Is Palisades Campground first-come first-served or reservation?

Palisades Campground accepts online reservations. We recommend booking in advance, especially during peak season (typically summer weekends). Use campsite alerts to get notified when spots become available.

What is the best time to visit Palisades Campground?

Palisades Campground is open Some services (showers, flush toilets, and some water systems) are typically closed Oct 1–Apr 30; park access and some facilities remain available year-round but amenities are reduced in the off-season.. The best time to visit depends on your preferences—summer offers the warmest weather and most activities, while spring and fall provide fewer crowds and milder temperatures. Check current conditions before your trip.

Are there showers at Palisades Campground?

Yes, Palisades Campground has shower facilities available for campers. Check the amenities section for details on hours and any fees.

Is there cell service at Palisades Campground?

Cell phone service at Palisades Campground is generally available. Cell service is available. Coverage may vary by carrier and exact location within the campground.

How many campsites does Palisades Campground have?

Palisades Campground has 111 campsites. Sites vary in size, privacy, and amenities. Check availability online to find the best site for your needs.

Are dogs allowed at Palisades Campground?

Pets are not allowed at Palisades Campground. This policy helps protect local wildlife and other campers. Consider nearby pet-friendly campgrounds if traveling with animals.

What amenities are available at Palisades Campground?

Palisades Campground offers: Restrooms, Showers, Potable Water, Electrical Hookups. See our detailed campground page for the full list of facilities and features.

What activities can I do at Palisades Campground?

Popular activities at Palisades Campground include Hiking, Fishing, Boating, Wildlife Viewing. The surrounding area offers plenty of outdoor recreation opportunities for all skill levels.

Palisades Campground

4.70

174 reviews

Top 14% in SDFall

Quick Facts

1,480 ft

Price

Varies

Booking

Reservable

Sites

111 campsites

Season

Year-round

Cell

Has Service

Pets

Check Policy

ElectricShowers

Check Availability

Get Directions

Quick Facts

1,480 ft

Price

Varies

Booking

Reservable

Sites

111 campsites

Season

Year-round

Cell

Has Service

Pets

Check Policy

ElectricShowers

Check Availability

Get Directions

Palisades Campground

No fees available

Campsite Fees

Park offers campsites with and without electrical hookups, cabins (some with decks overlooking the creek), and a group lodge. Comfort stations with...

No paid fee categories listed.

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South Dakota State Parks

Provider

I manage this campground

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Campground Map

Palisades Campground

43.6867, -96.5196

Nearby places

Sioux Falls — about 20–30 miles

Garretson — nearest town (near the park).

Nearby supplies

Local services in Garretson

full services and additional supplies in Sioux Falls (~20–30 miles).

Weather at Palisades Campground

Best Time to Camp at Palisades Campground

Spring and fall bring the sweet spot of comfortable temperatures and stunning scenery—think wildflowers against pink rock in May or golden leaves framing the cliffs in October. Summer turns the canyon lush and green, though you'll share the trails with more visitors during peak season. Winter transforms the park into a quiet wonderland with snow dusting the quartzite faces and ice formations adding extra drama, but come prepared for reduced services and potentially slippery conditions on roads and trails.

Best

Spring(Mar-May)

4.5 / 5

Top 1% in SD

Spring called a 'sweet spot' with wildflowers against pink rock; reviewers praise spring visits.

Planning Tips

Operating Season: Some services (showers, flush toilets, and some water systems) are typically closed Oct 1–Apr 30; park access and some facilities remain available year-round but amenities are reduced in the off-season.

About Palisades Campground

Tucked along the winding banks of Split Rock Creek, Palisades Campground offers front-row seats to some of South Dakota's most dramatic geological wonders—towering pink quartzite cliffs that glow in the shifting light. Whether you settle into a creekside campsite or cozy cabin, you'll find yourself minutes from scenic trails that wind past King and Queen Rock viewpoints, all while staying conveniently close to Garretson and Sioux Falls for supply runs.

Developed campground with a mix of electrified and non‑electrified campsites, tent sites, 10 cabins (some creekside with decks), and a group lodge; total of 111 campsites reported across two campground areas.

Historical Significance

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Weather and SeasonsSpring and fall bring the sweet spot of comfortable temperatures and stunning scenery—think wildflowers against pink rock in May or golden leaves framing the cliffs in October. Summer turns the canyon lush and green, though you'll share the trails with more visitors during peak season. Winter transforms the park into a quiet wonderland with snow dusting the quartzite faces and ice formations adding extra drama, but come prepared for reduced services and potentially slippery conditions on roads and trails.

