Turkey Run State Park Campground offers over 200 electric sites spanning both wooded and open areas near Roachdale, Indiana. Located approximately 35 miles from Roachdale in Marshall, the park accommodates tent, RV, and cabin camping visitors year-round. While horse enthusiasts seeking equestrian facilities won't find dedicated horse camping options at Turkey Run, the park provides multiple trail systems and access to Sugar Creek for water recreation.
What to do
Canoe Sugar Creek: Sugar Creek runs through the park and provides excellent canoeing opportunities. "Turkey Run State Park is a huge campground (over 200 sites) just north of Terre Haute. There are lots of trails that offers hikers plenty of opportunities. Sugar Creek runs through the park for fishing and canoeing. The suspension footbridge across Sugar Creek is cool. Sugar Creek is also great for floating with inner tubes, canoes, or kayaks," notes Joel R. from Turkey Run State Park Campground.
Hike challenging trails: The park features unique terrain with box canyons and stream crossings. "This park is just other-worldly. We loved it. We hiked Trail 3, which has the ladders, and parts of trail 10, 4, and 2. Trail 10 was nothing special but was relatively flat. It was pretty crowded but people were respectful," reports Kaley A. from Turkey Run State Park Campground.
Escape weekend crowds: Visit during weekdays for a more peaceful experience. "In order to avoid crowds on the trails, we got there Thursday night so we could hike Friday morning / early afternoon. Saturday we rented a canoe from a canoe place right down the road from the campground. It was great and once we saw the crowds at the beach area of the park on Saturday afternoon, we were super glad we had been canoeing all day instead of fighting crowds at the park," advises Samantha S.
What campers like
Variety of site options: Some campers prefer secluded wooded sites over open areas. "We took our van and stayed at Turkey Run for a three night weekend. We were in a wooded section and it was pretty private however our site was pretty sloped. Next time I would probably pick the site on either side of 167. Also, the open, grassy area sites don't offer any privacy. If that's what you're looking for, try to get a wooded site on the outsides that back up to woods," suggests Samantha S.
Clean facilities: The bathhouse facilities receive positive mentions from campers. "The bathrooms were super clean and the showers were hot with good water pressure," reports Samantha S. from Turkey Run Canoe & Camping, another option offers "a well stocked camp store" according to Ed D., who notes, "I've stayed here several times. The grounds are well kept and the owners are just nice people."
Diverse terrain: The geological features stand out to many visitors. "There are lots of view stops along the river, the suspension bridge is super neat, and the rocks, waterfalls, and streams will have you awestruck the whole time. I cannot wait to return, I'm sure it is breathtaking in the fall," shares Maggie M.
What you should know
Site leveling challenges: Many campsites require preparation for level setup. "We stayed at site #35. It is in a very quiet, off the main road, in a circle, in full shade. It's is very close to the restroom but a distance from the camp store and dumpster. The site was clean and well equipped with a fire ring and picnic table. The site is very uneven. It definitely sloops to the back corner. It's was difficult to level our camper but we got it in the end," reports Michelle M. from Turkey Run State Park Campground.
Wildlife awareness: Be prepared to properly secure food and trash. "As some other reviews stated, watch out for the raccoons. Those guys are not afraid of anything," warns Samantha S.
Alternative equestrian options: While horse campgrounds near Roachdale, Indiana are limited, equestrian campers should explore facilities in nearby counties. The closest dedicated equine camping with corrals is approximately 45 minutes from Roachdale in neighboring counties.
Tips for camping with families
Trail difficulty planning: Consider trail ratings when planning hikes with children. "There are lots of inclines and steps, not much of it was extremely easy hiking, but we did see lots of families with kids doing just fine," observes Maggie M. from Turkey Run State Park Campground.
Space for activities: Select sites with extra room for children to play. "We had site 94, which was right next to the bathhouse. It had almost a whole extra campsite's worth of space next to it for my kids to run around. It also had a tree for shade and was nice and level," shares Kaley A.
Corner sites advantage: Look for corner spots that provide more privacy and space. "Booked late for this one but ended up with a great corner spot in the middle of a turn off from the main drive," notes Monica C., who also mentioned good cell service with AT&T but spotty coverage with Verizon.
Tips from RVers
Power options: The campground offers multiple electric hookup types. "This campground was reasonably priced, had clean facilities and quite unusual and interesting hiking nearby. There are multiple trails and some quite challenging ones. No water hookups at the site but all except the 'youth sites' had 110, 30, and 50 amp power. I was able to charge my ev without issue," shares leif D. from Turkey Run State Park Campground.
Site selection considerations: Choose sites based on specific needs for your equipment. "The campground is located in a mature tree woods, so some sites are not as level as others," notes Joel R. RVers seeking equestrian camping facilities near Roachdale should contact park offices directly for updated information on trailer accommodations.
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