Best Tent Camping near Frankfort, IN

Public lands surrounding Frankfort, Indiana offer several tent camping options within an hour's drive. Lake Waveland Park in Waveland provides extensive primitive tent camping sites across its spacious grounds, with dozens of unmarked sites indicated by picnic tables and fire rings. French Post Park in Delphi features a dedicated tent camping section with space for vehicles nearby. Clovis Creek, located approximately 30 minutes east of Frankfort, maintains 20 tent-specific campsites with basic amenities for overnight stays.

Most tent campgrounds in the region provide fire rings and picnic tables, though amenities vary by location. Lake Waveland's primitive tent sites don't require reservations and operate on a first-come, first-served basis, making early arrival advisable during peak seasons. The park maintains clean facilities with restrooms and showers accessible to tent campers. Sites at Lake Waveland are notably more spread out compared to many state parks in Indiana, offering better spacing between campsites. French Post Park requires reservations through the local town office. Primitive tent camping areas typically have minimal infrastructure but are regularly maintained with mowed grounds.

In early spring and fall, tent-only areas throughout the region provide peaceful camping experiences with fewer crowds. According to reviews, Lake Waveland's primitive sites are "very secluded and quiet" though they "fill up pretty fast" on weekends. The grounds crew "does a very good job keeping the property in order," maintaining the extensive green spaces throughout the season. Campers noted that Lake Waveland offers "endless opportunities to pitch a tent" with well-shaded sites available. The location provides convenient access to nearby natural attractions, including Sugar Creek, Turkey Run State Park, and Shades State Park. Walk-in tent sites at several locations offer bird watching opportunities in reasonably well-maintained natural settings. Backcountry tent camping options remain limited near Frankfort, with most sites being established campgrounds rather than remote wilderness areas.

Best Tent Sites Near Frankfort, Indiana (6)

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Recent Tent Camping Photos near Frankfort, IN

1 Photos of 6 Frankfort Campgrounds


Tent Camping Reviews near Frankfort, IN

442 Reviews of 6 Frankfort Campgrounds


  • T
    Aug. 6, 2021

    Shades State Park Campground

    Wooded Sandstone canyon with primitive camping.

    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. The park is connected to a nature preserve that dose allow backpacking but has designated camping within the park separate from the car camping sites, so you can’t set up camp on the trail. The car camping sites, labeled as family camping, are primitive only with vault toilets. There is a shower located in the campsite with flushing toilets. Campsites are close but most have trees separating them for privacy. Avoid sites next to toilets or dumpsters their practically in your site. There’s no cellular signal in the park so heads up. Ice and wood are located for sale at the entrance. If you have little ones there are a few playgrounds located in the park including one in the campsite which is located a short hike in the woods. This park is quite, shaded, rugged at times and the canyon/creek can be breathtaking. Although I would go early or late in the season to avoid Indiana’s humid muggy summer heat.

  • Michelle M.
    Nov. 16, 2020

    Mounds State Park Campground

    A nice park. Electric only.

    It’s a nice park for kids. Has a nice swimming pool. Easy trails. Nice playground. $5 firewood bundles. Mostly a weekender park. It is right next to a small craft airfield do it can get noisy at times and there is little wind protection.

  • Mike V.
    Jul. 23, 2016

    Lake Waveland Park

    Waveland Lake and Park, near Waveland, Indiana

    Nice clean park in west-central Indiana that has a lake and a large number of camping sites along with restrooms and showers. The primitive tent camping sites don't require reservations, and each have a picnic table. There are modern campsites that have water and electrical hook-ups, and there are some small cabins that can be rented. The bath house was clean, and the grounds crew does a great job keeping the grass cut. Camp sites seem more spread out here compared to most state parks. Location is fairly close to Sugar Creek and other parks such as Turkey Run and Shades State Park. The lake is popular for fishing.

