Equestrian Camping near Elkhart, IN

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    Horse-friendly campgrounds near Elkhart, Indiana include Potato Creek State Park Campground, a popular state park offering tent, RV, cabin, and glamping accommodations. The campground provides electric hookups, water, and sanitary facilities for visitors. While the state park does not have dedicated horse corrals according to the data, it offers multiple trails and outdoor recreation opportunities. Sites are spacious with decent privacy between campsites, making it suitable for those traveling with animals. The campground is especially family-friendly with paved bike trails, hiking options, and water activities.

    Located about 25 minutes from South Bend and 40 minutes from Elkhart, Potato Creek State Park Campground serves as a convenient base for exploring the region. The park features miles of trails suitable for various activities, though specific bridle trails are not identified in the data. Campground amenities include drinking water, electric hookups, fire rings, picnic tables, showers, and toilets. Sites are reservable and accommodate various camping styles. For horse owners seeking facilities with dedicated equestrian amenities, it's advisable to contact the park directly as the data does not specifically list horse corrals or specialized equestrian facilities at any of the campgrounds near Elkhart.

    Best Equestrian Campgrounds near Elkhart (6)

      1. Potato Creek State Park Campground

      4.5(50)23mi from Elkhart365 sitesRVs, Tents, Cabins, Glamping

      "Great walking trails, great for families with youngsters. Park activities and lots of trail walking. 25 mins away from South Bend/Mishawaka and 40 mins away from Elkhart and there RV Hall of Fame."

      "I feel this is one of the best state parks in Indiana. Come with your own water as they don’t have water hookups at your campsite but there are some nearby. The sites are very spacious and clean."

      from $20 - $90 / night

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      2. Elkhart County Fairgrounds

      3.5(8)11mi from ElkhartRVs, Tents

      "Elkhart County 4-h Fairgrounds: Scale 1- bad, 5-Very good

      (72 yr olds in 27’ trailer.)"

      "We followed our RV Trip Wizard GPS directions straight to the fairgrounds, and since we had stayed here before, we knew to use the second entrance."

      3. Chain O' Lakes State Park Campground

      4.3(54)40mi from Elkhart430 sitesRVs, Tents, Cabins, Glamping

      "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."

      "Chain is perfect for kayaking and canoeing with 9 connected lakes and 11 total. A couple lakes are perfect for boat fishing as long as you have an electric motor only."

      from $14 - $80 / night

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      4. Pokagon State Park Campground

      4.5(52)49mi from Elkhart267 sitesRVs, Tents, Cabins, Glamping

      "Sites are in a well wooded area situated on 5 different loops (1 non-electric, 4 electric)."

      "This site was fairly level but very close to other sites…wouldn’t recommend it."

      from $20 - $480 / night

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      5. Covert/South Haven KOA Holiday

      4.7(17)43mi from Elkhart97 sitesRVs, Tents, Cabins, Glamping

      "Good spots for RV/pull behind/tents. Clean facilities and only a 20 min drive from South Haven’s beautiful beaches!"

      "Nice very busy pool and slide, play areas, walking trail, camp store with hot food. Not far from Lake Michigan and places to buy fresh fruit and veggies. Check it out you'll be happy you did."

      6. Kosciusko County Fairgrounds

      2.0(1)32mi from ElkhartRVs, Tents

      from $5 - $10 / night

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    Recent Equestrian Camping Photos near Elkhart, IN

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    Equestrian Camping Reviews near Elkhart, IN

    182 Reviews of 6 Elkhart Campgrounds


    • J
      Feb. 25, 2020

      Potato Creek State Park Campground

      Great Indiana State Park

      Great walking trails, great for families with youngsters. Park activities and lots of trail walking. 25 mins away from South Bend/Mishawaka and 40 mins away from Elkhart and there RV Hall of Fame. Only electric at sites but they are big and roomy. Quiet and full of wildlife.

    • Whitley K.
      Mar. 29, 2022

      Pokagon State Park Campground

      Visit in Winter for Tobagganing

      Equestrian trails and campgrounds are popular here. Horse rides sold on site. There is a nice hotel that sometimes hosts events actually located in the park. Come tobagginging and ice fishing in the winter and then pamper yourself in the hotel, or visit in the summer and have a beach day or easy hike with the family. Great spot for Pokémon Go because of the available cell service.

