118 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Kendallville, Indiana features several established campgrounds with varied accommodation options, primarily centered around lakes and natural areas within a 25-mile radius. Bixler Lake Park & Campground, located within city limits, serves as a central camping hub offering tent sites, RV hookups, and cabin rentals with consistent five-star ratings. Other notable options include Chain O' Lakes State Park Campground near Albion and Pokagon State Park Campground in Angola, both providing year-round access to waterfront camping. The region contains both municipal parks and state-operated facilities, with most campgrounds offering electric hookups, picnic tables, and fire rings alongside water-based recreation.
Most campgrounds in the Kendallville area operate seasonally, typically from late April through mid-October, with some sites requiring reservations during peak summer months. Bixler Lake Campground operates from the last weekend of April to October 15th, while Gordons Campground in nearby Wolcottville maintains similar seasonal dates. Winter camping options are limited, with only a few facilities remaining open year-round. Chain O' Lakes State Park provides both established and dispersed camping with varying levels of amenities. Road access to most camping areas consists of paved or well-maintained gravel surfaces suitable for standard vehicles and RVs. A camper noted, "For a city campground it's very nice and friendly atmosphere and very quiet place to relax and enjoy a long weekend."
Waterfront camping represents a defining feature of the Kendallville area, with several campgrounds situated directly on lakes or offering water access. Chain O' Lakes State Park receives particularly positive reviews for its interconnected lakes and canoe opportunities, with one visitor describing it as having "wonderful small lakes connected by shady canals." Family-friendly amenities appear consistently throughout local reviews, with campers highlighting playground facilities, organized activities, and hiking opportunities. Municipal campgrounds like Bixler Lake receive praise for their quieter atmosphere despite proximity to town, while larger facilities like Gordons Campground are noted for seasonal events and activities. Several reviewers mentioned the region provides a good balance between access to water recreation and wooded camping areas, with most developed campgrounds maintaining clean facilities and helpful staff.
"Chain O Lakes State Park, Albion Indiana. Northwest of Fort Wayne. 416 electric, nonelectric & primitive campsites. Water is available & 3 dumps.
This was our 3rd time camping here."
"Met up with 18 other skoolies our first Indiana meet. Met great people had a fantastic time. Great park kids swam, showers are clean. Electric at sites but water isn’t but very close by."
from $14 - $90 / night
Check Availability"There's 2 dump stations located in loops 3 & 4. IN THE CAMPGROUND! NEXT TO CAMPSITES!!!!"
"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)."
from $20 - $480 / night
Check Availability"This campground also sits on the shores of Hogback Lake which is an all sports lake."
"There is a dog park for walking the dog but with so much driveway I just walk the dog around the park. They have several dog bag stations around the park to make clean up easy."
from $20 - $129 / night
Check Availability"A store to shop, a pool but no lake. They have group camping or single camping. They host parties too."
from $40 - $60 / night
Check Availability"Been here nearly a month and definitely will be back."
from $25 - $60 / night
Check Availability"Couldn’t believe this location hasn’t gotten more attention. See pics for the many amenities in this park!"
from $20 - $45 / night
Check Availability"Enjoyed the pool, pickleball and walking the trails. Has a 9hole disc golf. Very cool place and Angola has a lot to offer."
from $25 - $45 / night
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ScoutGreat site, however, DNR drives by every five minutes. The primitive bathroom facilities are absolutely horrid, the newer ones up the road from site 238 are beautiful.
RangerNice playground for kids, public trees all over but our site didn’t have private trees for hammocks.
The lake was nice, had water snakes.
TravelerSmall, quaint, peaceful, and beautiful campground. Lots of amnesties, nice clean pool and very friendly staff. The lots here are very spacious and the site we were at was a FHU with a concrete pad, picnic table, and fire ring. We will definitely be visiting again.
TravelerVisited Hoffman campground at the end of June. Smaller campground, fairly peaceful, lots of activities, and a nice pool. Sites are level but they are tight. Nice can store with very friendly staff.
LegendChain O Lakes State Park, Albion Indiana. Northwest of Fort Wayne.
416 electric, nonelectric & primitive campsites. Water is available & 3 dumps.
