Record visitation at SD state parks in 2009

South Dakota's state parks and recreation areas set records in visitation and camping use last year amid a shaky economy and higher entrance fees.

Camping in 2009 increased 10 percent over the previous year, while overall visitation was up 7 percent, said Doug Hofer, director of parks for the state Department of Game, Fish and Parks.

"That probably speaks to the fact that state parks are more popular than ever, even in times of economic problems," Hofer said Thursday. "More than anything, people are wanting to continue to recreate close to home. It's a very affordable activity."

For some, though, state campgrounds have become too popular.

"When they put that (90-day) reservation system in effect it was so difficult to make reservations and get them way in advance that we pretty much quit going to state campgrounds," said Al Miller, who lives near Sioux Falls.

Instead, Miller and his wife, Carol, have opted to pull their fifth-wheel camper to a private campground about 100 miles away in Iowa.

"We could call them and have a spot for the number of days we wanted and it was very simple vs. the state park," he said.

The department's year-end figures show 6.8 million visitors at South Dakota's 60 state parks and recreation areas and 257,000 camping units. A camping unit is defined as one tent, RV or camper that spends one night in a state park.

Harold Podhradsky, of Tea, said he and his fiancee camped about 15 times last summer - three times in South Dakota parks and the other times in Iowa where they can park their camper on Thursday and return Friday for the weekend.

Like Miller, he said he finds it difficult to get a campsite in state parks.

"If you don't reserve 90 days in advance chances are extremely good that you won't get one," he said.

Camping fees were unchanged in 2009, but the department boosted the price of a season park entrance sticker from $23 to $28. Daily entrance fees were raised by $1 per vehicle, regardless of the number of people inside, or $1 per person.

Hofer credited fishing successes and higher water levels - particularly on Lake Oahe - for a 20 percent boost in camping along the Missouri River.

Camping increased by 13 percent in western South Dakota, 5 percent in the northeast and 4 percent in the southeast.

The rise in the northeast and southeast, while modest, is significant because weekend occupancy is nearly 100 percent and any increase comes from midweek use or the "shoulder" spring and fall seasons, Hofer said.

Custer State Park in the Black Hills continues to draw the most visitors, with more than 1.8 million in 2009, a 7.9 percent increase. Lewis & Clark Lake near Yankton remains second, with 1.2 million visitors last year.