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Lake Poinsett

Lake Norden, South Dakota — Hamlin County.

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9,794Surface acres
2Public access sites

Surface area: The USGS National Hydrography Dataset outline (NHD Permanent ID 126758849).

Nearest airports

The closest airport with scheduled passenger flights to Lake Poinsett, plus larger airports within about 150 miles:

Compare car rentals near this lake

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Airports with scheduled airline service from OurAirports (large and medium airports); larger airports are FAA large, medium and small hubs by FAA CY2025 enplanements ("major airport" = FAA large hub). Distances are straight-line from the lake's center, not driving distance; road routes are longer.

Location & fast facts

Where Lake Poinsett is in South Dakota

The red circle marks Lake Poinsett.

Fast facts

About Lake Poinsett

  • Counties: Hamlin, Brookings
  • Nearest city: Lake Norden (about 3.2 mi from the lake)
  • Mapped as: Lake or pond (USGS National Hydrography Dataset)
  • Distance: about 74 mi from Sioux Falls and 92 mi from Aberdeen, straight-line (not driving distance)

Towns and counties: U.S. Census Bureau boundaries overlaid on the USGS lake outline (South Dakota: incorporated places touching the lake, otherwise the nearest one).

Fishing in South Dakota

Official SD GFP pages. Rules and fees change; check before you go.

Good for & watch for

Good for

  • Boating. 2 public trailer launches listed (see access)
  • Camping. 3 campgrounds within 15 mi (list)

Watch for

  • Non-native/invasive species. Zebra mussel recorded. Clean, drain and dry your boat and gear.
  • Boat traffic. A public trailer launch means motorboats share the water; expect more traffic on summer weekends.

Built only from the data on this page: official access lists, OpenStreetMap beaches and trails, campground listings, state and USGS invasive-species records. We don't rate crowds or water quality.

Lake map

Lake Poinsett shoreline, boat launches & beaches

Boat ramp (Boat launch)1Boat ramp (Boat launch)21 mileN

Numbers on the map match the list at rightbelow.

Boat launch
  1. 1Boat ramp
    Boat launch
  2. 2Boat ramp
    Boat launch

Shoreline: USGS National Hydrography Dataset (NHD Waterbody, Permanent ID 126758849), public domain. State outline: U.S. Census Bureau TIGERweb. Points: OpenStreetMap boat ramps (no statewide agency ramp layer used) and OpenStreetMap boat ramps (ODbL). Interactive map: Leaflet with © OpenStreetMap contributors. Not for navigation.

Campgrounds near Lake Poinsett

We found 3 campgrounds and RV parks within 15 miles of Lake Poinsett, 1 of them within 5 miles. Distances are straight-line from the nearest point on the shoreline, so driving distance is longer.

All campgrounds & RV parks in South Dakota

Green tent icons on the lake map mark campgrounds near the shore, and the interactive map shows the closest 12. Amenities are listed only where a source records them; call or check the campground's website before you go, since seasons and rates change every year.

Campground data: OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Pulled Oct 12, 2026.

Conditions right now

Air temperature & conditions (nearest NWS station)Loading…
Fetching the latest National Weather Service observation…

Live from the National Weather Service API for the lake's coordinates (44.5938, -97.0587). The nearest station may be several miles away. NWS forecast for Lake Poinsett. No live water-temperature sensor is shown because we haven't found a public one for this lake.

Sun, moon & best fishing times

Sun & moon at Lake Poinsett

Best fishing times

Major periodMinor periodDaylight

    Based on solunar theory, an estimate. Major periods (about 2 hours) center on when the moon is directly overhead or underfoot; minor periods (about 1 hour) center on moonrise and moonset. The 0–100 activity score rises during those periods and gets a boost near sunrise and sunset and around the new and full moon. Weather, water temperature and pressure often matter more. Sun and moon times are calculated in your browser from the lake's coordinates with standard astronomy formulas, shown in CT (America/Chicago), and accurate to within a few minutes.

    Boat launches & access sites

    2 public access sites listed, 2 with a boat ramp or trailer launch.

    SiteTownOwnerTypeParkingFeeUsesMap
    Boat ramp——Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp——Boating44.5387, -97.0766
    Boat ramp——Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp——Boating44.5418, -97.0689

    OpenStreetMap boat ramps (no statewide agency ramp layer used) and OpenStreetMap boat ramps (ODbL)

    Fees, hours and rules change; confirm with the site owner before you go.

    Non-native/invasive species

    Reported on or near Lake Poinsett

    Clean, Drain, Dry. Remove plants and mud, drain all water, and dry your boat, trailer and gear before moving to another water.

    USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species database

    USGS records matched to this water by location (within about 150 m of the outline) or by the place name in the record. A record shows a sighting was reported; it doesn't prove the species is still there. As of Oct 10, 2026.

    Contact & official info

    Questions about Lake Poinsett

    How big is Lake Poinsett?

    Lake Poinsett covers about 9,794 acres in Lake Norden, South Dakota (Hamlin County).

    Is there a public boat launch on Lake Poinsett?

    Yes. 2 public trailer launches are listed: Boat ramp and Boat ramp. Check posted fees and parking rules.

    Are there campgrounds near Lake Poinsett?

    Yes. We list 3 campgrounds and RV parks within 15 miles, 1 of them within 5 miles.

    What towns are on Lake Poinsett?

    Lake Poinsett touches Lake Norden in Hamlin County and Brookings County, South Dakota.

    Share a tip or fishing report

    Know Lake Poinsett? Tell us about the launch, parking, where they're biting or anything a first-time visitor should know. Tips go privately to the LakeRipple editor; nothing is posted automatically. Helpful tips may be featured on this page (we'll use your first name only if you give one).

    Lakes & ponds nearby

    Straight-line distance between lake centers. All South Dakota lakes & ponds · All waters in Lake Norden