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Established Camping

Summit Lake State Park Campground

Summit Lake State Park Campground, near New Castle, Indiana, is a peaceful retreat that offers a mix of natural beauty and convenient amenities. With spacious, shaded sites and a lovely lake just steps away, it’s perfect for those looking to unwind and enjoy the outdoors.

The campground features well-maintained facilities, including drinking water, showers, and toilets, making your stay comfortable. Many visitors appreciate the friendly staff and the clean environment, with one camper noting, “The campground was very quiet and well taken care of.” You can also enjoy activities like fishing, kayaking, and swimming at the beach area, which adds to the fun.

For those who love to explore, there are several walking trails around the lake that provide scenic views and opportunities for photography. The park is also close to local attractions, so you can easily venture out for a bite to eat or some sightseeing. Whether you’re planning a weekend getaway or a longer stay, Summit Lake State Park Campground has plenty to offer for a relaxing outdoor experience.

Description

Indiana Department of Natural Resources

Summit Lake State Recreation Area

An expansive view and good fishing beckon you to Summit Lake State Park, near New Castle. More than 2,680 acres, including a large lake, await your visit. Facilities include 120 electric campsites, three boat ramps, a beach bathhouse and two large open shelters that can be reserved for family picnics and other events.

Summit Lake has an excellent bird watching and wildlife observation area. The property has always been an important area for waterfowl because of the many low-lying wet meadows and prairies. Migratory species have included rare species like the black tern, bald eagle, sandhill crane, American bittern, least bittern, king rail and osprey.

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Location

Summit Lake State Park Campground is located in Indiana

Detail location of campground

Directions

Located northeast of New Castle and southeast of Muncie. The park is 1 mile north of State Highway 36 on Messick Road, 4 miles east of Highway 3.

Address

5993 N Messick Rd
New Castle, IN 47362

Coordinates

40.01315814172473 N
85.31611606536113 W

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Access

  • Drive-In
    Park next to your site
  • Walk-In
    Park in a lot, walk to your site.
  • Hike-In
    Backcountry sites.
  • Boat-In
    Sites accessible by watercraft.

Stay Connected

  • WiFi
    Unknown
  • Verizon
    Good
  • AT&T
    Unknown
  • T-Mobile
    Good

Site Types

  • Tent Sites
  • RV Sites
  • Standard (Tent/RV)
  • Group

Features

For Campers

  • Market
  • ADA Access
  • Trash
  • Picnic Table
  • Firewood Available
  • Phone Service
  • Reservable
  • Showers
  • Drinking Water
  • Electric Hookups
  • Toilets
  • Alcohol
  • Pets
  • Fires

For Vehicles

  • Water Hookups
  • 50 Amp Hookups
  • Big Rig Friendly

Contact

General Info

Reservations


Reviews

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4.5

out of 5

20 Reviews

Reviewed Jul. 30, 2024

Feeling of harassment

Very clean and quiet campground. There was not a lot to do, but we took Kayaks and had a good time. However, our son and his family joined us for the weekend and any time they pulled in the campground host would follow them down to our site and remind them that there is only 1 car allowed at the campsite(which we already knew). Friday, they came in and, within 40 seconds, got the 1st"reminder." He was just there unloading the car. Saturday morning, he went home to pick us up his wife and came back. Again, less than a minute later, the host came down to remind him of the rule. He unpacked the car of a scooter and bike and 1 more blanket. Both Friday and Saturday, his car was down at the site to unload a total of 3 minutes before he went to park it in overflow parking. We have camped there for 30 years and always obey the rules. We do not camp to get harassed each day we are there. Then you look around the campground and there are 2 to 3 cars parked at every 3rd campsite we came to. They need to give people 15 minutes before following them down to harass them and spend that time letting the people know the rules that were next to us with 2 cars parked at their site the entire weekend

Reviewed Jun. 8, 2024

Beautiful Location

Summit Lake is our go to get away. Beautiful campground with several amenities. Several campsites offer full shade and most are level. There are a few pull through sites. There is a large (shallow) lake for fishing and kayaking. Idle speed only allowed using a motorized boat. There is also a beach area for swimming. Several picnic areas with beautiful views of the lake. This campground also offers several walking trails. All are easy walks with various distances. Campground is very well maintained and staff are very helpful and friendly.