  • j
    May. 24, 2023

    Timberline Family Campground

    Potato Creek State Patk

    Specious sites a bit on the awkward side regarding lay-out. The vehicle separated the tent from the picnic table and fire ring. Less than ideal. I’m told that they’ve planted additional trees. They are relatively non existent at this point. Hence, a lack of privacy . Combined with awkward site layout we seemed to be right on top of our neighbors. No place to hang hammocks, tree swings or clothesline. Just sort of a open Praire. We were visiting by staff shortly after getting settled and told to put my highly trained border-jack on a leash even though she was at the time laying on my bed inside the tent which was zipped closed. The restrooms are kept up twice per day and are extremely clean and well cared for. The fishing was great! Lots of areas to explore even just to fish off shore or bridge. Everything was a good distended away from the campground so unfortunately my grandson could not bike alone to the lake to fish.

  • Terri D.The Dyrt PRO User
    May. 10, 2017

    Turkey Run State Park Campground

    Nice Big Sites

    I have to say it is always nice to stay at a state park in the off season. There are a couple hundred sites in this park and we were one of about 12 occupants. Even if this park had been full, the sites offer nice space. Sites vary from full shade to wide open out in the sun. Bathrooms are clean, but they are pretty spread out. Most sites offer electricity, but no water or sewer hook-up for RV. Water spigots are pretty spread out too. Each site has a picnic table and fire ring. I didn't see any camp hosts that sold firewood when office is closed. Park is located right across the street from the local high school, I thought this was sort of odd.

    We were just passing through for a nights stay, but it looked like there were some nice trails for hiking. The children playgrounds looked nice as well.

  • H
    Jun. 23, 2023

    Shades State Park Campground

    Awesome Backpack Camp!

    Took my son on his first backpacking trip this week and felt like Shades would be a perfect trial run for us together. I don’t think this camp gets enough love as it’s a relatively short hike for most seasoned backpackers. Great for trial runs and gear testing. The trail was (recently) well maintained in sections, but there are spots that are a little weedy. That’s to be expected I think with a park that doesn’t see as much traffic as another well known park in the area (that doesn’t offer a backpack camp). The camp itself was fantastic. It doesn’t boast great views or any scenic points, but it is fabulously maintained and well thought out. Several awesome sites to choose from and we had our pick as the only campers there. Every site had a fire ring and picnic table, with paths heading to the bathroom and water. The bathrooms were pretty much immaculate and the water was great. We didn’t hike in early enough to take the path to play at Sugar Creek, but I won’t make that mistake again. Next time, because there will be a next time, we’ll go earlier for more downtime around camp. So glad we’re close enough we can make this trip again soon! Park entry: $7 Camping fee: $12 With tax our total was $19.84. If you have an IN state park card you can avoid the entry fee.

  • A
    Jul. 20, 2021

    White River Campground

    Quick getaway

    Nice camp ground along the white river with several sites along the waterway. Clean, well maintained, knowledgeable and friendly staff. Paved road with level concrete sites, could be a little more spacious, but all n all laid out nicely with aluminum picnic tables, and fire ring, 50 and 30 amp hook ups along with H20, and several full hook ups. Tent camping also available. Well stocked camp store. The facilities up front by the office are very clean and have showers with hot water. They could use a bench in the shower stall for your clothing and a space To get dressed discreetly. The facility at the end of the campground dosent have showers and are adequate but not quite as nice. Campground is in a good location close to many amenities

  • M
    Jul. 19, 2020

    Turkey Run State Park Campground

    Terrific campground and state park

    We stayed here this weekend and had a terrific time. The weather was very hot but there is a river to tube and canoe in to keep you cool. We stayed at site #35. It is in a very quiet, off the main road, in a circle, in full shade. It’s is very close to the restroom but a distance from the camp store and dumpster. 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’s was difficult to level our camper but we got it in the end. The site was huge but given the unevenness it would be difficult for tents. The campground is family friendly and was quiet at night. There is a lot to do at this state park. We hiked the #3 and #5 trails and it took us about 2 hours. It was very busy but everyone was very polite. It was a great stay all around.

  • n
    Jun. 8, 2018

    Ross Camp

    Lafayette Parks and Rec

    Nice sites. Awesome shower house! close to Ross Park. A little chapel. This is a relax campground for those not into all the hiking if you just want to sit by your fire. A few primitive sites. No alcohol allowed. We rent a site here instead of hotels.


