Johnny Appleseed Campground features a tremendous pet park with a well-maintained yard, making it one of the most pet-friendly options near Decatur, Indiana. The campground welcomes dogs with designated exercise areas and clean facilities. Chain O' Lakes State Park Campground also accommodates pets throughout its wooded sites, though pets are not permitted in the water or near the beach areas. Both campgrounds offer electric hookups and picnic tables at most sites, with Johnny Appleseed providing additional amenities like showers and trash service. The pet friendliness varies between locations, with some campgrounds like KOA Campground Bluffton offering more extensive pet amenities. Campsites are generally clean and well-maintained, though site sizes and layouts differ significantly between parks.
Hiking trails throughout the region provide excellent opportunities for dog walking, particularly at Chain O' Lakes State Park where clearly marked paths wind through forested areas and around the nine connected lakes. Most campgrounds require pets to remain on leash at all times when outside designated pet areas. The bathrooms at many locations are kept very clean, though availability of pet waste stations varies by campground. Summer visitors should note that bugs can be problematic in certain areas, especially near water features, requiring additional precautions for pets. Water access points are available at several campgrounds, though some locations like Lake Loramie State Park have posted blue-green algae warnings that require keeping dogs away from the water. Weather conditions vary seasonally, with most pet-friendly campgrounds in the region operating from spring through fall.
$20 - $33 / night
"The paved bike trail in the park starts near the campground, and connects with a bike trail along the Wabash River that goes into nearby Bluffton, and is an easy ride. "
"Plenty of trails to hike and a nice little lake to enjoy. Will definitely come back here"
"The location here is pretty crazy it’s right in the middle of town but feels like a park there is a river and wooded area that makes you feel like you are in nature but you are just a parking lot **away **"
"Easy access to downtown, the Coliseum, IPFW, and shopping. The River Greenway path cuts right through the park, and there is also a boat launch for the river."
"They have a pool, basketball area, playground, dog run area, and a volleyball net(but the ball is flat). Nicer than a lot of places we’ve stayed."
$14 - $80 / night
"Only stopped here for the night to catch a rest so cannot speak to the trails or lakes."
"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."
"It was very relaxing and I also enjoyed walking on different paths to enjoy nature as it was. I would highly recommend this campground to anyone. It is also family friended"
"Kil-so-qauh, used to be a little hidden gem right outside of town but has turned into quite a popular place, but for good reason."
$45 - $100 / night
"Nice lake, you can bring golf carts nice size camping lots. We will go back again great experience beautiful place."
$12 - $15 / night
"Some sites around the back are more private than others. There are not trails to hike but some space to bike. Access to the lake is quite a distance from the actual campground."
"We found a cozy camp site along the back ring near the river. We didn’t have a view but there was an area to go walk over to that had a very picturesque."
$24 - $110 / night
"friendly staff, very clean restrooms, playground, could not swim in the water due to contamination which they have spent millions to repair and is slowly on the up and up, not too far from town, surrounded"
"Great location of pull through sites for families with kids because of proximity to playground. This will be a regular spot for us in the coming years."
"Tons to do especially for kids, pet friendly, definitely get rowdy on the weekends- book ahead to snag the best sites. We stayed 5 days and it was awesome."
"If you you’re going for family friendly fun where you can sit around a fire wIth friends and family, this is the place. There is swimming and family activities to keep everyone busy."
LegendThe location here is pretty crazy it’s right in the middle of town but feels like a park there is a river and wooded area that makes you feel like you are in nature but you are just a parking lot away from an arena and college. There is a playground and a dog park. Here as well as ball diamonds. This is a great family friendly place but is very very busy during the season.
LegendWe love camping in the off season but with that comes closures. Some sections of the campgrounds might not be open, no camp hosts and limited bathrooms and showers houses. This is to be expected, but when I called the morning of our trip to make sure potable water was available and I was told yes it was only to drive 2 hours and realized they were wrong. No water 🙁. This would not have been a peas we have dry camped before but all the bathrooms were closed as well.
After called the park ranger he did let us get some water at the maintenance building so we were at least able to finish the weekend. Lesson learned always pull with at least some water.
