REASON 01
Closer than Okoboji, easier than the Black Hills
Closest open-water lake to Sioux Falls — 45 minutes door-to-dock. Okoboji's three hours. The Black Hills are five. Day-trippable on a Saturday; weekend-cabin-able when you want longer.
★ Reviews on Google · Open year-roundWentworth, SD · 45 mi from Sioux Falls
← The Hillside Resort
Visiting Lake Madison
Everything Lake Madison.
Lake Madison sits 45 minutes north of Sioux Falls — 2,642 acres of open water on one side, Long Lake's no-wake calm on the other. The Hillside Resort is the property that does the full stack: marina, lakeside cabins + campers, the Sea Store across the street, BluMana cruises, and the lake-view Steakhouse upstairs with the Basement Bar downstairs. This page is the starting point. Pick what kind of visit you're planning.
Why Hillside
The lake closest to Sioux Falls — and what's on it.
REASON 02
Two lakes, one property
Lake Madison (2,642 acres) is the fast one — skiing, jet skis, the BluMana cruise. Long Lake is the calm one — no-wake, kid-safe, sunset float, BYO paddleboard or kayak. Hillside straddles both.
REASON 03
Walleye fishing that locals defend
Lake Madison is on the SD walleye fishing radar — open-water through summer, ice-fishing through winter. Public boat ramp at the marina, fuel dock on property, Sea Store across the street for bait + tackle.
REASON 04
The food's worth the drive without the lake
The Hillside Steakhouse is the kind of restaurant Sioux Falls people drive 45 minutes to even without a boat. Hand-cut steaks, walleye fresh from the local supplier, lake view from every patio table.
What's on the property
Pick your way in. Walk into most; reserve the few that fill up.
Lake Madison is the place — Hillside is the property. Pick your visit type and we'll route you to the right page.
Day Trip — Marina + Lunch
Pull up by 11, pontoon rentals, lunch on the Steakhouse patio. Reserve the boat ahead. Best Saturday all summer.
Learn more →Weekend Stay — Cabins + Campers
Loft Cabin, bunkhouses, RV pads — plus the beachfront campers when they're back. Every cabin includes a golf cart. Year-round.
Learn more →
Dinner on the Lake
Hand-cut steaks, walleye, full bar at the Steakhouse upstairs. The Basement Bar for the late-night — pool tables, foosball, darts, life-size Connect 4. Reserve for weekend dinners.
Learn more →
Sunset Cruise on the BluMana
Party boat with a captain aboard. Sunset charters run all season — call the marina for open dates, or follow Hillside on Facebook. Private charters also available.
Learn more →Where to next?
Pick the visit you're planning.
Hillside is the full-stack property on Lake Madison. Routed by what you came for.
Questions
The things people ask first.
- How long is the drive from Sioux Falls?
- 45 minutes door-to-dock. North on 26th Ave through downtown, then 22nd Ave / 230th Ave into Madison. Locals take this route — it doesn't go through anything rough.
- Lake Madison vs. Long Lake — what's the difference?
- Lake Madison is 2,642 acres of open water — skiing, jet skis, BluMana cruises, faster boats. Long Lake is a designated no-wake zone — kid-safe swimming, sunset floats, BYO paddleboard or kayak. Hillside sits between the two — golf-cart distance.
- What's the walleye + fishing situation?
- Lake Madison is a known walleye lake — also pike, smallmouth bass, perch. Open-water from ice-out (mid-April) through November. Ice-fishing through winter. Public boat ramp at the Hillside marina; bait + tackle at the Sea Store across the street.
- Can I do a day trip without booking anything ahead?
- Mostly yes. Steakhouse lunch — walk in. Marina pontoons — walk in on weekdays, book ahead on holiday Saturdays. The BluMana cruise always requires a reservation. The Sea Store is just walk-in.
- Are cabins available year-round or just summer?
- Year-round. Summer is loud + busy. Fall is steaks + quiet docks. Winter is ice fishing + fireplace dinners. Spring is the loons returning. Off-season cabin rates drop substantially — September through April is the quiet season.
- Where do I park?
- Free parking next to the Steakhouse, at the marina, and the Sea Store has its own lot across the street. Plenty of spots even on busy Saturdays.
Visiting Lake Madison
Pick how you want to spend the day.
Walk-ins welcome at every venue on the property. For the boat block, the patio table, or the cabin block, Call (605) 838-7953 to start planning.