Best Equestrian Camping near Monterey, IN

Tippecanoe River State Park offers equestrian camping facilities within a dedicated horseman's campground area separate from the main camping loops. The campground provides access to numerous riding trails that wind through the wooded terrain and connect to the park's broader trail system. While the horse facilities are basic compared to specialized equestrian centers, they accommodate riders with enough space for trailers and horses. The campground maintains a quiet atmosphere for both horses and riders, with sites spaced adequately for comfort. Sites in the horse camping area include fire pits and picnic tables, though riders should come prepared with mosquito repellent during summer months.

Trail access directly from the horseman's campground connects to several miles of bridle paths through diverse terrain within the state park boundaries. The trails traverse wooded areas, open meadows, and provide occasional views of the Tippecanoe River. Water access for horses is available at designated points along the trail system. The park's fire tower serves as a notable landmark accessible via horseback on designated trails. Seasonal considerations affect trail conditions, with spring and fall offering the most comfortable riding weather and fewer insects. Horse owners must follow standard park regulations regarding waste management and trail use. The trails are well-maintained but not exceptionally well-marked in some sections, so first-time visitors should request trail maps at check-in.

Best Equestrian Sites Near Monterey, Indiana (4)

    1. Tippecanoe River State Park Campground

    30 Reviews
    Winamac, IN
    7 miles
    Website
    +1 (574) 946-3213

    $12 - $50 / night

    "There was a horse camp available as well as youth tenting and cabins to rent.

    This is a great State Park with more things to offer in addition to the ones mentioned above."

    "Trails and the river close by. Bathrooms are phenomenal!! Enjoy!"

    2. Potato Creek State Park Campground

    48 Reviews
    North Liberty, IN
    28 miles
    Website
    +1 (574) 656-8186

    $20 - $90 / night

    "I feel this is one of the best state parks in Indiana. Come with your own water as they don’t have water hookups at your campsite but there are some nearby. The sites are very spacious and clean."

    "Younger families tend to book up front near the playground and the noise and activities are more robust. Be ready with back up cords, some sites require 75 ft to hook up."

    3. Kosciusko County Fairgrounds

    1 Review
    Warsaw, IN
    34 miles
    Website
    +1 (574) 269-1823

    $5 - $10 / night

    4. Salamonie River State Forest

    4 Reviews
    Lagro, IN
    46 miles
    Website
    +1 (812) 246-5421

    $13 - $15 / night

    "As far as Indiana parks goes, this is a hidden gem. We have camped here many times. Even the trails we frequent always seem new because each season offers a different kind of beauty."

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Equestrian Camping Reviews near Monterey, IN

83 Reviews of 4 Monterey Campgrounds


  • Jessica L.
    Jul. 28, 2016

    Potato Creek State Park Campground

    Activities for all seasons...

    ...although you probably wouldn't want to camp in the Indiana winter. I grew up coming here mostly to sled on the hills! But, there is a lot more to do. It surrounds Worster Lake and there are cabins, RV sites, and tent sites along with horse trails and bike trails. In the winter, there's sledding hills and ice fishing. The campgrounds are pretty standard, nothing special. If you live in the area, it's a fine little getaway.

  • D
    Apr. 25, 2019

    Potato Creek State Park Campground

    A wonderful state campground

    I feel this is one of the best state parks in Indiana. Come with your own water as they don’t have water hookups at your campsite but there are some nearby. The sites are very spacious and clean. Bath houses are always clean! Playground areas for the kids throughout the park lots of bike and walking trails. No pools but a beautiful man made lake for swimming and fishing. Lots of wildlife throughout the park. A great nature center is a must to see for the little ones. My family has camped here for many years. There is also a separate campground for horse lovers.

  • Lee D.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 8, 2019

    Potato Creek State Park Campground

    Campground=4 stars; check-in=2 stars

    Campground= 4 stars; check-in= 2 stars. Very large campground with close to 300 sites plus a horse camp and about 20 cabins. We picked this park solely because it was convenient to our next destination, so we were not concerned with amenities. We did not make a reservation because I really do not want to pay the extra fee if it is not necessary. Upon arrival, we paid the $9 entrance fee ($7 for Indiana residents) and drove the 3 miles to the campground office. Somewhat surprised to find both staffed at 6 pm on a Thursday after Labor Day. We were told to drive around and pick several desired sites as they could not tell us which ones still had people due to arrive that night who had reserved. Huh?? So, we drove around two of the five loops and picked half a dozen sites that would be suitable. But that’s where the fun began- not! There seemed to be some computer glitch in that every site we asked about showed as not available, even though more than half the sites were empty. Eventually, we were told to just go to one of the sites we picked and set up and that a security guard would come and collect our money. Eventually, at just before 9 pm, the security guard did come and told us the glitch had been fixed and asked that we come to the office and register. The glitch was not fixed! But we paid our fee and were able to stay the night and the staff was very apologetic. 

    There is no differentiation between RV and tent sites (the only one that is separate is the horse camp). The E Loop seemed to be the most crowded, mostly with RVs. The sites in the D Loop were spaced a decent amount of distance apart but other than that, there was no real privacy between them. This was not a problem because the loop had many empty sites and we were able to easily find one that had an empty one on either side of us. There are paths to the beach accessible from the D and E loops but note the beach is only open from Memorial Day through Labor Day. There is no longer a dog beach at Potato Creek. There is a general store(open until 8 pm) and bike rentals which, if we were going to stay longer, we might have taken advantage of. There are boat rentals in season. Several trails and playgrounds so I imagine that in the summer, this is a nice family campground (even the name is Family campground). 

