Camping sites around Kendallville, Indiana offer diverse outdoor experiences within northeast Indiana's gently rolling landscape. The region sits at an elevation of approximately 1,000 feet above sea level with seasonal temperatures that range from below-freezing winters to warm, humid summers reaching the mid-80s. Fall camping season typically extends through mid-October when temperatures begin to drop into the 40s at night.
What to do
Bike trail exploration: The extensive trail system at Pokagon State Park Campground provides excellent biking opportunities throughout the property. "Best bike orbs, horseback riding, and quiet," noted Kristen S., highlighting the variety of trail options available.
Frisbee golf course: Cade Lake County Park offers a large disc golf course that winds through the campground. "This place is a nice cozy campground with a large frisbee golf course, a fishing and kayak lake, and a nice store. For the price, it's a must camp!" says Eric M.
Water activities: Beyond the swimming and water sports mentioned at Hogback Lake, Cade Lake County Park & Campground provides fishing and kayaking opportunities on a smaller, more serene lake. Josh N. mentions, "Cade Lake can be seen from most campsites which adds to the scenery. Biking or walking trails, with frisbee golf course."
What campers like
Privacy options: While many glamping sites in Kendallville focus on resort amenities, Pokagon State Park Campground offers more secluded camping spaces. One camper noted, "We camped in our teardrop on the primitive tent loop. Sites were nice and secluded where we were," providing a contrast to more developed glamping areas.
Clean facilities: Campers consistently praise the maintenance of facilities at parks near Kendallville. "The bathroom and shower facilities were clean and updated," reports Mary H. about Pokagon State Park, while Nancy at Cade Lake mentioned, "The grounds are immaculate. Bet it's very popular in summer."
Seasonal camping climate: Camping experiences vary dramatically by season. Rachel N. observed during an April visit to Pokagon State Park, "Visited April 4, more people than I thought, but found a spot to be by myself," indicating spring can offer both pleasant weather and less crowded conditions for luxury glamping experiences.
What you should know
Early reservation requirements: Popular luxury glamping sites fill quickly during peak season. At Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park™ at Barton Lake, Tiffany H. advises, "if you are planning a summer weekend you have to book wayyyyy in advance due to demand."
Bathroom facilities: While upscale glamping accommodations often feature private facilities, shared bathrooms at campgrounds vary widely in quality and comfort. The Johnny Appleseed Campground received high praise: "They have the best bathrooms that I have ever seen in the campgrounds. You can even look out at the skylight at the sky while you take a shower," according to Christie S.
Site variations: Even at the same campground, site quality can differ significantly. At Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park, a camper warned, "Our campsite was not labeled with our site number so we had to guess what site we had booked. The camp sites were on a slight hill and my youngest isn't even 2 and is accident prone."
Tips for camping with families
Activity planning: Elkhart RV Resort by Rjourney offers numerous family-friendly amenities beyond typical glamping sites. Kathy S. details, "Campground has lots of activities: pool, miniature golf, volley ball, fishing pond, big chess set, bike rental, mining area, playground, and rec. hall w/ video games, pool, ping pong, air hockey, and juke box."
Cultural experiences: The Kendallville region's proximity to Amish communities creates unique family learning opportunities. "About 10 minutes drive to Shipshewana with very kind Amish community folks," notes Lisa D. about staying at Elkhart RV Resort.
Off-season visits: For families seeking luxury glamping with fewer crowds, consider spring or fall visits. Kevin A. shares from a late-season stay at Angola/Hogback Lake KOA, "It is late in the season so much of the park was closed for the season, but we had a great year round site."
Tips from RVers
Site selection: When booking an RV site for glamping-style comfort at Shipshewana Trading Place RV Park, look for unique positioning. Lisa D. recommends, "Our site was backed up to a horse pasture (in the evening, the horses came over for a quick visit!)"
Hookup placements: For convenient setup at Shipshewana Campground South Park, MickandKarla W. notes, "The utilities were in the center, which made it nice to dump our two black tanks. Water pressure was good at about 50 psi. It was nice that the utilities were on the center of the pad."
Connectivity considerations: While luxury glamping often includes WiFi, quality varies significantly between campgrounds. "We got 4 bars on Verizon. If we wanted to put out satellite, we could have as there are not many trees in the central area to block the signal," shares MickandKarla W. about their stay at Shipshewana Campground.
