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Horse campsites near Kendallville, Indiana are limited, with no campgrounds in the immediate area offering dedicated horse corrals. Chain O' Lakes State Park, located 13 miles northeast in Albion, accommodates various camping styles including tent, RV, cabin, and glamping options, though without specific equestrian facilities. The park features nine interconnected lakes with multiple trails ranging from easy to rugged, spanning distances of 1 to 4 miles with intersecting paths that allow for longer routes. Campsites provide electric hookups, drinking water, picnic tables, and fire rings with adequate spacing between sites.
The trail system at Chain O' Lakes State Park offers potential riding opportunities, though visitors should contact park management regarding current horse policies before arrival. Trail 3 connects the campground to the beach area, while other trails wind through wooded areas and around the chain of lakes. The park maintains clean facilities with multiple shower houses and restrooms throughout the grounds. Canoe and kayak rentals are available for exploring the interconnected waterways, which feature scenic passages through lily pads and water flowers. The well-stocked camp store sells firewood, ice, camping supplies, and souvenirs. Advance reservations are recommended, especially during summer weekends when the park becomes particularly busy.
"Chain O Lakes State Park, Albion Indiana. Northwest of Fort Wayne. 416 electric, nonelectric & primitive campsites. Water is available & 3 dumps.
This was our 3rd time camping here."
"Met up with 18 other skoolies our first Indiana meet. Met great people had a fantastic time. Great park kids swam, showers are clean. Electric at sites but water isn’t but very close by."
from $14 - $80 / night
Check Availability"Sites are in a well wooded area situated on 5 different loops (1 non-electric, 4 electric)."
"This site was fairly level but very close to other sites…wouldn’t recommend it."
from $20 - $480 / night
Check Availability"Overall Rating: 4 for access to the area, very clean facilities, and not too many campers thus time of year.
Price 2024: $35 for water/electric only.""A little close to your neighbors but the way the sites are angled you had plenty of room. Very friendly people. Easy in and out."
from $5 - $10 / night
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GuideEquestrian trails and campgrounds are popular here. Horse rides sold on site. There is a nice hotel that sometimes hosts events actually located in the park. Come tobagginging and ice fishing in the winter and then pamper yourself in the hotel, or visit in the summer and have a beach day or easy hike with the family. Great spot for Pokémon Go because of the available cell service.
TravelerPokagon State Park has an excellent state park campground. Sites are in a well wooded area situated on 5 different loops (1 non-electric, 4 electric). Many sites are flat (good for tent camping) while others are slightly rolling hills (helps breakup the sites a bit). There is a lot to do in the park including many trails, horse riding (horse stable on site), and lake swimming on a nicely improved beach. Only cons are no full hook up and the fire rings/grills could be improved.
TravelerThis is an extremely large campground. About seventy-five percent of the sites are electric. We stayed in Site 255, which was not electric (booked last minute). This site was fairly level but very close to other sites…wouldn’t recommend it. However, Site 269 (next to Site 277) afforded great privacy and was large; among the non-electric sites this was the best I saw. I did not survey the electric sites, but I’m sure the site matters a lot. Non-electric sites are $20.00, plus a $9.00 park entrance fee.
There are numerous walking trails, along with horse and bike trails. Additionally, there are boat rentals, horseback rides, pony rentals, swimming, nature center, and a restaurant at the inn.
This is a family oriented park. Extended family groupings are very common. Nevertheless, people and their children are well behaved.
I would recommend this campground for two days or more. A one day stay will mean you probably won’t see much of this wonderful park. The only reason I gave it a four was that even in mid-September it was packed.
LegendChain O Lakes State Park, Albion Indiana. Northwest of Fort Wayne.
416 electric, nonelectric & primitive campsites. Water is available & 3 dumps.
This was our 3rd time camping here. We were in handicapped site 325 which was a pretty good site. We had good neighbors which helps. The campground is well established & shaded. Read the site descriptions carefully for inclines & site dimensions.
What is really interesting is they have 7 canoe campsites. They have their own pit toilets & a little dock. Site 3 is behind the pit toilet, but the rest looked ok. They're just off trail 4 as well.
Cabins are also available.
Hot showers& bathrooms. They were state park clean, but definitely need some upgrading.
This is a boating/fishing/hiking park.
There's 29 miles of fairly easy trails- all can be looped.
9 connecting glacial kettle lakes make for great kayaking & canoeing. Electric motor only makes for a peaceful lake experience. Fishing was pretty good according to my fisherguy.
There's a 1915 schoolhouse that's open on the weekends.
There's a small swimming beach with food for sale. There's also boat rental with canoes, kayaks & small boats.
Nice campground for a summer weekend!