Natural Features and SceneryPrepare to be awestruck by the park's signature Sioux quartzite formations—ancient pink and reddish cliffs that rise dramatically from Split Rock Creek, creating a maze of narrow rock corridors, natural shelves, and weathered outcrops. Short, accessible trails weave through wooded slopes on both sides of the creek, leading you past grassy clearings and down to the water's edge where you can walk among smooth boulders and watch the quartzite walls mirror themselves in the creek's still pools. It's geology you can touch, climb around, and photograph from every angle.

Geological RegionSioux quartzite canyon along Split Rock Creek (towering pink/reddish quartzite cliffs and ledges forming a narrow palisade).

Scenic ViewsNotable views include the King and Queen Rock formations and multiple vantage points overlooking the narrow canyon and the flowing Split Rock Creek; many campsites and cabins provide direct creek and cliff views.

Best Campsites

Curated by campers, for campers

Reveal picks

Reserving a campsite

Tents

Tents are allowed

RV vehicles

RV vehicles are allowed

Primitive

Primitive camping is not allowed

Reservable

Reservations are allowed

Reservation PlatformsUseDirect-based state park reservation system (reservations recommended for peak season weekends).

Total Campsites111 campsites

Best CampsitesSites overlooking Split Rock Creek or close to the quartzite cliffs and cabins with decks over the creek are most sought after for scenery and privacy; older campground near the canyon provides quickest trail access while the newer campground offers easier RV maneuvering.

Need help booking Palisades Campground?

Reservation tips, booking windows, and free cancellation alerts.

When to Book

Find your booking window

Cancellation Alerts

Free alerts for this campground

Amenities available

Two campgrounds with a total of 111 campsites, 10 cabins, and a group lodge. Comfort stations with flush toilets and showers operate seasonally; vault toilets are available year-round. Potable water is available in season. Campsites include both electrified and non-electrified sites. Picnic areas and shelters are provided; cabins include some creekside units with decks.

Showers

Potable water

Electricity hookups

Flush toilets

Picnic tables

Vault toilets

I manage this campground

Activities you can enjoy

Short, scenic trails and creek access around Split Rock Creek and the Sioux quartzite cliffs support hiking, wildlife viewing, photography, paddling when water permits, and limited fishing. Rock climbing and bouldering are also noted in park materials and regional descriptions.

Hiking

Fishing

Boating

Wildlife viewing

Planning your trip?Check out our camping packing checklist

Policies & Safety

Hazards & AlertsSteep cliff edges and uneven quartzite ledges; rocks can be slick when wet. Winter snow and ice can make roads and trails hazardous. Standard food-storage practices recommended to avoid nuisance wildlife.

Trip Planning Tools

Set an AlertGet notified when sites open up Check WeatherHistorical weather data Gear for This TripMatched gear recommendations Packing ListCustomizable checklist

Questions & answers

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Tips from campers

Short heads-ups about the road in, gear quirks, timing, and more. You don't have to have been here to share what you know.

Reviews

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From Booking Sources

4.7

174 reviews

Top-Rated

Palisades Campground is top-rated, placing it in the top 15% of campgrounds based on reviews

Visitors rate the park highly for its dramatic quartzite cliffs, creekside scenery, clean and updated facilities, and accessible short trails. The campground and cabins are noted as well‑maintained and convenient to Sioux Falls; the park is small and popular.

Review Summaries

Based on 174 reviews

What Campers Love

Dramatic Sioux quartzite cliffs and King & Queen Rock viewpoints; easy creek access and short scenic trails; clean restrooms and modernized showers (seasonal); electrical campsites and creekside...

Based on 174 reviews

Pro Tips & Recommendations

Reserve campsites or cabins in advance for peak-season weekends; book creekside or rim-adjacent sites/cabins for best views; check seasonal status of showers/flush toilets and bring water/off-season...

Based on 174 reviews

Camper Quotes

“Absolutely beautiful place!”; “Very clean and quiet”; “The new campgrounds with level camper sites, modern showers and restrooms, even ADA sites make staying much easier.”

Based on 174 reviews

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Nearby Campgrounds

Escape to Big Sioux Campground, where towering cottonwoods and riparian forests create a shaded riverside retreat along the Big Sioux River. Just minutes from Brandon and Sioux Falls, this woodland sanctuary offers something for every outdoor enthusiast—from paddling and fishing to disc golf and archery—all connected by miles of scenic trails.