Union Grove State Park RV & Campground Guide
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Union Grove State Park, located on 499 acres in far southeastern South Dakota, offers accommodations and amenities for year-round outdoor recreation. Before it became a state park in 1946, the area was used as a county park and featured a dammed lake. The dam has since been removed, and Brule Creek winds through the landscape without hindrance. During the last Ice Age, the landscape was beautifully carved, and rich soils were deposited. Today, the landscape boasts dense forests on gently rolling hills, and it is a natural haven for numerous animal species.
Spring 24–70 F
Summer 58–85 F
Fall 24–75 F
Winter 8–32 F
RV Resorts & Campsites in Union Grove State Park
The campground at Union Grove State Park has 25 campsites, and some of these sites have electrical hookups. The maximum RV length is 85 feet. Modern restrooms with showers are located in the campground and are ADA accessible. While the campground is open year-round, the flush toilets, showers and water may be unavailable between Oct. 1 and April 30. Vault toilets are available year-round. The campground also has a dump station and a children’s playground.
What to Do at
Union Grove State Park
Regardless of the season, Union Grove State Park offers exciting opportunities for visitors to reconnect with nature. With the abundant wildlife in the park, it is a popular spot for birding, wildlife viewing and hunting. The park offers four horse campsites as well as horseback trails for equestrians to use. The well-maintained trails at Union Grove State Park are also used for hiking, biking, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing. From picnicking and geocaching to casting a line in the creek, Union Grove State Park has something for all visitors to enjoy.
Fishing
Brule Creek is a popular fishing spot in southeastern South Dakota, and there are several access points for reaching the water in the state park. These include near the picnic areas and along the hiking and horseback riding trails.
Geocaching
A few caches are concealed throughout the park, making Union Grove State Park a great place to hunt for treasure. The geocaching app offers GPS coordinates for the treasures.
Nature Watching
Bird-watching is a popular activity seasonally at Union Grove State Park. Species that you could spot during your visit are wild turkeys, pheasants, cardinals, blue jays, red-winged blackbirds, orioles, warblers and grosbeak.
Flora and Fauna
The tall trees and dense grasses throughout the park make it a popular spot for a variety of mammals as well. Some of these are beavers, deer, opossums, shrews, chipmunks, marmots and squirrels.
Hiking
The Brule Bottom Trail is a 1.2-mile loop that is specifically reserved for hiking and snowshoeing. This dirt trail is moderately difficult with some notable elevation changes. It runs from the campground through the forest and alongside Brule Creek.
Biking
The Mosey Meadow Multi-Use Trail is a 4.3-mile loop that is used for mountain biking as well as for horseback riding, hiking, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing. This is a dirt and grass trail with some elevation changes, and it is moderately difficult to traverse. The trail passes through the horse camp, near the main campground and by the creek.
How to Get to
Union Grove State Park
Union Grove State Park is located just off of Interstate 29 between Sioux Falls and Sioux City. On Interstate 29, take the exit for 306th Street. Travel east on 306th Street, and then turn south on 471st Avenue. The park’s entrance is on the left side of the road.
Entering Union Grove State Park
Union Grove State Park is open daily throughout the year from 7 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Parking is available near the office, gift shop, restrooms and picnic areas.
Union Grove State Park Entry Fee per vehicle : $8.0
Frequently Asked Questions About Union Grove State Park
Union Grove State Park is well-suited for outdoor fun year-round. The warmer months are ideal for hiking, mountain biking, fishing and horseback riding. Snowshoeing and cross-country skiing are popular ways to spend time in the winter.
Wildlife is abundant in the park, and viewing and hunting opportunities vary by season. Some of the species in the park are wild turkeys, warblers, deer, pheasants, grosbeak, orioles, cardinals, red-winged blackbirds, blue jays, shrews, marmots, beavers, opossums, squirrels and chipmunks.
No, there are not any designated RV camping spots in Union Grove State Park.
Reservations are not required to camp at Union Grove State Park. However, because of the limited number of camping spots available, reservations are recommended and can be made at no additional cost. The nightly camping rate is $22 for non-electric campsites and $26 for sites with electrical hookups.
In the campground and day-use areas, pets are allowed if they're on leashes less than 10 feet long. Away from these areas, pets must be no more than 200 feet away from owners and must be under your control at all times.