Indiana is famous for covered bridges, basketball, and Abraham Lincoln’s childhood home. But, the Hoosier State also has some beautiful campgrounds. “Honest-to-Goodness Indiana” might as well sum up its natural beauty in the form of lush forests, gushing rivers, and untouched environs. What’s more, the same goes for campgrounds in this midwestern heartland. Indiana best camping opportunities go beyond just tent camping since the state is full of state and regional parks. Moreover, outdoor enthusiasts don’t have to travel too far off the beaten path to see all the state’s “goodness.” Plus, the campgrounds offer excellent camping options for beachcombers, bikers, hikers, RV enthusiasts, tent campers, and families.
If that wasn’t enough, there are many activities on offer that make it more than just a camping destination. There are fishing opportunities, swimming, hiking, wildlife and birdwatching, historical landmarks to explore, and forests full of waterfalls. So, here are the 11 best Indiana camping sites for a whole boatload of outdoorsy fun without further ado.
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Indiana Dunes State Park
11
Indiana Dunes State Park is one of the best Indiana camping sites. The state park lies on the shores of Lake Michigan and is all about beaches. It lies just an hour from ‘Windy City’ Chicago, making it the perfect weekend getaway. So, get one of the best Outdoorsy travel trailers on rent and head off for a fun and adventure-filled weekend.
The spectacular beach terrain is one of the most unusual in Indiana. While there’s a three-mile-long beach with dunes for picnicking and lounging, there’s also a thick and lush forest right behind. So, you can indulge in everything from kayaking, stand-up paddling, searching for seashells, and swimming to hiking the forested trails. If that wasn’t enough, the 15,000-acre-huge park is also one of the country’s most biologically diverse. Thus, it’s also home to more than 1,100 native plant species, so make sure you bring trail shoes for exploring.
Dunewood Campground is one of the park’s favorite and most popular campgrounds. It’s open between April and October and fills up pretty quickly since it’s first-come, first-served. Choose from 25 walk-ins and 54 drive-up sites, all of which have concrete pads and 50-amp service. They sit right on the edge of the 200-feet-high dunes, which separate them from the lake. What’s more, there’s tent and RV camping both, with ample room for all-sized vehicles. While pets are welcome at the campground, they aren’t allowed on the beach. So, you had better bring along camping dog cages or camping dog tie-outs. Amenities are excellent and include showers, a general store, a trash area, restrooms, and even a dump station.
Versailles State Park
10
The Versailles of Indiana isn’t very different from the Versailles of Paris – the only difference is that the former is rich in natural beauty! This southeastern Indiana gem lies less than two hours from Indiana and has discovered many fossils. If that wasn’t enough, it has a rich Civil War and Civil Conservation Corps history too.
The centerpiece here is the 230-acre lake, perfect for all kinds of water sports. So, you can enjoy kayaking and even fishing. So, this is the time to pull out your cherished recreational kayaks, fly-fishing backpacks, and fishing waders. The boat launch ramp offers to rent all sorts of boats to explore the lake. However, do remember that What’s more, there are miles of hiking routes, bridle trails, mountain bike trails too. During the season, there are even interpretive naturalist services available!
Versailles Campground with 226 sites is the best of all the campgrounds here. It comprises various pad compositions that lie right on the shores of the lake. 215 individual sites all have electric hookups, as do the horse campsites, group camps, and shelters. What’s more, every site has a fire ring and a picnic table, while communal amenities include a great outdoor swimming pool! Finally, toilets are available, and both pets and campfires are allowed.
Summit Lake State Park
9
Summit Lake State Park is one of the largest best Indiana camping sites. The almost 2,700-acre-huge state park boasts not just a large lake but some of the best expansive landscapes hardly an hour from Indianapolis. The state park is centered around the stunning and shimmering 800-acre-huge Summit Lake and features prairies, farmlands, ancient woodlands, and wetlands. It’s like the Midwest meets New England! So, it’s no surprise that it’s a hotspot for water babies and people who love rambling, rugged, as well as lush landscapes.
One of the topmost activities to do is bathing and swimming at the beach, after which you can lounge around on the sandy banks. Not only is the region a great place for hiking, but it’s also a hotspot for observing wildlife and birdwatching. So, we’d recommend that you pack your long-distance binoculars and birdwatching binoculars, and even your hiking binoculars, for the views are worth it. There’s even a boat launch, where you can rent all sorts of boats, including paddleboats, rowboats, and canoes too. Remember that the swimming beach and modern bathhouse are open only between Memorial and Labor Days.
Summit Lake Campground is safe and family-friendly, boasts sweeping lake views, and is surrounded by lush forests. Choose from more than 100 electric campsites with electricity and water hookups and comfort stations. Besides fire rings and picnic tables, the campground also has three boat ramps and two spacious and open picnic shelters. Wind up your day with a cook-up on the beach!