LegendI have camped here a couple of times while visiting northern Indiana to have repairs done on my RV. Overall, I like this campground where for $30/night you can get a 50 amp full hook-up site or $23/night a 30 amp and water site. If you plan on staying longer weekly and monthly rates are really good. The campground sits in the middle of the county fairgrounds so there is usually something going on – either a fair, concert, horse event, or an RV rally. Depending on what time of year you are here and part of the week, the campground could be very crowded or very empty. The nice thing is the people in the office let you pick whatever site you want and don’t assign one to you. There are 275 full hook-up sites with 50 amp full hook-up and 30 amp water & electric only. There are no fires allowed and some sites don’t have picnic tables but you can request one and they will bring it to your site.
There is very little shade and during my last visit the late September fall temperatures climbed to nearly 90 degrees and was brutal. This campground is better suited for RVs than tents but you are permitted to tent camp. Bathrooms and showers are scattered about and I was amazed at always how clean they (and the grounds as a whole) are. They do offer WiFi which worked pretty well in non-peak hours like early morning but was not reliable and sometimes frustrating. Since many sites have a clear view of the sky, you most likely will get satellite television reception and a dozen or so antenna channels.
One of the things I like about this park is the vast expanse of grounds to wander about walking my dog. There is a trail system just outside of the park that allows you miles and miles of walking and biking trails. Downtown Goshen is less than two miles away and has some great restaurants (including Venturi Pizza, Maple Indian Cuisine – which has an awesome buffet, and Goshen Brewing Company). The Saturday farmers market is great with lots of produce, breads, meats, cheeses, and crafts.
The last time I visited coincided with the Mennonite Relief Fund which was a big fund raiser for their charity that packed the grounds with stuff for sale, food, and activities. It was fun to be there during the event but it meant the campground and grounds were packed.
Now for the bad about this campground. It is located right next to very busy train tracks that operate 24/7 and blow their horns quite often. They were really annoying in the middle of the night. Sites are close together so if it is crowded and you have a neighbor, you will be right on top of them. There is no shade which can be very miserable.
Pros:
· Price - $30/night for a 50 amp full hook-up site
· Nearby downtown stores and restaurants
· Sites are not assigned so you can pick where you want to camp
· Grassy patios
· Large grounds to meander around
· Nearby biking/walking trail
Cons:
· Very noisy from nearby trains operated at all hours
· Few trees for shade or privacy
· Some sites are very tight and close to your neighbor
· Can be very crowded
· WiFi provided but not reliable
TravelerMet up with 18 other skoolies our first Indiana meet. Met great people had a fantastic time. Great park kids swam, showers are clean. Electric at sites but water isn’t but very close by.
GuideWe used Pokagon State Park as a two-night stopover on our way home from Northern Michigan, and overall, it was a good option for a short stay.
We stayed in Site 109, which was tucked away and felt fairly isolated from the rest of the campground. In early spring or late fall, I imagine the site would have a nice view of the lake, but in August the tree cover was too thick to see much of it.
The gravel pad was reasonably level, but we needed a couple inches of leveling blocks to get the RV sitting flat. There wasn’t really much of a grassy area at the site for the dogs, but we were able to walk them easily just down the road.
We brought our bicycles, which was a great way to explore the park. We rode around to the nature center, equestrian facility, and beach, and enjoyed being able to see more of the park without having to drive everywhere.
One thing that surprised us was the single dump station for the entire campground. Since none of the sites have full hookups, I would imagine the line could get ridiculously long after a busy weekend.
Overall, we’d stay here again, but probably only as a one- or two-night layover rather than a longer destination stay. Site 109 worked well for us because of its privacy and quiet location.
TravelerThere are trail, beaches, boats, horses... so many things to do
LegendThis state park was established in 1925, so almost 100 years old. The campground must be the original layout. There's a maze like quality to it. The roads are narrow & you may be driving off the road for a big rig.
Some sites are level, some aren't. Some can accommodate larger rigs, most can't. Check the site descriptions carefully & to be doubly sure, call the office & ask.
There's water stations that look very old. They have wooden, shingled roofs. There's 2 dump stations located in loops 3 & 4. IN THE CAMPGROUND! NEXT TO CAMPSITES!!!!
There's 5 loops to the main campground.
100 loop is small & closer to the lake than the other loops. It's the loop we chose this time.
The sites are on the small side. There's 3 campsites that are close to the lake. 115, which is a larger site. 117 & 119 which have clear views of the lake. 117 is more a tent or popup site & is small. 119 is the best of the bunch. A large pad & a large site. There's no privacy bushes. These sites have a view of the lake with trees & brush & are on a ridge overlooking the lake. They aren't ON the lake.
On either side of 117 & 119 are 2 trails that lead to the lake. There's benches & a dock to tie up your boat.
The rest of the sites are a mixed bag. Some are level, some have an incline. If you have a big rig, be aware that the road to the 100 campsites branches into one way. Leading into the campsites, the road is narrow & has a ravine on one side!
200 Loop is non electric
300 Loop is the biggest loop & seems like the best bet for larger rigs. As stated above, some sites are better than others. There's a uniformity here that's missing from the other loops.
Stay away from sites 393& 395!!! These sites are literally right on top of the dump station! As always watch for pit toilets near the sites.