Now back to the campground itself was nice and clean. Site are a little close together. The biggest down side is you are there to enjoy the lake but the lake had algae warnings everywhere not to go near the water.
They do have a dog park, pool and splash pad when in season and a marina. Also they have WiFi and good cell coverage.
RangerRelax on the waters edge in shear tranquility. Perfect beach for swimming, excellent trails for hiking, and awesome lake to boat. Multiple launch ramps provide ease and convenience. Rent a canoe or kayak and head out for some time alone or with your favorite person. The cabins are heated but pets are not allowed. Campground is huge as are the sites. Some are premium, there’s a few ADA and some lakeside making for a great view to enjoy your morning coffee.
GuideThe beach was clean and fun. Not very busy when we were there, which was nice. We stayed on Campsite 208. Nice size campsite, which good shade. The campsite did have a bigger than expected slope, but nothing horrible. Some campsite s looked amazing and others looked to be in major need of some TLC. Most of the campsites were in need of a fresh layer of gravel for their parking pads. The restrooms were clean, and the hot water was plentiful for my shower. It would have been nice if there were pet station placed around the campground to make it easy for dog walkers to rid themselves of their full poop bags and to provide folks a place to get poop bags if they forgot to bring some. Overall a great weekend.
GuideThey have a tremendous pet park with a well maintained yard. The only problem so far has been the water distribution. But the price is very affordable. My site was 30 dollars a night. Bath house and bathrooms are very nicely kept clean. And there is a river right beside it.
ScoutClean! Tons to do especially for kids, pet friendly, definitely get rowdy on the weekends- book ahead to snag the best sites. We stayed 5 days and it was awesome. Mini golf, fishing, 3 pools, inflatable in the water, they have a whole schedule for the weekends here. It’s great!
TravelerEscaped to this little place on the outskirts of Fort Wayne, Indiana and it was absolutely worth it. Everyone was nice including the neighboring campers. Most importantly, everything was kept very clean. We loved the fact that fur babies are allowed in. However, they are not allowed in the water or near the beach. Next time we will have to try the zip-lines! We definitely will be repeat campers❤️.
GuideI spent one night here with my two dogs on Memorial Day weekend and I was much more impressed with this location than I thought I was going to be.
The park itself is very narrow and long, and stretches down the Maumee River bank. It's very green with lots of trees and shade cover. The paved path that goes along the camping sites is very nice and makes for a great walk or bike ride.
We stayed in campsite 16 which has its pros and cons. Most of the campsites in this area have one site that is closer to the river and then a site "behind" it, with little roads/walkways on each side. The pro of 16 is the fact that they don't rent out the space in front of it, at least when I booked it, so there is no one between you and the river. The down side of 16 is it is situated right next to the toilets, so you get a lot of foot traffic from others using the bathroom and the constant slamming of the toilet door gets a bit annoying.
However, speaking of toilets, these were the cleanest port a potties I have ever used. I was quite impressed with the bathrooms, for what they were.
There is no direct access to the river in most areas, but there is an opening near the middle of the campsite which allows access, along with access for kayaks, which is pretty cool. I would have liked more access to the river along different locations, but I understand the steepness of the hill down to the river and it's not really possible.
The one big drawback in my opinion and why I gave this 4 stars and not 5, is the fact that the two lane traffic road is within 50-100 yards of the campsite, so the sound of vehicle traffic is quite frequent, especially since this road appears to be a favorite of motorcyclists.
I will be returning and I'd like to stay in another location towards the end of the site, and on a less busy weekend. Overall this is a nice location.
TravelerOnly stopped here for the night to catch a rest so cannot speak to the trails or lakes. The place was nice enough at first glance that I’ll be back to check all those things out if I’m ever around these parts again. Would I make a many-hours-out-of-my-way detour for this place? Maybe... if the online booking looked like the park campground wouldn’t be terribly booked, because the sites are pretty jammed in there and close together, so you’d want to be there when it is less busy.
