Best Tent Camping near Medaryville, IN

Tent campers near Medaryville, Indiana have access to several established campgrounds within driving distance. French Post Park in Delphi offers a designated tent camping section with room for vehicles nearby, while Central Avenue Walk-in Sites at Indiana Dunes National Park provides more secluded backcountry tent camping opportunities approximately 70 miles north of Medaryville. Mac Finn's Landing across the state line in Illinois offers primitive tent sites with boat-in access along the Kankakee River.

Most tent sites in the region feature basic amenities with varying levels of development. French Post Park provides toilet facilities, picnic tables, and allows campfires, though drinking water is not available on-site. The Central Avenue Walk-in Sites require hikers to carry gear from parking areas to their campsites, offering a more primitive tent camping experience with toilet facilities and water hookups available. Mac Finn's Landing represents the most rustic option with just four tent sites, basic drinking water access, and trash service, but no toilets or shower facilities. Reservations are recommended for all three campgrounds, particularly during summer weekends.

The walk-in tent locations at Indiana Dunes National Park offer significant privacy advantages compared to drive-up sites. Sites are positioned strategically off main trails, creating natural buffers between campers. Sites 2-5 are clustered at the far end of the access trail, while Site 1 stands alone at the front section, providing maximum seclusion. The moderate walking distance to Lake Michigan beaches makes these tent sites particularly appealing to hikers and swimmers. A camper noted that "the spot was clean. It's far enough off the trail that it provides plenty of privacy." For fishing enthusiasts, the primitive tent camping at Mac Finn's Landing offers direct access to no-wake zones on the Kankakee River, with multiple fishing holes accessible by kayak upstream.

Best Tent Sites Near Medaryville, Indiana (3)

    1. French Post Park

    1 Review
    Yeoman, IN
    32 miles
    Website
    +1 (574) 652-3114

    "They have a tent camping section in one area with rooms to leave cars. A boat camp right into the water. A playground. A shelter with plenty of picnic tables to have a fairly large gathering."

    2. Central Avenue Walk-in Sites — Indiana Dunes National Park

    1 Review
    Beverly Shores, IN
    43 miles
    Website
    +1 (219) 395-1882

    $25 / night

    "It’s far enough off the trail that it provides plenty of privacy. The walk to the beach was not too long. Site one is the only site on the front end of the trail."

    3. Mac Finn's Landing

    1 Review
    Aroma Park, IL
    48 miles
    Website
    +1 (815) 260-2862

    $35 - $50 / night

    "Lots of access to great fishing holes up the Kankakee and Iroqouis Rivers. Kayak launch friendly!"

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Recent Tent Camping Photos near Medaryville, IN

3 Photos of 3 Medaryville Campgrounds


Tent Camping Reviews near Medaryville, IN

508 Reviews of 3 Medaryville Campgrounds


  • H
    May. 26, 2022

    Indiana Dunes State Park Campground

    Great stay, come ready

    We stayed two nights in mid-May, at site number 72. Area was gorgeous, well maintained, shady and quiet. Tons of hiking trails in very close proximity to the campground! There is electricity on site, but no water or sewage at each site. However there is a water fill station and a dump station. So just come prepared. Also, they have a very strict no alcohol policy. Not that that stopped people, but don't go walking around with a beer bottle! We would definitely return.

  • Elizabeth G.
    Oct. 5, 2021

    Dunewood Campground — Indiana Dunes National Park

    Pleasant and quiet

    Stayed in site 43 of the Douglas loop. Douglas loop is all non electric.

    Our site was big enough for our tents, a picnic table and fire ring. The bathrooms/showers are really close by which is nice but you do get the lights from the bathroom facing site 43. Not a big deal but if you’re looking for more darkness then definitely choose one of the other sites around 43.

    All parking sites are paved for camper vans/trailers but no water or power hookups. All sites have nice huge tent pads that are nice and level. Only noise we heard was the train every now and then.

    The showers are individual rooms separate from the bathrooms. And there’s a gas station and liquor store near the entrance of the campground for fire wood and beer.

    I didn’t get to stay in the walk in campsites but they are very nice and close-ish to the showers.

