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Best Campgrounds near Ossian, IN

230 Reviews

The Ossian, Indiana area contains several established campgrounds within a 30-mile radius offering varied camping experiences. Ouabache State Park Campground near Bluffton provides year-round camping with electric hookups and fire rings for tent and RV campers. Other notable options include KOA Campground Bluffton with full hookups and cabin rentals, and Camp Timber Lake in Huntington featuring lakeside primitive sites alongside RV accommodations. Chain O' Lakes State Park, approximately 35 miles northeast of Ossian, offers additional cabin and tent camping opportunities within a scenic lake system.

Most campgrounds in this region operate year-round, though amenities and activities vary by season. KOA Campground Bluffton maintains all-season access with heated facilities, while state parks may have reduced services during winter months. "Nice little State Park. Nice clean camp sites. Plenty of trails to hike and a nice little lake to enjoy," noted one visitor about Ouabache State Park. Water access points and hiking trails generally remain open throughout the year at most campgrounds, though swimming beaches typically close after Labor Day. Several locations, including Johnny Appleseed Campground in Fort Wayne, operate on seasonal schedules from April through October, requiring advance planning for off-season visits.

Campers frequently mention the relatively flat terrain and accessible nature of campgrounds in this area. While some sites offer lakefront positioning, others feature wooded settings with varying degrees of privacy. At Camp Timber Lake, "Campground is located on private property and all of the primitive spots are right on the lake or very close to it," according to feedback on The Dyrt. Visitors to Ouabache State Park highlight the paved bike trails connecting to the Wabash River trail system as a significant attraction. Bison viewing areas, fire towers, and family-friendly amenities receive positive mentions across reviews. Some campgrounds in the region experience occasional flooding after heavy rains, and several reviewers note train noise near the Bluffton KOA location as a potential consideration when selecting camping sites.

Map showing campgrounds near Ossian, IndianaExplore the Map

Best Camping Sites Near Ossian, Indiana (68)

    1. Ouabache State Park Campground

    12 Reviews
    Bluffton, IN
    11 miles
    Website
    +1 (260) 824-0926

    $20 - $23 / night

    "The paved bike trail in the park starts near the campground, and connects with a bike trail along the Wabash River that goes into nearby Bluffton, and is an easy ride. "

    "Plenty of trails to hike and a nice little lake to enjoy. Will definitely come back here"

    2. Johnny Appleseed Campground

    15 Reviews
    Fort Wayne, IN
    16 miles
    Website
    +1 (260) 427-6720

    "Easy access to downtown, the Coliseum, IPFW, and shopping. The River Greenway path cuts right through the park, and there is also a boat launch for the river."

    "For $24, we got a day of drive in spot with electrical + water hook-ups and wifi. The campground is well-maintained and very clean."

    3. Kil-So-Quah - J. Edward Roush Lake

    11 Reviews
    Huntington, IN
    14 miles
    Website
    +1 (260) 468-2165

    "It was very relaxing and I also enjoyed walking on different paths to enjoy nature as it was. I would highly recommend this campground to anyone. It is also family friended"

    "Kil-so-qauh, used to be a little hidden gem right outside of town but has turned into quite a popular place, but for good reason."

    4. KOA Campground Bluffton

    4 Reviews
    Bluffton, IN
    9 miles
    Website
    +1 (260) 824-0127

    5. Kilsoquah Camp

    7 Reviews
    Huntington, IN
    14 miles
    Website
    +1 (260) 468-2165

    $12 - $15 / night

    "Some sites around the back are more private than others. There are not trails to hike but some space to bike. Access to the lake is quite a distance from the actual campground."

    "We found a cozy camp site along the back ring near the river.

    We didn’t have a view but there was an area to go walk over to that had a very picturesque."

    6. Camp Timber Lake

    4 Reviews
    Roanoke, IN
    14 miles
    Website
    +1 (260) 672-3251

    $20 - $25 / night

    "Escaped to this little place on the outskirts of Fort Wayne, Indiana and it was absolutely worth it. Everyone was nice including the neighboring campers."

    "Campground is located on private property and all of the primitive spots are right on the lake or very close to it. "

    7. Chain O' Lakes State Park Campground

    52 Reviews
    Albion, IN
    33 miles
    Website
    +1 (260) 636-2654

    $12 - $80 / night

    "Met up with 18 other skoolies our first Indiana meet. Met great people had a fantastic time. Great park kids swam, showers are clean. Electric at sites but water isn’t but very close by."

