Best Tent Camping near Notre Dame, IN

Tent camping options near Notre Dame, Indiana include several established campgrounds within driving distance of the university. Coloma/St. Joseph KOA Holiday and Covert/South Haven KOA Holiday in Michigan offer tent sites with amenities, while Central Avenue Walk-in Sites at Indiana Dunes National Park provides a more primitive experience. Sweet Cherry Resort features dedicated tent sites in a cleared area separate from the parking area, making it suitable for campers seeking a more secluded experience.

Most tent sites in the region feature level ground with a mix of grassy and sandy surfaces typical of the Lake Michigan shoreline area. Central Avenue Walk-in Sites requires a short hike from the parking area to reach the tent sites, providing additional privacy. Campgrounds like Coloma/St. Joseph KOA and Covert/South Haven KOA offer amenities including drinking water, showers, toilets, and trash disposal. A camper noted that the Central Avenue Walk-in Sites are "far enough off the trail that it provides plenty of privacy." Fire regulations vary by location, with most established campgrounds permitting fires in designated rings, while some areas may impose seasonal restrictions.

Tent campers visiting the Notre Dame area often use these campgrounds as bases for exploring nearby attractions, including Lake Michigan beaches. The walk-in tent sites at Indiana Dunes National Park provide a natural setting with beach access. A review mentioned that "the walk to the beach was not too long" from the Central Avenue sites. Sweet Cherry Resort offers tent campers a dedicated area away from RVs, with one visitor noting that "tent sites are all in one cleared area that is a short walk from the parking spots." During peak summer months, reservations are recommended for tent sites at popular campgrounds, especially on weekends. Fall camping offers fewer crowds and pleasant temperatures for tent camping experiences near Notre Dame.

Best Tent Sites Near Notre Dame, Indiana (13)

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Tent Camping Reviews near Notre Dame, IN

716 Reviews of 13 Notre Dame Campgrounds


  • deb K.
    Jun. 26, 2022

    Elkhart Campground

    3 1/2 star campground

    It is a very large older CG with a few upgrades. Clean, with decent amenities. We were placed in the rear section, which was just ok. Site needed leveling, had no shade at all and was close to major hwy. The front and side sites seemed nicer and had ample shade with some concrete sites. Laundry room, pool and bathrooms were very clean. Large dog park, but was far from our site. Was only 25 min from Notre Dame and about an hour from lake Michigan WiFi was great, no cable, but good antenna reception

  • 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.

  • Olivia S.
    Jul. 20, 2020

    Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park Camp Resort-South Haven, MI

    This is my top pick for South Haven

    Although this campground has great amenities, a pool, clean showers, and good sites/cabins, it is hard to book. If you know you are going to come to this area and camp, you need to book it a while in advance. I have used a pop-up and there was good space between campers. When I tent camped, we had a great spot near the cafe, the showers are amazing over there, they are more secluded. Our tent spot had electric, water, picnic table and fire ring. We camped on the grass and there is gravel to park your car. This campground is a perfect place to stay when visiting surrounding towns and going to the beach.

    Don’t forget to go to Sherman’s!!

    There was a forecast or rain, don’t mind the tarp

  • 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.

  • Laura H.The Dyrt PRO User
    Apr. 23, 2020

    Twin Mills Camping Resort

    Beautiful Wooded Campground

    Twin Mills is a really beautiful and quiet RV Campground, with tall trees in Northern Indiana. We frequent this location when getting RV Repairs and visiting Elkhart, the birth place of most RVs.

    There are cabins and tent sites and a large lake access point with a beach area. The playgrounds seemed to be in good shape and the dumpsters were centrally located.

    The park has a gate entrance for security.

    There is a large pool area and basketball court.

    There are several sections in the park, some more wooded and narrow sites, some are more spread out.

    Cellular: T-Mobile had good signal strength and bandwidth, AT&T was not as good but still doable.

    Most of the sites are full hook up, some have 30amp and some have 50amp.

    Amenities: Pool Clubhouse Basketball Volleyball Picnic tables Fire rings Trash Playground Lake access Beach area Dock Cabins Tent sites

  • B
    Jun. 11, 2023

    Covert Park Beach & Campground

    Great Lakeside Camp

    Great campground. Better cared for than a State Park and better accommodations, too. Newish shower house with 6 uni-sex showers (all with their own locking doors). Water mechanisms on several made hot water a little tricky… test before you undress haha. If 5+ showers are in use, don't count on much hot water.