  • Chris M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 26, 2020

    Indiana Dunes State Park Campground

    Clean & Spacious

    We pulled in around 4:30 in the evening. The sight was spacious with plenty of room in between sites. Since the weather was cooler , it was pretty sparse with other campers. We stayed 2 nights over the weekend. You are within walking distance to the beach within the park. The buildings have great architecture. The sight had 50 amp electric hook ups but no water or sewer connections, and we knew that going in. We had a back in sight #69. There was plenty of space on all sides. We have a 37’ motorhome and pulled a Jeep behind it. There was plenty of room to maneuver around. The sight also had a wood picnic table and fire ring for a wood fire pit. We will definitely be back! I wish I had taken more photos from the beach and beach pavilion.

  • SThe Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 8, 2022

    Indiana Dunes State Park Campground

    Outer Circle

    We reserved a spot in the outer circle. We like having woods on one side. Nice campground camping….parking pad, fire ring, picnic table. Good amount of space between spots. Nice bathrooms & showers. We have a rooftop tent and we’re very happy. Loved the hike over “Mt. Tom” to the gorgeous beach and warmish lake for a swim. We choose the State Park vs. National Park so we could hike to the beach.

  • Crissy R.
    Sep. 24, 2019

    Dunewood Campground — Indiana Dunes National Park

    Let there Be Rain and Silence....

    If you’re looking to go camping with the conveniences of the modern world nearby, this is the place to be. Located off of golf way rd and duneway pkwy, this campground is located roughly about an hour from Elkhart, if that’s where you’re coming from. They have a few options as far as sites go. Sites 1-34 are reservable online and the remainder of the sites are first come, first served. Also keep in mind, sites 1-54 you’re able to park your car/RV. However, sites 55-67 are walk in only. There are showers and restrooms located center of both areas. There are also water stations which are very convenient. Most of the campsites are fairly close, but far enough where you are not sitting on top of each other. This time around I opted for the walk In. For starters, let’s just say to be prepared for whatever weather may come. My luck, it poured the entire time and was windy. Furthermore, each site has designated fire rings that have a grill. The experience was awesome, it’s $25 a night that you pay at the automated kiosk. There are rangers that drive around during the day and there are signs posted with all the latest updates, rules/regulations. Overall, great experience, definitely look forward to coming back!

  • Lee D.The Dyrt PRO User
    Dec. 31, 2021

    Dunewood Campground — Indiana Dunes National Park

    Choose your site carefully

    General: Dunewood campground is located within Indiana Dunes National Park, established in 2019 (The national seashore was established in the 1960s). The Park is spread out for many miles along the coast of northern Indiana and depending on the direction you approach the campground from, it can be confusing. We approached from the east and the visitor center is nowhere near the campground and since we arrived after 6 pm, we had no maps or other information. Fortunately, there was cell service, and we went to the NPS app for some information. The campground is divided into two loops plus a walk-in section for a total of 66 sites; all require advance reservations. Don’t confuse it with the nearby state park called Indiana Dunes State Park. 

    Site Quality/Facilities: The sites are very wooded with sufficient privacy between them. Unfortunately, our site (31) was quite possibly the worst one for a campervan(would not be suitable for an RV at all) but would have made a fantastic tent site(wood stakes separated the“driveway” from the rest of the site). 13 of the 34 sites in the Mather loop were empty both at 7 pm and 7 am the next morning yet since they were all reserved, we were not able to move. The pads were all paved and most of the sites were generous in size. None of the sites have any hookups. We did hear occasional trains passing nearby. 

    Bathhouse: Large, clean restroom facility with showers, not the norm for national park campgrounds. 

    Activities: hiking, beach walking. There were some trails that could be accessed from the campground, but we did not explore these. After going to the Visitor Center the next morning and reading the NPS app, we decided to try the Diana Dunes Dare. The story behind this is fascinating but alas, it was humid and buggy, and we could see more rain was on the way so we only did one of the three loops (If you do all three, you can get a sticker). While there is no fee to enter Indiana Dunes National Park, there is an “amenities” fee of $6 per car ($3 if you have the senior pass) from Memorial Day to Labor Day. 

    We had originally planned to spend two nights here but between the weather and bugs, and our site not working for us, we only spent one night. I would have given this campground three stars based on our personal experience, however, overall, the campground and facilities were well maintained and nice.

