Northern Indiana campground experiences range from heavily wooded sites to open layouts with farm views. Cellular service varies greatly between carriers, with T-Mobile typically offering stronger signals than AT&T throughout the region. Most campgrounds in this area are seasonal operations, generally opening in April and closing between late October and early November with temperatures dropping to freezing at night by season's end.
What to do
Visit Amish attractions: Located near Shipshewana Trading Place RV Park, this region offers multiple Amish-focused activities. "We enjoyed our stay, two days of riding on the Pumpkinvine Bike Trail, the Krider Nurseries World's Fair Garden, the RV museum in Elkhart and Mooey's ice cream near Middlebury," reports one camper.
Explore local waterways: Thousand Trails Bear Cave provides opportunities for water recreation. "The campground is on the banks of the St. Joseph River in southwest Michigan. There is also a waterfall right next to the cave. There is a boat launch and a few docks that can be used," mentions a visitor.
Tour RV manufacturers: The Elkhart area is known as the RV manufacturing capital. "This clean, well kept campground is really close to grand design. We stayed here to go tour the manufacturers process," notes a camper who visited Shipshewana Trading Place RV Park.
What campers like
Family activities: Maple Ridge Campground consistently earns praise for its kid-friendly atmosphere. "Owner operator campground where the family knows how to cater to the kids. Multiple activities on Saturday included tractor ride, kids bingo, and elephant ears. Nice pool and playground," notes one reviewer.
Clean facilities: Many campgrounds near New Paris maintain high cleanliness standards. "The shower and bathroom was the best I ever saw at a campground," shares a Maple Ridge Campground visitor.
Full hookup availability: RV sites near New Paris, Indiana typically offer complete utilities. "Great owners and almost all full hookup sites. Newly remodeled bathhouse with laundry and also a heated pool," mentions another Maple Ridge reviewer.
Natural settings: Lakeside RV Resort offers a quieter camping experience. "This campground has a private lake which is surrounded by farmland. Lots of primitive sites right next to the lake. Fire rings with no grate," reports a visitor.
What you should know
Site arrangements: Many RV sites around New Paris utilize buddy-site configurations. At Shipshewana Trading Place RV Park, "The Park offers mainly alternating pull-through sites which means you will be facing your neighbor's door not their street side of the camper. This makes for great buddy sites."
Train noise: Some campgrounds experience railroad disruptions. At Elkhart RV Resort, one camper noted, "There is an active railroad nearby this campground. 4 Trains woke us up during the night."
Check-in procedures: Some facilities have specific arrival requirements. At Wabash City RV Park, "You MUST check in at the Water Treatment Plant by 4PM. You do not need to have picked a site, yet. Complete the typical paperwork and you'll be given keys to unlock the electrical box and a key to turn on the water."
Site spacing: Space between units varies significantly. At Thousand Trails Bear Cave, "The sites are a bit on the smaller side. The only sewer hook-ups are all taken by seasonal campers."
Tips for camping with families
Look for designated play areas: Elkhart Co Middlebury KOA provides several recreation options. "The kids used the pool, which was a bit cold but large. The play area looked nice... There is a donkey to pet," shares one family.
Consider campgrounds with organized activities: Scheduled events keep children entertained. "This campground is close to home so we spent a couple days here so the kids could play while I worked... the amenities for kids are great," notes a family who visited Elkhart RV Resort.
Check for special amenities: Some campgrounds offer unique features. "Free pong pong, air hockey, foose ball, and all the classic camping games to check out," mentions another Elkhart RV Resort visitor.
Verify Wi-Fi reliability: For families needing connectivity, select campgrounds with tested service. "The WiFi was very reliable if you have to work," reports an Elkhart RV Resort camper.
Tips from RVers
Electrical connections: Always verify the type of electrical hookups available. At Wabash City RV Park, "Our electrical pedestal had no 30amp receptacle. If you have a 30amp plug, bring a 50amp adapter. There are two 20amp outlets available."
Extension cord length: Some parks require longer connections than standard. "The pedestals are between sites, which aren't really close. You will need a long (30-40'?) extension cord suited to your amperage to reach the pedestal," notes a Wabash City RV Park visitor.
Early arrival fees: Be aware of potential early check-in charges. One camper at Shipshewana Trading Place RV Park mentioned "a $15 (plus tax) charge for 45 minutes early check-in. Given the park was 2/3 empty that seemed unnecessary."
Site selection considerations: For RV sites near New Paris, Indiana, dump station proximity matters. At Twin Mills Camping Resort, some campers recommend selecting sites away from the sanitary dump to avoid related traffic and odors.
