Shades State Park Campground offers primitive, non-electric campsites with clean facilities for a more rustic experience. Located 7 miles from Roachdale, Indiana, the campground provides access to Sugar Creek and multiple hiking trails that range from moderate to rugged difficulty. The heavily wooded sites throughout Montgomery County campgrounds typically close for the winter season between late October and early April when temperatures drop below freezing.
What to do
Hiking the rugged trails: Shades State Park features challenging terrain with unique geological formations. "This is a hikers park & it has some of the most rugged trails in Indiana. The Pine Hills Nature Preserve is maintained by the park. The Devils Backbone is a popular trail, but definitely on the rugged side," notes Cynthia K. about Shades State Park Campground.
Fishing opportunities: Multiple campgrounds offer pond and creek fishing access with varying regulations. "There's a nice pond for fishing, and there are lots of fish to catch! The sites are a great size, and very well maintained!" shares Alyssa M. about Sugar Creek Campground.
Water recreation: Sugar Creek runs through the area, providing options for cooling off during summer months. "We stayed in site 41 which is a double site. I'd highly recommend this site. It backs up to Sugar Creek which is just gorgeous in the spring. We saw all kinds of birds, turtles, frogs and even a couple snakes," writes Katie H. about her experience at Sugar Creek Campground.
Disc golf courses: Several campgrounds feature disc golf amenities for families seeking additional activities. "Disc golf course is awesome, in the woods, up and down ravine. 18 holes plus practice basket. Hole 1 starts by primitive sites closer to beach. Ask for a disc golf map at gatehouse," suggests Smeeta T. about Rockville Lake County Park.
What campers like
Natural privacy: Many campsites offer separation between sites with natural features. "The campground is primitive camping- nonelectric. Water is available. There is a dump station. We did a drive thru & most all the sites looked very nice. There were mostly tents with a few popups," mentions Cynthia K. about the layout at Shades State Park.
Clean facilities: Well-maintained restrooms and showers are consistently mentioned in reviews. "The bathrooms were super clean and the showers were hot with good water pressure," notes Samantha S. about Turkey Run State Park Campground.
Seasonal events: Special holiday weekends provide family-focused activities at certain campgrounds. "We love going to this park several times a year. We especially like camping in the fall for their Goblins weekend," shares Timothy B. about Lieber State Recreation Area Campground.
Creek-side sites: Waterfront camping options are highly recommended by experienced visitors. "Sites by the river are especially nice. There's a small camp store for basic necessities, firewood for sale as well and hot showers! Definitely recommend!" advises Ivana H. from her stay at Sugar Creek Campground and Canoe Rental.
What you should know
Limited cell service: Connection can be spotty throughout the region. "I have AT&T service and had no problem with cell service, my husband has Verizon and his was spotty," warns Monica C. about her experience at Turkey Run State Park Campground.
Wildlife encounters: Local wildlife requires proper food storage. "Watch out for the raccoons. Those guys are not afraid of anything," cautions Samantha S. regarding Turkey Run State Park Campground.
Site terrain variations: Campsites throughout the region have varying degrees of levelness. "The sites in modern electric water only can be awkward to back into with no room to pull forward due to a ditch in some areas. We stayed in site 10 which was uneven, no room for a tent, and small," explains Jeremiah G. about Rockville Lake County Park.
Reservation planning: Popular weekends require advance booking, particularly for sites with specific amenities. "This 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," notes Michelle M. about Turkey Run State Park.
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Choose campsites near play areas for convenience with children. "Playground located in middle of loop and accessible/visible from any of sites on loop area. Newer restroom/showerhouse well kept," recommends Carey R. about Rockville Lake County Park.
Swimming options: Multiple facilities offer swimming areas during warm months. "There is a beach and fairly busy fishing lake, some trails. Over all it was less busy on opening weekend than Turkey run or raccoon lake," shares Jeremiah G. about Rockville Lake County Park.
Pet-friendly trails: Many trails accommodate dogs with proper leashing. "We hiked Trail 3 with our dog, but we cut off early before the ladders using Trail 10. Our dog did pretty well in the section of Trail 3 before the ladders, and be prepared to get wet," advises Samantha S. about pet friendly camping near Roachdale at Turkey Run State Park.
Multi-generational activities: Raccoon Lake/Cecil M Harden Lake provides diverse options for different age groups. "Great place to camp, can be flooded at times, some of the sites have a huge inclines or declines. There is a few pull throughs, no water hook ups at site," notes Dave R. about the facilities.
Tips from RVers
Site selection strategy: Choose wooded sites for shade during summer months. "If you can get a wooded site on the outsides that back up to woods. The majority of those have a decent number of trees separating you from the site next to you," recommends Samantha S. about Turkey Run State Park Campground.
Hookup limitations: Most campgrounds offer electric but limited full-hookup options. "All sites are electric at Turkey Run. $23 per night. The campground is located in a mature tree woods, so some sites are not as level as others," explains Joel R. about the amenities.
Leveling challenges: Prepare additional leveling equipment for sloped sites. "It has 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," writes Kaley A. about finding a good site at Turkey Run.
Extension cords needed: Crawfordsville KOA requires additional equipment for some sites. "Site was okay, gravel pull through but sewer hookup was all the way at the end of the site, needed extra extension to hook up sewer," advises D&S B. about their experience.
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