Guide to Frankfort

Tent campsites near Frankfort, Indiana offer diverse camping experiences across county parks and local recreation areas. The region features woodland camping with access to fishing lakes and proximity to the Wabash River watershed. Most camping areas maintain seasonal operations from spring through mid-fall, with primitive sites typically providing more space than standard campgrounds.

What to do

Fishing opportunities: At Pine Lake Fishing & Camping Resort, campers can enjoy lakefront access for fishing, though one visitor noted "there didn't seem to be too many fish available for catching!! Pretty place and fun for a laid back place to stay."

Seasonal events: Lake Waveland Park hosts family-friendly events throughout the camping season. According to campers, "Fireworks in July and Halloween for the whole family in October" make it a destination with activities beyond standard camping.

Water recreation: Several campgrounds offer swimming and boating options. One camper at French Post Park mentioned, "A boat camp right into the water. A playground. A shelter with plenty of picnic tables to have a fairly large gathering."

Birdwatching: The extensive green spaces provide opportunities for wildlife observation. A visitor to Lake Waveland Park described, "This is a lovely space with lots of birds to observe."

What campers like

Spacious camping areas: The region's campgrounds offer more room than typical state parks. One camper highlighted that Lake Waveland Park is "Very clean and spacious" and "there is a TON of green space on this property!"

Well-maintained grounds: Many campers comment on the upkeep of facilities. A visitor noted, "Nice clean park in west-central Indiana that has a lake and a large number of camping sites along with restrooms and showers."

Shade coverage: Campers appreciate the tree coverage at many sites, with one review stating, "The majority of electric sites are well shaded."

Convenience for regional exploration: Many campsites serve as good base camps for day trips. A visitor noted Lake Waveland is "located within close proximity of both Turkey Run and Shades State Park."

What you should know

Reservation requirements vary: While some campgrounds operate on a first-come basis, others require advance planning. At French Post Park, "You need to call to make reservations from the town."

Site identification: At many primitive camping areas, designated sites aren't always clearly marked. One camper at Clovis Creek noted, "The sites aren't marked, but are indicated by picnic table and fire ring, though fire rings are not always present."

Infrastructure conditions: Some campgrounds need updates to facilities. A camper observed of one location, "Not fancy, some updating of infrastructure is due. I would keep this on list as decent stop."

Site availability challenges: During peak seasons, securing a spot can be difficult. One camper advised, "The site fills up pretty fast so come early."

Tips for camping with families

Beginner-friendly options: Several campgrounds cater to those new to camping. French Post Park "Seems like a beginner place to go camping. Easy for families with young kids."

Playgrounds and recreation: Multiple campgrounds feature play areas for children. One camper highlighted a campground with "A playground. A shelter with plenty of picnic tables to have a fairly large gathering."

Day trip possibilities: The central Indiana location allows for educational excursions. One family mentioned, "This was really convenient and close to Indy, where we took the grandkids to the children's museum."

Quiet atmosphere: Several campgrounds offer peaceful environments. Attica Family Campground and other locations are noted as being "Usually pretty quiet" according to campers seeking relaxation with children.

Tips from RVers

Site dimensions: Larger rigs face limitations at some campgrounds. A camper noted about Lake Waveland, "They need more spots for those long campers. Lots of pop up size sites."

Tree management: Overhanging branches can be an issue for taller RVs. One visitor observed, "Trees need cut or maintained" at certain campgrounds.

Hookup availability: Water and electric are available at select sites. A camper highlighted that at Lake Waveland "the best part is sites include water and electric."

Dump station access: Some campgrounds offer sanitary dump stations for RVs, though not all primitive camping areas provide this amenity. Covered Bridge State Forest Retreat and other locations have varied infrastructure for longer RV stays.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Frankfort, IN?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Frankfort, IN is French Post Park with a 4-star rating from 1 review.

What is the best site to find tent camping near Frankfort, IN?

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