Camping options near McCordsville, Indiana include established campgrounds along the White River corridor and around local reservoirs. Located in central Indiana's flat terrain with elevations around 850 feet, the region experiences four distinct seasons with hot, humid summers and cold winters. Fall camping offers moderate temperatures with colorful foliage while spring brings occasional thunderstorms.
What to do
Fishing access: White River Campground provides boat launching facilities on the White River and maintains clean grounds with spacious sites. "White river campground is not a huge place, but it is always clean and very friendly staff. It's a great place to just go and relax and enjoy nature," notes one camper.
Hiking trails: Cornerstone Campground offers walking paths through wooded areas for nature exploration. "I enjoyed the peaceful ambience and walking trails through the trees," shares a visitor who appreciated the natural setting. The campground maintains 110 sites with level lots.
Water activities: Hidden Paradise Campground features both river access and a quarry lake for swimming. "We take our own rafts and kayaks, although both are available for rent/purchase at the camp store. Our boys & friends spend most of their time in the river, but also enjoy the quarry lake with inflatables & paddle boats," explains one regular visitor.
Disc golf course: Cornerstone Campground maintains an on-site disc golf course for guests. "Totally delightful, some full timers and part timers, many parks and benches to sit on, nice disk golf course," reports a camper who enjoyed the amenities beyond just camping.
What campers like
Convenient location: Indianapolis KOA sits just 20 minutes from downtown Indianapolis attractions. "Used this campground as a home base to visit downtown Indy. 20 minutes to downtown attractions," mentions one visitor who appreciated the proximity to urban amenities.
Clean facilities: White River Campground maintains well-kept bathrooms and showers that receive consistent praise. "Their bathrooms and showers are the cleanest I've came across," notes one reviewer who found this feature particularly impressive.
Music venue access: Mystic Waters Campground offers shuttle service to nearby concert venues. "We enjoyed the bus ride both days to see Dave Matthews Band," reports one guest who took advantage of the transportation option rather than dealing with venue parking.
Seasonal water features: Campgrounds with splash pads and water features provide summer recreation options. "The splash pad / water park was fun, but was not a pool. It only goes to 3 feet so if you want to swim this is not for you," explains a visitor describing facilities at Indianapolis KOA.
What you should know
Highway noise considerations: Some campgrounds sit near major roads with associated traffic noise. "This is a great campground for RVs and cabins, but unfortunately not for tents as the highway 69 is too noisy," warns one Mystic Waters visitor who found the location problematic for tent camping.
Reservation requirements: Popular campgrounds fill quickly during peak season. "Fills up fast, so make your reservation," advises a White River Campground guest who emphasized planning ahead for this smaller campground.
Additional activity fees: Some campgrounds charge extra for certain amenities beyond camping fees. "On top of the camping prices you had to pay to swim in the quarry. $10-$15 per day per person," explains a reviewer about Hidden Paradise Campground pricing structure.
Yurt camping options: Pine Lake Fishing & Camping Resort offers yurt camping near McCordsville, Indiana with lakefront settings. "This was really convenient and close to Indy, where we took the grandkids to the children's museum. The lake is fabulous," notes a visitor who appreciated the proximity to attractions while staying in alternative accommodations.
Tips for camping with families
Kid-friendly water features: Indianapolis KOA offers a water play area designed for younger children. "The pool is delightful especially for littles who will enjoy the fountains and big pouring bucket," explains a family who found the campground well-suited for young campers.
Playground access: Spring Valley Camp Grounds provides recreational facilities for children beyond just camping spaces. "Really friendly staff. Love when they put concerts on. Love the swimming pool," shares a visitor who enjoyed the family-oriented facilities.
Animal encounters: Some campgrounds feature animal interactions for children. "Our favorite part is visiting with Fred and Rain, the friendly onsite horses who are always ready for head rubs and snacks," mentions a family staying at Indianapolis KOA who appreciated this unique feature for children.
Year-round yurt camping: Families seeking yurt camping near McCordsville can find options at multiple campgrounds with varying seasonal availability. Spring Valley Camp Grounds and Pine Lake offer yurt accommodation options that provide more comfortable shelter than traditional tents.
Tips from RVers
Levelness of sites: RV campers emphasize the importance of level campsites for easier setup. "The sites are spacious, the water, sewer, and electric are good. All sites are paved, grounds are great to walk, campground people are nice," notes a White River Campground visitor who appreciated the practical aspects of the RV sites.
Site spacing: Cornerstone Campground receives praise for its lot arrangements. "Lots are level and include a picnic table and fire pit, with nice space between sites," explains an RVer who found the layout comfortable compared to more crowded alternatives.
Electric options: Hidden Paradise Campground provides electrical hookups for RV campers with various amperage options. "Clean bathrooms! Great sites! Lots of water things to do," summarizes a camper who found the full hookup sites met their needs for convenience.
Accessibility considerations: White River Campground divides camping sections to accommodate different needs. "White River Campground is divided up into A-B-C sections. A is accessible. B is full hookup with sewer and C is water/elec only and tent camping," explains a visitor detailing the campground layout.