There were very cute friendly cats that came out at night to comb my site to see if there were any foodstuffs to be had. I prefer them over rodents, but missed the overly-friendly raccoons I’m used to :)
Near Decatur, Indiana, campers can find several state parks and private campgrounds set within the region's flat terrain that ranges between 750 and 850 feet elevation. The area experiences humid continental climate with warm summers reaching into the 90s and cold winters, making most campgrounds seasonal with peak operations from April through October. Sites in the region tend to have varying degrees of shade and exposure with mixed hardwood forests predominant at state parks.
Hike the trail system: At Ouabache State Park Campground, visitors can explore multiple trail options. "Love all the trails here, lots of options for how long of a hike you want to take! There's a surprising variation between more deciduous and coniferous environments depending on the trail you choose," notes Bethany S. The park also features a fire tower for panoramic views.
Fishing opportunities: Several campgrounds offer fishing access for anglers. "Nice little lake to enjoy," mentions Darrell B. about Ouabache State Park. At River Trail Campground, you can find a "clean pond that is stocked with bluegills" according to Shane M.
Biking trails: Kil-So-Quah - J. Edward Roush Lake offers paved areas for cycling. "Plenty of playground equipment and paved areas for bikes," reports Maris H. At Ouabache State Park, Jacob A. shares, "The paved bike trail in the park starts near the campground, and connects with a bike trail along the Wabash River that goes into nearby Bluffton, and is an easy ride."
Year-round camping options: Unlike many seasonal facilities, some campgrounds remain open all year. "Love this place for winter camping. The campground comfort stations are heated all winter long," says Lisa N. about Ouabache State Park Campground.
Bison viewing: Grand Lake St. Marys State Park offers unique wildlife viewing. "Great family spot. Plenty of activities for families to do. The kids loved the Bison," notes Brad H. about his experience at a nearby state park. The bison enclosure provides an educational wildlife viewing opportunity.
Water recreation: Multiple parks feature water access for various activities. At Grand Lake St. Marys State Park, visitors find "a pool, splash pad, putt putt golf, boat docks, hiking trails, and some other great amenities," according to Ashleigh D. The park offers alternatives to lake swimming.
Water conditions vary: Water quality concerns exist at some locations. At Grand Lake St. Marys State Park, Megan M. reports, "The Ohio Department of Health reports that the bacteria level in this lake is dangerously high, and no one should swim in this lake." Always check current water advisories before planning water activities.
Seasonal facilities: Most campgrounds operate on limited schedules. For example, Johnny Appleseed Campground is open "Apr 1 to Oct 31" according to its season information, while others may open earlier or later depending on weather conditions.
Bathroom facilities differ: Restroom quality varies significantly between parks. Tina H. notes that at Kil-So-Quah, "The outhouses are very clean," but they lack showers. Meanwhile, Johnny Appleseed Campground has what Christie S. describes as "the best bathrooms that I have ever seen in the campgrounds. You can even look out at the skylight at the sky."
Playground availability: Many campgrounds offer play areas for children. At River Trail Campground, Shane M. says, "My kids had a great time, the playground is very nice, there is a nice pool and a clean pond that is stocked with bluegills." This makes it easier for parents to keep children entertained.
Site selection matters: When booking, consider specific site characteristics. At Grand Lake St. Marys, one camper appreciated that "The sites were pull through which was nice for having young kids. Could sit at our spot and watch our kids at the playground."
Wildlife awareness: Prepare for encounters with local wildlife. "The raccoons were pretty annoying though," warns John F. about Ouabache State Park. Secure food items and trash properly to avoid attracting unwanted visitors to your campsite.
Hookup limitations: Not all parks offer full hookups. At Chain O' Lakes State Park Campground, campers have electric, but Steve C. from another park notes the "Only draw back is no water and sewer hook up at the campsite."
Site layout considerations: For RVs, size and privacy vary widely. "There are mostly full-time residents," notes doris C. about one campground, while Truly W. observed at Chain O' Lakes that "the RV sites have better bathrooms" than tent areas.
Seasonal ground conditions: Weather impacts site quality. "Some can get very wet and flooded during a nice rain," warns Jacob A. Spring camping particularly can mean muddy conditions at many parks throughout the region.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Decatur, IN?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Decatur, IN is Ouabache State Park Campground with a 4.1-star rating from 12 reviews.
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