The North Salem area of Indiana provides a blend of camping experiences ranging from modern state parks to primitive lakeside sites. Within a 30-mile radius, campers can access multiple established campgrounds including Turkey Run State Park, Shades State Park, and Lake Waveland Park. These mixed-use campgrounds accommodate tent and RV camping, while some like Turkey Run also offer cabin rentals. Cecil M. Harden Lake at Raccoon State Recreation Area and Lieber State Recreation Area provide additional developed campgrounds with waterfront access. Most camping areas feature electric hookups, drinking water, and modern restroom facilities, making them suitable for family camping trips.
Seasonal considerations significantly impact camping in central Indiana. "Turkey Run is my all time favorite State Park in Indiana. It has great camping with both reserved and walk up options (get there early for walk up options)," notes one visitor. Many campgrounds operate on limited schedules, with Lake Waveland Park open from May 15 to October 15, while others like Turkey Run State Park and Lieber State Recreation Area remain open year-round. Summer months typically see higher occupancy levels and require advance reservations, especially for weekend camping. Spring and fall offer milder temperatures and less crowding, though some amenities may be reduced during shoulder seasons. Cell phone coverage varies throughout the region, with several reviewers noting limited connectivity in more secluded camping areas.
Visitor experiences highlight the wooded terrain and water recreation opportunities as key attractions. Shades State Park receives praise for its "spacious sites canopied by the big beautiful Indiana trees" and proximity to hiking trails. Campgrounds near Sugar Creek provide opportunities for canoeing and fishing, while primitive sites at Lake Waveland offer more seclusion. Several campers mention the family-friendly atmosphere at Turkey Run State Park, though this can mean more activity and noise, particularly during summer weekends. As described in feedback on The Dyrt, Lieber State Recreation Area features "over 200 sites in this park" with "each campsite spacious and has plenty of space away from your neighbors." Most developed campgrounds in the region feature fire rings, picnic tables, and access to hiking trails, creating versatile outdoor experiences within an hour's drive of Indianapolis.
$14 - $22 / night
"Canopied by the big beautiful Indiana trees. Close to some good hiking trails."
"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."
$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)."
$14 - $45 / 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."
"We arrived at 2am, but they had us all situated for late checkin. The campground itself was very lovely and quiet."
"Really cute little park with lots of shade and convenient access to Crawfordsville. We were here for a quick stopover, but made friends with several locals spending time here."
$30 - $45 / night
"There are few trails looping around for the walks. Most of tent sites got shade. Rv sites all seem to be level, although kind of close together. Nice and clean bathrooms and shower facility."
"The campsite it very spacious and there’s a decent amount of distance between each site. Sites by the river are especially nice."
"It's a nice place to walk around, though we were wandering past empty tent spots so in the busy season it might be less free-form on where you can roam."
"Very clean and well kept, smaller but with direct access to an awesome creek. Kids played in the creek all day long. Cheap and plentiful firewood. Really friendly and family owned"
$58 / night
"Acacia Farms is an awesome spot to slow down in the country and enjoy being around some small farm animals. Check them out and share some pics of your stay!"
$16 - $28 / night
"Cagles Mill Lake borders the southwestern side of the area. We arrived to a very quiet campground with few campers."
"Each campsite is spacious and has plenty of space away from your neighbors. There was plenty of shade even though our pad wasn't tucked back in the woods."
$25 - $40 / night
"Nice clean park in west-central Indiana that has a lake and a large number of camping sites along with restrooms and showers."
"The campground is located within close proximity of both Turkey Run and Shades State Park."
ScoutLoved our 2 night stay, the camp store was great. Glad they had extra firewood. Cicero the town close by is a cute one with a nice water scene. Only 2 other tents set up in the whole campground. Most of the rv/camper spots were taken though.
GuideLevel sites, electric and sewer at each site, clean facilities, camp ground clean. Was quite less the muffled sounds of the gun range for reserve troops training/qualifying. Mark the host was very helpful and inviting. Free laundry facilities. There is no WiFi, cell coverage was good. I used a Starlink and worked great. This RV park is on base and you need verified access. Overall it’s a nice place for the price (stayed 5 days).