    • Roger W.The Dyrt PRO User
      Sep. 25, 2024

      Elkhart County Fairgrounds

      Area Convenient and Clean

      Elkhart County 4-h Fairgrounds: (Scale 1- bad, 5-Very good

      (72 yr olds in 27’ trailer.)

      Overall Rating: 4 for access to the area, very clean facilities, and not too many campers thus time of year.
      Price 2024: $35 for water/electric only. Security: No Usage during visit: Very light Visual Privacy Between Adjacent Sites: none Site Spacing: very close Pad surface: our area was grass Reservations: Yes Campground Noise: Quiet except for one day of motorcycle raises at the nearby track.
      Outside Road Noise: Not most sites Through Traffic in campground: Some for activities at the fairground Electric Hookup: Yes Sewer Hookup: some sites Dump Station: yes Potable Water Available: At sites Bathroom: Very nice flush toilets Showers: yes Pull Throughs: Yes Cell Service (AT&T): Varied throughout campground Setting: open grass fields around very well manicured county fairground. Recent Weather: 70s and rain. Insects:None Host: I am not sure.
      Rig Size: Large Sites: full hookups and water/electric only

    • Jessica L.
      Jul. 28, 2016

      Potato Creek State Park Campground

      Activities for all seasons...

      ...although you probably wouldn't want to camp in the Indiana winter. I grew up coming here mostly to sled on the hills! But, there is a lot more to do. It surrounds Worster Lake and there are cabins, RV sites, and tent sites along with horse trails and bike trails. In the winter, there's sledding hills and ice fishing. The campgrounds are pretty standard, nothing special. If you live in the area, it's a fine little getaway.

    • D
      Apr. 25, 2019

      Potato Creek State Park Campground

      A wonderful state campground

      I feel this is one of the best state parks in Indiana. Come with your own water as they don’t have water hookups at your campsite but there are some nearby. The sites are very spacious and clean. Bath houses are always clean! Playground areas for the kids throughout the park lots of bike and walking trails. No pools but a beautiful man made lake for swimming and fishing. Lots of wildlife throughout the park. A great nature center is a must to see for the little ones. My family has camped here for many years. There is also a separate campground for horse lovers.

    • D
      Jul. 5, 2016

      Pokagon State Park Campground

      Pokagon State Park

      Pokagon State Park has an excellent state park campground. Sites are in a well wooded area situated on 5 different loops (1 non-electric, 4 electric). Many sites are flat (good for tent camping) while others are slightly rolling hills (helps breakup the sites a bit). There is a lot to do in the park including many trails, horse riding (horse stable on site), and lake swimming on a nicely improved beach. Only cons are no full hook up and the fire rings/grills could be improved.

    • T S.
      Sep. 19, 2021

      Pokagon State Park Campground

      Extensive Campground

      This is an extremely large campground. About seventy-five percent of the sites are electric. We stayed in Site 255, which was not electric (booked last minute). This site was fairly level but very close to other sites…wouldn’t recommend it. However, Site 269 (next to Site 277) afforded great privacy and was large; among the non-electric sites this was the best I saw. I did not survey the electric sites, but I’m sure the site matters a lot. Non-electric sites are $20.00, plus a $9.00 park entrance fee.

      There are numerous walking trails, along with horse and bike trails. Additionally, there are boat rentals, horseback rides, pony rentals, swimming, nature center, and a restaurant at the inn.

      This is a family oriented park. Extended family groupings are very common. Nevertheless, people and their children are well behaved.

      I would recommend this campground for two days or more. A one day stay will mean you probably won’t see much of this wonderful park. The only reason I gave it a four was that even in mid-September it was packed.

    • Nancy W.The Dyrt PRO User
      Sep. 23, 2017

      Elkhart County Fairgrounds

      Typical Fairgrounds Camping Experience

      I have camped here a couple of times while visiting northern Indiana to have repairs done on my RV. Overall, I like this campground where for $30/night you can get a 50 amp full hook-up site or $23/night a 30 amp and water site. If you plan on staying longer weekly and monthly rates are really good. The campground sits in the middle of the county fairgrounds so there is usually something going on – either a fair, concert, horse event, or an RV rally. Depending on what time of year you are here and part of the week, the campground could be very crowded or very empty. The nice thing is the people in the office let you pick whatever site you want and don’t assign one to you. There are 275 full hook-up sites with 50 amp full hook-up and 30 amp water & electric only. There are no fires allowed and some sites don’t have picnic tables but you can request one and they will bring it to your site.

