Camping near Attica, Indiana occurs within a humid continental climate zone with temperatures ranging from 20-85°F throughout the year. The area sits at approximately 550-700 feet elevation with many campgrounds located along Sugar Creek, a tributary that cuts through the bedrock creating ravines and small canyons. Most campsites need reservation 2-6 months in advance for summer weekends.
What to do
Disc golf courses: Sugar Creek Campground offers an on-site disc golf course for campers looking for casual recreation. As one visitor noted, "The park is great, they offer disc golf, Gaga, and other fun activities."
Fishing opportunities: Kickapoo State Recreation Area has multiple lakes for fishing. A camper mentioned, "There are camp sites that are walk to for some more distance from others, a lot of close drive to spots, RV, and a lot of close boat camping sites. The park itself has a lot of trails to explore and a few lakes to fish at."
Creek exploration: Kids can wade and explore the wildlife in Sugar Creek's shallow areas. One family reported, "The creek is awesome for catching tadpoles and minnows. And definitely take time to float or kayak down the river. The pond is stocked with GIANT fish (catch and release only)."
Fossil hunting: Many creek beds in the area contain fossils. Wear water shoes and bring small containers to collect these natural treasures during low water periods in late summer.
Wildlife observation: Early mornings offer the best wildlife viewing opportunities. As one camper at Turkey Run mentioned, "We were in a wooded section and it was pretty private... As some other reviews stated, watch out for the raccoons. Those guys are not afraid of anything."
What campers like
Variety of terrain: Shades State Park Campground offers more rugged and less crowded trails than other nearby parks. A camper described it as "Much less popular than Turkey Run this state park is great for hiking! Many trails lead to gorgeous rocky cliffs, the river and a gorgeous waterfall. Love that it's much less populated giving you are your crew more space and less noise."
Creek access: Many campers value direct water access for cooling off. At Sugar Creek Campground, "We really enjoyed our stay here... 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."
Spacious sites: Campers consistently appreciate campgrounds with adequate room between sites. One visitor to Sugar Creek Campground noted, "The campsite it very spacious and there's a decent amount of distance between each site. Sites by the river are especially nice."
Corner lots: Strategic site selection can improve privacy. A camper at Turkey Run mentioned, "Booked late for this one but ended up with a great corner spot in the middle of a turn off from the main drive. Checked out the hiking trails which were beautiful and highly recommended."
Modern facilities: Clean bathrooms matter to campers. One visitor to Prophetstown stated, "Very nice campground - clean, sites with some shade (especially the section with full hookups)."
What you should know
Cell service limitations: Coverage varies significantly by carrier. A Turkey Run camper reported, "I have AT&T service and had no problem with cell service, my husband has Verizon and his was spotty."
Site elevation differences: Many sites in the area have uneven terrain. At Turkey Run, a camper warned, "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."
Weekday advantages: For a quieter experience, visit midweek. A camper at Sugar Creek Campground advised, "We arrived on Thursday on April 29th and the place was empty. Some of the sites are pretty close together, but we booked site 41 which is a double site. I'd highly recommend this site."
Wildlife interactions: Proper food storage is essential. Multiple campers mention raccoon encounters, with one noting they're "not afraid of anything."
Seasonal water levels: Sugar Creek water levels vary dramatically by season. A reviewer mentioned, "It was August so the river was kinda low and we had to stand up and walk a few times."
Limited firewood options: Most campgrounds prohibit bringing outside firewood due to invasive species concerns. Expect to purchase wood on-site for $5-$30 per bundle or load.
Tips for camping with families
Look for buddy sites: Some campgrounds offer connected sites for family groups. At Off The Trail Campground, a camper reported, "We stayed in buddy sites 81 and 82. Buddy sites are large, have full hookup, fire pits, and picnic tables."
Water park options: Prophetstown State Park Campground has an aquatic center nearby. A visitor noted, "The water park is not included for camping price but still decent priced. We did go 3 days in a row which cost us $40 total for the weekend."
Choose wooded sites: For shade and natural play areas, select sites with tree cover. A Turkey Run visitor advised, "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."
Activity scheduling: Visit popular trails early in the day. One family at Turkey Run shared, "In order to avoid crowds on the trails, we got there Thursday night so we could hike Friday morning / early afternoon."
Playground access: Some campgrounds offer quality play equipment. A Shades State Park visitor mentioned, "My boys enjoyed the playground and my wife enjoyed the modern showers. Shades State Park is a great place to unplug and reconnect."
Tips from RVers
Site leveling needs: Many sites require significant leveling equipment. A camper at Ross Camp advised, "Site 8 drops off quite a bit to the back so be sure to have appropriate leveling blocks."
Hookup placement: Sewer connections may be inconveniently located. One RVer reported, "Sewer hookup was all the way at the end of the site, needed extra extension to hook up sewer."
Electrical options: Multiple amperage options exist at different campgrounds. At Turkey Run, a visitor noted, "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."
Site surface materials: Be prepared for various parking surfaces. A camper observed, "Sites tried from all concrete to a dusty dirt and rock tent area, and all had old wood picnic tables."
Site selection strategy: Corner sites often provide extra space. A Turkey Run visitor recommended, "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."
