Split Rock Park Campground

(69) Reviews

$15.00 per night, starting at.

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Overview

512 5th Street, Garretson, SD, 57030

Welcome to Split Rock Park Campground!

On the Northwestern edge of Garretson, a small waterfall is created by a dam across the Split Rock Creek, drawing the eye and attention of all who cross the bridge into town. This beautiful dam was created in 1934 by WPA workers who laid native stone across the river, and was updated in 2016.

Split Rock Park houses both RV and tent camping sites, boat launch areas that are perfect for canoes and kayaks, a small swimming area north of the dam, a beautiful view of three unique bridges, playground, fishing areas, and an old Sioux Quartzite bathhouse that now houses a small museum and snack area.

The Jesse James Pontoon sets sail by appointment during the summer months, showcasing the beautiful rock canyons and wildlife that is found north of the park. South of the dam is another kayak and canoe launch, which allows for travel down to Palisades State Park by water. With downtown Garretson just three short blocks away and Devil's Gulch right next door, Split Rock Park is a wonderful space to camp and play.

We are open April 1st to October 31st, weather dependent.

NOW OPEN: The Split Rock Park Visitor's Center is open daily 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. until Labor Day. Enjoy souvenirs, ice cream, coffee, and more!

Amenities:

  • All campground sites have 1 fire ring w/cooking grate and 1 picnic table.
  • City Park hours are 8:00 am – 10:00 pm
  • Drinking water (Water hydrant)
  • Electrical campground sites
  • Historical Quartzite Bathhouse Information Center (including souvenirs & treats)
  • Picnic Shelter (ADA Accessible) has electricity, 8 picnic tables, a wooden counter, a charcoal/wood BBQ grill and trash cans.
  • Playground
  • Porta Potties
  • Trash can container located by vault toilets (all garbage must be bagged)
  • Vault Toilets (ADA Accessible)

Activities:

  • Bird Watching
  • Camping
  • Fishing along Split Rock Creek
  • Historical Interest (Quartzite dam, bathhouse, fishing bridge)
  • Historical Markers “Garretson” located at the entrance of Split Rock Park and Campground
  • “Festival of Progress” located inside Split Rock Park and Campground at the entrance of the quartzite bathhouse.
  • Jesse James Pontoon rides on the scenic Split Rock Creek are available by calling Captain Bruce Rekstad at 605-594-2225.
  • Kayaking/Canoeing
  • Museum - Garretson Area Historical Society located at 613 N. Main Ave. For more information call 605-594-3863
  • Photography
  • Picnicking
  • Relax and take in the scenery on one of the many sponsored park benches throughout the park.
  • Sightseeing within the park and campground and our other parks- Devil’s Gulch and information center located at 616 5th St. Garretson, S.D. and Palisades State Park located at 25495 485th Ave. Garretson, S.D. (S.D. state park permit required).
  • Shopping, Eating, Drinking, Wineries at one of many local businesses on Main Ave. and within the City of Garretson area.
  • Swimming is available at the Garretson Swimming Pool located off Essex Street and Center Avenue in the sports complex. For information or inquiries, please call 605-594-3126 June-August.

For an in-depth map of Split Rock Park Campground, please click here.

Open Dates: April 1 to October 31


Rates

RV Sites

There is room for the RV, tow vehicle, and 1 extra vehicle per site.  If you need to bring more vehicles beyond that, we do have overflow parking available away from the site.

There are electric hookups at the site.  There is a main water source is away from the site.

Options Starting Daily Starting Weekly Starting Monthly
30 Amp RV Site $22.00 Choose Your Site
50 Amp RV Sites $22.00 Choose Your Site
Large Tent Sites

Sites will fit up to 3 tents (for an additional fee). Sites 24, 25, and 28 can fit up to 5 tents. 

If you need special exceptions, please give us a call.

There is room for 2 cars per site, but we do have overflow parking away from the sites if you need to bring more cars.

Vehicle or hammock camping counts as tent camping.

Options Starting Daily Starting Weekly Starting Monthly
Primitive Large Tent Sites $15.00 Choose Your Site
Medium Tent Sites

Sites will fit up to 2 tents (for an additional fee).

If you need special exceptions, please give us a call.

There is room for 2 cars per site, but we do have overflow parking away from the sites if you need to bring more cars.

Vehicle or hammock camping counts as tent camping.

Options Starting Daily Starting Weekly Starting Monthly
Primitive Medium Tent Sites $15.00 Choose Your Site
Regular Tent Sites

Sites will fit 1 tent.