      There is very little shade and during my last visit the late September fall temperatures climbed to nearly 90 degrees and was brutal. This campground is better suited for RVs than tents but you are permitted to tent camp. Bathrooms and showers are scattered about and I was amazed at always how clean they (and the grounds as a whole) are. They do offer WiFi which worked pretty well in non-peak hours like early morning but was not reliable and sometimes frustrating. Since many sites have a clear view of the sky, you most likely will get satellite television reception and a dozen or so antenna channels.

      One of the things I like about this park is the vast expanse of grounds to wander about walking my dog. There is a trail system just outside of the park that allows you miles and miles of walking and biking trails. Downtown Goshen is less than two miles away and has some great restaurants (including Venturi Pizza, Maple Indian Cuisine – which has an awesome buffet, and Goshen Brewing Company). The Saturday farmers market is great with lots of produce, breads, meats, cheeses, and crafts.

      The last time I visited coincided with the Mennonite Relief Fund which was a big fund raiser for their charity that packed the grounds with stuff for sale, food, and activities. It was fun to be there during the event but it meant the campground and grounds were packed.

      Now for the bad about this campground. It is located right next to very busy train tracks that operate 24/7 and blow their horns quite often. They were really annoying in the middle of the night. Sites are close together so if it is crowded and you have a neighbor, you will be right on top of them. There is no shade which can be very miserable.

      Pros:

      · Price - $30/night for a 50 amp full hook-up site

      · Nearby downtown stores and restaurants

      · Sites are not assigned so you can pick where you want to camp

      · Grassy patios

      · Large grounds to meander around

      · Nearby biking/walking trail

      Cons:

      · Very noisy from nearby trains operated at all hours

      · Few trees for shade or privacy

      · Some sites are very tight and close to your neighbor

      · Can be very crowded

      · WiFi provided but not reliable

    • Lee D.The Dyrt PRO User
      Sep. 8, 2019

      Potato Creek State Park Campground

      Campground=4 stars; check-in=2 stars

      Campground= 4 stars; check-in= 2 stars. Very large campground with close to 300 sites plus a horse camp and about 20 cabins. We picked this park solely because it was convenient to our next destination, so we were not concerned with amenities. We did not make a reservation because I really do not want to pay the extra fee if it is not necessary. Upon arrival, we paid the $9 entrance fee ($7 for Indiana residents) and drove the 3 miles to the campground office. Somewhat surprised to find both staffed at 6 pm on a Thursday after Labor Day. We were told to drive around and pick several desired sites as they could not tell us which ones still had people due to arrive that night who had reserved. Huh?? So, we drove around two of the five loops and picked half a dozen sites that would be suitable. But that’s where the fun began- not! There seemed to be some computer glitch in that every site we asked about showed as not available, even though more than half the sites were empty. Eventually, we were told to just go to one of the sites we picked and set up and that a security guard would come and collect our money. Eventually, at just before 9 pm, the security guard did come and told us the glitch had been fixed and asked that we come to the office and register. The glitch was not fixed! But we paid our fee and were able to stay the night and the staff was very apologetic. 

      There is no differentiation between RV and tent sites (the only one that is separate is the horse camp). The E Loop seemed to be the most crowded, mostly with RVs. The sites in the D Loop were spaced a decent amount of distance apart but other than that, there was no real privacy between them. This was not a problem because the loop had many empty sites and we were able to easily find one that had an empty one on either side of us. There are paths to the beach accessible from the D and E loops but note the beach is only open from Memorial Day through Labor Day. There is no longer a dog beach at Potato Creek. There is a general store(open until 8 pm) and bike rentals which, if we were going to stay longer, we might have taken advantage of. There are boat rentals in season. Several trails and playgrounds so I imagine that in the summer, this is a nice family campground (even the name is Family campground). 

      The mosquitos were vicious, likely worse due to the amount of rain the area has had this year. Bathrooms were very clean and there was hot water, a nice luxury but you have to be careful not to bump your head on the shelf over the sink when washing your face. Didn’t use them but there were also showers. 

      The check-in process notwithstanding, our stay was fine for the night.


    Guide to Elkhart

    Potato Creek State Park serves as a central destination for outdoor recreation near Elkhart, Indiana, located 40 minutes south of the city. The park encompasses over 3,800 acres of wetlands, woodlands, and prairie landscapes with Worster Lake as its centerpiece. This region experiences humid continental climate with warm summers and cold winters, making late spring through early fall the optimal camping season.

