on the east side of the lake and assumed squatters' rights on June 17, 1870. The log cabin in the park was built for Herman Luce in the summer of 1871. The cabin is made of sturdy oak logs hand hewn to fit snugly and chinked to keep out the cold.
Luce's cabin briefly served as a U. S. Land Office, with Herman Luce in charge. In 1977, the Herman Luce Cabin was placed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Activities:
Birdwatching
Boating
Camping
Canoeing/Kayaking
Cross country skiing
Disc Golf
Fishing
Hiking
Historical interest
Horseshoes
Snowshoeing
Swimming
Amenities:
Beach
Boat Ramp
Campground
Camping cabins
Canoe/kayak rentals
Drinking water
Dump station
Electric campsites
Fishing dock
Fishing pole checkout
Flush toilets/showers
Game checkout
Life Jacket Checkout
Paddleboard rentals
Picnic Shelter
Playground
Ski beach
Snowshoe checkout
Vault toilets
Oakwood Lakes State Park
20247 Oakwood Drive, Bruce, SD
Nestled among eight connecting glacial lakes, this park provides a never-ending variety of activities throughout the year, from hiking and swimming, to ice fishing and cross-country skiing. Shaded campgrounds and picnic areas complement the park's excellent swimming and boating facilities.
The park was once used as a summer camp and an annual gathering spot for American Indians. Later, Samuel Mortimer arrived in 1869 and built the log cabin that still stands at the park.
Activities:
Basketball
Biking
Birdwatching
Boating
Camping
Canoeing/Kayaking
Cross country skiing
Disc Golf
Fishing
Hiking
Historical interest
Horse Trail
Horseshoes
Paddleboarding
Snowshoeing
Swimming
Volleyball
Amenities:
Beach
Boat Ramp
Campground
Camping cabins
Canoe/kayak rentals
Drinking water
Dump station
Electric campsites
Fishing dock
Fishing pole checkout
Flush toilets/showers
Game checkout
Horse camp
Life Jacket Checkout
Paddleboard rentals
Picnic Tables
Playground
Snowshoe checkout
Vault toilets
Warming shelter
Hartford Beach State Park
13672 Hartford Beach Road, Corona, SD
Big Stone Lake provides the setting for this popular camping and picnic area nestled in the shade of a native wooded forest.
Runoff from melting glaciers 10,000 years ago created the river Warren. A section of the river is known today as Big Stone Lake. Rugged rock-strewn bluffs and scenic timbered shorelines surround Hartford Beach.
In 1678, French explorers from Montreal and Quebec came searching and found fur-bearing animals. An excellent trading business with area American Indians prompted the English to claim the area.
Activities:
Birdwatching
Boating
Camping
Canoeing/Kayaking
Disc Golf
Fishing
Hiking
Historical interest
Horseshoes
Paddleboarding
Swimming
Volleyball
Amenities:
Beach
Boat Ramp
Campground
Camping cabins
Canoe/kayak rentals
Drinking water
Dump station
Electric campsites
Fish cleaning station
Fishing pole checkout
Flush toilets/showers
Game checkout
Paddleboard rentals
Picnic Shelter
Playground
Vault toilets
Warming shelter
Big Sioux Recreation Area
410 W. Park Street, Brandon, SD
Big Sioux Recreation Area lies on the banks of South Dakota's Big Sioux River. Close to the cities of Brandon and Sioux Falls, Big Sioux is popular among campers, canoers, bicyclists, hikers, disc golfers, history buffs and archers. When the snow flies, groups of snowmobilers gather at the enclosed warming house.
Activities:
Archery range
Biking
Birdwatching
Camping
Canoeing/Kayaking
Disc Golf
Fishing
Hiking
Historical interest
Horseshoes
Snowshoeing
Volleyball
Amenities:
Campground
Camping cabins
Drinking water
Dump station
Electric campsites
Fishing pole checkout
Flush toilets/showers
Game checkout
Picnic Shelter
Playground
Snowshoe checkout
Vault toilets
Warming shelter
Palisades State Park
25495 485th Avenue, Garretson, SD
Palisades State Park is one of the most unique areas in South Dakota. Split Rock Creek, which flows through the park, is lined with Sioux quartzite formations varying from shelves several feet above the water to 50-foot vertical cliffs. Scenic overlooks and rushing water make Palisades a popular getaway. The park is popular among campers, photographers, sightseers, picnickers, rock climbers and hikers.