    Very friendly operators and employees. Genuinely interested in how you're doing. Above average camp store and they even deliver your firewood order to your site for you ($7 for a 15"x15"ish bundle).

    Beach access is easy and the beach is nice. On the cooler week we were there, would only see one or two other people out if any, but when school gets out mid-June, sounds like it gets busier. Our Monday-Friday stay saw us as the only tent campers which was great. Our kids enjoyed the playground and we made use of the grills by the picnic shelter a few times.

    All tent sites (except for T12) are walk in (but most are only 100-300 feet).

    Tent Sites 1, 2, 3, 11 and 12 as well as the group site are on their own away from the main loops. They are served by a flush toilet with running (cold) water. Or you can make the slightly longer walk to the shower house.

    Tent 1 is 100 foot walk, small site, easily visible from T-2 and 3 as well as the group site.

    Tent 2 is medium sized, across from T-3 and visible from T-1 and T-3. 

    Tent 3 is large. Slightly overlooks the group site and can see T-1 and T-2.

    Tent 4 is large, but almost totally isolated. It's surrounded by hills (although T-5 is on one of those hills so could overlook it. Long walk to bathroom.

    Tent 5 overlooks 4 a little and is a medium sized site. Also long walk to bathroom.

    Tent 6 is elevated above everything so overlooks T-5, T-7 and the RV loop. It's a huge site with nothing but nature around and above you. Long walk to bathroom.

    Tent 7 shortest walk to car parking, but surrounded by other sites. Access to other sites runs through site as well.

    Tent 8 and 9 are basically one large site with two tables and fire rings. Requires a walk up several flights of stairs, but puts you on top of a bluff that, without trees, would give you a view of the lake. They charge a premium for these sites.

    Tent 11 is probably the longest walk… you walk past T-1,2,3, then up 70 steps to the top of a ridge. You cannot see or be seen and the picnic table is covered with a shelter. Not a ton of space, but a great site for a lite packer.

    Tent 12 is a drive in site right next to the bathroom and the main drive into the campground.

    We were pleasantly surprised and, outside of a cold shower or two, never disappointed in our stay.

  • Brian O.The Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 12, 2020

    Shamrock Park

    Great for fishing

    We wanted to stay at Warren Dunes State Park, but I think this discovery was a better choice. A clean and friendly municipal campground on the St. Joseph River. The grounds are mostly open with little shade, but we had a tent site by the river and trees. What impressed me most was that they have a building specifically for cleaning fish, with scales, cutting boards and sinks. Another nice feature is the outdoor sink at the shower & restroom building for campers to wash dishes. As tent campers I wish more places had a set up like that. There’s a large stack of firewood, so it’s easy to get a bundle that’s good and dry. We did go to Warren Dunes for an afternoon. It’s busy and crowded. If you go to the beach, be aware there’s very little shade. North of there is Grand Mere State Park, which is better for hiking. In Berrien Springs, check out Zick’s specialty meats across the river from the camp.

  • Amy M.
    May. 14, 2017

    Warren Dunes State Park Campground

    TICKS

    We stayed in the semi modern sites, which was tents and no RVs nearby, which was good. That was about it. The Interstate was directly behind the sites, so the highway traffic noise took away from the feeling you want when camping, that off the grid feeling.

    The site was clean, picnic table and fire ring. There was a water spigot close by too. We did some short hiking to sand dunes which was really cool. Nice paths lead to beautiful sunset over dunes.

    Upon returning from the hike, we set up camp. That's when we found the ticks. We found probably 10 on our dog, several on us. The couple next to our site was struggling with ticks also, and they hadn't hiked, so makes me think they were from the campground. (We stayed ON the trail carefully while hiking). We've camped a lot and never dealt with this many ticks.

    We actually ended up bailing due to how many were on us all. Spent the next 24 hours picking them off everyone in our family at home. Not good. We know it's a fact of life, but this place was infested. Bummer of a trip.


Guide to Notre Dame

Tent camping options near Notre Dame, Indiana include a mix of smaller family-owned campgrounds and established KOA facilities within 30-40 miles of campus. The region sits near the southern shore of Lake Michigan with sandy terrain and wooded areas typical of the Great Lakes region. Summer temperatures average 75-85°F during camping season, with cooler nights dropping to the 50s even in July.