    "Chain is perfect for kayaking and canoeing with 9 connected lakes and 11 total. A couple lakes are perfect for boat fishing as long as you have an electric motor only."

    8. River Camp Fort Wayne

    1 Review
    Fort Wayne, IN
    9 miles
    Website

    9. Lost Bridge West State Recreation Area Campgrounds — Salamonie Lake

    11 Reviews
    Andrews, IN
    25 miles
    Website
    +1 (260) 468-2125

    $12 - $25 / night

    "This is one of the best parks we have been to in Indiana. We Volunteer all over our the USA at State Parks and National Forest. So we know what to look for."

    "Sites 221- 243, 202-204 offer lake views. I say VIEWS, not access. 

    Sites 228& 232 have sites with good access to the lake. Scattered throughout the park are sites with 50amp service."

    10. Mendenhall RV MHP

    Be the first to review!
    Bluffton, IN
    9 miles
    Website
    +1 (260) 824-5365
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Recent Camping Photos near Ossian, IN

39 Photos of 68 Ossian Campgrounds

Recent Reviews near Ossian, IN

230 Reviews of 68 Ossian Campgrounds

  • SThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 10, 2025

    Kil-So-Quah - J. Edward Roush Lake

    No Lake access from campground

    Forest settings, electricity for only $15/night. Lots of traffic in and out. A lot of older rigs.

  • Matthew H.
    Aug. 31, 2025

    Art's Country Park

    Arts country Park

    Quiet,kid friendly, fur babies friendly (dogs),nice place, friendly and accommodating staff, fishing and swimming,hot showers and lots of activities in summer 👍

  • Megan M.
    Aug. 27, 2025

    Grand Lake St. Marys State Park — Grand Lake St Marys State Park

    Campground is fine but the lake reeks of POO

    First the good: the campground is big and spacious. Some areas were like RV parking lots- no trees, no shade, but there was a grassy area in the middle with nice big trees and shade. There is a nice pool and splash pad. Weirdly, the pool closed from 4 to 5, leaving us with nowhere to go on a 90+ degree day. 

    Now, the not-so-good: we stayed in a camper cabin and it was very shabby and dirty. It had bunkbeds, a full size fridge, and a folding table and folding chairs, which was nice (and rare in Ohio state park camper cabins). The bathrooms were average. Not new, not especially sparkling clean, but fine. Not gross, at least.

    Now, the terrible: the entire lake stinks of pig poop. All the air smells like poo. You feel like you are breathing feces when you approach the water. We were right on the water so we couldn't escape the smell. 

    This lake is notorious for having algae blooms that prohibit swimming. So I did a google search before our trip and the Ohio Department of Health reports that the bacteria level in this lake is dangerously high, and no one should swim in this lake. However, when we walked to the campground beach, there was no sign or warning or anything indicating the bacteria in the water- and people were letting their children and dogs swim in it!! 

    We opted to not kayak or paddleboard in the lake because it was clear that it was full of poop. So we had nothing to do at the park except go to the pool (it was too hot to do anything else). We ended up driving around the country roads and seeing the sights so we could escape the smelly lake and hot poo fumes. Neil Armstrong was born in nearby Wapakoneta so there are some sights to see there, and the towns of Celina and ? one other are cute too. 

    Overall, I will not return to this lake or this part of the state. If you can't get in the water, paddle board or kayak, the only thing left to do is ride around in a boat and hope the water doesn't get anywhere near your mouth or your skin. No thanks.

  • d
    Aug. 19, 2025

    River Trail Campground II

    Just So-SO

    We stayed 3 nights. Our site was a dirt pads. There are mostly full-time residents. There is the smell of a massive Chicken coup at our site. THERE ARE A TON OF FLIES!!!!! We had flies for days!. We kill 3 and 5 more would pop-up in our trailer. I was so happy to leave this fly infested site. 

    It's very hard for me to give them less than 5 stairs because, everyone was so nice. We had them filled up our propane tanks and they actually brought them to us and hooked them up while we were gone. Someone even brought us wood planks for stabilizing our trailer. However, truth be told…. our spot was horrible-right next to the laundry room in direct sun and it stunk! The women's shower was gross too. ( I ended up, not using their shower room.)

    We never used their pool.

  • Shawna T.
    Aug. 18, 2025

    chainolakes

    Camp out

    I loved how neighborly and extremely kind our camping neighbors were. Even though we were close in proximity to eachother, everyone remained respectful of the noise and helped eachother as much as we could. Good little camping trip community. Had a great experience

  • L
    Aug. 18, 2025

    Johnny Appleseed Campground

    Great location, but no privacy

    The campground is almost in the middle of Fort Wayne. Most of the sites are very close and no vegetation to allow any privacy. On the positive side, the bathrooms were very nice and clean. The staff was also very helpful.