Chain O’Lakes State Park
8
If you’re looking for a destination with more bird species than you can count and is excellent for water sports, too, then Chain O’Lakes State Park is where you should be. As you can tell from the name, the park is studded with a whopping and literal 15 chain lakes connected by the Fox River. So, all this water makes the region super popular for recreational activities. And as it is, it’s just an hour away from Rockford, Milwaukee, and Chicago, making it all the more popular.
Weekends at this state park can be pretty busy, with the top draw here being the Hackmatack National Wildlife Refuge. This huge wetlands area is primed for fishing, boating, and birdwatching. What’s more, the lush hickory hardwood and oak forests have miles of trails that you can walk and explore. Chain O’Lakes has many family-friendly things to do, such as watching boat races at Blarney Island and watching sunsets and fishing at the lake. However, one of the most thrilling activities for kids is swimming in the sandbars, as they can actually “stand up” in the lake!
No matter in which of the more than 300 campgrounds you camp, you’ll be treated to gorgeous sights of the crystal clear waters of one of the surrounding lakes. Of them all, we’d recommend the Chain O’Lakes Campground. Two separate camping areas with multiple campgrounds have 151 and 87 sites each, and there’s even a group site. Moreover, they all have 50-amp hookups and accommodate everything from tents and cars to trailers and RVs. The best bit? There’s a bathhouse, picnic pavilion, boat ramp, dump station, convenience store – you name it, they have it.
Hoosier National Forest
7
Hoosier National Forest is spread across a whopping 200,000+ acres of land, making it one of the best Indiana camping sites. The national forest has four separate areas, each filled with hundreds of miles of hiking trails that lead through the undulating landscape. However, the park’s most famous feature is the old Buffalo Trace, a travel way made by bison that roamed from west to east. Today, you can drive along the road!
There’s a lot of stuff for visitors to do at this small but gorgeous gem, which is full of rolling hills, backcountry trails, and rural crossroad communities. Activities such as swimming, water sports such as stand-up paddleboarding, kayaking, surfing, and fishing are very popular. One of the best places for water fun is Patoka Lake, the second-largest lake in the state. It offers everything from fishing and swimming to water skiing. The forest’s box canyon, Hemlock Cliffs, is a gorgeous place with gentle seasonal waterfalls for those who love exploring forests.
While there’s a great selection of campgrounds spread throughout, Hardin Ridge Campground has something for everything. The campground sits on Lake Monroe and offers stunning views of Hardin Ridge, so don’t forget to pack your cute summer bikinis! There are just six campground loops, which means a prior reservation is a great idea. What’s more, there’s space for everything from a tent to RV camping, and there are even cabins for those who don’t want to rough it. Campfires are allowed, but the campground has picnic tables, showers, potable water, and toilets.
Turkey Run State Park
6
Are you a Lord of the Rings fan? Then you “have” to head to Turkey Run State Park, Indiana’s second-largest state park. The park lies just an hour west of Indianapolis and is home to a Lord of the Rings-esque fantasy landscape. Think famous winding trails offering creek views, sandstone ravines, rock formations, rapids primed for whitewater rafting, and calmer stretches of the river for fishing.
Paddling down Sugar Creek is one of the most popular pastimes and activities here, especially since the park is open throughout the year. Not only does it have many natural geological wonders, but the place also has a host of excellent trails that offer hikes of all levels. If that wasn’t enough, there are even picnic shelters and areas and interpretive naturalist services on offer.
You have the choice of more than 200 tenting and RV campsites and youth tent areas, cabins, and even an inn, the Turkey Run Inn. If you pitch a tent or RV camp, you’ll be surrounded by exquisite vistas of Sugar Creek. What’s more, there’s a camp store to stock up on essentials, a nature center, tennis courts, playgrounds, a swimming pool, and even a dump station. So, this place is perfect to camp for families with younger children. There’s a lot to do at the campground itself, such as easy access to trails and escorted horseback rides. It’s no wonder that it gets booked quickly.
Clifty Falls State Park
5
Lovers of rugged terrains, listen up! Clifty Falls State Park is one of the best Indiana camping sites for you. The park lies less than two hours from both Cincinnati and Indianapolis. What’s more, its draw lies in the fact that it not only has natural scenery such as ever-changing waterfalls and rugged canyons but even a historic railroad tunnel!
So, whether you’re a history enthusiast or an outdoors lover, this is the place for you. The real charm of the park is that it lies near the gushing waters of the Ohio River. So, there are all kinds of water fun on offer, right from swimming and fishing to the annual Regatta that takes place on the Ohio River! There are four waterfalls, with the tallest of them all being 83 feet in height! If that wasn’t enough, many hiking trails crisscross the park, and there’s something for people of all skill levels.
