Camping spots near Bainbridge, Indiana offer diverse terrain with moderate elevation changes of 100-300 feet throughout the region. Most campgrounds sit within mixed hardwood forests dominated by oak, maple and hickory trees, with typical summer humidity levels reaching 70-85%. Rainfall averages 40 inches annually, creating occasional trail challenges particularly in April and October.
What to Do
Canoeing and kayaking on Sugar Creek: At Sugar Creek Campground, water activities are readily available with rental options onsite. "Offers kayaking, canoeing, and tubing. Very clean and well maintained campground," notes Linda M. Trips range from 2-8 miles with varying difficulty levels.
Disc golf: Several campgrounds feature maintained disc golf courses. The course at Rockville Lake County Park provides a challenging layout. "Disc golf course is awesome, in the woods, up and down ravine. 18 holes plus practice basket. Hole 1 starts by primitive sites closer to beach," explains Smeeta T.
Fishing: Multiple stocked ponds and lake access points offer fishing opportunities throughout the area. "The pond is stocked with GIANT fish (catch and release only)," reports Gretchen G. about Sugar Creek Campground. Most locations require Indiana fishing licenses for visitors age 18 and older.
What Campers Like
Clean facilities: Many campers highlight the well-maintained bathhouses. "The bathrooms were super clean and the showers were hot with good water pressure," mentions Samantha S. at Turkey Run State Park Campground. Most modern campgrounds feature updated shower facilities with hot water.
Spacious sites: Several campgrounds offer larger-than-average sites with good separation. At Rockville Lake County Park, "The sites range from very uneven to moderately uneven in this section. The full hookup site section is flat but with less tree cover," notes Jeremiah G. Site sizes vary significantly between campgrounds.
Creek access: Direct water access ranks high with visitors to multiple campgrounds. "We booked site 41 which is a double site. I'd highly recommend this site. It backs up to Sugar Creek which is just gorgeous in the spring. We saw all kinds of birds, turtles, frogs and even a couple snakes," writes Katie H.
What You Should Know
Leveling challenges: Many sites throughout the region present leveling difficulties. "Most sites in the modern electric water only can be awkward to back into with no room to pull forward due to a ditch in some areas," reports Jeremiah G. Bring leveling blocks and check site descriptions when booking.
Limited phone service: Cell coverage varies widely across campgrounds. At Shades State Park Campground, there's minimal infrastructure. "The gatehouse is your only source of information. There's no nature center or visitor center. Get a park map," advises Cynthia K.
Wildlife encounters: Raccoons are particularly active around camping areas. "Watch out for the raccoons. Those guys are not afraid of anything," warns Samantha S. about Turkey Run State Park. Food storage containers are recommended at all campgrounds.
Tips for Camping with Families
Multiple playgrounds: Several campgrounds feature multiple play areas for different age groups. "3 playgrounds for kids. We were the only people there the first 2 days," notes Smeeta T. at Rockville Lake County Park. Most playgrounds are centrally located within camping loops.
Beach and swimming access: Lake Waveland Park offers designated swimming areas with sandy beaches. "They do have a beach," confirms Nicole B. The swimming areas typically operate from Memorial Day through Labor Day without lifeguards.
Family-friendly atmosphere: Campground management actively maintains peaceful environments. "We love the family friendly atmosphere, and all of the extras they offer for the kids! The owners are simply amazing! I greatly appreciate how strictly they enforce the rules of the grounds! We never have to worry about being kept up all night," reports Alyssa M.
Tips from RVers
Hookup locations: Pay attention to utility placement when booking. At Lieber State Recreation Area Campground, "We chose our site based on being next to water.. but.. despite the fact that we chose our site based on being next to water.. they have the spickets hacked off. So you couldn't attach a hose," cautions Shannon C.
Site evenness: RV sites vary significantly in levelness throughout the region. "It definitely sloops to the back corner. It was difficult to level our camper but we got it in the end," reports Michelle M. about Turkey Run State Park. Extra leveling blocks are recommended for most campgrounds.
Limited big rig access: Many campgrounds have tight access roads with low-hanging branches. "The sites in modern electric water only can be awkward to back into with no room to pull forward due to a ditch in some areas," notes Jeremiah G. RVs over 35 feet face challenges at most local campgrounds.