  • Paula S.
    Aug. 11, 2025

    Blue Water Campground

    Our stay at bluewater

    The staff is extremely friendly, and try to accomadate with anything you could need. The campesites are fairly large with gravel pads. They offer water and electric hook-up for 30&50 amps. There is not a sewer hook up but they do offer a weekly pump out for a small fee and a dump station on the way out. The pool, ponds, playground and pavillion are all within walking distance from almost any site.

  • Allie H.
    Aug. 3, 2025

    Huggy Bear Campground

    Overall a great experience

    Clean! Tons to do especially for kids, pet friendly, definitely get rowdy on the weekends- book ahead to snag the best sites. We stayed 5 days and it was awesome. Mini golf, fishing, 3 pools, inflatable in the water, they have a whole schedule for the weekends here. It’s great!

Guide to Ossian

Camping near Ossian, Indiana, offers a variety of experiences for outdoor lovers. Whether you're looking for a peaceful retreat or a family-friendly adventure, there are several campgrounds to choose from.

What to do:

  • Kayaking and Fishing: Many campers enjoy the chance to kayak or fish in the nearby lakes. One visitor at Chain O' Lakes State Park Campground mentioned, "Kayaking the 13 lakes can easily last from morning to sundown."
  • Hiking: Trails are abundant in the area. A reviewer at Pokagon State Park Campground noted, "They have good hiking trails, nice refreshing waters, good food options at certain places."
  • Wildlife Watching: Keep an eye out for local wildlife. A camper at Ouabache State Park Campground shared, "The bison exhibit and ranger programs are great too."

What campers like:

  • Clean Facilities: Campers appreciate well-maintained restrooms and showers. A visitor at Mounds State Park Campground said, "Bathrooms are very clean, park is beautiful, trails are awesome!"
  • Spacious Sites: Many campgrounds offer roomy sites. One family at Summit Lake State Park Campground mentioned, "Several campsites offer full shade and most are level."
  • Friendly Staff: Campers often highlight the helpfulness of campground staff. A reviewer at Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park at Barton Lake noted, "Nice staff, really great water park."

What you should know:

  • Crowded Conditions: Some campgrounds can get busy, especially during peak seasons. A visitor at Miami Recreation Area mentioned, "It was overly crowded, the lake was murky."
  • Site Specifics: Not all sites are created equal. A camper at Ouabache State Park Campground warned, "Camp sites are tiny. The fire pit is also three feet from the road."
  • Limited Amenities: Some campgrounds may lack certain amenities. A reviewer at Johnny Appleseed Campground noted, "There was no market nearby, so plan ahead."

Tips for camping with families:

  • Choose Family-Friendly Campgrounds: Look for places with activities for kids. A parent at Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park at Barton Lake said, "My son had a blast and said this was the best campground he has ever been to."
  • Plan for Safety: Ensure your campsite is safe for little ones. A family at Angola/Hogback Lake KOA mentioned, "Our patio site had the pit far out from site and we loved it."
  • Pack Snacks and Drinks: Having food on hand can save you trips to the store. A camper at Summit Lake State Park Campground suggested, "Bring plenty of water as posted 'mile' hikes quickly turn into 5-mile hikes."

Tips from RVers:

  • Check Site Sizes: Make sure your RV fits the site. A reviewer at Pokagon State Park Campground advised, "Some sites can accommodate larger rigs, most can't."
  • Be Aware of Road Conditions: Some campgrounds have narrow roads. A visitor at Chain O' Lakes State Park Campground noted, "The roads are narrow & you may be driving off the road for a big rig."
  • Plan for Dump Stations: Know where the dump stations are located. A camper at Mounds State Park Campground mentioned, "You have to break down to empty."

Camping near Ossian, Indiana, has something for everyone, from families to seasoned RVers. Just remember to plan ahead and enjoy the great outdoors!

Frequently Asked Questions

What camping is available near Ossian, IN?

According to TheDyrt.com, Ossian, IN offers a wide range of camping options, with 68 campgrounds and RV parks near Ossian, IN and 3 free dispersed camping spots.

Which is the most popular campground near Ossian, IN?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Ossian, IN is Ouabache State Park Campground with a 4.1-star rating from 12 reviews.

Where can I find free dispersed camping near Ossian, IN?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 3 free dispersed camping spots near Ossian, IN.

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