SUMMER SALE 50% off The Dyrt PRO — just $2.49/moGet now
SALE: PRO just $2.49/mo
The Dyrt – find campgrounds for tents, RVs, cabins, glamping and more.
Open in App
Map showing campgrounds in IndianaExplore the Map

Best Campgrounds in Indiana

2,547 Reviews

Indiana offers a range of developed campgrounds across both state and national parks, with notable options like Turkey Run State Park and Indiana Dunes National Park. Most established campgrounds provide amenities for both tent and RV camping, while several locations like Chain O' Lakes and Pokagon State Park also feature cabin accommodations. Many campgrounds maintain year-round operations, particularly those within the state park system where electric hookups, water access, and sanitary facilities are standard.

Reservations are strongly recommended for developed campgrounds, especially during summer weekends and holidays when sites often reach capacity. "Big spots for almost any type of camper," noted one visitor to Hoosier National Forest, though primitive camping areas typically have more limited facilities. Seasonal considerations affect water availability at some locations, with freezing temperatures potentially limiting services during winter months. Campers should verify which amenities remain operational during off-peak seasons, as shower facilities and water hookups may be winterized at certain campgrounds from November through March.

State parks consistently receive high ratings for their maintained facilities and natural surroundings. Indiana Dunes State Park Campground earned particularly strong reviews for its location near Lake Michigan, while more secluded options like dispersed sites in Hoosier National Forest appeal to those seeking quieter experiences. A review from The Dyrt described one primitive site as "more secluded than I was expecting," highlighting the availability of remote camping options even in a state not typically known for wilderness. Campground amenities vary significantly, with most state parks providing electric hookups, showers, and dump stations for RVs, while primitive sites typically offer more basic facilities with vault toilets and limited services. Travelers should note that alcohol policies differ between parks, with some locations prohibiting consumption and others allowing it within designated camping areas.

Best Camping Sites in Indiana (450)

    1. Dunewood Campground — Indiana Dunes National Park

    127 Reviews
    Beverly Shores, IN
    Website
    +1 (219) 395-1882

    $25 / night

    "There’s tons of trails to do along the lakeshore and none are really far from one another. I grew up in NWI so I didn’t camp in Indiana often but I did here and loved it!"

    "General: Dunewood campground is located within Indiana Dunes National Park, established in 2019 (The national seashore was established in the 1960s)."

    2. Turkey Run State Park Campground

    73 Reviews
    Marshall, IN
    Website
    +1 (765) 597-2635

    $20 - $45 / night

    "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)."

    3. Chain O' Lakes State Park Campground

    55 Reviews
    Albion, IN
    Website
    +1 (260) 636-2654

    $14 - $80 / night

    "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."

    4. Indiana Dunes State Park Campground

    52 Reviews
    Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, IN
    Website
    +1 (219) 926-1952

    $43 / night

    "The most beautiful state park in Indiana IMO."

    "The campground although nearly full was relatively calm and quiet. Unlike the craziness of other Indiana state parks I have visited."

    5. Pokagon State Park Campground

    52 Reviews
    Angola, IN
    Website
    +1 (260) 833-2012

    $20 - $480 / night

    "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)."

    "There's 2 dump stations located in loops 3 & 4. IN THE CAMPGROUND! NEXT TO CAMPSITES!!!!"

    6. Potato Creek State Park Campground

    51 Reviews
    North Liberty, IN
    Website
    +1 (574) 656-8186

    $20 - $90 / night

    "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."

    "Younger families tend to book up front near the playground and the noise and activities are more robust. Be ready with back up cords, some sites require 75 ft to hook up."

    7. Clifty Falls State Park Campground

    46 Reviews
    Madison, IN
    Website
    +1 (812) 273-8885

    $20 - $35 / night

    "If you live outside of Indiana you have to pay a $9 entrance fee on top of the campground reservation fee, which makes for a pricey weekend trip for those on a budget."

    "No sewer or water hookup as you would expect at most Indiana State Parks. The sites are extremely spacious and plenty of sites with shade."

    8. Charlestown State Park Campground

    38 Reviews
    Charlestown, IN
    Website
    +1 (812) 256-5600

    $33 - $40 / night

    "We biked throughout the park and hiked 4 of the trails, 3 of which were pretty rugged and all had elevation changes for a good hiking challenge. "

    "It's a fairly new park on the site that used to be the Indiana Ammunition Plant. Good-sized sites with a very helpful staff. I hiked trail 2 and found the waterfall and several other gorgeous views."