There are 167 sites at the campgrounds, of which 100 have electric hookups, while 62 are non-electric. Furthermore, there are also four shelter sites and a youth site. All of them can accommodate tents and RVs (both pull-through and back-in). Finally, amenities include a dump station, fire rings, grills, laundry facilities, a picnic area, picnic tables, and even a swimming pool and restrooms.
Brown County State Park
4
Are you looking for adventure? Brown County State Park is the perfect destination for you. Firstly, it’s, by far, the largest of the state parks in Indiana. Secondly, and more importantly, it’s utterly stunning, with its rolling hills reminiscent of the Great Smoky Mountains. That’s why this park, which lies just an hour east of Bloomington, is also nicknamed “Little Smokies.”
Imagine a 16,000-acre-huge world of rugged hills, ridges, and fog-shrouded ravines – that’s what makes this park so special. It’s home to some of the most classic outdoor activities such as fishing, mountain biking, and hiking. However, most notably, horse camping and horseback riding are the area’s primary draw. Equine campers do require a permit for ponying up. However, on the inside, they have access to what is Indiana’s best horse camping site and even 30 individual horsemen trails. If you don’t have a horse of your own, you can even rent one at the Brown County State Park Saddle Barn.
The best place to base yourself is Brown County Campground, which sits amidst a pine and walnut tree wooded glen when you’re here. All in all, it’s the perfect place to relax by the campfire and roast s’mores after a long day of hiking. There are a whopping 620 sites divided between hookup and non-hookup sites, equestrian ones (electric/non-electric), and even a rally camp and a youth shelter. Wrapping up the features are the amenities, including picnic tables, showers, potable water, toilets, and campfires.
McCormick’s Creek State Park
3
What makes McCormick’s Creek State Park one of the best Indiana camping sites? For one, it’s Indiana’s first state park and also home to one of its first campgrounds. The state park lies just about an hour southwest of Indianapolis and is chock-full of natural beauty.
Hikers will love the hiking trails bursting with diverse forest trees, spicebush, and native wildflowers. There’s even an accessible trail beginning near the nature center and one that takes you through the Wolf Cave Nature Preserve. And there are yet others that’ll take you to waterfalls, flowing creeks, and a limestone canyon, which is one of the highlights of this park. Eventually, you’ll come upon a fire tower where you can climb to the top and spy sweeping views of the city. Or, you could walk across the stone arch bridge built by the Civilian Conservation Corps.
Camping opportunities abound here with 189 sites, all of which come with electrical hookups, fire rings, and picnic tables. If you want to go off the beaten path and rough it, then there are even more than 30 primitive campsites. Notwitsthaing what sites you choose, you get access to modern showers and restrooms. Finally, there are even two group campsites for larger groups.
Potato Creek State Park
2
Potato Creek State Park lies near the city of South bend and is one of the best Indiana camping sites. This north-central Indiana camping site has an array of natural habitats, including old fields, mature woodlands, restored prairies, diverse wetlands, and the shining gem that is Worster Lake. So, you can do everything from fishing and swimming to kayaking on the calm waters. Those who love exploring the forest can hike endlessly through the wildflower trails and rolling fields. After a long day during summer camping, soak up some sun, cast a fishing line from the pier, and go horseback riding down the picturesque bridle trails.
The campground at Potato Creek State Park is a lovely one with electric sites (both RV and tent), horse camping for equestrian enthusiasts, and even nicely decorated cabins for those who don’t want to rough it. Since the campground fills up quickly, reservations are highly recommended. Furthermore, communal amenities include recreation buildings and a park store. Tall Sycamore Campground, for instance, has 125 campsites along the tree-lined Wabash riverfront.
Paynetown, Monroe Lake
1
Paynetown Campground on the banks of Lake Monroe sits atop the list of the best Indiana camping sites. The campground sits just outside of the University of Indiana Campus and the town of Bloomington. This Indiana camping region sits pretty on the shores of Monroe Lake, Indiana’s largest lake.
Since it has a lakeside setting, there are innumerable outdoor recreation activities possible here. These include everything from birdwatching, boating, fishing, and hunting to picnicking, hiking, and more. What’s more, families will have a ball as there’s not just an activity center, but also a playground for children. However, one of the most popular activities here is fishing. Monroe Lake, which was earlier known as the “dead sea” due to dwindling fish populations, is now flourishing with healthy populations of catfish, lunker bass, and crappie! So make sure that you pack your fishing gear, such as fishing backpacks, fishing binoculars, and more.
Paynetown Campground features 318 sites, a mix of tent-only, electric, non-electric, and shelter sites. Moreover, every site has a picnic table and a fire ring, while electric ones have full hookups for sewer, water, and electricity. Finally, communal amenities include potable water, showers, and clean restrooms.
