Cecil M Harden Lake Raccoon State Recreation Area features several loops of campsites across 2,060 acres of wooded terrain. The area experiences humid summers with temperatures averaging 75-85°F from June through August, while spring and fall camping brings milder conditions. Seasonal water levels can affect campsite selection during early spring when some lower areas may retain water after heavy rains.
What to do
Fishing opportunities: Cecil M Harden Lake spans 2,060 acres with multiple access points for shore fishing. "Great place to camp, can be flooded at times, some of the sites have a huge inclines or declines," notes Dave R. about Raccoon Cecil M. Harden Lake.
Disc golf course: Rockville Lake County Park maintains an 18-hole disc golf course through wooded terrain. "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," explains Smeeta T. about her experience at Rockville Lake County Park.
Paddle sports: Sugar Creek offers multiple water routes for kayaking and canoeing with varying difficulty levels. "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," mentions leif D. about accessing water recreation from Turkey Run State Park Campground.
Swimming access: Several campgrounds provide designated swimming areas during summer months. "We really enjoyed our stay here. 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. It backs up to Sugar Creek which is just gorgeous in the spring," shares Katie H. about Sugar Creek Campground.
What campers like
Quiet weekday camping: Midweek stays offer significantly more privacy and peaceful camping experiences. "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," reports Samantha S. about her stay at Turkey Run State Park Campground.
Wildlife viewing: The creek and pond environments support diverse wildlife observation opportunities. "We saw all kinds of birds, turtles, frogs and even a couple snakes. We fished in the ponds and my husband caught a bass, and I caught a catfish," explains Katie H. from her experience at Sugar Creek Campground.
Clean facilities: Several campgrounds maintain well-serviced bathrooms and shower facilities. "The bathhouse was one of the cleanest we've seen and the staff makes a concerted effort to keep it that way," notes Alan F. about his experience at Peaceful Waters Campground.
Site privacy factors: Wooded sites typically offer better separation between camping neighbors. "Nice quiet campground with spacious sites. Canopied by the big beautiful Indiana trees. Close to some good hiking trails," observes Kate M. about camping at Shades State Park.
What you should know
Campsite leveling challenges: Many sites throughout the region have notable slope issues requiring leveling equipment. "The sites range from very uneven to moderately uneven in this section. The full hookup site section is flat but with less tree cover," explains Jeremiah G. about Shades State Park Campground.
Weekend crowding: Popular areas fill quickly Thursday through Sunday, particularly during summer months. "In order to avoid crowds on the trails, we got there Thursday night so we could hike Friday morning / early afternoon," advises Samantha S. about Turkey Run State Park.
Road noise considerations: Some campgrounds sit near highways with noticeable traffic sounds. "If you can get a site in the back, they look really great. We had a site in the front which is right next to the highway so it was a little loud and we had no shade," notes Tabitha M. about Peaceful Waters Campground.
Limited cell coverage: Connectivity varies significantly between campgrounds in the region. "I have AT&T service and had no problem with cell service, my husband has Verizon and his was spotty," reports Monica C. about Turkey Run State Park.
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Multiple campgrounds offer dedicated play areas for children. "There is a playground located in middle of loop and accessible/visible from any of sites on loop area," mentions Carey R. about the family-friendly layout at Rockville Lake County Park.
Kid-friendly water activities: Shallow creek areas provide safer water play options for younger children. "Kids played in the creek all day long. Cheap and plentiful firewood. Really friendly and family owned," shares tylermitchell87@gmail.com about their experience at Sugar Creek Campground.
Off-peak advantages: Scheduling family trips during weekdays provides more space and quieter camping environments. "We camped here with my wife and sons. We had a blast hiking Shades State Park and nearby Turkey Run State Park. We enjoyed that not every site was packed and we had some privacy. My boys enjoyed the playground and my wife enjoyed the modern showers," explains Micah N. from Crawfordsville KOA.
Wildlife precautions: Most campgrounds have active raccoon populations requiring food storage attention. "As some other reviews stated, watch out for the raccoons. Those guys are not afraid of anything," warns Samantha S. about Turkey Run State Park.
Tips from RVers
Site selection strategies: When booking RV sites, check for specific leveling notes and utility locations. "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," advises Samantha S.
Electric access variations: Hookup types and availability differ significantly between campgrounds. "No water hook ups at site," notes Dave R. about Raccoon Cecil M. Harden Lake, while leif D. adds that at Turkey Run, "all except the 'youth sites' had 110, 30, and 50 amp power. I was able to charge my ev without issue."
Site spacing concerns: RV sites offer varying degrees of privacy between units. "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," explains Jeremiah G. about navigating Shades State Park Campground with larger vehicles.
