US lakes & pondsUS lakes & pondsSurface area: The USGS National Hydrography Dataset outline (NHD Permanent ID 124549087).
The closest airport with scheduled passenger flights to Sylvan Lake, plus larger airports within about 150 miles:
Car rental links go to our partner Discover Cars; LakeRipple may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Affiliate disclosure.
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.
The red circle marks Sylvan Lake.
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).
Official SD GFP pages. Rules and fees change; check before you go.
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.
Numbers on the map match the list at rightbelow.
Shoreline: USGS National Hydrography Dataset (NHD Waterbody, Permanent ID 124549087), public domain. State outline: U.S. Census Bureau TIGERweb. Points: OpenStreetMap boat ramps (no statewide agency ramp layer used). Interactive map: Leaflet with © OpenStreetMap contributors. Not for navigation.
We found 37 campgrounds and RV parks within 15 miles of Sylvan Lake, 9 of them within 5 miles. Distances are straight-line from the nearest point on the shoreline, so driving distance is longer.
Season: May 27-Sep 30 00:00-24:00
RVs welcome · Tent sites · Dogs allowed
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: Recreation.gov (RIDB) · OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Pulled Oct 12, 2026.
Live from the National Weather Service API for the lake's coordinates (43.8460, -103.5641). The nearest station may be several miles away. NWS forecast for Sylvan Lake. No live water-temperature sensor is shown because we haven't found a public one for this lake.
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 MT (America/Denver), and accurate to within a few minutes.
On OpenStreetMap: 1 beach or swimming spot on the shore of Sylvan Lake not marked private, residents-only or members-only.
| Beach | Type | Access | Directions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sylvan Lake Beach | Beach | Public access; no fee | Get directions |
Beaches: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), within about 150 m (500 ft) of the lake outline. A mapped beach is not a guarantee that swimming is allowed, supervised or safe; some town beaches need a resident sticker even when the map doesn't say so. Check posted rules and water-quality advisories before you swim.
Sylvan Lake covers about 18 acres in Custer, South Dakota (Custer County).
OpenStreetMap shows 1 public beach or swimming spot on the shore. None of our sources lists a lifeguard, so swim at your own risk and follow posted rules.
Yes. We list 37 campgrounds and RV parks within 15 miles, 9 of them within 5 miles.
Sylvan Lake touches Custer in Custer County, South Dakota.
Know Sylvan Lake? 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).
Straight-line distance between lake centers. All South Dakota lakes & ponds · All waters in Custer