    What to do

    Trail exploration: Potato Creek State Park offers diverse hiking options ranging from easy to moderate difficulty. "I've not camped at this park, only hiked it. I've probably hiked it two dozen times at least and it's got nice trails for the part of Indiana that it's in. Most of them are relatively flat with some trails, like number two, having some hills and stairs in them," notes reviewer Kaley A.

    Water activities: Chain O' Lakes State Park Campground provides boating access to a connected chain of small lakes. "We go to Chain O Lakes for short hikes, kayaking and camping. We come here out of convenience, since we live twenty minutes away. There are a handful of paddle up camping spots that are very hard to reserve," explains Whitley K.

    Cycling opportunities: The paved bike paths at Potato Creek State Park accommodate riders of all skill levels. "With dog friendly beaches, beginner MTB trails and paved bike paths, this checks all our boxes. Natural wetlands abound, so definitely bring the mosquito spray," advises Frank M.

    What campers like

    Privacy and space: The back section of Potato Creek State Park Campground offers larger, quieter campsites. "We recommend securing a spot in the back sites 230-287 for larger lots and quieter atmosphere. Younger families tend to book up front near the playground and the noise and activities are more robust," shares Frank M.

    Blueberry picking: Covert/South Haven KOA Holiday offers a unique agricultural experience. "This KOA has blueberry fields everywhere on the property. For a period of time in summer and early fall, you can pick your own blueberries in the morning to have in your breakfast pancakes! The campground is nice with camping sites that are level and roomy," explains Cindy B.

    Year-round activities: Pokagon State Park Campground maintains seasonal programming throughout the year. "There's 500+ sites, but all nicely separated and shaded. There's an inn, restaurant, cabins, boat rentals, horseback riding, bike trails, beach, toboggan run, etc. Tons of picnic areas and pavilions," notes Amy K.

    What you should know

    Equestrian options: While horse campgrounds near Elkhart, Indiana are limited, Pokagon State Park offers horseback riding opportunities without dedicated equestrian campsites. "Only electric hookups, but good for a short weekend. Best bike orbs, horseback riding, and quiet," mentions Kristen S.

    Site selection challenges: Popular campgrounds fill quickly during peak seasons. "We pulled in on Thursday and were unable to stay through the weekend because the park was full—full because of buy up of sites for solicitation," reports Sue B. about Potato Creek State Park.

    Connectivity limitations: Chain O' Lakes State Park Campground and other parks in the region have limited cell service and internet. "Typical Indiana Campground with basic amenities, older comfort stations and spotty WIFI. I like unplugging but sometimes work demands I respond promptly," notes Frank M.

    Tips for camping with families

    Activity planning: Pokagon State Park offers diverse family-friendly options within walking distance. "There are trail, beaches, boats, horses... so many things to do," explains Becky N.

    Beach awareness: Chain O' Lakes State Park has beach areas that vary in crowding and cleanliness. "The beach is often overcrowded with local partiers, drinking and smoking, and leaving trash everywhere. After peak hours these people clear out and usually aren't actually camping there," advises Whitley K.

    Playground proximity: Covert/South Haven KOA Holiday provides extensive children's activities. "There are a lot of lodging options, tons of kids activities, both free and for a small fee, great pool, cafe and store! Lots of sports equipment to loan as well," shares Melissa B.

    Tips from RVers

    Power connections: Prepare for potentially long electrical cord runs at Potato Creek State Park. "Be ready with back up cords, some sites require 75 ft to hook up. Takes 10-15 mins to drive out of campground, so keep this in mind," suggests Frank M.

    Weekend planning: Horse-friendly camping areas near Elkhart fill quickly during summer weekends. "We camp here every year with our family since it is perfectly halfway between us, in Michigan, and my family in Chicago. The kids love the activities and the pool," reports Lisa P. about Covert/South Haven KOA.

    Access considerations: Allow extra time for entering and exiting larger campgrounds. "Takes 10-15 mins to drive out of campground, so keep this in mind," notes Frank M. about navigating the extensive grounds at Potato Creek State Park.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Elkhart, IN?

    According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Elkhart, IN is Potato Creek State Park Campground with a 4.5-star rating from 50 reviews.

    What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Elkhart, IN?

    TheDyrt.com has all 6 equestrian camping locations near Elkhart, IN, with real photos and reviews from campers.