S
Scott B.
Ranger
RangerProphetstown State Park Campground
Beautiful
Water park is super clean. Lots of bike trails and camp sites are all clean and level
Camping near Covington, IN
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SUMMARY PRESENTED BY
Campgrounds near Covington, Indiana provide options for tent, RV, and cabin camping within a mix of state parks and privately operated facilities. Turkey Run State Park Campground, approximately 25 miles southeast of Covington, offers tent, RV, cabin, and glamping accommodations with electric hookups, water, and modern facilities. The area also includes Charlarose Campground, Kickapoo State Recreation Area across the Illinois border, and several other established campgrounds providing varying levels of amenities and natural settings.
Camping is available year-round at several locations, though some sites like Shades State Park and Turkey Run Canoe & Camping operate seasonally from April through October or November. Most campgrounds in the region require reservations, particularly during summer weekends and holidays when sites fill quickly. The terrain is relatively flat with some wooded areas and water features. Electric hookups are commonly available, but full hookups vary by location. Visitors should check specific campground requirements as alcohol policies and generator use permissions differ between facilities. A camper noted, "Depending on what you would like, this campground has a little bit of everything. There are camp sites that are walk to for some more distance from others, a lot of close drive to spots, RV, and a lot of close boat camping sites."
Campgrounds in the Covington area generally receive positive reviews for their combination of natural settings and reasonable amenities. Kickapoo State Recreation Area features multiple lakes for fishing and paddling opportunities along with hiking and mountain biking trails. Forest Glen County Preserve includes both electric sites and primitive camping along with an 11-mile backpacking loop that requires advance permits. Several campers mention the wildlife viewing opportunities, with deer and turkey sightings common in the quieter campgrounds. Visitors appreciate the mix of wooded privacy and recreational access, though some note that interior loop sites can sometimes feel close together. Many campgrounds balance rustic charm with basic amenities like showers and vault toilets. A recent review described one facility as "the perfect mixture of rustic and convenient. Nice, wooded spaces and a small section of 'primitive' walk-in sites."
Best Campgrounds near Covington (53)
1. Turkey Run State Park Campground
"Turkey Run is arguably the most popular campground (and state park) in Indiana and has its pros and cons."
"Much enjoyed hiking some of the trails at Turkey Run State Park near Marshall, Indiana. This is Indiana's 2nd oldest state park, now 100 years old (1916-2016)."
from $20 - $52 / night
Check Availability2. Kickapoo State Recreation Area
"Very easy and just$20, no ridiculous add-on fees like entrance fees, unlike some states that I won’t mention(Indiana, Nebraska)…."
"Stayed here on Dec. 10, 2021 (yes the night of all the tornadoes throughout the Illinois/Kentucky/Tennessee area), I and everyone else at the campsite got pretty lucky, we were just outside the path of"
from $10 - $20 / night
Check Availability3. Shades State Park Campground
"Canopied by the big beautiful Indiana trees. Close to some good hiking trails."
"Located north of turkey run state park shades offers all the hiking and scenic terrain with less amenities and less crowds. Sugar creek cuts through the ancient sandstone floor creating canyon walls."
from $14 - $25 / night
Check Availability4. Forest Glen County Preserve
"There is a nearby water source but it will need to be filtered. Other things to do...walk in the prairie, hike, climb a tower, play at the playground, picnic, etc... it’s a very nice place to visit."
from $17 - $27 / night
Check Availability5. Off The Trail Campground
"Lots of dogs around, pricing was about $50 a night per site. Restrooms had showers as well which made it easy to rinse off the mud. Great time all around."
from $9 - $49 / night
Check Availability6. Turkey Buzzard RV Park
"** Guests appreciate the peaceful atmosphere, easy access to shopping, restaurants, healthcare, and major highways, making it an excellent choice for travel workers, full-time RVers, retirees, and extended"
from $525 / night
Check Availability7. Charlarose Campground
8. Cecil M Harden Lake Raccoon State Recreation Area
"Raccoon State Recreation Area | Cecil M Harden Lake is located in the heart of historic covered bridge country just 50 miles West of Indianapolis."
"There are multiple boat ramps for easy access to the water. I met a friend there who is a resident of Indianapolis and we had a great time on the water."
from $14 - $62 / night
Check Availability9. Turkey Run Canoe & Camping
"Site 91 was tucked away in a more forested area away from RVs. Did a nice kayaking loop using their service. Had everything you needed, very chill experience. Will return fsho."
"That being said it did seem a little tight in certain area we were in but we drove around and rest of campground looked awesome!"
from $35 / night
Check Availability10. Crawfordsville KOA
"We arrived at 2am, but they had us all situated for late checkin. The campground itself was very lovely and quiet."
"Really cute little park with lots of shade and convenient access to Crawfordsville. We were here for a quick stopover, but made friends with several locals spending time here."
