For those who want to experience Independence, but still want the creature comforts of home, consider glamping for your trip. Glamping near Independence is a great way to travel off the beaten path. Find the right glamping site for you with our user-submitted photos, reviews, and tips. You're sure to find glamping for your Indiana camping excursion.
As Indiana’s second state park, Turkey Run Campground was established in 1916. The story behind its name suggests that local hunters would find herds of wild turkeys gathering in the area’s narrow canyon bottoms—called “runs”—and funnel them out for easy harvesting. The area’s natural history goes back a little father—upwards of 600 million years. It was around this time that the sandstone and coal deposits seen in the park were being formed and compacted in a vast, swampy plain. Fast-forward several million years, and Ice Age meltwaters cut and scoured the creeks, canyons, and potholes seen today. Some of the glacial erratics (boulders) seen in the park are actually pieces of bedrock that were transported from as far north as Canada. Visitors to Turkey Run can explore these unique canyons, enjoy the park’s natural scenery, fish and paddle in Sugar Creek, and see several historic sites.
Located 10 miles north of Rockville, and 70 miles west of Indianapolis, Turkey Run State Park is year-round nature and recreation area covering nearly 2,400 acres along Sugar Creek. The campground at Turkey Run features more than 200 tent and RV sites with electrical hookups, picnic tables and fire pits with cooking grills; some sites are ADA accessible. Most sites are back-in and can accommodate vehicles/trailers up to 45 feet; a few pull-throughs can accommodate larger. All sites have access to drinking water, flush and vault restrooms, and showers; two dump stations are available onsite. There are also two primitive tent camping areas for youth groups, several cabins for rent, and the historic Turkey Run Inn, which offers 61 lodge rooms, a dining room, and meeting spaces. Dogs are permitted in the park, but must remain leashed. Campsites raters are $23–$33/night; other accommodations range from $67–$110/night; reservations accepted.
Besides exploring Turkey Run’s canyon runs, the park offers a variety of hiking trails, picnic areas, and sports courts. The park’s nature center showcases a variety of exhibits and interactive activities to educate visitors about the park’s geology, flora and fauna. Park naturalists offer guided hikes and nature walks, animal talks and campfire programs. Swimming is not permitted in Sugar Creek, but anglers can fish for bass and bluegill, and paddlers can head out in canoes and kayaks. Swimmers are invited to enjoy the park’s Olympic-sized swimming pool for cooling off during the warmer months. The park also offers hayrides and guided horseback rides. For a blast from the past, visitors can also tour the historic Lusk Home. Built in 1841, this restored European home displays a lifestyle from a bygone era. Watch out for the resident raccoons.
This recreation area is part of Cecil M. Harden Lake
$30 - $45 / night
$25 / night
Scout
Hit a little rough patch in life and needed a break from sleeping in the car and hotels . All the staff at the park were very friendly and understanding of our situation. At $20 a nite for tent site ,showers ,clean toilets ,whole park is very clean ! Lots of things to do here and the waterfall was our fav part ! Deff will be back when in the area . Our site was right down the Rd from the waterfall so had a great view !
Scout
Highway is louder than you’d think. No good night rest had. People spy on you just to report you. Main office head woman will not work with you and just give you a flat no when you ask about a refund.
Guide
Turkey Run is a fabulous state park with a nice campground. My only complaint about the campground is that many sites are in an open, level area without a lot of trees or bushes between them. You don’t have a lot of privacy. Two sections of the campground, with the higher numbered sites, are much more wooded. If I go again, I will try to be there!
But the campground has two large modern bathrooms that are cleaned regularly. It also has clean well maintained vault toilets throughout the campground. Best of all, from the back of the campground you can access Trail 7, a moderate level trail that leads unexpectedly to a small stream running past a recessed cave. It’s a peaceful spot.
Be advised that a “moderate” hike at Turkey Run can be challenging, with plenty of steps up and down the hillsides. Many of the trails go along stream beds, so you often need to make your way across the rocks to avoid wet feet. Be prepared with hiking boots and sticks.
There are two covered bridges on the edges of the park. Be sure to check them out!
GuideTurkey Run is arguably the most popular campground (and state park) in Indiana and has its pros and cons.
It is definitely designed to accommodate RVs, as the majority of the sites are situated in an open field. There are a few dozen sites that are in “loops” that are situated in shaded areas. Some camp sites have zero privacy while others have a little. Either way, if you’re here on a weekend, you’ll definitely have neighbors close by. You can see the entire campground via google maps street view, just FYI
This is a very family friendly campground and you will see lots of kids on bicycles flying around. I’ve stayed here a few times, and no matter the day of the week or the time of year, there are always lots of kids.