This was our 3rd time camping here. We were in handicapped site 325 which was a pretty good site. We had good neighbors which helps. The campground is well established & shaded. Read the site descriptions carefully for inclines & site dimensions.
What is really interesting is they have 7 canoe campsites. They have their own pit toilets & a little dock. Site 3 is behind the pit toilet, but the rest looked ok. They're just off trail 4 as well.
Cabins are also available.
Hot showers& bathrooms. They were state park clean, but definitely need some upgrading.
This is a boating/fishing/hiking park.
There's 29 miles of fairly easy trails- all can be looped.
9 connecting glacial kettle lakes make for great kayaking & canoeing. Electric motor only makes for a peaceful lake experience. Fishing was pretty good according to my fisherguy.
There's a 1915 schoolhouse that's open on the weekends.
There's a small swimming beach with food for sale. There's also boat rental with canoes, kayaks & small boats.
Nice campground for a summer weekend!
GuideWe just stayed in a tent here with our kids & absolutely loved it. The people were great, the store was adorable with a little ice cream shop & the pool & playground were awesome!
GuideWe absolutely love the little beach and playground area so close. The bathrooms were very well kept. The people were very friendly to us. My children played with other children & having kids, I appreciated the small/close vibes it had. If you're a loud family, maybe don't stay long but it's a lovely little getaway close to town. The cemetery across the street is such a lovely addition for our little spooky family.
ScoutNice friendly campground with lots of activities.
ScoutI stayed for a week at this park and they lost power due to a storm. Not their fault, I stayed the 1st night afterwards with no power but on the 2nd night they could not tell me when/if power would be restored and I am disabled and need power so I left. The refused to refund the unused days, even when I explained that I paid for a full hookup site and they could not provide power. The campground is decent, the showers are like "prison showers" where you have to push a button every 30 seconds and there is no hot/cold control. I would give it a 3-star if the customer service was not so lacking.
Kendallville, Indiana camping spots offer access to interconnected lakes and wooded areas within the region's gently rolling terrain. The area experiences warm summers with average July temperatures around 83°F and cold winters with January averages near 28°F. Most campgrounds near Kendallville maintain quiet hours from 10 PM to 7 AM, with seasonal operations typically running mid-April through mid-October.
Canoe the chain of lakes system: Chain O'Lakes State Park provides multiple waterways for paddling enthusiasts. A visitor noted, "There are trail, beaches, boats, horses... so many things to do," demonstrating the variety of water-based activities available at Pokagon State Park Campground.
Use the lazy river at KOA: The Angola/Hogback Lake KOA features modern water recreation beyond traditional swimming. According to a recent visitor, "We explored down to the lake and spent the morning in the pool and lazy river. We could permanent this place." Another camper added, "They have a new pool and lazy river which is fantastic. There's an inflatable obstacle course on the lake," showing the Angola/Hogback Lake KOA Holiday offers multiple water activity options.
Join weekend events: Seasonal campgrounds organize activities throughout summer. One reviewer reported, "We visited on one of the Halloween weekends. Lots of things for the kids to do. Haunted hayride and haunted house." Gordons Campground schedules regular entertainment with another camper noting, "Lots of activities for the kids, krafts, hayrides, kids karaoke as well as adults."
Clean facilities with modern amenities: The bathroom facilities at many parks receive positive reviews. A camper at Chain O'Lakes State Park Campground shared, "The the campground at self is very clean and easy to navigate." Another noted, "Nice quiet campground with lots of wildlife. Tent lots are flat and a good size. RR and showers nearby."
Family-oriented atmosphere: Campers consistently mention the family-friendly environment. One visitor stated, "This is a great place for the family," while another explained, "I have stayed at this state park many times since I was little. There is so much to do. Between the hiking trails, boating, fishing, kayaking, canoeing, and biking. You won't ever get bored. The facility is clean and very safe."
Variety of camping options: The area provides diverse camping styles. One camper at Hidden Diamonds Park observed, "Such a gem! Tiny municipal campground, but part of a much larger recreation area. Everything seems new or at least well maintained." For those seeking primitive options, Chain O'Lakes State Park offers simpler settings with a camper clarifying, "The cheapest campsite at primitive camping is $12 bucks. (Tent sites)."
