Best Equestrian Camping near Lowell, IN

Kankakee River State Park Equestrian Campground provides designated sites for campers with horses near Bourbonnais, Illinois, approximately 45 minutes from Lowell, Indiana. The campground features drinking water, showers, toilets, and trash collection for equestrian campers. Campsites accommodate horse trailers with ample parking space. The equestrian campground allows fires and permits pets, though alcohol is prohibited. Vault toilets are maintained throughout the camping season. The facilities include direct drive-in access suitable for horse trailers of various sizes. Campgrounds are typically clean and well-maintained with extensive grounds for riders to explore.

Connected to the campground are multiple trail systems ideal for day rides through wooded terrain along the Kankakee River. The park encompasses over 4,000 acres with trails that follow the river and pass through diverse ecosystems. Riders can access several miles of bridle trails directly from the campground without needing to trailer horses to separate trailheads. The riding trails feature varied terrain including riverside paths, wooded sections, and occasional rocky areas. Water access points along the river provide natural watering opportunities for horses during rides. Trail conditions remain relatively consistent through spring and fall, though summer months bring increased mosquito activity that affects both horses and riders. Winter camping is possible when weather permits, allowing year-round access to the trail system for equestrians seeking seasonal riding experiences.

Best Equestrian Sites Near Lowell, Indiana (4)

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Equestrian Camping Reviews near Lowell, IN

49 Reviews of 4 Lowell Campgrounds


  • 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
  • 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.

  • Art S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 26, 2023

    Potowatomi Campground — Kankakee River State Park

    Simple state park along the river

    Potowatami campground is divided into four loops. We camped in the Osage loop. Garbage cans are at the start of the loop. A central shower house is on the main road midway between the loops. Right at the start of Osage is an entrance to the crushed gravel bike path. It gave us a great hike through the trees. You can find picnic areas and playground equipment by following the bike path. The camp host checks you in. He gave us the signal in case we drive out of camp. Wave the sign out your window and re-enter camp. He also told us about rock creek nature trail. It’s just across the main road near the ranger office entrance. There are another couple miles of trails if you want some diversity.

  • Diane T.
    Jul. 7, 2018

    Tippecanoe River State Park Campground

    Clean, green and needs to be seen!

    This campground is a great place for families and pets.

    We camped in the electric part of the park. During our stay we enjoyed the hiking opportunities for us and our dogs.

    There were children involved in bike riding and playing at the playground every day and activities like the park Challenge to explore the park in a guided way, looking for local animals and skeletal remains.

    Yu can also fish, canoe, Kayak or tube on the Tippecanoe River.

    The Comfort Buildings were well lit and clean. They were also well stocked.

    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. We will definitely be back.Check it out for yourself soon!

  • E
    Nov. 2, 2021

    Tippecanoe River State Park Campground

    Bugs Galore

    This campground was nice enough. Clean bathrooms and convenient access to trails from the campground. However, the mosquitos are absolutely terrible due to the campgrounds proximity to the Tippacanoe River. Yeah, I know there will be bugs when camping but the amount of mosquitos at the park was like nothing I have ever experienced. I would not go back unless it was in the late fall/winter.

  • Jennifer L.
    Jul. 31, 2018

    Tippecanoe River State Park Campground

    Quaint campground

    I’ve been to many state parks but this is one of my favorites. Big lots, friendly staff. Trails and the river close by. Bathrooms are phenomenal!! Enjoy!

  • Emma H.
    Sep. 24, 2025

    Potowatomi Campground — Kankakee River State Park

    Great for our 2 person campout!

    My fiancé and I stayed in the Hickory Loop spot 3. We are very new campers, so we just have a very basic tent setup. When we checked in with the host, there were bundles of firewood for $8 (either cash or cash app). The spots are not huge, and not super private (you have next door and across the street neighbors), but we didn’t mind that! There were two outlets available, and a small rectangular fire pit with a grate on top. There are a few water pumps and vault toilets within walking distance, but we were pretty close to the shower house, which had stalls for toilets and showers. The showers were pretty great for a camp ground!

    It rained a ton during our trip so we didn’t explore much, but would definitely recommend for a simple camping trip where you want flushable toilets, showers, and some electricity.

  • Monica C.
    May. 30, 2018

    Tippecanoe River State Park Campground

    First camping trip ever

    Great campground. Our site had plenty of space for our tent and other gear. Close walking distance to several bathrooms/bath houses. Did not check out any trails or other options there. Did participate in a star gazing event being held that weekend and it is still something my husband and I talk about regularly. I have AT&T service and could not use my phone at all, my husband has Verizon and had no problems with cell service.

  • C
    Aug. 10, 2018

    Tippecanoe River State Park Campground

    { (The old) Canoe Camp👍} { (now) River Tent Area👎 }

    This small 10 campsite area of The Tippecanoe River State Park only has 1 water spigot & 4 vault toilets (2 men's & 2 women's) for the more adventurous campers. The main reason I like it there is that you're camping directly on the river. On one of the sites you can actually get out of your tent & throw a rock into the river.