Drive Time
- 43 min from Champaign, IL
- 50 min from Lafayette, IN
- 54 min from Terre Haute, IN
- 1 hr 39 min from Kokomo, IN
Recent Camping Photos near Covington, IN
126 Photos of 53 Covington Campgrounds
Douglas W.
Charlarose Campground
Janet B.
Vermilion County Park Forest Glen Preserve
Cassandra I.
Kickapoo State Recreation Area
Rowan G.
Turkey Run Canoe & Camping
Michelle M.
Turkey Run State Park Campground
Hannah
Shades State Park Campground
Alan F.
Peaceful Waters Campground
Mike V.
Lake Waveland Park
Christopher Y.
Ross Camp
Shane H.
Sugar Creek Campground
Hannah S.
Crawfordsville KOA
Amy Y.
Sugar Creek Campground and Canoe Rental LLC
Recent Reviews near Covington, IN
390 Reviews of 53 Covington Campgrounds
TownCountry C.
ScoutTurkey Buzzard RV Park
Affordable Full-Hookup RV Sites in Danville, IL
Turkey Buzzard RV Park is a quiet, clean, and affordable long-term RV campground in Danville, Illinois. The park offers spacious full-hookup RV sites with water, sewer, and electric, along with convenient month-to-month rentals. Guests appreciate the peaceful atmosphere, easy access to shopping, restaurants, healthcare, and major highways, making it an excellent choice for travel workers, full-time RVers, retirees, and extended stays. If you're looking for a safe, well-maintained RV park in Danville, IL with affordable monthly rates and a welcoming community, Turkey Buzzard RV Park is a great place to call home.
Sarah L.ScoutCaboose Lake Campground
I’d stay there again
Chris likes to run a tight ship, but she has a good heart. There are so many activities in the summer for kids it’s non stop action and for the adults it’s usually just a chill by the fire or lakeside kind of of place. I’m a heavy sleeper so the highway traffic doesn’t bother me one bit!
- ccarol
TravelerLake Waveland Park
Very disappointing
Arrived Saturday before the Fourth of July entire campground was overgrown trash in our site. I picked up at least 15 beer bottle lids from previous camper. No host to be found. Apparently she drives through but doesn’t stay here we were told there was 30 and 50 amp service. It was first come first serve. We were hoping that the next-door camper would leave on the 28th as his card on the mirror said he had to be out by the 28th but he’s still here and it’s the 30th there is no 50 amp anywhere. We looked in several empty campsites and could not find 50 amp anywhere. We were told later that there is no 50 A on this campground. Bathrooms are disgusting. They have a trough for the water to drain out. One shower is out of order the other one the door is hanging by one hinge honestly, I wouldn’t even go to the bathroom in bath houses. Definitely the worst shower house we’ve ever seen in camping all our years. Heavily wooden camp sites with many dead trees still standing the potential for this campground is high. It’s too bad the owners don’t see this. Anybody can drive in at any time we saw two different campers come in spend the night and leave the next day before the checkout building opened. They did not have placed cards on their mirrors so we feel like they were probably squatting. Since the lake, the beach and the public campground is open and not patrolled, there is a lot of Co19mings and goings.
Kelly S.
GuideProphetstown State Park Campground
Top notch
A wonderful campground for families. Spacious lots with privacy, a large bathhouse, plenty of space for riding bikes and walking. And a well-designed dump station made the adults happy!
- CCorey M.Traveler
Turkey Run State Park Campground
Beautiful park, loved it
Great little campground, decently spaced spots and lots of thoughtful people in a great area. Would def come back if I go through Indiana again. The lady who works in the shack quickly changed my site to one that fits my rv after pulling in and seeing it was way too small. Thanks again ma’am!
- jjoseph L.Scout
D & W Lake RV Park
Quiet
Needed a place to stay to watch our grandson in a baseball tournament in Rantoul IL. This campground was great. About 10 minutes away. Very quiet and peaceful.
troy K.ScoutSugar Creek Campground and Canoe Rental LLC
It was good for a while
Had a great annual relationship with this campground. When we first started going they did not have their canoes and kayaks service. We had our our own so no big deal. They let us put in and take out. Then they started their livery service. They were hesitant about letting us use they put in and take out spot but since we would help with some of the chores around the campground we built a good relationship with the owners. They once said "you are the only ones we allow to do this" thought that we were sort of grandfathered in at that point. 20 years later....they must have forgotten their words and we were told since we took out our canoes at there site we were not allowed to come back ever again. You word goes a long way in my book and it evidently got forgotten or they just got mean.
