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Best Tent Camping near Independence, IN

374 Reviews

Tent campers in Independence, Indiana have several campground options within a reasonable driving distance. Lake Waveland Park, located in Waveland, offers both primitive tent sites and modern tent camping areas with amenities. Covered Bridge State Forest Retreat provides walk-in tent sites for those seeking a more secluded experience. These campgrounds serve as convenient bases for exploring the natural areas of west-central Indiana.

Lake Waveland Park features numerous primitive tent sites indicated by picnic tables and sometimes fire rings. The campground is open seasonally from May 15 to October 15. Drive-in, walk-in, and boat-in access options accommodate different camping preferences. The primitive tent sites are first-come, first-served, while the modern sites with electric hookups and water access require reservations. Facilities include showers, toilets, and trash disposal. The park maintains well-mowed grounds with generous spacing between sites.

Most tent camping areas near Independence offer good shade coverage and natural settings. One camper noted that "the primitive sites are very secluded and quite but get there fast because spots are first come first serve." Lake Waveland's tent sites are described as more spread out compared to many state parks, offering better privacy for tent campers. The campgrounds provide access to nearby attractions, with Lake Waveland situated close to Turkey Run and Shades State Park. Fishing opportunities are available at the lake, making it a popular choice for tent campers who enjoy combining outdoor activities with their camping experience. The area's well-maintained grounds and clean facilities contribute to a comfortable tent camping experience despite the generally rustic setting.

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Best Tent Sites Near Independence, Indiana (4)

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Recent Tent Camping Photos near Independence, IN

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Tent Camping Reviews near Independence, IN

374 Reviews of 4 Independence 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.

  • S
    Oct. 1, 2020

    Harry L Swartz Campground

    Pretty spot/small gravel campsites

    Il start this by saying: we prefer tent camping/primitive/atleast semi isolated spots. If you’re looking for RV camping, this is probably a decent spot so read no further!

    We drove in to the Middle Fork Forest Preserve looking for a place to camp same day on our way down to Giant City. We weren’t able to make a reservation less than 5 days in advance online so we tried to call. No one in the office except Th-Sunday and it was Wednesday so we couldn’t get in touch. All good. It happens and it did say that clearly on their website and on voicemail. We needed a place for the night so decided to risk driving over from I57 S. Rolled in around 5 and all the campsites were marked reserved but there were about 3 people set up to camp there. We didn’t end up camping the night 1. Because we didn’t want to be jerks about the reservations although it seemed like no one else would be arriving until at the earliest the next day and 2. All of the campsites were pretty tight together and surfaced with gravel. That’s a personal preference thing. We always look for primitive/walk-in/hike in sites to set up tents/hammocks. This spot was mostly set up for RVs.

    The hiking looked pretty lovely and the grounds/facilities looked well kept! Just maybe not our preference.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • Janet B.
    May. 9, 2023

    Vermilion County Park Forest Glen Preserve

    East Camp (backpacking site)

    First backpacking trip in the Midwest and this was a surprisingly scenic place with a great backpacking sites! We did forest glen river ridge trail; started from the staff parking lot and walked about 8 miles to the east camp. We had a big group and took sites 3 and 5 because they were on a flatter ground. All sites were well shaded and there was even an OUTHOUSE!!! The rangers told us the water from the Vermilion River was safe to drink with filtration but note that you do have to walk down to the river and up to the campsites. Both sites came with a picnic table and a fire ring. Had a lovely time even with the thunderstorm.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • Staci W.The Dyrt PRO User
    May. 30, 2024

    Turkey Run State Park Campground

    Pros and Cons you Should Know beforehand

    Turkey 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 to Independence

Tent camping sites near Independence, Indiana range from primitive to modern with varying levels of amenities and seasonal availability. The region offers multiple campground options within reasonable driving distance, each with distinct features for different camping preferences. West-central Indiana's camping areas provide access to lakes, forests, and outdoor recreation opportunities throughout the camping season.

What to do

Fishing opportunities: Lake Waveland Park features a lake popular with anglers, making it an ideal destination for combining camping with fishing activities. "If fishing is your way of relaxing, you should have a good time here," notes Randy A., who visited Lake Waveland Park.

Visit nearby state parks: The campgrounds serve as convenient bases for exploring natural attractions. French Post Park offers "a boat camp right into the water. A playground. A shelter with plenty of picnic tables to have a fairly large gathering," according to Sammii D.

Seasonal events: Some campgrounds host special events during particular times of year. Lake Waveland Park offers "Fireworks in July and Halloween for the whole family in October," according to nicole B., adding recreational options beyond standard camping activities.

What campers like

Spacious sites: Many campers appreciate the generous spacing between sites at several campgrounds. "Camp sites seem more spread out here compared to most state parks," notes a camper about Lake Waveland Park.

Well-maintained grounds: The upkeep of camping areas receives positive mentions. "Lake Waveland's grounds crew does a very good job keeping the property in order... and that's no small task, there is a TON of green space on this property," writes Randy A.

Bird watching: The natural setting provides wildlife viewing opportunities. "This is a lovely space with lots of birds to observe," writes William David S. about the primitive camping area at Lake Waveland Park, noting an activity option for nature enthusiasts.

What you should know

Site selection process: Understanding reservation requirements helps secure preferred sites. "No need to pay because it is first come first serve," explains kevin T. about certain areas at Lake Waveland Park, though this applies only to primitive sites.

Site identification: At some campgrounds, finding designated sites requires attention to markers. "The sites aren't marked, but are indicated by picnic table and fire ring, though fire rings are not always present," explains William David S. about Lake Waveland's primitive camping area.

Infrastructure condition: Some facilities may require updates. William David S. notes Lake Waveland is "Not fancy, some updating of infrastructure is due. I would keep this on list as decent stop."

Tips for camping with families

Beginner-friendly options: Some locations specifically cater to those new to camping. French Post Park "Seems like a beginner place to go camping. Easy for families with young kids," according to Sammii D., making it suitable for first-time campers.

RV site limitations: When camping with larger vehicles, site availability becomes important. Lake Waveland Park "need more spots for those long campers. lots of pop up size sites," according to nicole B., which affects families with larger recreational vehicles.

Water recreation: Access to swimming areas provides additional recreation options. "They do have a beach," notes nicole B. about Lake Waveland Park, offering families water-based activities beyond fishing.

Tips from RVers

Hookup availability: Electric and water connections vary by campground and site type. At Lake Waveland Park, "the best part is sites include water and electric," according to nicole B., though availability is limited for larger RVs.

Tree management concerns: Vegetation can impact RV parking and setup. "Trees need cut or maintained," notes nicole B. regarding Lake Waveland Park, a consideration for RVers concerned about overhead clearance.

Dump station access: For longer stays, waste disposal facilities become important. Lake Waveland Park provides sanitary dump access, according to the campground features list, allowing for extended camping trips without leaving the grounds.

Frequently Asked Questions

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