    9. Patoka Lake Campground

    37 Reviews
    Birdseye, IN
    Website
    +1 (812) 338-5589

    $14 - $45 / night

    "My Aunt loves their trips to Patoka Lake & I can relate as to why after this weekend. We went for a wedding at the marina & ended by a lovely cove."

    "Pick a site that has water near and you won’t have to unhook to fill your tanks. So many sites are in the shade all day and peaceful. Showers are spotless but fun on the push button system."

    10. Cecil M Harden Lake Raccoon State Recreation Area

    33 Reviews
    Rockville, IN
    Website
    +1 (765) 344-1412

    $14 - $52 / night

    "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."

Show More
Showing results 1-10 of 450 campgrounds

2026 Explorer Giveaway

Review Campgrounds. Win Prizes.

Enter to Win

Indiana Contest

Enter to Win

Recent Camping Photos in Indiana

639 Photos of 450 Indiana Campgrounds

Recent Reviews in Indiana

2547 Reviews of 450 Indiana Campgrounds

  • Cynthia K.
    Jul. 1, 2026

    Chain O' Lakes State Park Campground

    Nice State Park!

    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. 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!

  • cThe Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 30, 2026

    Lake 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.

  • Kathy B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 29, 2026

    Indiana Dunes State Park Campground

    Amateur hour

    Nicely laid out campground with mature trees. Level sites. All with electric hookups. Was greeted by very kind person at the booth. You need to know that on Sundays check-in is until 5 PM as campers from the weekend have until 5 PM to vacate their sites. Of course you can check in early if they leave. The way the campground is laid out, there are no pass that lead to the bathrooms. Therefore, people are constantly cutting through your site to get to their restrooms.

  • DThe Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 29, 2026

    Summit Lake State Park Campground

    Enjoyable

    Enjoyed having people around. Campsite has plenty of room and a short walk to the fishing/boat dock

  • sThe Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 29, 2026

    Indiana Dunes State Park Campground

    Beautiful location and great campground!

    Nice sites, well spaced. Campground is well maintained with nice bathrooms and showers (we were there after a massive storm in early June and there had been some flooding in the bathrooms). From the campsite, walk through the forest and Dunes to the beautiful beach. Our dog was in heaven!

  • AThe Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 28, 2026

    Johnson County Park

    Suddenly things changed

    We was put in a spot because we have a big dog and a special needs daughter and after being here 2 days the host came rudely knocking on my door to tell me check out was 5 minutes ago when I have 2 days left and then said all of a sudden my dog wasn’t allowed

  • Kelly S.
    Jun. 25, 2026

    Prophetstown 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!

  • Saydee A.
    Jun. 25, 2026

    Hoffman Lake Campground INC.

    Loved this place!

    We 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!

  • Saydee A.
    Jun. 25, 2026

    Pike Lake County Campground

    Beautiful scenery

    We absolutely love the little beach & playground area. The cemetery across the street such a lovely addition for our little spooky family.

Guide to Indiana

Camping in Indiana offers a mix of beautiful landscapes and family-friendly activities. Whether you're pitching a tent or parking an RV, there's something for everyone in the Hoosier State.

What to do

  • Hiking and Trails: Many campgrounds, like Turkey Run State Park Campground, have great hiking trails. One reviewer mentioned, “Be prepared with hiking boots and sticks” for the moderate trails that can be challenging.
  • Fishing and Boating: At Cecil M Harden Lake Raccoon State Recreation Area, you can enjoy fishing and boating. A camper noted, “The water was breathtaking and very calm even with all of the boat activity.”
  • Exploring Nature: Shades State Park Campground offers beautiful scenery. One visitor said, “The park is quite, shaded, rugged at times and the canyon/creek can be breathtaking.”

What campers like

  • Clean Facilities: Campers appreciate well-maintained restrooms and showers. A review from Cecil M Harden Lake stated, “Bathhouse clean, plenty of showers, flush toilets.”
  • Spacious Sites: Many campgrounds have roomy sites. One camper at Turkey Run State Park mentioned, “Large campground with spacious sites.”
  • Family-Friendly Atmosphere: Campgrounds like Prophetstown State Park are great for families. A reviewer said, “This park has it all. Multiple playgrounds for the kids, great hiking/biking trails.”

