Lake Vermillion Recreation Area

We were traveling with our two dogs and this recreation area was at a perfect spot for a nights stay. This time of year we were the only people in the Maple Campground. The cabin was very clean. The whole campground was spotless. The cabin has 4 beds. One full size with a single bunk over it and another set of single bunk beds. It has electricity, heat and a/c. Two of six outlets have usb ports. We stayed in C9 which faced into a wooded area. A bit more privacy. There is a vault toilet right across from this cabin. It has an outside lighted marker and an inside light. This campground has a shower house but it was closed for the season when we stayed here. This is a much used campground on weekends in the summer. But in November it was our personal playground. The cabin is listed at $55. But like most places there are all the added fees. Nonresidents pay 8 bucks extra. And our dogs cost us another 10 dollar bill. And there is a park entrance fee of $8 daily or $36 for the year. So for our one night stay we came right close to $90. Even so we would definitely stay here again.

Be sure to call the park on a week day during business hours if you are arriving when the office is closed. You need to get the code to open the box where your key will be kept. Also they will make sure you have paid your correct fees. It was a bit confusing online for me, but the park official I talked to was very informative and helpful.

Very close to Sioux Falls is a small comfortable campground with many activities (playground, basketball, volleyball, safe roads for kids biking, boat ramps, fish cleaning stations). This is a great place to camp with kids and/or camp with family and friends. Very dog and child friendly.
Our site was a pull-up site (not a pull through) with plenty of space for our use. A helpful friendly camp host came through to see how we were doing. When he saw that our dog wanted a ride in his golf cart, he invited him up and drove him around a little.
Check in was nice and early; 1:00.
Just an all around comfortable pleasant attractive campground.
The campsite cost us $35.00 plus you have to pay $9 for a South Dakota park pass.
The campground is very close to Sioux Falls and all it has to offer. There's also a funky personal sculpture park on the same road as the campground/ recreational area, the Porter Sculpture Park. You can see some of the sculptures from I-90 or visit in person.
Very nearby is a restaurant, the Lake Life Steakhouse that staff said was quite good. We didn't have time to try it but enjoyed the sign "Lake Life Steakhouse and Bait Shop"
If you're traveling east on I-90 be sure to stop at the Chamberlain Rest Stop to see the Dignity Statue; very impressive and moving.

We had a peaceful and lovely experience at this park. There are 2 sides of the recreation area (east and west). We stayed on the East side in site #61, which is a lake view spot. The east side was very quiet and only had a few other campers during the week. The West side has a little more going on, and seemed to be the family area of the park. The weather side of the park has fresh water fill stations and a dump. If you have camping reservations on any side of the park you are able to use the dump. I think you pay $8 if you just need a dump and water but aren't staying at the park. Both sides have vault toilets, as well as a shower house will regular toilets. The shower house was very nice and the water was perfectly hot. We had an electrical hookup at our site, 20-30-50 amp. We loved this place and found it to be very relaxing and peaceful. We have starlink internet and had no issues with the spot we chose. Some of the other sites are fully surrounded by trees, but there are several sites where starlink would work.

Very pretty campground on the lake. We were on the west side in Oak Campground, site 13. Loved our site right on the water but really uneven front to back, side to side was fine. Huge grass area and foliage between sites gave good privacy. Quiet at night despite filling up on Friday. Unfortunately, smoke from the wildfires came in on Thursday and made it hard to be outside, then it rained all day Friday so we didn't get to explore much. Walked the trail from the campground which was very nice. Would love to come back again in better weather. Charlie, the camp host, met us when we arrived and provided good tips for the area. Bathrooms, while old, were clean.