- TTJ F.Scout
Kickapoo State Recreation Area
Nice campground, reasonable rates
We checked in on a Sunday and there were plenty of available sites. I believe they are first come first served this time of year(April). It’s a pretty campground with good spacing between sites. Our site was level. Backed in and checked level and it was perfect front to back, side to side, on first try. We didn’t disconnect just set the stabilizers down, as we were there for just the one night. Shower house was open and reasonably clean. The check-in office was closed and no host on site. There were envelopes at the check-in station to pay when you leave if there was no host or attendant to collect. So we picked our site and setup. Very easy and just$20, no ridiculous add-on fees like entrance fees, unlike some states that I won’t mention(Indiana, Nebraska)….
Guide to Covington
Camping sites near Covington, Indiana range from primitive to full-service options within a 30-mile radius. The area features gently rolling terrain with elevations between 500-700 feet above sea level. Summer temperatures typically reach 85-90°F with moderate humidity, while spring and fall camping seasons offer milder conditions with occasional rainfall.
What to do
Trail hiking: Turkey Run State Park Campground offers challenging terrain with distinct geological features. "We hiked Trail 3 with our dog, but we cut off early before the ladders using Trail 10. Our dog did pretty well in the section of Trail 3 before the ladders, and be prepared to get wet," notes one visitor who recommends early weekday arrivals to avoid crowds.
Water recreation: Forest Glen County Preserve provides backcountry camping with river access. A camper explains: "The rangers told us the water from the Vermilion River was safe to drink with filtration but note that you do have to walk down to the river and up to the campsites." The preserve requires advance permits for its 11-mile backpacking loop.
Fishing spots: Cecil M Harden Lake Raccoon State Recreation Area offers multiple fishing locations around a large lake. "Great place to camp, can be flooded at times, some of the sites have huge inclines or declines," notes one camper, highlighting the importance of site selection near the water.
What campers like
Wooded privacy: Many campers appreciate secluded sites at Shades State Park Campground. "Great sites that offer decent privacy with brush & trees as a barrier between sites. Paved parking pad, steel fire-ring with steel grid to cook on," one reviewer notes. The park operates seasonally from April to October.
Modern facilities: At Turkey Run, the bathroom facilities earn positive mentions. "The bathrooms were super clean and the showers were hot with good water pressure," writes a camper who stayed in the wooded section, mentioning that site 167 and adjacent spots offer good options.
Multiple lakes: Kickapoo State Recreation Area contains several water features for diverse activities. "There are camp sites that are walk to for some more distance from others, a lot of close drive to spots, RV, and a lot of close boat camping sites," explains a camper. The park maintains both primitive and electric sites.
What you should know
Terrain challenges: Site levelness varies significantly throughout the region. At Turkey Run Canoe & Camping, "The sites are difficult to get into and although they allow one car on the site there is barely room for that one car. The electric is shared with another site which could be a problem."
Wildlife presence: Raccoons are particularly bold at Turkey Run State Park. Several campers specifically mention this issue: "Watch out for the raccoons. Those guys are not afraid of anything." Food storage precautions are essential at most area campgrounds.
Reservation requirements: Most campgrounds in the area fill quickly during peak season. For backcountry camping at Forest Glen County Preserve, "you will need to get a permit from the Ranger in advance. The backcountry sites have trash cans and pit toilets for convenience."
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Crawfordsville KOA offers family-friendly amenities. "This campground is gorgeous. The sites are gravel and grassy. Great shade all over and landscaping is beautiful. There is an awesome playground for families with kids," notes a camper.
Swimming options: Cecil M Harden Lake features a clean beach area for kids. "I loved this camp ground, there was a beach which was nice and a building to get food. They have a basketball court, and a few trails. We stayed Thurs thru Sunday and had a very nice time," shares a visitor.
Weekday camping: For families wanting to experience the popular trails, timing matters. As one Turkey Run camper advises: "In order to avoid crowds on the trails, we got there Thursday night so we could hike Friday morning/early afternoon."
Tips from RVers
Site selection: At Turkey Run State Park, not all sites work well for larger rigs. "Sites tried from all concrete to a dusty dirt and rock tent area, and all had old wood picnic tables. While the hiking was incredible, the maps of the trails were poor and not up to date," reports an RVer who managed to charge their electric vehicle at the site.
Hook-up configuration: At Off The Trail Campground, "buddy sites" provide ample space for RVers traveling together. "We stayed in buddy sites 81 and 82. Buddy sites are large, have full hookup, fire pits, and picnic tables," notes a camper who paid about $50 per night per site.
Leveling requirements: Many campgrounds in the area have uneven sites. At Turkey Run, a camper in site #35 shares: "The site was clean and well equipped with a fire ring and picnic table. The site is very uneven. It definitely sloops to the back corner. It was difficult to level our camper but we got it in the end."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular campground near Covington, IN?
Which is the most popular campground near Covington, IN?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Covington, IN is Turkey Run State Park Campground with a 4.5-star rating from 73 reviews.
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