Site120
Month of VisitJune
Reviewed Jan. 3, 2022

Camp ground

Nice, quiet and well taken care of area

Siteshaded camp site
Month of VisitAugust
Reviewed Jul. 16, 2021

Nice, quiet lake campground

We stayed over July 4th weekend  Campground was crowded, but very quiet.  Most sites are shady, and some are feet from the lake.  A lot of kayakers when we stayed, very few boats.  Our site had some shade, and had a level gravel pad.  Once off the gravel, it did slope.  We wanted a flat area for our dog/baby fencing, so we parked slightly off the gravel and it worked fine.  Staff were very friendly.  All sites have water.  The power went out at the pumping house, and a staff member and the campground host went to the sites to let us know.  It was only out for about an hour.

Park has canoe rentals and a small beach, a well as several boat launches.  Overall, a very nice, well maintained park and campground.  We will definitely return, this time with kayaks.

Site29
Month of VisitJuly
  • Review photo of Summit Lake State Park Campground by Jacob A., July 16, 2021
  • Review photo of Summit Lake State Park Campground by Jacob A., July 16, 2021
Reviewed Jul. 3, 2021

Nice long weekend

Arrived on Thursday for July 4th weekend. Park is very nice, weather was comfortable. Only issue was Saturday morning a power outage to a part of the park left all water in the entire state park off for 3-4 hours.

Site53
Month of VisitJuly
Reviewed Apr. 16, 2021

A nice way to get out of the city.

Summit Lake is a very nice place to get away for a weekend from Indy but not so much a destination spot. Friendly staff and well maintained. Wooded spots that are water adjacent are beautiful. Since it’s a no wake lake, the noisiest thing is usually the geese

You can rent a small boat by the day and keep it at your camp site.

It’s a great place to watch the water or take walks. Not a lot to do otherwise. The beach is not worth the trouble.

Site39
Month of VisitApril
Reviewed Apr. 13, 2021

Nice state park with several trails around a beautiful lake

We stayed before the peak season opened up.  Potable water was available at the entrance but was not on yet in the campground itself.   The sites are well spaced out with a few pull through sites and many back ins.

Our site was a pull through and, while level left to right, required a good bit of leveling front to back.

Trails around the lake were nice with many opportunities for scenic photographs, etc.

There are not a lot of things to see or do in the area but we did visit the Wilbur Wright Birthplace as well as local community restaurants and grocery stores within about a 20 minute drive.

Site18
Month of VisitMarch
Reviewed Sep. 24, 2020

I like it so far

Just joined.  Trying to find any city park or visitor centers permitting camping.  I know they are out there but not well known.  Easy to use.  Love the fact I can use it if offline.  I'll review in a few weeks when I actually need it.

Reviewed Jun. 29, 2020

Great Atmosphere, nice terrain!

Very large camping spots with huge lawns away from lake; This spot was #53. lakeside camping a little more packed in but more shade. Reserve early! Cute beach was easy to get to, allowed dogs (not on sand). Park program happened while we were there - very educational. Highly professionally run, tight security and ample parking. No sparklers. Water lines close to campsites. Wal-Mart close, large Cabelas 45 mins away. Would stay again!

  • Review photo of Summit Lake State Park Campground by Jen R., June 29, 2020
  • Review photo of Summit Lake State Park Campground by Jen R., June 29, 2020
Reviewed May. 28, 2020

Great little campground in East Central Indiana

This was the third time we had camped at Summit Lake State Park. It has always been a good experience. There are two campground loops - one is more open with sites are that are level and the other is in the woods with many sites that are on slopes. We camped in site 120 this time which was on the end so we looked out into the woods. Bonus! 

The state park has a nice lake with a swimming beach and kayak/canoe rentals available. If you have a site near the lake you can launch your boat directly from your campsite!

For those of you who are bicycle enthusiasts, the Losantville trail head fro the Cardinal Greenway Bike Trail is only a few miles away. The trail runs from Marion to Richmond and is very well maintained and not crowded.

Site120
Month of VisitMay
  • Review photo of Summit Lake State Park Campground by Cindy B., May 28, 2020
  • Review photo of Summit Lake State Park Campground by Cindy B., May 28, 2020
  • Review photo of Summit Lake State Park Campground by Cindy B., May 28, 2020
  • (5) View All
Reviewed Aug. 19, 2019

Fun place

Great family campground. Nice playground nearby which my son loved. The trail was pretty, a little hard to take the stroller, but we did fine. It was a nice evening walk! Plenty of shaded camp sites. We go here a few times a year. A little over an hour from Noblesville, IN.