Seasonal operations: Most campgrounds close during colder months. Gordons Campground operates from "April 15 - October 15" according to their listing information, while Bixler Lake Park & Campground runs from the "last weekend April to October 15."
Site selection considerations: Some campgrounds have issues with site sizing or placement. One visitor to Indian Springs Campground cautioned, "Manager was rude when i could not fit my car, tent (10x20), table and fire ring on out site." Another camper at the same facility mentioned, "Tiny spots. Not enough restrooms."
Noise factors: Highway proximity affects some camping experiences. A review of Indian Springs Campground warned, "The highway noise was terrible. We had A/C on and sound machine and still had a rough time sleeping. Not a bad place for a stopover but too noisy for more than a few nights." Conversely, municipal campgrounds can provide quieter options, with a visitor to Bixler Lake Park & Campground commenting, "This is by far the place to just relax... campers here live by the lights out code."
Recreational water features: Multiple campgrounds offer water recreation beyond swimming. At Angola/Hogback Lake KOA, a visitor reported, "They have a waterslide, big store, hand scooped ice cream, clean bathrooms and boat rentals." Another camper shared, "Kayaking and the beach was a huge hit with the kids."
Nature programs: State parks provide educational opportunities. At Chain O'Lakes, a visitor mentioned, "We spoke with the naturalist and volunteered our time she was absolutely fantastic," indicating organized nature activities for children.
Playground access: Many campgrounds feature play equipment for children. Trading Post Outfitters receives praise for being "Perfect weekend getaway with your family," while another camper at Gordons Campground noted, "They have a playground for kids, dodge ball! There is a game at all times. There are playgrounds for the little ones too."
Electrical capacity: Most campgrounds offer various hookup options. A visitor to Atwood Lake Campground appreciated the "electric hookups, fifty-amp hookups, thirty-amp hookups" available, making it suitable for various RV power needs.
Site access considerations: Larger RVs may face challenges at certain campgrounds. A visitor to Trading Post warned, "Stayed one night it's a beautiful campground just small. I came in with a 44ft toy hauler had issues getting in (rookie mistake). There was room if your careful but I misunderstood what the guy directing me said and ended up breaking a window."
Year-round RV options: Limited winter camping exists for RVers. A camper at Angola/Hogback Lake KOA shared, "We spent this past week at Hogback Lake KOA. It is late in the season so much of the park was closed for the season, but we had a great year round site. A little bit of road noise, but water, electric, sewer, cable TV all worked great."
Frequently Asked Questions
What RV camping options are available near Kendallville, Indiana?
The Kendallville area offers several quality RV camping options. Bixler Lake Park & Campground is conveniently located in Kendallville with full hookup sites and big-rig friendly facilities. Just outside town, Pike Lake County Campground in Warsaw provides seasonal, monthly, weekly, and nightly rentals specifically for RVs and trailers with approximately 45 sites and shower/restroom facilities. Both campgrounds offer easy access to recreational activities on their respective lakes.
What are the popular campgrounds in Kendallville and how much do they cost?
Popular campgrounds near Kendallville include Camp Timber Lake on the outskirts of Fort Wayne, known for its cleanliness, pet-friendly policy, and reasonable rates averaging $30-40 per night. Angola/Hogback Lake KOA Holiday offers more amenities with rates typically between $45-60 per night depending on hookups. For budget-conscious campers, Elkhart County Fairgrounds provides full hookup sites for $30/night (50-amp) or water and 30-amp electric for $23/night, with discounted weekly and monthly rates available.
Are there tent camping facilities in or around Kendallville Park?
While Kendallville's Bixler Lake Park primarily focuses on RV camping, tent campers can find excellent options at nearby Chain O' Lakes State Park Campground, located about 20 minutes from Kendallville. This park offers tent-friendly sites, some in non-electric areas that provide a more secluded experience. The park features five facilities with restrooms and showers. For another tent camping option, Pokagon State Park Campground is approximately 30 minutes away with a variety of tent sites available year-round, though services are limited in winter.
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