  • Sara S.
    Jun. 13, 2016

    Dunewood Campground — Indiana Dunes National Park

    trees or dunes

    This park has 2 different types of campsites- sites that are quite sandy 'in the dunes' and sites in a wooded area. Most sites are quite small with some space between for a bit more privacy. The park is pretty quiet at night possible due to the no alcohol policy. We enjoyed checking out the dunes and Lake Michigan.

  • 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.

  • J
    Apr. 27, 2021

    Last Resort Campground

    Nice campground

    This is a Passport America campground, so the rate was great! We only stayed overnight, and we had a pull thru FHU site that was pretty level. The spaces weren't too close. We didn't use the showers or bathrooms. The laundry room was clean and had 2 washers and 2 dryers for reasonable cost. We did have a picnic table and fire ring and the office did sell firewood. There was a nice playground and game room. They also had a pond for fishing. There was some train noise.


Guide to Medaryville

Tent camping options near Medaryville, Indiana include several established sites within a 70-mile radius. Situated in the Kankakee River watershed, this region features varied terrain from river bottomlands to sandy oak savannas. Summer temperatures typically range from 75-90°F with occasional thunderstorms, while spring and fall camping seasons offer milder conditions with nighttime temperatures dropping into the 40s.

What to do

Fishing access: French Post Park provides direct river access for anglers, with designated areas for shore fishing. The location is particularly productive for catfish and smallmouth bass during early morning hours.

Kayaking routes: Mac Finn's Landing offers excellent paddling opportunities with multiple tributaries to explore. "Lots of access to great fishing holes up the Kankakee and Iroqouis Rivers. Kayak launch friendly!" notes camper Raven Rock S.

Beach hiking: The walk-in tent sites at Central Avenue Walk-in Sites — Indiana Dunes National Park provide access to Lake Michigan beaches via moderate hiking trails. The terrain includes sandy paths through dune formations, requiring appropriate footwear.

What campers like

Privacy between sites: Tent campers appreciate the natural separation at Central Avenue Walk-in Sites. According to Don W., "The spot was clean. It's far enough off the trail that it provides plenty of privacy."

Family-friendly layout: French Post Park receives positive feedback for its beginner-friendly setup. One camper notes, "Seems like a beginner place to go camping. Easy for families with young kids. They have a tent camping section in one area with rooms to leave cars."

No-wake zones: Mac Finn's Landing stands out for quieter water recreation. A reviewer states it has "One of the best no wake zones and fishing banks on the Kankakee River" making it ideal for peaceful paddling and fishing.

What you should know

Reservation systems: Most tent camping sites near Medaryville require advance bookings. For French Post Park, "You need to call to make reservations from the town," according to Sammii D.

Limited facilities: Primitive tent camping is common in this region, with varying levels of amenities. Mac Finn's Landing has only 4 designated tent sites and no toilet facilities, though drinking water and trash service are available.

Fire regulations: Rules regarding campfires vary significantly between locations. Central Avenue Walk-in Sites prohibits fires entirely, while French Post Park and Mac Finn's Landing both permit controlled fires in designated rings or pits.

Tips for camping with families

Start with developed sites: For families new to tent camping around Medaryville, choose locations with playground access and clear boundaries. French Post Park includes "a playground. A shelter with plenty of picnic tables to have a fairly large gathering. Pretty cool area to hang out," according to one visitor.

Consider walking distances: When camping with small children at walk-in sites, factor in gear transportation needs. At Central Avenue Walk-in Sites, the first site is closest to parking, while sites 2-5 require a longer trek down the trail.

Pack for variable weather: Spring and fall camping near Medaryville often brings significant temperature fluctuations between day and night, requiring both warm weather and cold weather clothing for family comfort.

Tips from RVers

Access limitations: The tent camping locations near Medaryville generally lack accommodations for larger recreational vehicles. Mac Finn's Landing does technically allow RVs but has no hookups or dump facilities, making it suitable only for self-contained units with limited stay durations.

Alternative options: RVers seeking full hookups will find more suitable accommodations by expanding their search radius beyond the immediate Medaryville area, as the closest established campgrounds focus primarily on tent camping.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

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

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

TheDyrt.com has all 3 tent camping locations near Medaryville, IN, with real photos and reviews from campers.