Pokagon State Park Campground

We visited Pokagon for a long weekend with friends. We took over sites 502, 504, 506 and 508\. One thing that was clear - the sites vary in size. Sites 504 and 506 are on the smaller side; 502 was moderate and 508 was enormous. We found the bathrooms to be clean and easy to use. Was shocked to find showers just turned on (no timers). The lake is not self-contained within the park - there are houses across the way and various access points. Within the park, the lake provides a small swimming area and much larger areas for boating. Lots of motor boats and wave runners; kayaks and canoes were limited to the shoreline areas. The beach is a nice size and wasn't terribly busy. There's also a playground and snack shack on the beach. There is horseback riding for the 52-inch and taller crowd ... anyone smaller is limited to a short donkey ride. There is a natural spring near the 500 loop where you can drink fresh (and cold!) water. There are plenty of options for hiking, biking and riding horses - all with separately marked trails. There's an amphitheater for outdoor productions and the Inn also has planned events. The park says only one vehicle per site, but we noticed many sites with multiple vehicles that stayed that way overnight. Overall, it's a nice park. The only downside is the variations in size of campsites and the risk you might end up on a small site without prior knowledge of what they look like.

Lots to do

**Pokagon State Park** is one of the most manicured , well maintained parks I've been to. The Army Corp does some good work but _Pokagon_ has them beat.

One of the differences is that it doesn't seem like I hardly ever see any of the Corp workers , but at Pokagon the staff was right there doing their thing, registering, guiding, informing, mowing and maintaining.

The campgrounds are well laid out with several different areas to choose from. There were several youth groups at the group campground but you could not hear them from the other campground. The sites are well spaced and provide privacy if you want it plus room for extra tents or shelters. The facilities are maintained and clean.

There is an extensive trail system to enjoy that connects with the nearby nature preserve. There are horse tours and a very nice Inn for the less "natural" crowd.

I REALLY LIKE THIS PARK

This campground is beyond beautiful and clean! It’s truly an amazing campground for families, especially with small children. There are full bathrooms including showers in each of the 5 campground loops. Because of this and the openness of the campground it really doesn’t feel like you’re “getting back to nature.” Just a personal preference. Make sure to bring your binoculars, tons of beautiful birds!

A beautiful campground for children!

Pokagon (po KAY gun) has everything from a toboggan run to a lodge to lakes all around...you cannot be bored here. Open year round (limited campgrounds and services in winter). If you hike there’s even an artesian well running year round on trail #2 on the NW side of the park (see photos). This is a must-stop when you’re passing thru the NE Indiana area.

Park With Everything

With 2 beach accesses and lots of open spaces this is a great campground for the summer. The spring and fall seasons offer the camper many beautiful sights, be it flowers in bloom or the changing and falling of the leaves.

Great for all seasons

We visited for just one night on a fall weekday. Campground was not crowded. Our site #315 was spacious with a nice foliage buffer around it. Many nice sites, but also many small, not private at all sites. We enjoyed a hike on one of the nice hiking trails, saw many families enjoying the bicycle trails and paved park roads. There is an Inn and restaurant in the park. We talked about how nice it would be to meetup with non Camping family members at this location. There are horse stables and a winter toboggan run as well

Very large , trees and woods, bring your bikes. 

Camping here is enjoyable.  The campgrounds alone offer clean, heated restrooms, paved roads throughout, access to a variety of amenities, and is affordable.

There are numerous trails well marked with maps/signed to guide you.  It would be extremely difficult to get lost here.

The Potawatomi Inn has an AYCE buffet for $15 per person...we took food home with us because the Inn had some many options for dinner.

The cost for the one night campover and park access was $24.  That’s a steal when compared with other, more popular places.

Yes, it was winter and snowing, but we love four season camping!

The staff at Pokagon SP is wonderful and extremely friendly.

Can’t do wrong camping here!  Beautiful park!

Great Campground

There are trail, beaches, boats, horses... so many things to do 

Trails

Nice wooded campsites with lots of privacy.  Each campground has its own shower house and flush toilets.  Pokagon has many hiking trails, a paved bike path and two beaches.  There are playgrounds all over the park for the kids.  You also take guided horseback rides on the trails.  One of my favorite places.  