If you need special exceptions, please give us a call.

There is room for 2 cars per site, but we do have overflow parking away from the sites if you need to bring more cars.

Vehicle or hammock camping counts as tent camping.

Options Starting Daily Starting Weekly Starting Monthly
Primitive Regular Tent Sites $15.00 Choose Your Site
Day Use Picnic Shelter

Our picnic shelter can be rented out for the entire day from 9 am - 9 pm.

Day Use Only.  If you would like to stay overnight, you must also book a Tent or RV site.  To book the Picnic Shelter, the check-in date will be the day you would like use of the shelter and the check-out date will be the following day.

Options Starting Daily Starting Weekly Starting Monthly
Picnic Shelter $30.00 Choose Your Site

Rules

Picnic Shelter

The picnic shelter is rented by the day. Hours of use are 9 am - 9 pm.

No Dumping

There is no dumping gray or black water tanks at sites. However, there is a dump station at 612 5th Street.

Quiet Time

Quiet time is from 11pm to 8 am.

No Fireworks

Fireworks are prohibited.

Firewood

Firewood must be purchased locally. Please do not bring it in from other areas. Use fire pits for wood burning only. Please do not discard glass, aluminum cans, plastic, or styrofoam in fire pits.

Extra Vehicles

Sites may only fit 2 vehicles, but there is plenty of overflow parking in the parking lot.

Pet Policy

Pets are welcome at the park, but must be kept on a leash and cleaned up after. Pets who disturb fellow campers will receive one warning only.

Inclement Weather

In case of inclement weather, Zion Lutheran Church, located at 212 N Center Avenue, will be used as a shelter.

Contact Information

Park Staff is available from 8am to 10pm. You can call for assistance at (605) 323-5031 or cell (605) 594-2225. If you have a problem after hours, the local police non-emergency line is (605) 367-7000. If it is an emergency, dial 9-1-1.

Amenities

30 Amps

50 Amps

Back-in RV Sites

Drinking Water

Fire Ring / Grill

Gasoline Nearby

Gravel Roads

Picnic Table

Playground

RV Hookup

Slide Outs

Waterfront

Pets Allowed

Picnic Area

Toilet


Activities

Fishing

Historic Sightseeing

Kayaking & Canoeing


Lifestyles

Family Friendly

Pet Friendly

RVing

Tent Camping


Listing Types

City Park

Public Park



Map

512 5th Street, Garretson, SD, 57030
Click to open the map

Campground Map

Split Rock Park Campground entrance is off 5th Street, south of the park. Tent sites 1-7 are on the southern end of the park while tent sites 21-28 are on the north end of the park. RV sites 8-19 and Tent sites 1-7 are pictured here.

Area Tips

Nearby is the park known as Devil's Gulch, where the infamous outlaw Jesse James jumped the gulch and escaped the posse. Palisades State Park, one of the most popular state parks in South Dakota, is 2 miles south. The downtown area of Garretson features restaurants and shopping, two wineries are within 1 mile of town, and the city of Sioux Falls is located a short 30 minute drive southwest.

Reviews Leave a Review

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Overall Rating: 4.0

Scott hofbauer

2.0
It was an ok campsite the only things I didn’t like about them is they are tight getting into you can see where someone hit a branch with there rv and that was site 19 and luckily I didn’t hit it and would be nice if they were more level the train does suck but you get use to it but in all the trails and things to do are really nice the only other thing is the little black bugs that bite where a big issue would want to figure out a spray to get rid of them.

todd trauman

1.0
the spot given to us has a tree limb in the way for a large rv it damaged the roof of our 2020 montana so we didnt get to stay! maybe you should trim that tree if you want to rent it to some one with a large camper.

Kristy Wareham

3.0
It's a nice campground . relaxing. Great price. Dwn fall is the dang train. It went thrue at night ok fine but it blew its whistle rt by the camp ground every time even after 9pm . train went thrue 9 11 at lease . an they had these tiny biting black bugs an nothing seemed to get rid of them.

Mandi Coombs

1.0
I would not recommend this campground. My boyfriend and I were supposed to stay two nights but we fled after one sleepless night. We tent camped at site 1 and was probably one of the worst camping experiences for me. It is right next to train tracks!! It was so loud! Site 1 is also right at the entrance so there is hella traffic and it is right in the middle of town. The creek is kinda cool but I would never recommend anyone tent camp here.