ScoutWell maintained and quiet campground. There is no tent camping but it has large pull through sites and they can accommodate large RVs
LegendThe Indianapolis KOA was easy to find just off I-70. We had heard that check-in involved a tight turn near the office, but we had no issues navigating the turn with our 40’ fifth wheel and F450. Check-in was quick and easy, and we proceeded to deluxe Paw Pen Site D55, a pull-through with full hookups. We’ve stayed at KOAs with Paw Pens before, but this location had the largest fenced dog area we’ve seen to date, which was a nice surprise. Cell coverage was solid with 3 bars on both Verizon and T-Mobile. The campground has a lot of mature trees, so satellite service could be challenging depending on site location. For this overnight stay, we used our T-Mobile Home Internet and saw 35.4 Mbps download speeds instead of deploying Starlink. Campground Wi-Fi was available but slow at 3.89 Mbps download. The laundry room was clean and well maintained, with large washers and dryers. There was signage noting that the well water may stain white clothing, but we washed some white items without any issues. Take a few minutes to read the campground rules—they’re surprisingly hilarious and worth the laugh. Overall, this was a great overnight stop and one of the better KOA stays we’ve had.
ScoutThis place is under new management. New owners are great. Good spot for a layover, or place to stay if at a concert or something else in the area. It's just far enough off the beaten path, but close enough to everything.
GuideVery nice and quiet. Beautiful scenery with nice walking trails. Not sure if it’s due to the government shut down but when we arrived, we had to turn around and go back to the main park office in order to register instead of the little office that is at the entrance of the campground. We are only staying one night and off to our next destination.
GuideOne of my favorite places to stay. 5 full hook up, one cozy cabin, and plenty of room for tents
ScoutWe camped here for a little over a year and the place has gone downhill fast. Property is hardly kept up, owner allows trashy campers yo be abandoned on the property, most of the people camping here don’t pay, loose dogs and cats run around the campground. Price is $700 for four weeks with electric only. Bath house is disgusting. The area and space is nice but that’s about it
RangerWe stayed here for the 1st Annual HikerFest and had a blast! 106 of our little Hikers took up the majority of the park. The full-timers that stay here for the season were very kind and cordial; freely giving of advice on local attractions to see and things to do during our stay. The museum was really interesting! They gave a great tour with lots of stories about country legends. The bath house was clean and tidy. The showers were ok. Porta-potties throughout the campground, not so much… Campsites are close together and without privacy, some more level than others. Try to grab a spot near the trees for a bit of shade. Great music. Awesome weekend!
The North Salem area of Indiana features wooded terrain alongside water bodies like Sugar Creek, offering a mix of primitive and developed camping options. Campers can access hiking trails, fishing ponds, and waterways throughout the region, with most campgrounds open from spring to fall. Several sites provide both tent and RV accommodations within proximity to state parks.
Hiking trails: Shades State Park Campground offers diverse trail difficulty levels for hikers of all experience levels. "The hiking is nothing short of amazing, and be sure to drive a few miles and get some trails in at Turkey Run," notes Caitlin W. The park features ravines and moderate to rugged trails surrounding Sugar Creek.
Water recreation: At Cecil M Harden Lake Raccoon State Recreation Area, boating is a primary attraction. "We rented a pontoon boat while we were there and went tubing up and down the lake," shares Rachel W. The lake provides boat ramps for easy access and is particularly popular during summer months.
Fishing opportunities: Multiple fishing locations exist around North Salem campsites. At Sugar Creek Campground, "The creek is loaded with small mouth bass, some large mouth, gar, bluegill, and carp," according to Ryan H. Many campgrounds maintain stocked ponds for catch-and-release fishing.
Spacious sites: Many campers appreciate the generous spacing between sites in the area. At Turkey Run State Park Campground, "The sites vary from full shade to wide open out in the sun. Bathrooms are clean, but they are pretty spread out," reports Terri D. This state park provides campsites with electricity, making it suitable for various camping setups.
Natural water features: The ability to camp near water ranks highly with visitors. At Sugar Creek Campground and Canoe Rental, "We had a great two night visit right on the creek! Rented kayaks for a 3 mile adventure," says Pat M. Several campgrounds offer direct creek access or views of nearby lakes.
Shower facilities: Clean bathhouses remain important to campers. Lake Waveland Park maintains "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," according to Mike V. Bathroom cleanliness varies by location and season.
Reservation requirements: Many campsites near North Salem require advance booking, especially during peak seasons. "We reserved a spot 2 weeks before our vacation. I don't know if it was empty because it was a Tuesday night or if no one knows about this park," notes Lahree C. about Lieber State Recreation Area Campground.
Site conditions: Prepare for varying terrain and amenities. "Sites by the river are especially nice. There's a small camp store for basic necessities, firewood for sale as well and hot showers!" explains Ivana H. about Sugar Creek Campground and Canoe Rental.
Seasonal availability: Not all campgrounds operate year-round. "A nice Indiana State Park that has about a hundred basic camping sites (non-electric), along with restrooms and bath house. Note that camping season is April through October here at Shades," explains Mike V.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular campground near North Salem, IN?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near North Salem, IN is Shades State Park Campground with a 4.1-star rating from 29 reviews.
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