South Dakota State Parks are home to some of the state’s most beautiful destinations. This scenic vistas may seem out of reach for some but there are a lot of discounts that can make your next adventure more affordable. You may even be able to visit for free!
In this article, we’ll review what South Dakota State Parks discounts you may be eligible for and how you can claim them!
SD State Parks Admission Discounts
There are more than 60 state parks in the state of South Dakota and each one houses a unique adventure. You can explore them all with an entrance license!
The state currently offers a few standard rates for state parks.
| License Type | Duration | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Annual License | 1 Year | $36 |
| Daily Park Entrance License | 1 day | $8 |
| 7-Day Park Entrance License | 7 days | $20 |
Each license only covers one vehicle. The Daily and Annual Licenses are not valid at Custer State Park, as that location requires a separate temporary license.
FREE Park Rx Admission
An exciting new program in South Dakota allows medical professionals to prescribe exercise and fresh air to their patients. Doctors can literally prescribe you a pass to South Dakota State Parks!
Through this program, eligible patients can receive a free daily license or a discounted annual pass. If you’re interested, you can talk to your medical provider. If they don’t already participate, they can request a free information packet with Park Rx pads on the Healthy SD website.
FREE Admission for Veterans
Veterans can enjoy a South Dakota State Parks discount too! In fact, eligible veterans can get a FREE Lifetime State Park Entrance License!
In order to be eligible for the free admission program, veterans must meet the following guidelines:
- You must be a resident of South Dakota.
- You must meet one of these requirements:
- You must be rated 100% disabled by the Department of Veterans Affairs; OR
- You must receive a K award; OR
- You must have been held as a Prisoner of War.
If you meet those requirements, then you will need to fill out an application. You can get one from your local park manager or by requesting one from the State Department of Game, Fish and Parks.
FREE Admission for Fourth Graders
Fourth graders can get a free or discounted South Dakota State Parks pass through the Go Forth program. The student can choose one of these three options:
- A FREE Daily License
- 50% off an Annual License
- FREE 3-Year Subscription to Conservation Digest
Students may also receive a free one-hour equipment rental coupon, depending on availability. The Go Forth discounts are usually provided in March or April and must be redeemed by December 31 of that year.
FREE Admission for Tribal Members
Enrolled tribal members and their immediate families are exempt from park entrance license fees at certain locations.
Here’s a table we made from the Administrative Rules found on the SD State Legislature Website:
| TRIBE | FREE PARKS |
|---|---|
| Crow Creek | West Bend Recreational Area |
| Yankton Sioux | North Point Recreation Area Fort Randall South Shore Recreation Area Randall Creek Recreation Area Fort Randall Spillway Lakeside Use Area |
FREE Admission for Youth Groups
South Dakota also offers discounts for nonprofit youth groups. Youth groups are defined as an organized group of minors (under age 18) that are accompanied by a smaller group of adult leaders who are not supervising their own children.
Any youth group that is sponsored by a nonprofit organization can receive free admission to the park.
FREE Admission for Volunteers
If you don’t qualify for free admission, you can volunteer at your local park! Volunteers are exempt from paying the daily park entrance license fee, so it’s a great way to spend time in nature without having to pay money. You will, however, have to do some work while you’re there.
South Dakota State Parks Camping Discounts
Once you get to the parks, you’re not going to want to leave right away. There is so much to do, see and experience in these beautiful areas! Fortunately, the state has some great camping discounts for eligible guests.
Veterans Save 50%
Eligible veterans can get a 50% discount on any camping or electrical fees associated with their South Dakota State Parks trip.
In order to be eligible, you need to meet these requirements:
- You must live in South Dakota.
- You must meet ONE of these eligibility requirements:
- You must be rated 100% disabled by the VA; OR
- You must receive a K award from the VA; OR
- You must have been held as a Prisoner of War.
The camping discount is automatically granted if you qualify for free admission. The applications are one and the same! You just need to fill it out at your local park or by requesting an application from the state department in charge of South Dakota State Parks.