This campground has a raccoon “problem” due to campers having poor camp etiquette and feeding them. They come out of the woods towards dusk looking for food. They will come right up to you without hesitation, so don’t be alarmed if there’s one next to you while you cook s’mores over your fire (ask me how I know, hah). They will take any food that is left out. Do not turn your back to your dinner table at any time if there’s food out.
On my last visit to turkey run (I’ve camped here 3 or 4 times) I arrived to my campsite and someone had left dog food out for the raccoons in little piles all over the place which was super disappointing. Additionally, my neighbors didn’t put their campfire out when they packed up and left.
Perhaps I’m just used to camping in other areas where you have to worry about bears and burning the forests down…But campers here just aren’t as mindful or respectful of the campground.
The restrooms and showers (at least the one I use at this campground) is modernized and cleaned daily but there’s no dish pit/wash room available if you cook. Just be prepared to clean up accordingly and put trash in trash receptacles. There are a few vault toilets in the campground as well.
You can hike from the CG into the state park (highly recommend. It’s gorgeous!) just wear shoes that youre willing to get wet.
Overall, it’s a beautiful state park with a conveniently located campground. It’s not the best campground ever but for Indiana standards, it’s great. Even with my complaints, I always return because I enjoy visiting and hiking through the state park.
Guide
This is a really lovely spot! There’s 2 bars of Verizon service, a shower house with warm water and flush toilets, as well as pit toilets. There are a few hiking trails that leave from the campground as well. My only problem was that it was extremely busy when I visited and some of my neighbors were quite loud (although they quieted down by quiet hours).
Traveler
I stayed by the lake, the spaces there are parallel to the road. Which gives you a beautiful view of the lake. I was there early in April when all the flowering trees were in bloom! Full hook up made it even the nicer!
TravelerI wrote out a 4 paragraph review and somehow it was just completley erased. Will update later.
Scout
Super easy reservations online, and if it’s a weekday or a Sunday you could likely just roll up. $16/night for a tent site plus $9 out of state car fee. Security is at the main gate until midnight so later check-ins are possible. Great set-up after driving 11+ hours!
ScoutKinda of outdated facilities and some rundown recreation but hiking and swimming are fun
GuideOn an east/west trip and only had an overnight here. Campground is well maintained. Bathhouse clean, plenty of showers, flush toilets. Will need to fill your water holding tank as sites only have electric. Most sites are very spacious. Only negative was our site description and picture. Described the pad as level when it was actually about a 30% grade. We are camping in a truck camper and had planned to leave the camper on the truck but had to take it off to get level. And said the “yard” was grassy but it was only dirt which then became muddy after a bad storm. Great areas to walk your dog. We would definitely stop again but pick a different site. Camp store and ice, other items sold.
Traveler
Check in quick and easy. Campsite level and clearly marked. Ours was a full hookup site and everything worked as should. A big bonus was that there is a shuttle bus that runs to the amusement park every half hour. The park has security that roams through the park which was a plus. Had T-mobile cell service but weak.
ScoutWhile this is always listed among the top Indiana state parks because of its amazing beauty and historic sites, the campgrounds are not up to the same level. The shower houses are old. No sinks, no flush toilets, no solid doors for privacy. Just curtains. So yes, that means put/vault toilets only, and there is no light for a middle of the night visit except the flashlight you will hopefully remember. Other state parks in the area do have modern shower houses. If you are disabled or just prefer better hygiene amenities, camp at Raccoon Lake SRA and take day trips to Turkey Run. I’m not sure of the status of nearby Shades Stare Park comfort facilities since we haven’t camped there yet.
Scout
Not a lot of tent-camping options, but we found a nice open area not far from the showers. Quiet campground in September. I would do this again...
TravelerPlace was huge and packed. Really nice and it was quiet to sleep with nice facilities.
TravelerOur very first trip in our new pop up camper. Our site was sunny in the morning and early afternoon with some shade beginning late afternoon. Had a concrete patio under the picnic table. The table was oversized, which was kind of nice, except our covers wouldn’t fit. Nearest bath house was okay, but definitely showing it’s age, including broken mirrors. Showers are temporary valve type without adjustable temperature.
Splash pad was really nice, but a few elements were not working. Pool at neighboring KOA is supposed to be available, but was under repair. Seems like a lot of little things like that could use some attention here. You do get a discount on amusement park/water park tickets with a two night stay, and there’s a free shuttle.
Overall it was a good stay and we would return, but would like to see some more attention to the facilities.
ScoutMy family and I have camped here twice, and we love it. Sometimes we just come for the day to go swimming, hiking, fishing. It's beautiful.