A huge flour mill was once located on the bluff overlooking the park. The mill was powered by a large water-wheel installed along the rushing Split Rock Creek. The once-bustling town of Palisades grew up around the success of the mill. In 1886, silver was discovered downstream. The silver ore proved to be low in quality, however, and the nearly 300 claims were quickly dropped.
For millions of years, Split Rock Creek cut deep gorges through Palisades State Park. Geologists estimate the Sioux quartzite spires are 1.2 billion years old. Four hiking trails twist and turn through these beautiful Sioux quartzite formations. The cliffs and formations at Palisades are used by rock climbers to practice their scaling and rappelling techniques. Bolting is not allowed on the quartzite formations. Please contact the park before you head out for other climbing regulations.
Activities:
Birdwatching
Camping
Canoeing/Kayaking
Fishing
Hiking
Historical interest
Rock Climbing
Snowshoeing
Volleyball
Amenities:
Campground
Camping cabins
Drinking water
Electric campsites
Fishing pole checkout
Flush toilets/showers
Game checkout
Lodge
Picnic Shelter
Playground
Vault toilets
Newton Hills State Park
28767 482nd Avenue, Canton, SD
Newton Hills State Park was named after William Newton who settled in the area in the 1850s. Newton's wife was a mid-wife; until the 1870s, she was the only European American north of Vermillion who could deliver babies and cure the sick.
Glaciers created this narrow strip of rolling hills and forest that is part of the geological formation called the Coteau des Prairie, which extends along the eastern boundary of South Dakota. At its highest point, the Coteau rises to more than 2,000 feet above sea level. Artifacts and burial mounds found near the park indicate that a Woodland Indian Culture inhabited this region between 300 B.C. and 900 A.D. The area's unique dark forest, amidst a vast open prairie, has prompted many recent legends, including buried gold, robbers' hideouts and horse thieves.
Over 200 species of birds visit the area each year. White-tailed deer, wild turkeys, marmots, rabbits, red and gray fox and squirrels are also found within the park. Between October 1 and April 30 each year, bow hunting is allowed in the park. Hunters will not be using the high traffic areas located near the hiking trails. Uncased bows and firearms are not allowed within the campground and picnic areas.
Activities:
Basketball
Biking
Birdwatching
Boating
Camping
Canoeing/Kayaking
Cross country skiing
Fishing
Hiking
Horseback Riding
Horseshoes
Paddleboarding
Snowshoeing
Swimming
Volleyball
Amenities:
Beach
Bicycle rentals
Boat Ramp
Campground
Camping cabins
Canoe/kayak rentals
Drinking water
Electric campsites
Event tent rentals
Fishing dock
Fishing pole checkout
Floating water mat rental
Flush toilets/showers
Game checkout
Horse camp
Life Jacket Checkout
Lodge
Paddleboard rentals
Picnic Shelter
Playground
Snowshoe checkout
Stage for events
Vault toilets
Warming shelter
Badlands National Park
25216 Ben Reifel Road, Interior, SD
The rugged beauty of the Badlands draws visitors from around the world. These striking geologic deposits contain one of the world's richest fossil beds. Ancient mammals such as the rhino, horse, and saber-toothed cat once roamed here. The park's 244,000 acres protect an expanse of mixed-grass prairie where bison, bighorn sheep, prairie dogs, and black-footed ferrets live today.
Bear Butte State Park
20250 Hwy 79, Sturgis, SD
Mato Paha or "Bear Mountain" is the Lakota name given to this site. To the Cheyenne, it is "Noahvose." This geological formation is one of several intrusions of igneous rock in the Black Hills that formed millions of years ago. The mountain is sacred to many American Indian tribes who come here to hold religious ceremonies. Please be respectful of worshippers and their religious practices.
Many American Indians see Bear Butte as a place where the creator has chosen to communicate with them through visions and prayer.
During your visit, you will see colorful pieces of cloth and small bundles or pouches hanging from the trees. These prayer cloths and tobacco ties represent the prayers offered by individuals during their worship. Please respect these offerings and leave them undisturbed.
Activities:
Boating
Camping
Fishing
Hiking
Historical interest
Horseback Riding
Amenities:
Boat Ramp
Campground
Drinking water
Fishing dock
Horse camp
Picnic Shelter
Vault toilets
Visitor Center