PIERRE, S.D. (KELO) -- South Dakota's state-owned campgrounds have seen a 3% drop in nights-stayed so far this year.

That downturn through August wasn't what state Parks and Recreation Division director Jeff VanMeeteren had anticipated.

Prior to the season, he expected a 2% increase.

VanMeeteren updated the South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks Commission during its meeting in Rapid City last week.

Folks were still heavily using the campgrounds on weekends this year, he said, but they're staying less often on weeknights.

“So that’s going to be a real target for us next year,” VanMeeteren told commissioners. “We have plenty of capacity.”

Through August, campers spent a total of 278,570 nights. That compares to 287,593 for the similar eight-month period in 2024.

Some of the differences ca

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