Hi there!
South Dakota state park camping cabins are basically minimalist shelters without a whole lot of amenities inside the cabin.
You can think of it as a simple place to sleep without having to go through the effort of putting up a tent yourself!
And, it’s possible to find these South Dakota state park camping cabins in Palisades State Park!
At Palisades State Park, there is tent camping and RV camping.
And the way it works for the camping cabins is that you can also find camping cabins at the Palisades State Park campground!
👆 Driving to Palisades State Park in eastern South Dakota off of I-90. Palisades State Park Campground is less than 10 minutes away!
Split Rock Creek is basically the reason to go to Palisades State Park. This is the main creek that runs through the park.
Most, if not all, camping cabins are perched above Split Rock Creek, and you can hear the flow of the water from your cabin!
You can also find a trail that leads from your cabin to the trail that runs along Split Creek!
This means easy access to a morning creekside walk from your cabin!
When staying at a Palisades State Park camping cabin, you will be staying at the Palisades State Park campground alongside tent campers and RV campers.
And as a minimalist cabin without many amenities, you will be using the same Palisades State Park campground amenities as the campers who are tent camping and RV camping.
A Palisades State Park camping cabin can be a perfect part of your South Dakota camping trip when you are looking to take a break from tent camping for a little extra “luxury”!
More below of what’s inside a camping cabin at Palisades State Park campground!
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Now…
A bit more about the Palisades State Park camping cabins!
My cabin trip to the Palisades State Park campground was in September 2021. Some things may change, but this can start to give you an idea of what the Palisades State Park cabins can be like!
1. The Palisades State Park campground is off of I-90.
Palisades State Park is on google maps. (map)
If you are doing a long drive along I-90, like from Chicago to Badlands National Park or to Mount Rushmore, or even further like Chicago to Yellowstone, then you will be doing a lot of driving along I-90!
And one relatively convenient stop you can make to break up your drive along I-90 is Palisades State Park!
This is located in eastern South Dakota.
If you are driving to the west, then you will see the exit sign for Palisades State Park shortly after you leave Minnesota and enter South Dakota.
Once you get off I-90, it’s about a 10 minute drive to Palisades State Park.
You will see signs for to Palisades State Park.
So staying at a camping cabin in Palisades State Park can make for a convenient (and cheap!) overnight stop!
Where are you going from Palisades State Park?! Popular stops along I-90 in South Dakota:
2. The camping cabins are located in a couple different places in Palisades State Park campground.
Once you are in Palisades State Park, you will pick up your cabin key. (A little bit about “check-in” procedures for your cabin later below.)
Then once you have your key, you will basically follow the sign for the camping area, and then that will take you to the campground.
Then, you will start to see a few cabins.
👆 There is a cabin directly alongside the road to the left of the car.
👆 There is a cabin alongside the road to the left of the car.
And if one of those isn’t your cabin, then you will keep driving and follow the road until you see more cabins!
While none of the cabins have a super long walk to get to, there are some cabins that have a longer path than others to get to.
You will look for the specific cabin you reserved!
The cabin number is located on the cabin itself.
3. There are beds and mattresses inside the camping cabins. But there is no bedding of any kind!
The exact layout will vary based on the camping cabin you reserve.
When you make your booking, you can see how many people the cabin will sleep.
The beds are set up bunk bed style.
All you get is a mattress. No bedding of any kind is included, so you’ll need to bring all of that on your own. This can include things like a sleeping bag and a pillow.
What you see is what you get!
4. There is a small table inside the camping cabins.
It’s not a whole lot of space, but there is a small table inside the cabin.
5. There is a picnic table outside the cabin.
The more convenient place to eat will be outside!
You can eat at the picnic table that’s located on your cabin porch!
6. You can also sit outside on the porch in the adirondack chairs and listen to the sounds of the creek!
7. The camping cabins have electricity, AC, and heat!
There is electricity inside the cabin, so you’ll get lighting inside.
This also includes many outlets around the inside of the cabin.
There is also AC in the camping cabins. There is also heat in the camping cabins!
You can also use electricity outside of your cabin. There is an outlet outside.
8. There is no running water inside the cabin. Instead, you will use the water faucets that can be found around the Palisades State Park Campground.
There are faucets around the campground for drinking water (and cooking water) that you can use to fill up your water jug.
9. There is no bathroom inside the camping cabin. Instead, you will use the Palisades State Park Campground bathroom.
There are regular bathrooms and toilets at the Palisades State Park campground.
But, that won’t be the bathroom near you.
Instead, there are also basic no-flush toilets that will be a shorter walk from your cabin.
10. There is no shower inside the camping cabin. Instead, you will use the Palisades State Park Campground showers.
The regular bathroom is also the “bath house” or where you will go to take a shower at the Palisades State Park campground.
11. There is a small trash can inside the camping cabin.
There’s also a trash dumpster and recycling can at the Palisades State Park campground. Similar to tent camping or RV camping, it would be good to take the trash bag from your cabin to the dumpster!
Try to leave the cabin as you found it. There is minimal housekeeping with the camping cabins.
12. There is a fire extinguisher inside the camping cabin.
Know how to use a fire extinguisher! PASS: pull, aim, squeeze, sweep! Watch the video!
A small portable fire extinguisher is also a good thing to add to your South Dakota camping packing list! You can find them at Walmart.
How to check in for your Palisades State Park camping cabin
When I went to the Palisades State Park in September (off-season), there was no formal check-in process.
Instructions for getting the cabin key were in the cabin reservation email. So be sure to read that email!
Also when you stop by the little park ranger entry station, you can get a map of Palisades State Park!
How to make camping cabin reservations for Palisades State Park
You will make your camping reservation for the Palisades State Park Campground through the South Dakota state park camping reservation website, which is go outdoors south dakota.
Cost of camping cabins in Palisades State Park
The cost in 2021 for Palisades State Park camping cabins was $66 a night, and that includes taxes and the out-of-state resident fee. The base price was $55 per night for a camping cabin in Palisades State Park.
You separately also do need to buy the Palisades State Park day pass or the annual South Dakota state park pass.
In 2021, it was $8 for a day pass, and $36 for an annual pass that will cover you for all South Dakota state parks. See current fees.
You can buy a park pass when you get to Palisades State Park.
And that’s a bit about staying at a cabin at the Palisades State Park Campground!
For camping cabins in western South Dakota:
- Blue Bell campground camping cabins
- Stockade Lake campground camping cabins
- Game Lodge campground camping cabins
Plan more for your trip to South Dakota and beyond:
- Best campgrounds in South Dakota
- Campgrounds in Badlands National Park
- Best places to visit in South Dakota
- Things to do in Badlands National Park
- Things to do in Mount Rushmore National Memorial
- Driving from Mount Rushmore to Devils Tower
- Things to do in Devils Tower National Monument
- What is up with Wall Drug in South Dakota?
- Things to do in Custer State Park
- Best hikes in Custer State Park
HAPPY STAYING AT A CAMPING CABIN IN PALISADES STATE PARK!
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