The Dyrt – find campgrounds for tents, RVs, cabins, glamping and more.
Open in App

Best Tent Camping near Lafayette, IN

334 Reviews

Tent campers visiting Lafayette, Indiana can find several established campgrounds within a reasonable driving distance. French Post Park in Delphi and Lake Waveland Park in Waveland both offer tent camping options with basic amenities. Lake Waveland Park provides both primitive tent sites and more developed options with electrical hookups, while French Post Park serves as a beginner-friendly location with dedicated tent camping areas.

Most tent sites in the Lafayette region feature picnic tables and fire rings, though availability varies by location. French Post Park allows fires and provides picnic tables but lacks drinking water, requiring campers to bring their own supply. Lake Waveland Park offers more amenities including drinking water, showers, and trash disposal. The primitive tent sites at Lake Waveland are first-come, first-served with no reservations required, while other sites may need advance booking. Clovis Creek, located east of Lafayette, provides a more rustic option with 20 tent sites that include picnic tables and allow campfires.

The tent camping experience near Lafayette offers varying levels of seclusion and natural settings. Lake Waveland Park's primitive sites are described as being particularly secluded and quiet, making them popular but quick to fill up. The park features extensive green space and offers fishing opportunities for recreation. Sites are generally well-maintained with regular mowing, and many tent sites provide good shade coverage. According to one visitor, "The primitive tent camping sites don't require reservations, and each have a picnic table. Camp sites seem more spread out here compared to most state parks." Tent campers particularly appreciate Lake Waveland's proximity to other outdoor destinations, including Turkey Run and Shades State Park.

Map showing campgrounds near Lafayette, IndianaExplore the Map

Best Tent Sites Near Lafayette, Indiana (5)

Show More
Showing results 1-5 of 5 campgrounds

2025 Detourist Giveaway

Presented byToyota Trucks

Review Campgrounds. Win Prizes.

Enter to Win

Lafayette Contest

Enter to Win

Recent Tent Camping Photos near Lafayette, IN

1 Photos of 5 Lafayette Campgrounds

Tent Camping Reviews near Lafayette, IN

334 Reviews of 5 Lafayette 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.

  • 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.

  • Sondra D.
    May. 11, 2019

    Prophetstown State Park Campground

    Prophetstown State Park

    Prophetstown State Park is located between Lafayette and Battleground, IN. It proved to be a lovely place to stay. We parked in Spruce Loop which had spacious sites and full hookups. I especially appreciated the fact that all the sites were, at the least, partially shaded and at a distance from neighboring sites. We were also within easy walking distance of a spacious and clean vault toilet. A little further walk brings you to a large restroom/shower facility. It also was very clean. The full hookup sites are in Spruce Loop. Electric only sites are in Savanna Loop. They are fairly new so not offering much shade as yet, although plenty of young trees are sprouting. They park offers much in the way of hiking, biking, playgrounds, basketball court, spacious shelters, a farm and nature center to visit, plus a large fun, water park. We plan to return with our bikes and also with a grandchild soon.

  • Baylee W.
    Aug. 23, 2020

    Wolfs Leisure Time Campground

    Nice, quiet

    Nice little campground. Camping spots are kinda close together. Right next to the river for fishing. They have a little arcade hall, have bingo, a swimming pool, basketball court. We were busy with kids activities so we didn’t really get to enjoy the park a whole lot but staff seemed friendly. They allow golf carts, but not electric scooters. Just a few minutes from Lafayette, Delphi, Battle Ground, so plenty of things to do nearby.

  • 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.

Guide to Lafayette

Lafayette, Indiana, offers a variety of tent camping options that cater to outdoor enthusiasts looking for a peaceful escape. From well-maintained grounds to family-friendly amenities, there's something for everyone.

Tips for tent camping near Lafayette

  • For a beginner-friendly experience, consider visiting French Post Park, which features a designated tent camping area, picnic tables, and a playground, making it ideal for families with young kids.

Some prices for tent camping range from $20 to $40

  • At Lake Waveland Park, you can find a mix of primitive and modern sites, with amenities like electric hookups and drinking water, ensuring a comfortable stay.

Local attractions for outdoor enthusiasts

  • If fishing or boating is your thing, Lake Waveland Park offers ample opportunities to enjoy the water, along with spacious grounds perfect for pitching a tent.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Lafayette, IN?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Lafayette, IN is French Post Park with a 4-star rating from 1 review.

What is the best site to find tent camping near Lafayette, IN?

TheDyrt.com has all 5 tent camping locations near Lafayette, IN, with real photos and reviews from campers.

Keep Exploring