Love Pokagon

Very clean, camp sites are spacious and well taken care of. Restrooms and showers are clean. Very nice that each camp circle has a easy in out dump station. The beach is well groomed and taken care of. Already planning our return trip

Very nice

This was our very first camping trip with the travel trailer and we loved it! We had family come up and really enjoyed it. We found a little hiking trail with the family and enjoyed taking our dog out on it. We will absolutely be going back next year!

Our very first camping experience 

Great place for family, lots of amenities. 

Family fun

We are heading to Colorado from Michigan so this was just a stopover, one night. Very much like this park and will be back when we have more time to enjoy it.  Spacious sites, good shade. 

Great stay

The campground was full, but was surprisingly quiet.  Clean comfort stations and grounds.  It was a bit odd that there was only one water fill station, and two oddly placed dump stations,  but we were not in a hurry so waiting was not a concern.  Our site, 315, was listed as having a slight grade.  The gravel pad was surprisingly steep, with a good slope down on the camp side.  It worked, but I do not feel the descriptions online fit the actual gravel pad.  There were other sites that seemed impossible to have a level trailer. 

Great first visit

They have a snow tabaggon  my kids love it, a nice inn, and amazing staff!! All very affordable.

Fav spots

This was our first stop from NY to CO. We didn’t have a lot of time but enjoy the time we had. Lots to do in this park and we want to go back and spend more time on our next trip East. 

Lots to do here

Lovely little quiet campground and spacious park with plenty to do for 1-2 days. Staff is non-intrusive, and the site has plenty of room to camp about and roam. Find your own little quiet corner and unplug for a few days. It's better than Ohio's only National Park! 

Note: the DNR trail maps are inaccurate but well worth your time, so research your trials well or you'll get a bit lost. Trail signs are also very confusing. Bring plenty of water as posted 'mile' hikes quickly turn in 5 mile hikes. I recommend walking the 'Wetlands' trail around dusk. 

Quiet and laid back.

   This state park was established in 1925, so almost 100 years old. The campground must be the original layout. There's a maze like quality to it. The roads are narrow &amp; you may be driving off the road for a big rig. 

   Some sites are level, some aren't. Some can accommodate larger rigs, most can't. Check the site descriptions carefully &amp; to be doubly sure, call the office &amp; ask.

   There's water stations that look very old. They have wooden, shingled roofs. There's 2 dump stations located in loops 3 &amp; 4. IN THE CAMPGROUND! NEXT TO CAMPSITES!!!!

 There's 5 loops to the main campground.

 100 loop is small &amp; closer to the lake than the other loops. It's the loop we chose this time.

    The sites are on the small side. There's 3 campsites that are close to the lake. 115, which is a larger site. 117 &amp; 119 which have clear views of the lake. 117 is more a tent or popup site &amp; is small. 119 is the best of the bunch. A large pad &amp; a large site. There's no privacy bushes. These sites have a view of the lake with trees &amp; brush &amp; are on a ridge overlooking the lake. They aren't ON the lake. 

On either side of 117 &amp; 119 are 2 trails that lead to the lake. There's benches &amp; a dock to tie up your boat. 

   The rest of the sites are a mixed bag. Some are level, some have an incline. If you have a big rig, be aware that the road to the 100 campsites branches into one way. Leading into the campsites, the road is narrow &amp; has a ravine on one side!

    200 Loop is non electric

    300 Loop is the biggest loop &amp; seems like the best bet for larger rigs. As stated above, some sites are better than others. There's a uniformity here that's missing from the other loops.

  Stay away from sites 393&amp; 395!!! These sites are literally right on top of the dump station! As always watch for pit toilets near the sites. 

   400 loop is a smaller loop next to the 200 loop. There's only one shower house for both loops. Avoid site 444 &amp; probably site 454. These sites are VERY close to the dump station. 

  500 loop is also smaller&amp; has some nice sites tucked by themselves in the trees. There seems to be more privacy brush on this loop with SOME sites.

   512 is close to the shower house. 511 &amp; 513 were somewhat secluded.

    If you have a boat you want to tie up at the dock, go for the 100 loop. If you can't get it, be aware there's no parking near the trails to the lake. You can park by the bathhouse &amp; walk. 

   The shower &amp; restrooms are atrocious!!! Worst looking buildings since Spring Mill SP! Dirty &amp; need an entire overhaul. In fact, raze the buildings &amp; build new ones! They're "cleaned" once a day. Suuuuuure they are. There was actual poop on the door of one of the women's toilet stalls the whole time I was there. Mold &amp; spiders&amp; dirt in the corners. Looks like the last upgrade was in the 50s.