About South Dakota State Parks
There are 60 stunning state parks in South Dakota, each one with a unique adventure. If you’re interested in exploring the parks, here’s a list of the parks and their general locations.
| Park Name | Location |
|---|---|
| Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve | North Sioux City |
| Angostura Recreation Area | Hot Springs |
| Bear Butte State Park | Sturgis |
| Beaver Creek Nature Area | Brandon |
| Big Sioux Recreation Area | Brandon |
| Big Stone Island Nature Area | Big Stone City |
| Burke Lake Recreation Area | Burke |
| Buryanek Recreation Area | Lake City |
| Chief White Crane Recreation Area | Yankton |
| Cow Creek Recreation Area | Pierre |
| Custer State Park | Custer |
| Farm Island Recreation Area | Pierre |
| Fisher Grove State Park | Frankfort |
| Fort Sisseton Historic State Park | Lake City |
| George S. Mickelson Trail | Various locations along the trail |
| Good Earth State Park | Sioux Falls |
| Hartford Beach State Park | Corona |
| Indian Creek Recreation Area | Mobridge |
| LaFramboise Island Nature Area | Pierre |
| Lake Alvin Recreation Area | Harrisburg |
| Lake Cochrane Recreation Area | Gary |
| Lake Herman State Park | Madison |
| Lake Hiddenwood Recreation Area | Selby |
| Lake Louise Recreation Area | Miller |
| Lake Poinsett Recreation Area | Arlington |
| Lake Thompson Recreation Area | Lake Preston |
| Lake Vermillion Recreation Area | Canistota |
| Lewis and Clark Recreation Area | Yankton |
| Little Moreau Recreation Area | Timber Lake |
| Llewellyn Johns Recreation Area | Pierre |
| Mina Lake Recreation Area | Mina |
| Newton Hills State Park | Canton |
| North Point Recreation Area | Pickstown |
| North Wheeler Recreation Area | Bridgewater |
| Oahe Downstream Recreation Area | Pierre |
| Oakwood Lakes State Park | Bruce |
| Okobojo Point Recreation Area | Akaska |
| Palisades State Park | Garretson |
| Pease Creek Recreation Area | Lake City |
| Pelican Lake Recreation Area | Watertown |
| Pickerel Lake Recreation Area | Grenville |
| Pierson Ranch Recreation Area | Yankton |
| Platte Creek Recreation Area | Platte |
| Randall Creek Recreation Area | Pickstown |
| Revheim Bay Recreation Area | Pickstown |
| Richmond Lake Recreation Area | Aberdeen |
| Rocky Point Recreation Area | Belle Fourche |
| Roy Lake State Park | Lake City |
| Sandy Shore Recreation Area | Watertown |
| Shadehill Recreation Area | Lemmon |
| Sheps Canyon Recreation Area | Hot Springs |
| Sica Hollow State Park | Sisseton |
| Snake Creek Recreation Area | Platte |
| Spearfish Canyon Nature Area | Spearfish |
| Spirit Mound Historic Prairie | Vermillion |
| Spring Creek Recreation Area | Pierre |
| Springfield Recreation Area | Springfield |
| Swan Creek Recreation Area | Viborg |
| Union Grove State Park | Beresford |
| Walker’s Point Recreation Area | Pickstown |
| West Bend Recreation Area | Tyndall |
| West Pollock Recreation Area | Pollock |
| West Whitlock Recreation Area | Gettysburg |
Summary
South Dakota State Parks offer great discounts on admission and camping for eligible guests! If you’re ready to save money on your next adventure, make sure that you check this list for the most up-to-date state parks discounts in your area. You can also check for ways to save money in other nearby states in our State Parks Discount Directory!
Nicole Thelin
Nicole is the founder and lead researcher of Low Income Relief. After a personal experience with poverty and homelessness following her husband's sudden medical discharge from the U.S. Army, Nicole discovered the life-changing impact of community resources. This experience ignited her passion for empowering others to navigate similar crises. Nicole launched her writing career at age 16, working for various newspapers and publications. Her commitment to in-depth research and accessible content has been recognized by Google for Publishers and other industry leaders. For over 20 years, she has applied her investigative skills to uncover the most helpful, up-to-date information on benefits programs and community resources, ensuring Low Income Relief maintains the most extensive resource databases available.