What to do

Blueberry picking adventures: During summer months at Covert/South Haven KOA Holiday, campers can pick fresh blueberries right on the property. "This KOA has blueberry fields everywhere on the property. For a period of time in summer and early fall, you can pick your own blueberries in the morning to have in your breakfast pancakes!" reports Cindy B.

Lake Michigan beach trips: Beaches are just a short drive from most campgrounds in the region. "Only a 20 min drive from South Haven's beautiful beaches!" notes Hannah S. about Covert/South Haven KOA. Many campers use their tent sites as a base camp for day trips to Lake Michigan.

Fishing opportunities: Several campgrounds offer fishing on smaller lakes. At Shady Point Campground, Nicole P. found it "sits on Bair Lake and was great for swimming." Sites are often within walking distance of lake access points where campers can fish for bass and panfish.

What campers like

Family-focused amenities: Kids activities are abundant at Coloma/St. Joseph KOA Holiday, where Jennifer W. appreciated that "the kids loved the jumping pillow, pool, and nightly tractor-pull train. Bathrooms were clean and conveniently located."

Tent-specific areas: Some campgrounds offer dedicated tent camping sections. At Sweet Cherry Resort, "tent sites are all in one cleared area that is a short walk from the parking spots," according to Alyssa, providing separation from RV areas.

Well-maintained facilities: Clean bathrooms and shower facilities are consistently mentioned in reviews. At Covert/South Haven KOA Holiday, Melissa B. noted "bathrooms/showers are NICE! And it's only 10-15 minutes from the beach in south Haven."

Convenient supplies: Many campgrounds offer on-site stores with camping essentials. At Coloma/St. Joseph KOA Holiday, Monica R. found "the store has everything you could need and if they don't, there is a gas station right outside of entrance."

What you should know

Seasonal popularity: Summer weekends fill quickly at campgrounds near Notre Dame, especially during football season and graduation weekends. Reservations are essential from May through September.

Terrain variations: Most tent sites feature sandy soil typical of the Lake Michigan region. Some areas can become muddy after rain, with Devina M. advising about Coloma/St. Joseph KOA Holiday: "Bring rain boots for mud!"

Walk-in requirements: At Central Avenue Walk-in Sites in Indiana Dunes National Park, be prepared to carry gear from parking areas. Don W. notes "Site one is the only site on the front end of the trail. You have to walk all the way down and take a left before you find sites 5, 4, 3, and 2 in that order."

Site sizes: Many campgrounds have modest-sized tent sites. Lori S. observed at Coloma/St. Joseph KOA Holiday that there are "small sites, lots of people" though the "camp hosts were fantastic."

Tips for camping with families

Activity-rich campgrounds: When selecting the best tent camping near Notre Dame with children, look for scheduled programming. At Campside Michigan, families enjoy organized weekend activities designed specifically for children.

Pool access: Swimming pools provide entertainment for kids when not exploring nearby attractions. At Covert/South Haven KOA Holiday, Amy J. appreciates the "heated pool and lots of activities for kids."

Cabin options: For families new to camping, cabins offer a comfortable introduction. Sarah P. reported about Coloma/St. Joseph KOA Holiday: "We stayed in the deluxe cabin for one night and loved it! The cabin was so cute and well kept. It came with a fridge, stove, and bathroom. We had 6 people in it and we fit comfortably."

Tips from RVers

Hybrid camping options: Some tent campers travel with RV friends or family. At Shady Point Campground, Sharlyn O. notes both tent and RV camping worked well: "Was in a pull behind. Everything was easy and calm. Kids loves it. No problems."

Shuttle services: For campers bringing kayaks or canoes, Pigeon River State Fish and Wildlife Area offers convenient water access. Whitley K. mentions "Shuttle service offered for short or long kayak trips... The shuttle service is convenient and not overly expensive."

Site selection considerations: When tent camping at primarily RV-oriented campgrounds, request sites away from large rigs. RV sites often have more level ground but less shade than dedicated tent areas.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Notre Dame, IN?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Notre Dame, IN is Campside Michigan with a 5-star rating from 1 review.

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

TheDyrt.com has all 13 tent camping locations near Notre Dame, IN, with real photos and reviews from campers.