    The mosquitos were vicious, likely worse due to the amount of rain the area has had this year. Bathrooms were very clean and there was hot water, a nice luxury but you have to be careful not to bump your head on the shelf over the sink when washing your face. Didn’t use them but there were also showers. 

    The check-in process notwithstanding, our stay was fine for the night.

  • Frank M.
    Mar. 22, 2017

    Potato Creek State Park Campground

    Family favorite

    My wife and I come here every year since purchasing our travel trailer. We recommend securing a spot in the back sites 230-287 for larger lots and quieter atmosphere. Younger families tend to book up front near the playground and the noise and activities are more robust. Be ready with back up cords, some sites require 75 ft to hook up. With dog friendly beaches, beginner MTB trails and paved bike paths, this checks all our boxes. Natural wetlands abound, so definitely bring the mosquito spray. Typical Indiana Campground with basic amenities, older comfort stations and spotty WIFI. I like unplugging but sometimes work demands I respond promptly. Not too far from South Bend for city amenities, restaurants and supplies. Takes 10-15 mins to drive out of campground, so keep this in mind. Definitely keep coming back!

  • Thomas U.
    Aug. 11, 2018

    Tippecanoe River State Park Campground

    Good place to camp and Kayak

    Great place for a weekend camping trip of kayaking and some hiking.

    Pro's

    • Large Campsites
    • Clean showers and bathrooms
    • 2 kayak ramps with ability to hike in between them
    • Fire tower
    • Great views in the river
    • Horse Trails

    Con's

    • No privacy in campsites, so it more of a RV's / partying camping
    • Hiking is mainly flat trails thru the woods
    • No Camp Store, the Host sold firewood and Ice
  • Whitley K.
    Mar. 28, 2022

    Salamonie River State Forest

    Fun trails, small waterfalls, good fishing.

    As far as Indiana parks goes, this is a hidden gem. We have camped here many times. Even the trails we frequent always seem new because each season offers a different kind of beauty.

  • Cynthia K.
    May. 25, 2022

    Tippecanoe River State Park Campground

    Average state park

     This is a North Central State Park in Indiana. Not one of the better units, but it has some charms. The mosquitos get bad in the summer, so come prepared. We camped the end of May& they were just getting going. Spring& late fall would be a good time to visit.

     None of the campsites have a view of the river. Only 112 campsites in the electric side. There's a primitive tent campground by the river, with a few sites. There's also a horsemans campground, which we didn't look at. This is a well established campground& has nice shade trees in all the sites. 

    Get water before setting up at the water station after the small gatehouse. There's 2 sides at the dump station. In the campground there's 2 comfort stations. Station A looked like it had been totally rehabbed in the last 5 years. Everything looked nice& the showers could be turned to your preferred temperature. Cleaner than the last state park we were at for sure!

     Handicap accessible sites are 109/110/111/112. There are 2 pit toilets in the campground, though I don't know why. The modern bathrooms are right across the road. Stay away from sites 73/75& 105/106. Right by the pits, with a sidewalk between them. The sites are typical state park. No privacy for most. There's gravel for your camper pad. Not dirt.

     The best sites are site 1- right on the main drag, but the most private site in the place. If you enjoy watching the rigs come in& leave, this is your site! Vegetation separates you from site 2. Site 58 is the only pull through in the campground. Site 63 is also a pretty good site. All sites are not too far from the bathrooms. 

    For the playground, sites 2,3,4,6,&7 have direct access to a playground& you can watch your children from your site. All the interior sites by comfort station B have direct access to the playground from your site & you can watch your children from your site. Avoid if you dislike the sound of children playing. 

    We stayed in site 102, which is right across from bathroom A. All the outer sites are pretty good. Our site ponded water after a rain, but soaked in fast. 

    There's some trails that can be accessed from the campground- Trails 1,3,4&5.

     All in all an average park. Nothing really special except for the river. Fishing was poor according to my husband.

  • C
    Oct. 23, 2019

    Potato Creek State Park Campground

    Beautiful Park

    We have been blown away by the efforts put into Indiana’s state parks and Potato Creek is no exception. Well kept, beautiful grounds and trails. Restrooms are a bit dated, but clean and functioning. Our daughter loved the play area and huge grassy area to run around on. The Peppermint Hill mountain bike/hiking loop was really fun and not to be missed. Seems like a very popular place, even in the off season, so you’re best bet is to make a reservation or call ahead to make sure they can accommodate you.

  • Kaley A.
    Jan. 31, 2025

    Potato Creek State Park Campground

    Nice Park

    I’ve not camped at this park, only hiked it. I’ve probably hiked it two dozen times at least and it’s got nice trails for the part of Indiana that it’s in. Most of them are relatively flat with some trails,like number two, having some hills and stairs in them. My favorite trail is probably number one, which is a 1 mile weird loop that has some neat scenery, especially in the summertime.


Guide to Monterey

Horse camping in Indiana offers a unique way to explore the great outdoors while enjoying the company of your equine friends. With several campgrounds catering to horse enthusiasts, you can find the perfect spot to set up camp and ride the trails.

Most campgrounds have horse-focused amenities like trails and facilities

Campers appreciate these amenities for horses

  • Salamonie River State Forest features spacious sites and access to trails, making it a great choice for those looking to ride and camp in a serene environment.

Tips for equestrian camping near Monterey, Indiana

  • When visiting Potato Creek State Park Campground, take advantage of the well-maintained trails and the availability of horse-friendly accommodations to enhance your camping experience.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Monterey, IN?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Monterey, IN is Tippecanoe River State Park Campground with a 4.2-star rating from 30 reviews.

What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Monterey, IN?

TheDyrt.com has all 4 equestrian camping locations near Monterey, IN, with real photos and reviews from campers.