Gunderson Park

Wild CampingFreeSouth Dakota, United States3.0(1)

About this site

Between Memorial Day and Labor Day you can stay for up to 14 days free. Primitive camping. 2 fire pits. No other amenities at this free campsite. Many locals drive through, some like to race through kicking up much dust. After 2000 things are quite. Bald eagles were visible in the tree tops twice when we were there. Turkeys, deer, song birds are easy sittings. Last visit there local police chief stopped by our campsite and told us of a possible cougar presence. We didn't see or hear it. Other than traffic a nice stop over location for a night or two. Cell service was excellent (both AT&T, Verizon). Small village just ½ mile away. City park has dump station and potable water available. Campsites are also available for a fee (electric, bathroom, showers at swimming pool).

Amenities & access

Access

Drive-in access

Amenities

Pet Friendly
Fire Rings

Maximum vehicle length

30 feet

Contact

https://www.visitcentervillesd.com/places-to-stay

Location

43.126645, -96.965994

Elevation · 1,220 ft

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Weather

Reviews (1)

C
Camper
September 1, 2026
3
CAMPING IS NOW ONLY ALLOWED BETWEEN MEMORIAL DAY THROUGH LABOR DAY. NO WINTER CAMPING IS ALLOWED ANY LONGER. Gunderson Park is a nice little boondocking location just ½ mile from the downtown area of Centerville. They have 2 fire pit locations, but, after speaking with the official at city hall we found out you can camp pretty much anywhere in the park you would like. It is free to camp here, you can stay for up to 14 days. There are no hook-ups. No bathroom facilities. No picnic tables. No playground for children. You may fish with a South Dakota license in the lazy rolling Vermillion River that skirts the park on 3 sides. They have a cement boat ramp. I will say when we stayed there the river was so low you would have had great difficulties getting a boat launched. On the west side of the park there are park benches at the beginning (or end of the walk depending on your start location) with a cemented walk way along the road to the park and the Vermillion River. It runs close to a quarter mile long with benches about half way through the walk. The city keeps this park mowed during the summer months. This is an old old park dating back to 1800's. The trees are massive and just as old providing beautiful shade. There are remnants of old stone items remaing in the park, grape vine thingy, a stone fireplace and pillars. Our stay favored us with Bald Eagle sightings. 2 hung around the trees on the other side of the river in full view, it was wonderful. At the city park you can dump your tanks. Drive into town from Gunderson, at the south end of the boulevard turn left (east), drive (like 3½ blocks) until you pass nursing home on one side and Catholic Church on the other side. Take a left into city park . The dump station is on the left side (before the little wood building) it is marked with a small flag sticking up about 4½ to 5 feet. (From the turn into the park it's like 20 yards). This seems to be a favorite location for locals to drive through. Sometimes we found traffic through the park on the heavy side but most of the time very quiet. Some of the younger people race through and kick up massive dust clouds. People are small town friendly. Population is around 900 people. Town has a grocery store, convenience store, bank, medical clinic, pharmacy, restaurant, bowling alley, auto parts store, bakery and other businesses. We noticed 4 churches in our drive around the town. At the city park they have a community swimming pool, Frisbee golf, 2 ball diamonds, tennis courts, playground equipment, volleyball courts, 3 picnic house areas and a location for 8 RV campsites with electrical plug ins [6 50 amp and 2 30 amp) for $10.00 a night with limited stay.