    Prior to this year (2018) this non-electric smaller area of the park WAS known as "The Canoe Camp", stipulating you must have a canoe or some kind of boat to camp here.

    Now, this area is "The River Tent Area". Anyone with a tent can camp here now. I have camped there 3 times this year & had a few things happen. (All in one trip)

    In the camping brochure it plainly states "No swimming" in 2 separate paragraghs. I had picked THAT weekend because there was free fishing for Indiana residents & my friend wanted to take her 2 young boys fishing & camping. We caught nothing. Probably due to the people belly flopping in the river a mere 20 ft. away.

    Our day FAR from over. Some other campers that night decided to play flashlight games in ALL 10 campsites. It's not too easy getting 2 small boy's to bed while there are scary shadows being cast on all 4 sides of our tent.

    The park rangers DO come around & check on things 👍 but I was getting ice in the main campground after the fishing incident & my friend,who had never camped there before, didn't feel it was her place to say anything. The reservations were in my name. Plus we packed & left 1st thing in the morning after the flashlight ordeal. ((back to work) I did call the office & inform that evening at home.

    I'm worried that opening that area up to anybody with a tent wasn't a very good idea.


Guide to Lowell

Kankakee River State Park Equestrian Campground offers dedicated facilities for horseback riders approximately 45 minutes from Lowell, Indiana. The campground supports direct trailer access with adequate space for horse trailers of various sizes. Vault toilets remain accessible throughout the camping season, while water sources are available at designated points within the camping area. Trail riding opportunities extend through diverse terrain alongside the Kankakee River.

What to do

Trail exploration beyond bridle paths: Tippecanoe River State Park offers additional recreational options when not riding. "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," notes Cynthia K. Several trails connect directly to the campground areas.

Climb the fire tower: Families visiting the equestrian areas can incorporate other park activities. "There is a firetower, which is fun for the kids and the hike to get there is short," shares Kaley A. about Tippecanoe River State Park. The tower provides panoramic views of surrounding terrain.

Wildlife observation: The diverse ecosystems surrounding equestrian camps support various wildlife viewing opportunities. "We did have a really awesome time at the main office/nature center, where my kiddos got to feed and hold a variety of reptiles!" reports Linda N. about her stay at Kankakee River State Park.

What campers like

Private camping spaces: Equestrian campsites typically offer more space than standard sites. "The campsites are very spread out and you will have a very private quiet campsite," says Phillip L. Sites designed for horse trailers provide additional separation between neighboring campers.

Access to varied terrain: Riders appreciate the diverse trail conditions. "The area is well kept, clean, and well managed. I have frequented this park because it offers a lot of activities from primitive camping, RV parking, fishing, hiking, biking, backpacking, etc.," explains Andrea F. about her experiences at Kankakee River State Park.

Clean facilities: Campground maintenance receives positive feedback from equestrian campers. "The shower house was good. We went during July 4th so it was busy but the team came out to clean up promptly," notes Linda N. Most equestrian campgrounds maintain regular cleaning schedules for toilet and shower facilities.

What you should know

Seasonal variations affect trail conditions: Spring and fall typically provide optimal riding conditions. "Spring and late fall would be a good time to visit," advises Cynthia K. about Tippecanoe River State Park, noting that "The mosquitos get bad in the summer."

Limited cell service: Communication can be challenging in some equestrian camping areas. "I have AT&T service and could not use my phone at all, my husband has Verizon and had no problems with cell service," reports Monica C. about her camping experience.

Alcohol restrictions: Policies vary between parks. Kankakee River State Park prohibits alcohol in all camping areas including equestrian sites, while Tippecanoe River State Park permits alcohol for responsible adult campers.

Tips for camping with families

Choose sites near amenities: Families with children should consider proximity to facilities. "For the playground, sites 2,3,4,6,&7 have direct access to a playground and you can watch your children from your site," recommends Cynthia K. at Tippecanoe River State Park.

Plan for river safety: Water access requires supervision when camping with children. "The river was nice to visit and we were able to take the kids to some knee deep water to play (swimming is NOT allowed in the river)," cautions Linda N. about Kankakee River.

Bring entertainment options: Weather changes can affect riding plans. "It rained a ton during our trip so we didn't explore much," shares Emma H. about her experience at Kankakee River State Park. Pack indoor activities for rainy periods.

Tips from RVers

Select appropriate sites: Not all equestrian camping areas accommodate larger RVs. "Handicap accessible sites are 109/110/111/112," notes Cynthia K. about camping options at Tippecanoe River State Park, adding that "The sites are typical state park. No privacy for most. There's gravel for your camper pad. Not dirt."

Water access considerations: RVers should plan for water access limitations. "Get water before setting up at the water station after the small gatehouse. There's 2 sides at the dump station," advises Cynthia K. Most equestrian campsites have water available at central locations rather than at individual sites.

Prepare for varying site sizes: "Our site was perfect with trees to hang a hammock on and for the kids to run around," shares Linda N., but warns that some sites "are huge with open green space and others I feel like just for a car and a tent."

Frequently Asked Questions

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

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Lowell, IN is Potowatomi Campground — Kankakee River State Park with a 4.5-star rating from 16 reviews.

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

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