When you think of sandy beaches under sunny skies, do you think of South Dakota? If not, you should! Sure, we don’t have an ocean…but we do have several gorgeous beaches just begging for you to lounge on them. To see what we mean, take this road trip to all of the best hidden beaches in South Dakota:
This East River road trip takes you from the southern part to the northern part of the state and covers 789 miles. Of course, you won’t attempt this trip all at once! Plan to spend several nights along the way.
Google You can use this interactive Google Map for directions and to add your own stops along the way.
- Newton Hills State Park
Newton Hills State Park/Facebook You’ll want to plan to spend a while at this pretty state park that includes forest, prairie, and Lake Lakota. Here you will also find one of the best hidden beaches in South Dakota.
Address: 28767 482nd Avenue, Canton, SD, 57013 28767 482nd Ave, Canton, SD 57013, USA
- Lake Vermillion Recreation Area
Lake Vermillion Recreation Area/Facebook Lake Vermillion is popular for its many fishing opportunities, but it also offers a nice beach with plenty of sand for playing.
Address: 26140 451st Avenue, Canistota, SD, 57012 26140 451st Ave, Canistota, SD 57012, USA
- Lewis and Clark Recreation Area
Lewis and Clark Recreation Area Just a few miles west of Yankton, Lewis and Clark Recreation area offers a couple of sandy secret beaches in South Dakota that are perfect for lounging and relaxing on a weekend afternoon.
Address: 43349 SD-52, Yankton, SD, 57078 43349 SD-52, Yankton, SD 57078, USA
- North Point Recreation Area
South Dakota Game Fish and Parks Located on the banks of the Missouri River, this recreation area has a beach with some beautiful river views. You’ll also find flush toilets, showers, and camping here.
Address: 38180 297th Street, Lake Andes, SD, 57356 38180 297th St, Lake Andes, SD 57356, USA
- Oahe Downstream Recreation Area
Oahe Downstream Recreation Area/Facebook Bring your towel and beach umbrella because you’re going to want to spend some time on the spacious beach at this recreation area. You’ll also love playing in the water - hop on a personal watercraft or go waterskiing.
Address: 20439 Marina Loop, Fort Pierre, SD, 57532 20439 Marina Loop, Fort Pierre, SD 57532, USA
- Ravine Lake in Huron
Putters & Scoops Putters & Scoops/Facebook Ravine Lake is located right in the town of Huron and it has one of the prettiest secret beaches in South Dakota. You’ll also find plenty of picnic tables, so pack a lunch!
Address: 800 Easy Street, Huron, SD, 57350 Easy Street, Easy St, Huron, SD 57350, USA
- Mina Lake Recreation Area
South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks Mina Lake has a nice little beach and also offers overnight camping with showers. Try your hand at fishing - the park even offers fishing pole rentals.
Address: 402 Park Avenue, Mina, SD, 5745 402 Park Ave, Mina, SD 57451, USA
- Hartford Beach State Park
Hartford Beach State Park/Facebook Hartford Beach State Park has a sunny little beach, and it also has some great walleye fishing. Bring your hiking boots, too…you’ll want to hike the trails here.
Address: 13672 Hartford Beach Road, Corona, SD, 57227 13672 Hartford Beach Rd, Corona, SD 57227, USA
- Lake Poinsett Recreation Area
South Dakota Game Fish and Parks The beach here is small, but it’s well maintained. In fact, it’s one of the most pristine hidden beaches in South Dakota. You’ll love camping right next to the lake, and the fishing can be pretty good, too.
Address: 45617 South Poinsett Drive, Arlington, SD, 57212 45617 S Poinsett Dr, Arlington, SD 57212, USA
You can use this interactive Google Map for directions and to add your own stops along the way.
Newton Hills State Park/Facebook
You’ll want to plan to spend a while at this pretty state park that includes forest, prairie, and Lake Lakota. Here you will also find one of the best hidden beaches in South Dakota.
Address: 28767 482nd Avenue, Canton, SD, 57013
28767 482nd Ave, Canton, SD 57013, USA
Lake Vermillion Recreation Area/Facebook
Lake Vermillion is popular for its many fishing opportunities, but it also offers a nice beach with plenty of sand for playing.
Address: 26140 451st Avenue, Canistota, SD, 57012
26140 451st Ave, Canistota, SD 57012, USA
Lewis and Clark Recreation Area
Just a few miles west of Yankton, Lewis and Clark Recreation area offers a couple of sandy secret beaches in South Dakota that are perfect for lounging and relaxing on a weekend afternoon.
Address: 43349 SD-52, Yankton, SD, 57078
43349 SD-52, Yankton, SD 57078, USA
South Dakota Game Fish and Parks
Located on the banks of the Missouri River, this recreation area has a beach with some beautiful river views. You’ll also find flush toilets, showers, and camping here.
Address: 38180 297th Street, Lake Andes, SD, 57356
38180 297th St, Lake Andes, SD 57356, USA
Oahe Downstream Recreation Area/Facebook
Bring your towel and beach umbrella because you’re going to want to spend some time on the spacious beach at this recreation area. You’ll also love playing in the water - hop on a personal watercraft or go waterskiing.
Address: 20439 Marina Loop, Fort Pierre, SD, 57532
20439 Marina Loop, Fort Pierre, SD 57532, USA
Putters & Scoops Putters & Scoops/Facebook
Ravine Lake is located right in the town of Huron and it has one of the prettiest secret beaches in South Dakota. You’ll also find plenty of picnic tables, so pack a lunch!
