Camping sites near Clermont, Indiana offer a mix of urban convenience and natural areas with distinctive seasonal patterns. Summer thunderstorms occur frequently between June and August, bringing brief heavy rainfall that can affect camping conditions. The region sits at approximately 800 feet above sea level with Sugar Creek serving as a notable waterway for recreation during the camping season.
What to do
Canoeing on Sugar Creek: At Turkey Run State Park Campground, visitors can choose between two different canoe trips on Sugar Creek. As one camper noted, "The suspension footbridge across Sugar Creek is cool. Sugar Creek is also great for floating with inner tubes, canoes, or kayaks."
Walking paths and trails: White River Campground provides access to extensive trails in the neighboring park. According to one camper, "This is a great campsite attached to a wonderful park with great trails." Another mentions that the "Park next door is great for hiking, has walk bridge over river to trails, horse backing riding, high ropes course."
Family attractions: S and H Campground features numerous activities for children beyond standard camping. One visitor explained, "They have a little section full of carnival like rides. Several playgrounds! Campground big and spacious." Another camper mentioned, "Miniature golf was free, pool was a little green (but we had a lot of rain). Stocked pond. Good bands throughout the weekend."
What campers like
Private riverside sites: Campers appreciate the waterfront locations at some campgrounds. At Lake Haven Retreat, a camper mentioned, "We stayed for 4 nights and it was very quiet and relaxing... Our site had a nice grass lawn near the water." Others value the natural settings along waterways throughout the region.
Clean facilities: Many campgrounds maintain high standards for bathrooms and shower facilities. One camper at White River Campground stated, "Their bathrooms and showers are the cleanest I've came across." This sentiment is echoed across several well-maintained properties in the area.
Proximity to Indianapolis: The location allows for city access while maintaining a camping experience. As one Lake Haven Retreat visitor noted, "This campground is minutes away from Luca Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. For an urban campground, it is better than others. The grounds are clean and the sites aren't too tight."
What you should know
Seasonal flooding: Some campgrounds experience water issues during heavy rains. One camper at S and H Campground reported, "Hancock County had 2" of rain on Friday. The campground (lower) sits at a low elevation. Our site was 70% flooded."
Campground layout matters: Site selection impacts camping experience significantly. At Indianapolis KOA, one camper advised, "We tented for two nights here. The lot was spacious but had a big hill, which made sitting in chairs around a camp fire interesting." Another mentioned that some sites have challenging terrain.
Reservation requirements: Many campgrounds fill quickly, especially during racing events. For Turkey Run State Park, campers recommend booking early: "Booked late for this one but ended up with a great corner spot in the middle of a turn off from the main drive."
Internet considerations: WiFi quality varies between campgrounds. One camper noted about Lake Haven Retreat, "Excellent WiFi and facilities. Family owned 20 years." While at White River Campground, another reported, "We found the wifi only reaches in sections A-B even though it's advertised as reaching the entire camp."
Tips for camping with families
Bring water toys: At Indianapolis KOA, families particularly enjoy the water features. One camper explained, "The splash pad / water park was fun, but was not a pool. It only goes to 3 feet so if you want to swim this is not for you. The water was cold but my kiddos finally got in and had fun on the slides."
Look for dedicated play areas: Some campgrounds offer extensive children's activities. A visitor to S and H Campground commented, "This would be a fun place to spend a long weekend with your family." Another stated, "Plenty of amenities on the weekend. Downsides - our site was incredibly uneven. Nobody cleans up after their dogs."
Consider camping cabins: For families new to camping, cabins provide comfort while maintaining outdoor access. At Acacia Farms, a visitor described it as "an awesome spot to slow down in the country and enjoy being around some small farm animals."
Tips from RVers
Site levelness varies significantly: RV campers should check site conditions before setup. At S and H Campground, one RVer noted, "When you call to make a reservation, they won't give you a site # until you arrive. Honestly if you have a big rig or large TT don't go to that side. Ask for on the hill and backed up to the fun park."
Electrical service considerations: Power stability issues occur at some campgrounds during peak usage. One RVer at S and H reported, "We were on site 86, 50 amp service, but when everyone started turning on their AC, my surge protector kept kicking due to voltage swings."
Measure site dimensions: Some campgrounds have tight spacing between sites. A camper at Lake Haven Retreat observed, "Visiting here with friends with a 5th wheel. There wasn't much space on their site, and it didn't feel like 'camping' to me. It worked for them to be able to visit friends in the area and have a place to park."