Reviewed May. 20, 2019

Great lakeside camping

We really enjoy this park. Many of the campsites are right near the water with lake view. Fishing is fun too with a dock within short walking distance of most campsites.

  • Review photo of Summit Lake State Park Campground by Renee R., May 20, 2019
Reviewed Apr. 29, 2019

Clean, fun, quiet

Restroom & shower facilities are clean

Flat-steep Grades for tent camping and camper camping.

Many hiking trails

Boat rental.

Swim area

Site104?
Month of VisitMay
  • Review photo of Summit Lake State Park Campground by Julie R., April 29, 2019
Reviewed Apr. 13, 2019

Awesome!

This campground is small but diverse. You can camp in the woods with a lake view or out in the open with your camper, tent or rent a cottage. It has clean restrooms, a beach, hiking trails and tends to be quiet. It’s not far from the city. It’s a quick trip place for a short weekend.

Reviewed Nov. 1, 2018

Pleasant, not spectacular-will go back

Camping area B had the restroom being remodeled with outhouses placed in place of them. They also had dumpsters close to our campsite. They had an easily accessed boat launch and we enjoyed the lake and some fishing. There was alot of surface plant life to catch our lines on.

Month of VisitAugust
Reviewed Aug. 13, 2018

Super Fun Place

tThis park has a lot to offer. The lake offers amazing fun activities. We love kayaking and have our own (but wait... they rent them- canoes too & for just $5 an hour... Say WHAT? ) Yes it's true. The lake has a fabulous beach for swimming along with a fairly nice concession stand also inexpensive. The park is very clean- LOVE IT! They are currently remodeling and updating one of the restrooms but one was still available (as well as additional port-o-potty's). The camping spots are all fairly large. We could have put an extra 3 tents on our site (we have a 17' camper). This park has 2 seperate loops one which has a large playground.

So now the drawbacks ... There are NO, I repeat, NO hiking trails. They have walking paths only. Still pretty and lots to look at but no actual trails. Bummer as we love to hike.

The biggest issue is the strictness of the DNR. We have a large camping group that is very respectful and all environmentalist. However, we managed to get 3 seperate tickets this weekend. There was a sign for no beer on the beach ( so we had beer in our cooler in our car- and someone in the group drank the beer on the way to the beach - empty can by the time we arrived - just to throw in trash and someone saw the can and reported it- automatic ticket. Also 2 friends, who are always cautious of the kids on their bikes, playing in the road, etc. however, got speeding tickets. SO JUST USE CAUTION. But at the actual campsites, we did not have any issues at all.

Reviewed Jun. 28, 2018

perfect for kayaking

we live summit lake. the campground has a lot of spots with ZERO trees so be sure to read the descriptions. the spots along the lake are beautiful but hard to book. we like the still lake for kayaking.

Reviewed Apr. 15, 2018

Great State Park

We camped here several time last year(2017). We had great experiences each time. Beautiful lake for kayaking! If you don’t owe a kayak or canoe, they offer rentals.

All sites are gravel with mature trees if you want shade or full sun. Pet friendly. Nice playgrounds for the kids or grandkids. Very nice beach area. Wonderful hiking trails and offer a variety of programs/activities.

Month of VisitMay
  • Review photo of Summit Lake State Park Campground by Rich K., April 15, 2018
  • Review photo of Summit Lake State Park Campground by Rich K., April 15, 2018
Reviewed Aug. 16, 2017

Good Weekend Getaway

This is a nice park for those who want to camp/hike/fish and not travel too far from home. It's a relatively quiet campground with lots of different sites available, some of which are right on the water. All sites have a picnic table and fire ring. Sorry, I don't have any pictures :(

Month of VisitOctober

Frequently Asked Questions

  • How much does it cost to camp at Summit Lake State Park Campground?

    Camping at Summit Lake State Park Campground can cost between $23.00 and $31.00 depending on the site.

  • Does Summit Lake State Park Campground have RV hookups?

    According to TheDyrt.com, Summit Lake State Park Campground has 50 amp electric hookups and water hookups.

  • What is the max vehicle length at Summit Lake State Park Campground?

    Summit Lake State Park Campground allows vehicles up to 35 feet.

  • Are fires allowed at Summit Lake State Park Campground?

    Yes, according to campers on TheDyrt.com, fires are allowed at Summit Lake State Park Campground, although make sure to check current fire restrictions in the area.

  • Is there cell phone reception at Summit Lake State Park Campground?

    According to campers on TheDyrt.com, Verizon signal is good, AT&T is unknown, and T-Mobile is good.