Kenneth Noren

5.0
Very nice little campground. Family and pet friendly. Only issue is the few trains at night but that is not the campgrounds fault. But very nice place to stay.

Joseph Bukovich

3.0
Need to trim branches, grade the gravel and roadways. Could be a great campground but more for local people and their party's than for traveling campers. Could easily extend pads to fit today's RV's and expand to fit modern days but no desire apparent to improve. Pretty campground with great potential.

Joan Hoffman

4.0
Loved our campsite. The only thing I would improve on is the picnic table there (site 5). Two of the boards were rotting.

Jeff Weber

5.0
A terrific, scenic and clean city park, ideal for a brief get-away from the hustle and bustle of life!

Amanda Skinner

5.0
I loved this place so much I went back! In the rain even... great family campground with neat history and fun activities!

Maryann Norton-Wilkinson

5.0
Absolutely beautiful! I could sot and watch the water all day long!! Only thing to remember is they do not have a shower and they only have permanent porta potties.

Kathy Reilly

5.0
Enjoyed our overnight visit. Thx.

Michael Geister

2.0
As mentioned in other reviews, the trains are very close and they do blow their horn continuously as they come through the park several times a day/night. The park is pretty and does have potential and the park generally seemed modern and enjoyable. However I got the overall impression that cleaning been recently let slide. Our site had broken glass, wrappers, two piles of wet rotten dog food, and a large puddle of cooking grease dumped right by the pedestal. There were small piles of garbage down by the river’s edge and liquor bottles found randomly around the park. The vault toilet seats were pretty “dirty” and fixtures were rusty and in need of paint. The floor was muddy. In general it seemed like it was poorly maintained and simply needed a custodian to walk through once a day. I hate to say it but I would not go back and I would not recommend it.

isaiah folk

5.0
Great campground

Fiona Hill

4.0
Nice beautiful campsite. Be aware that freight train tracks are extremely close to the campsite. Was woken up at 3am by a huge freight train. If you can get back to sleep easily, its no problem, but beware light sleepers! Otherwise had a great time.

Karla Kocher

5.0
There are train tracks that are right next to the park and they do go by during the night and they blow their horns when coming into town. But it is a really nice park. The tent site i always get is always clean, the fire pit is shovelled out. The whole park is kept really nice the times i have been there. I will be back again next week. Even with the trains close by, i do recommend this park for anyone to come and camp at.

Beth

5.0
Reserved the picnic shelter for an employee picnic and was very impressed. All tables had been washed and several signs up letting others know that it was reserved.

Aaron Landry

5.0
Awesome camp spot

Amber Braithwaite

4.0
Lovely campground, met the caretaker and had a nice warm welcome. The campground is a bit shy on the potable water as there is just one spigot. Also some grading could be done on a couple tent sites for ease of use. We had tent site #2 & most of the site is a hill though the best spot for setting up the tents was along the water there is nice brush there to break the chill air at night. It was quiet except for the multiple trains. We got used to it, we do enjoy the sound of trains passing. They need a better swimming beach more distant from the low head dam as well. Overall we had a great weekend of camping and kayaking at Splitrock and would definitely stay again!

Angelica Phillips

4.0
Great place nice and quiet. It is very clean and the sheriff does drive by to make sure everyone is safe.

Michael Geister

2.0
The campground is in a nice setting on the river below a dam. It’s cool an shaded and although the facilities are just vault toilets and a single potable water hydrant in the center of the campground, those facilities are in decent shape. There is a dump station which is a short drive into town. Sites 9-13 are the best if you decide to stay. However, when I was there, the vault toilet was dirty and needed paint inside. Also the campground in general had bits of trash scattered throughout and in my campsite there was broken glass, two piles of wet dog food with flies from the last guest, and a large puddle of cooking grease dumped near the electric pedestal, candy wrappers, bottle caps, etc. I think any of these issues could be remedied with a daily custodial walk-through, but I could not find a camp host or a “ranger” or anybody who maintained the sites. I would not recommend Site 14 which I stayed, as it was basically a narrow pile of gravel to park that steeply slopes away from the camper. It prevented setting up chairs or anything next to the camper. As a lot of the other posts have mentioned, the train tracks are right there and the trains blow their horn continuously as they travel past the park. There were a couple trains throughout the night, and several during the day. Overall I’d say the park has potential but needs daily maintenance to be pleasant. I would not recommend it if you needed to sleep through the night.

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