What you should know

  • Crowded on Weekends: Many campgrounds can get busy, especially on weekends. One visitor at Paynetown Campground noted, “This is known in Indiana as a party park. It's VERY noisy & busy on a summer weekend.”
  • Limited Privacy: Some sites are close together, which can affect privacy. A camper at Turkey Run State Park mentioned, “Many sites are in an open, level area without a lot of trees or bushes between them.”
  • Variable Amenities: Not all campgrounds have the same facilities. A review for Shades State Park pointed out, “The vault toilets were dirty, needed to be emptied.”

Tips for camping with families

  • Choose Family-Friendly Campgrounds: Look for campgrounds with playgrounds and activities. Prophetstown State Park has multiple playgrounds and a water park, making it ideal for kids.
  • Plan for Crowds: If you want a quieter experience, try to camp during the week. A reviewer at Paynetown Campground suggested, “If you like a quieter experience come Monday through Wed.”
  • Pack for Activities: Bring bikes or kayaks for added fun. One family at Summit Lake State Park enjoyed, “We took Kayaks and had a good time.”

Tips from RVers

  • Check Site Levels: Some sites may have slopes that make parking tricky. A camper at Buffalo Ridge Campground warned, “Pay attention to your campsite for slope and camper accessibility.”
  • Book Early: Popular campgrounds fill up fast, especially during peak seasons. A reviewer at Prophetstown State Park said, “Book early, as these sites go fast!”
  • Be Mindful of Rules: Some campgrounds have strict rules about vehicle limits. A camper at Summit Lake State Park expressed frustration with the host's reminders about car limits.

Camping in Indiana has its quirks, but with the right preparation, you can have a great time exploring the outdoors!

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best campgrounds in Indiana for families?

Indiana offers excellent family-friendly camping options with activities for all ages. Burdette Park on the outskirts of Evansville provides both primitive tent sites and RV sites with electric and water hookups. Families appreciate the numerous nearby attractions and activities, with options for weekend stays or extended visits up to three months. Brown County State Park delivers a beautiful setting in southern Indiana's rolling hills with year-round camping (reduced winter services), hiking trails, mountain biking, and a seasonal outdoor pool. The park also features Abe Martin Lodge with additional amenities. Most family-friendly campgrounds in Indiana offer playgrounds, accessible trails, and ranger-led programs during peak season.

What are the most scenic camping sites in Indiana?

Charles C. Deam Wilderness represents one of Indiana's most beautiful natural settings with dispersed camping opportunities. Despite occasional storm damage affecting trail access, campers discover hidden sites while exploring this scenic wilderness area. Every dispersed camper should experience its natural beauty. Harmonie State Park Campground near New Harmony provides another picturesque camping destination with natural surroundings and scenic views. For dramatic landscapes, southern Indiana offers the most scenic camping with rolling hills, forests, and limestone features. Northern Indiana provides beautiful lake views and dunes landscapes. The most scenic campgrounds fill quickly during peak fall color season (mid-October), so reservations are highly recommended.

Where can I find lakeside camping in Indiana?

Indiana offers excellent lakeside camping options throughout the state. Tipsaw Lake provides a clean, well-maintained campground with helpful rangers and lake access perfect for water activities. First-time Indiana campers particularly enjoy this location. Paynetown Campground offers lakeside camping that provides an escape from city life while enjoying nature, though it can become crowded during peak seasons. Other notable lakeside options include Patoka Lake near Birdseye and Potato Creek State Park near North Liberty. Most lakeside campgrounds in Indiana provide boat ramps, swimming areas, and fishing opportunities. Reservations are strongly recommended, especially for summer weekends and holidays when waterfront sites fill months in advance.

Are there any private campgrounds in Indiana with full amenities?

Indiana offers several private campgrounds with comprehensive amenities. Michigan City Campground stands out with premium 90-foot pull-through sites featuring 50-amp service, water, sewer, cement patios, and exceptional WiFi. The gated facility provides excellent security and easy access to Michigan City attractions. Camp Timber Lake near Fort Wayne delivers full-service camping with immaculately maintained facilities and pet-friendly policies. Many private campgrounds in Indiana offer amenities like swimming pools, playgrounds, camp stores, and laundry facilities. Rates typically range from $35-75 per night depending on hookups and season, with most accepting reservations online or by phone several months in advance.

Keep Exploring

  5. View all Indiana cities for camping