GuideWe used to go here every summer like clockwork but the last few time the add on have become ridiculous to the point it was cheaper to stay in a resort than go camping here. Overall it’s nice but very commercial. Not well regulated as far and camper conduct. Witnessed several fights and drunken behavior. Cars tearing out through the night. The campground is great but the people make it difficult and for the price it’s just not worth it.
GuideWe stayed in the modern section of the campground. This is the electric and water only section. The sites range from very uneven to moderately uneven in this section. The full hookup site section is flat but with less tree cover. The sites in modern electric water only can be awkward to back into with no room to pull forward due to a ditch in some areas. We stayed in site 10 which was uneven, no room for a tent, and small. Next time we would try 9. The campground offers a beach and fairly busy fishing lake, some trails. Over all it was less busy on opening weekend than Turkey run or raccoon lake.
Guide
Nice place, some sites are not level so you have to pay attention. It’s $12 a nite and it’s all primitive so you can have a generator. So because of that some people use noisy ones. But the gun range is awesome and good hunting spots as well.
Legend
Ashley here with The Dyrt. I love the thought and effort that went into each lodging experience. The TiPi is right on the river and there's also a hot tub available for soaking. Come check out this magical place and then come back here to leave a review!
GuideLarge campground with spacious sites. The pictures for each site and details they give while booking are pretty good. However, it said 202 was level and for a tent there's def a bit of a slope (manageable but definitely present). The women at the gate was friendly and buying firewood from her was easy. Only checked out the pit toilets near our site, but they were incredibly clean!
TravelerThis whole campground facility is top notch! Wow. I’m speechless. The wooded walking trail all around is beautiful. Highly recommend early Fall!
LegendWe last visited in 2014 & not much has changed. This is a good base camp for visiting the covered bridges. The DNR office in the park has lots of area info, I got a map of where the bridges are & we were set!
The bathrooms are typical state park. They look like they were updated in the last 15 years, but are state park clean( which means surface it looks ok, but needs a deep clean). There are pit toilets scattered around the campground too, which were pretty good according to my husband.
The hikes are really run down. They need to start maintaining them better. Lots of erosion & broken slats on the bridges. Signage was ok, but I was let down a couple of times. Trail one has scenic overlooks & vistas, but none of them are signed if you're on trail.
This campground has a reputation as being a big party place. That might be true, but we were on the far end of White tail loop & noise was moderate on Friday & Saturday.
There's plenty of sites that have a VERY bad incline. Bring extra levelers. People were complaining on Facebook that the site descriptions have the inclines wrong.
White tail loop is where we camped the last time too. We looked at the other loops & I marked down a few I thought were pretty good. White tail: Site 130/145 are somewhat secluded & large. There's a bad incline on 145 though.
Sites 135/136/137/138 are paved & relatively flat. 139 is paved. 140 has a nicer view of the lake, but to get to it you have to walk. There's a trail from the campsite.
These sites are at the end of the loop & there's a walk to get to the bathrooms. There's also a large playground here, which gets loud during the day.
There's an overflow site 141 that's not marked on the reservation map. It stayed empty the whole weekend we were there. There's a trail from this site leading to the lake. Be prepared for the rest of White tail campers to use this site to access the lake & trail 4. There was a constant stream of people while we were there. They don't think anything about walking through site 140 either. Very annoying!
Lakeview is the nonelectric side. The vegetation was covering the view of most sites. Sites 93/94/99/102 looked like sites with a view of the water. I only saw access to the lake from 102.
Songbird I only wrote down site 8 as being level& by the bathroom.
Hideaway looked nice & it's a small loop.
Traveler
Surprised to see they had a pool too and the water to fish from was much larger than. It appeared from the road hit wraps around so you can’t get it all in one picture. Very tranquil and quiet
ScoutPleasant experience. Only crowded on Friday and Saturday. Shady spot.
ScoutWe used to go camping here every summer when I was a kid so it brought back a little nostalgia we stayed an E567 I would stay away from these they are very muddy kind of tight to turn a 30 foot camper in but other than that Tickets To Indiana beach are $27.50 at the gate house. Laundry works amazingly have to download an app. All around great. Wish they had a better food option
RangerPrimitive sites are very nice. We had a fairly quiet weekend. The raccoons definitely are active so make sure you lock it all up at night. The water was breathtaking and very calm even with all of the boat activity.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular glamping campsite near Independence, IN?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular glamping campground near Independence, IN is Turkey Run State Park Campground — Turkey Run State Park with a 4.5-star rating from 66 reviews.
What is the best site to find glamping camping near Independence, IN?
TheDyrt.com has all 17 glamping camping locations near Independence, IN, with real photos and reviews from campers.