400 loop is a smaller loop next to the 200 loop. There's only one shower house for both loops. Avoid site 444 & probably site 454. These sites are VERY close to the dump station.
500 loop is also smaller& has some nice sites tucked by themselves in the trees. There seems to be more privacy brush on this loop with SOME sites.
512 is close to the shower house. 511 & 513 were somewhat secluded.
If you have a boat you want to tie up at the dock, go for the 100 loop. If you can't get it, be aware there's no parking near the trails to the lake. You can park by the bathhouse & walk.
The shower & restrooms are atrocious!!! Worst looking buildings since Spring Mill SP! Dirty & need an entire overhaul. In fact, raze the buildings & build new ones! They're "cleaned" once a day. Suuuuuure they are. There was actual poop on the door of one of the women's toilet stalls the whole time I was there. Mold & spiders& dirt in the corners. Looks like the last upgrade was in the 50s.
Chain O' Lakes State Park offers camping options 13 miles northeast of Kendallville in Albion, Indiana. The park spans 2,718 acres of woodland and features nine connected kettle lakes formed by glacial activity. Summer temperatures typically range from 70-85°F with high humidity, while spring and fall camping provides more moderate conditions with occasional rainfall.
Kayaking the chain system: The interconnected lakes at Chain O' Lakes State Park provide unique paddling opportunities through narrow channels. "Kayaking and the beach was a huge hit with the kids," notes Jeremy C., who found the experience well worth the rental fees.
Horseback riding nearby: While no dedicated horse corrals exist at parks near Kendallville, Pokagon State Park offers guided trail rides approximately 30 miles northeast in Angola. "There are trails, beaches, boats, horses... so many things to do," mentions Becky N., highlighting the equestrian options available.
Swimming and beach access: The beach areas provide summer recreation options with designated swimming zones. "The beach is often overcrowded with local partiers during peak hours. After peak hours these people clear out and usually aren't actually camping there," advises Whitley K., suggesting early morning or evening visits for a quieter experience.
Well-maintained facilities: The state parks maintain clean restrooms and shower facilities throughout the camping season. "The facility is clean and very safe," reports Amanda J., who appreciates the upkeep at Chain O' Lakes State Park after multiple visits since childhood.
Variety of accommodation types: Camping options range from primitive tent sites to full-hookup RV spaces and cabin rentals. "Tent lots are flat and a good size. RR and showers nearby," notes Karson G., who found the quiet atmosphere at Chain O' Lakes conducive to relaxation.
Extensive trail networks: Multiple interconnected trails accommodate hikers of various skill levels. "We would like to see them improve their trails and have better directional signs as to which path is which," suggests Julie B., indicating that first-time visitors should obtain trail maps before setting out.
Site selection matters: Campground layouts vary significantly between electric and non-electric areas. "We stayed in the tent portion and it was very loud, the pit toilets did not have doors, and there were some mosquitoes," reports Truly W. about a Memorial Day weekend at Kosciusko County Fairgrounds, suggesting weekday visits might provide a quieter experience.
Seasonal conditions: Spring camping can present challenges with wet conditions in some sites. "Had reservation but had to move to another site due to my first one under water," shares Jerry R., who still rated his camping experience positively despite needed site relocation.
Reservation requirements: Weekends fill quickly during summer months, particularly at water-adjacent sites. Group sites offer more space but typically cost more per night and may be located farther from lakes and trails.
Multiple activity options: Families appreciate the variety of recreation choices within short distances. "I have stayed at this state park many times since I was little. There is so much to do. Between the hiking trails, boating, fishing, kayaking, canoeing, and biking. You won't ever get bored," shares Amanda J. about her experiences at Chain O' Lakes.
Budget considerations: State park camping offers good value for families seeking affordable outdoor experiences. "At $35 ish per night it's truly a great park," mentions Jeffrey Y., who has enjoyed the park both as a child and adult visitor.
Group site advantages: Larger families or groups benefit from the spacious layout of designated group camping areas. "As usual the group sites are much larger, and also more expensive. Group sites usually aren't too full so large space and few neighbors is always a plus," advises Ted C., noting that these sites typically position campers farther from the lakes and trails.
Site length limitations: RV campers should verify site dimensions before booking, as some spaces accommodate smaller units better than others. "Sites are shorter and sometimes uneven," notes J C. about Pokagon State Park, suggesting leveling blocks might be necessary equipment.
Hookup availability: Electric hookups are standard at most developed sites, while full-hookup options with water and sewer connections may be limited. "Only electric hookups, but good for a short weekend," shares Kristen S., who still ranks Pokagon as the "best state campground" despite hookup limitations.
Dump station access: Both major state parks provide sanitary dump stations for RVs, though users should anticipate wait times during peak checkout periods on Sunday mornings.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Kendallville, IN?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Kendallville, IN is Chain O' Lakes State Park Campground with a 4.3-star rating from 55 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Kendallville, IN?
TheDyrt.com has all 4 equestrian camping locations near Kendallville, IN, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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