Best Campgrounds near Portland, IN

We were just passing through for one night and we’d been there before but this is a new site to us. It had a decent level pad and plenty deep enough for our camper and tow vehicle. The site has a large side and backyard with a great view of the lake. The shower house was just a short walk. Check in was easy and so was finding our site.

Since my experience here growing up and having family get-a-ways, it’s always been my dream to live here!!

First, the lake here is beautiful. It has many islands, coves and inlets and is perfect for a couple of days of paddling or fishing. That's where the two stars come in. 

BUT. There are many buts. The campground is like a giant RV lot. The sites are tiny. We were in a tent-only site and we had two families right on top of us on either side. We could hear the entire conversations of one family, plus there were 11 people there, three cars, and they were partying the first night and extremely noisy.

The reservation map is incorrect. When I reserved, it showed #13 as being on the end of the tent only area. When we arrived, I found out there was a site #14 that wasn't even pictured on the reservation map, and this is where the giant screaming family was parked! I thought I was going to be on the end- it is not very accommodating for a variety of reasons for a reservation map to be so incorrect. 

The air everywhere reeks of sewage, ranging from what you smell outside a giant pig farm, to what you smell outside of a porta potty, to rotten egg smell. I don't know where these smells were coming from but it was nonstop. 

The bathrooms were extremely dirty. It looks like they haven't been renovated since the 80s. 

The employees in the office never seemed to be able to tell us what we needed to know. We asked on Friday evening where the Saturday morning naturalist paddle would be, and we were told to come back Saturday morning and ask someone else. On Saturday, the person in the office told us to go to a location that was miles away- we spent 40 minutes in the car driving around, trying to find where this activity was, only to give up and find out it was actually adjacent to the campground, not down the road in a different part of the park. 

Last, the lake is in the middle of a residential neighborhood. You can see houses around the edge of the park while you are sitting in your campsite. It is not remote, and there is a noisy, busy highway running along the side of the campground. 

I enjoyed the lake but I will not camp here again.

Very clean and quiet campground. There was not a lot to do, but we took Kayaks and had a good time. However, our son and his family joined us for the weekend and any time they pulled in the campground host would follow them down to our site and remind them that there is only 1 car allowed at the campsite(which we already knew). Friday, they came in and, within 40 seconds, got the 1st"reminder." He was just there unloading the car. Saturday morning, he went home to pick us up his wife and came back. Again, less than a minute later, the host came down to remind him of the rule. He unpacked the car of a scooter and bike and 1 more blanket. Both Friday and Saturday, his car was down at the site to unload a total of 3 minutes before he went to park it in overflow parking. We have camped there for 30 years and always obey the rules. We do not camp to get harassed each day we are there. Then you look around the campground and there are 2 to 3 cars parked at every 3rd campsite we came to. They need to give people 15 minutes before following them down to harass them and spend that time letting the people know the rules that were next to us with 2 cars parked at their site the entire weekend

Hospitality was amazing, loaned steps for trailer, helped level, hook up to site!  Couldn’t ask for friendlier place to stay! First time camper with trailer!!’

Summit Lake is our go to get away. Beautiful campground with several amenities. Several campsites offer full shade and most are level. There are a few pull through sites. There is a large (shallow) lake for fishing and kayaking. Idle speed only allowed using a motorized boat. There is also a beach area for swimming. Several picnic areas with beautiful views of the lake. This campground also offers several walking trails. All are easy walks with various distances. Campground is very well maintained and staff are very helpful and friendly.

Haven't been yet

Beautiful home feeling

Many of the amenities were damaged by a tornado. Therefore no pool or other water amenities except for the lakes. It seems that the 50 amp sights are very spread out and randomly located.

Took my hubby there for his birthday. Primitive tent camping is more then affordable, and the fishing was AWESOME!! He had an amazing time. We've been back 5 times since then. It's a hidden gem for sure!

They have a tremendous pet park with a well maintained yard. The only problem so far has been the water distribution. But the price is very affordable. My site was 30 dollars a night. Bath house and bathrooms are very nicely kept clean. And there is a river right beside it.

We stayed here for one night on our way to a further destination. It was nice and quiet even though it’s in the middle of town. We would’ve enjoyed it more if the hosts hadn’t moved us to a front location by then. The back area sites 2-8 were so peaceful looking and walking back to that area and through it was like walking into a completely different place. The key lock entry bathroom/shower house was the nicest cleanest we’ve used. We would stay here again if we could be guaranteed sites 2-8.