State park · Garretson, SD
Palisades State Park
We have not read Palisades State Park's rig limits, dump stations or season on its own pages yet — check them on the official site below before you go.
Going to Palisades State Park? Tell us the nights.
One email when a South Dakota owner lists a rig for those nights.
Palisades State Park questions
Not yet re-read on the park's own pages.
- What length RV fits Palisades State Park?
- Our record: rigs up to 45 ft park-wide.
- Is there a dump station at Palisades State Park?
- Our record: Near campground entrance.
- Can I run a generator at Palisades State Park?
- Our record: 8am-10pm.
- When is the camping season at Palisades State Park?
- Our record: Apr 15 - Oct 15.
PickRV
Published by PickRV
More on Palisades State ParkField notes, rig limits by loop, seasons, what to do, quiet spots
Palisades State Park sits in eastern South Dakota in Minnehaha County, 20 miles northeast of Sioux Falls and 4 miles south of Garretson. The 161-acre park is small but visually unique — Split Rock Creek has cut a canyon through 1.3-billion-year-old Sioux Quartzite, leaving 50ft pink stone cliffs ideal for sport climbing (one of only two SD parks where climbing is permitted). The campground has 39 RV sites with electric, plus the new Hiawatha Lodge (opened 2023) for non-RV stays.
The notes below are PickRV's editorial record. None of their figures has been re-read on the park's own pages yet.
What the official site doesn't tell you
PickRV editor's field notes
The South Dakota State Parks site lists Palisades as 'small but scenic' without warning that the campground books out 6+ months in advance for July + August due to its proximity to the Sioux Falls metro. The hidden hack: SD State Parks releases 4 'last-minute' sites every Wednesday at 10am for the following weekend — most campers don't know this and wait for cancellations. Second non-obvious: Palisades is one of TWO South Dakota parks where rock climbing is legal (the other is Sica Hollow), and there's a hidden bouldering area called 'King + Queen Boulder' on the south side of Split Rock Creek that isn't on any official map — it's a 0.4mi walk from site 17. Third: the new Hiawatha Lodge has a side-door entrance to a public-use kitchen that's available for RV campers (not advertised) — useful for big-group cookouts. Fourth: Garretson 4 miles north has a Devil's Gulch site (where Jesse James reportedly leapt his horse across a 20ft chasm) — most Palisades visitors never make the 8-min drive.
Rig limits by loop and road
Length + clearance
- ·Park-wide, our record: 45 ft
Dump + generator
- ·Dump station: Near campground entrance (Free for campers, $5 day-use)
- ·Generators: 8am-10pm
Seasons and closures
Full season: Apr 15 - Oct 15 (modern season)
Limited access: Oct 16 - Apr 14 (water shut off; some sites open for self-contained rigs)
Known closures:
- ·Climbing routes occasionally close for peregrine falcon nesting — verify with park office Apr-Jun
What to do at Palisades State Park
- Split Rock Creek canyon
- Trail along the rim, then down to the creek; Sioux Quartzite cliffs
- King + Queen Rock
- Sport climbing routes 5.6 - 5.10; closed Apr-Jun for falcon nesting
- Hiawatha Lodge
- New (2023); coffee + small store
Hidden — not on the official map
PickRV editor's quiet spots
King + Queen Boulder (bouldering)
0.4mi walk from site 17; not on official map
Devil's Gulch (Jesse James)
8min drive to Garretson; 20ft chasm, free to visit
South Dakota scenery around Palisades State Park
Landscapes from around South Dakota — the country you cross on a Palisades State Park RV trip.
Weather, air and sky right nowLive for Palisades State Park. Open-Meteo, sunrise-sunset.org.
Will my rig fit? Try your lengthChecks a length against the park caps in our record.
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Browse South Dakota rigsThis guide is provided for general informational purposes only. PickRV is not an insurer, legal advisor, or vehicle-safety authority. Trip planning, route selection, rig suitability, weather, and emergency decisions are the renter's responsibility. Always consult the rig manufacturer's owner's manual, your insurance provider, the U.S. National Park Service (nps.gov), NOAA / NWS weather alerts (weather.gov), state and local emergency-management agencies, and current local regulations before and during travel. Cost figures, season windows, road conditions, and fee references on this page are estimates as of May 2026 and vary by season, location, rig, carrier, and operator. Mentions of brand names, state-tourism marks, national-park feature names, or third-party programs are informational only and do not imply affiliation, sponsorship, or endorsement.
South Dakota rules to know before you rent
Per-state legal callout · SD
Before you rent in South Dakota — key local rules
The everyday license covers rigs up to 26,000 lbs GVWR
South Dakota exempts operators of recreational vehicles used for personal family recreational use from CDL requirements entirely, and CDL applies only to commercial vehicles at 26,001+ lbs anyway; a standard operator license therefore covers personal motorhomes under 26,001 lbs (and in fact at any weight when used personally).
SD Driver Licensing · verified 2026-08-02
No mandatory boater education for adults; under 12 minimums apply
South Dakota does NOT require a general boater education card for adults. Operators under 12 must be accompanied. Missouri River + Lake Oahe + Lake Francis Case are the primary recreational waters; USACE federal rules apply on Corps lakes.
SD GFP — Boating · verified 2026-05-24
OHV registration required; Black Hills NF major trail network
South Dakota requires OHV registration via GFP for any OHV operated on public land. Black Hills National Forest has 600+ mi of designated OHV trails — the largest publicly-managed OHV system in the northern plains.
USFS — Black Hills NF OHV · verified 2026-05-24
South Dakota BAC 0.08%; open container in passenger area prohibited
South Dakota enforces 0.08% BAC for non-commercial drivers (0.04% commercial). Open alcoholic containers prohibited in passenger areas on public highways. Living-quarters use while parked may be permitted but is officer-discretion at roadside stops.
SDCL §32-23-1 · verified 2026-05-24