Address: 800 Easy Street, Huron, SD, 57350
Easy Street, Easy St, Huron, SD 57350, USA
South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks
Mina Lake has a nice little beach and also offers overnight camping with showers. Try your hand at fishing - the park even offers fishing pole rentals.
Address: 402 Park Avenue, Mina, SD, 5745
402 Park Ave, Mina, SD 57451, USA
Hartford Beach State Park/Facebook
Hartford Beach State Park has a sunny little beach, and it also has some great walleye fishing. Bring your hiking boots, too…you’ll want to hike the trails here.
Address: 13672 Hartford Beach Road, Corona, SD, 57227
13672 Hartford Beach Rd, Corona, SD 57227, USA
The beach here is small, but it’s well maintained. In fact, it’s one of the most pristine hidden beaches in South Dakota. You’ll love camping right next to the lake, and the fishing can be pretty good, too.
Address: 45617 South Poinsett Drive, Arlington, SD, 57212
45617 S Poinsett Dr, Arlington, SD 57212, USA
What other hidden beaches in South Dakota did we miss? Tell us your favorites in the comments, so our readers can add them to their itineraries.
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The OIYS Visitor Center
Best Hidden Beaches in South Dakota April 19, 2019 Annie Sandmeier Does South Dakota have beaches? South Dakota not only has amazing beaches, but we also have MORE shoreline than Florida, meaning there are countless spots around the state to sink your toes in the sand and/or take a dip. What are the prettiest beaches in South Dakota? This one is tough, as we think every South Dakota beach is pretty, but if we had to choose only one it would have to be Sylvan Lake. Why? This man-made lake (that was created in 1881 by a dam built across Sunday Gulch Creek) is surrounded by stunning rock formations that will make you think you left Mount Rushmore State for Acapulco. What are the best beach towns in South Dakota? Needless to say, South Dakota beach towns are going to be a bit different than places like Virginia Beach or Tampa Bay, but we think you will be pleasantly surprised! If you want to take in one of these South Dakota Beach towns, we recommend beginning with Yankton (a college town that is home to not only the Lewis and Clark Recreation Area, but also tons of shopping, restaurants, and various outdoor activities) and Hot Springs (this town is all about fun with its many pools, hot springs, and caves to explore). What beaches have the clearest water in South Dakota? Surprisingly, the water at most South Dakota beaches is clear, but for the most pristine we have to go with Pactola Point Swim Beach (at the Pactola Reservoir in West Pennington), whose water just seems to shine and glisten a bit more than the rest.
The OIYS Visitor Center
Best Hidden Beaches in South Dakota
April 19, 2019
Annie Sandmeier
Does South Dakota have beaches? South Dakota not only has amazing beaches, but we also have MORE shoreline than Florida, meaning there are countless spots around the state to sink your toes in the sand and/or take a dip. What are the prettiest beaches in South Dakota? This one is tough, as we think every South Dakota beach is pretty, but if we had to choose only one it would have to be Sylvan Lake. Why? This man-made lake (that was created in 1881 by a dam built across Sunday Gulch Creek) is surrounded by stunning rock formations that will make you think you left Mount Rushmore State for Acapulco. What are the best beach towns in South Dakota? Needless to say, South Dakota beach towns are going to be a bit different than places like Virginia Beach or Tampa Bay, but we think you will be pleasantly surprised! If you want to take in one of these South Dakota Beach towns, we recommend beginning with Yankton (a college town that is home to not only the Lewis and Clark Recreation Area, but also tons of shopping, restaurants, and various outdoor activities) and Hot Springs (this town is all about fun with its many pools, hot springs, and caves to explore). What beaches have the clearest water in South Dakota? Surprisingly, the water at most South Dakota beaches is clear, but for the most pristine we have to go with Pactola Point Swim Beach (at the Pactola Reservoir in West Pennington), whose water just seems to shine and glisten a bit more than the rest.
The OIYS Visitor Center
The OIYS Visitor Center
South Dakota not only has amazing beaches, but we also have MORE shoreline than Florida, meaning there are countless spots around the state to sink your toes in the sand and/or take a dip.
What are the prettiest beaches in South Dakota?
This one is tough, as we think every South Dakota beach is pretty, but if we had to choose only one it would have to be Sylvan Lake. Why? This man-made lake (that was created in 1881 by a dam built across Sunday Gulch Creek) is surrounded by stunning rock formations that will make you think you left Mount Rushmore State for Acapulco.
What are the best beach towns in South Dakota?
Needless to say, South Dakota beach towns are going to be a bit different than places like Virginia Beach or Tampa Bay, but we think you will be pleasantly surprised! If you want to take in one of these South Dakota Beach towns, we recommend beginning with Yankton (a college town that is home to not only the Lewis and Clark Recreation Area, but also tons of shopping, restaurants, and various outdoor activities) and Hot Springs (this town is all about fun with its many pools, hot springs, and caves to explore).
What beaches have the clearest water in South Dakota?
Surprisingly, the water at most South Dakota beaches is clear, but for the most pristine we have to go with Pactola Point Swim Beach (at the Pactola Reservoir in West Pennington), whose water just seems to shine and glisten a bit more than the rest.
