South Dakota state parks with lakes and other water attractions generally saw stronger camping and visitation numbers in June than parks without water, according to Parks and Recreation Director Jeff VanMeeteren.
Speaking to the Game, Fish and Parks Commission, VanMeeteren said some water-based parks still experienced declines, possibly due to slower fishing activity. Roy Lake State Park posted a 9% increase in camping compared to June 2025, while Platte Creek Recreation Area saw an 8% decrease.
Statewide, camping units in June were down 4% from a year ago, an improvement from May when camping was down 9%. Year-to-date camping figures are only 2% below 2025 levels.
Camping service revenue also dipped 4% year over year, falling from $7.44 million to $7.11 million.
Despite the decline, VanMeeteren described June as a solid month, highlighted by a record-setting Father’s Day weekend. He said parks often experience a slower “hangover” weekend after major attendance spikes but expects visitation to increase as hotter summer weather arrives.
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