Best RV Parks & Resorts near Buchanan, MI

Thousand Trails Bear Cave in Buchanan operates from May through October, featuring full hookup RV sites with 50-amp service on gravel pads alongside the St. Joseph River. Michigan City Campground offers gated security access with premium 90-foot pull-through sites featuring concrete pads, 50-amp electric, water, and sewer connections. Elkhart County Fairgrounds provides economical camping with 275 sites including both 50-amp full hookup and 30-amp water/electric options, though sites are placed close together with minimal shade. Twin Mills Camping Resort in northern Indiana supplies full hookup sites under tall trees with both 30-amp and 50-amp options. "This is a nice, family friendly campground with electric and water, nice size lots with fire pits, and a gate that campers need a code to get into so it keeps out unwanteds."

Between May and November, most RV parks in the region maintain seasonal operations, though availability varies significantly. Premium sites with concrete pads, particularly those accommodating larger rigs, should be reserved well in advance. Several campgrounds feature on-site sanitary dump stations, though Eden Springs Park stands out with excellent WiFi connectivity compared to other venues where service quality fluctuates. For travelers with pets, designated dog areas exist at multiple locations, including a quarter-acre fenced run at Elkhart Campground. Proximity to train tracks affects several parks, creating potential noise disturbances throughout the night. A recent review noted, "Very noisy from nearby trains operated at all hours" at the Elkhart County Fairgrounds, while another mentioned Michigan City Campground's convenient location puts RVers within minutes of Indiana Dunes and downtown shopping.

Best RV Sites Near Buchanan, Michigan (83)

    1. Lakeside RV Resort

    1 Review
    New Carlisle, IN
    12 miles
    Website
    +1 (888) 707-1477

    "This campground has a private lake which is surrounded by farmland. Lots of primitive sites right next to the lake. Fire rings with no grate."

    2. Thousand Trails Bear Cave

    16 Reviews
    Buchanan, MI
    4 miles
    Website
    +1 (888) 707-1477

    "This is a nice, family friendly campground."

    "Easy registration, friendly staff. Older campground, areas could upgrades. Most campers seem to be long term. Campsite 42 has a great overlook on the river."

    3. Twin Mills Camping Resort

    7 Reviews
    Howe, IN
    47 miles
    Website
    +1 (888) 707-1477

    "Twin Mills is a really beautiful and quiet RV Campground, with tall trees in Northern Indiana. We frequent this location when getting RV Repairs and visiting Elkhart, the birth place of most RVs."

    "really fun for families nice pool and bathrooms putt putt bring your bikes"

    4. Elkhart RV Resort

    6 Reviews
    Granger, IN
    14 miles
    Website
    +1 (574) 800-2069

    $39 - $47 / night

    "We ordered pizza from the store, which was delivered to the site quickly. My grandson said it was very good. There was no gluten free as noted on the website, which we are used to happening."

    "This campground is close to home so we spent a couple days here so the kids could play while I worked. All staff was extremely helpful and friendly from the minute we pulled in."

    5. Maple Ridge Campground

    8 Reviews
    North Liberty, IN
    20 miles
    Website
    +1 (574) 784-8532

    "Spent two nights and found everything very nice. clean facilities, nice sites and full hookup. pool was clean and we'll maintained. a little buggy in the woods, but it was June after all!"

    "Nice pool and playground. Campsites are setup to for two pull through a side by side with shared yard in the middle.

    Will add this to our list to visit again."

    6. Timber Trails RV Park

    Be the first to review!
    Dowagiac, MI
    27 miles
    Website
    +1 (269) 423-7311

    7. Covert/South Haven KOA Holiday

    17 Reviews
    Covert, MI
    31 miles
    Website
    +1 (269) 764-0818

    "Our site was spacious and we didn’t even have the patio sites. We had a pull through with full hook ups. KOA was nice and clean. Staff was super helpful.

    It had a great pool and splash area."

    "There are a lot of lodging options, tons of kids activities, both free and for a small fee, great pool, cafe and store! Lots of sports equipment to loan as well."

    8. Elkhart RV Resort by Rjourney

    11 Reviews
    Middlebury, IN
    36 miles
    Website
    +1 (574) 347-6889

    "The restrooms/showers are nice and clean. You can get an entire 4 wheeler dump load of wood for $20. It’s nice dry wood."

    "Near Elkhart and the RV/MH Hall of Fame & Museum. Great place to visit, really interesting. Also, near Shipshewana."

    9. Warren Dunes State Park Campground

    67 Reviews
    Bridgman, MI
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (269) 426-4013

    "Happened upon this Gem when driving the coast of Lake Michigan.  Watched the solar eclipse from the beach.   The DBR had a viewing area setup for adults and kids.  "

    "The walk to the beach access is a beautiful one, and the beach is astounding! Pet friendly!"

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RV Park Reviews near Buchanan, MI

642 Reviews of 83 Buchanan Campgrounds


  • Chris M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 26, 2020

    Indiana Dunes State Park Campground

    Clean & Spacious

    We pulled in around 4:30 in the evening. The sight was spacious with plenty of room in between sites. Since the weather was cooler , it was pretty sparse with other campers. We stayed 2 nights over the weekend. You are within walking distance to the beach within the park. The buildings have great architecture. The sight had 50 amp electric hook ups but no water or sewer connections, and we knew that going in. We had a back in sight #69. There was plenty of space on all sides. We have a 37’ motorhome and pulled a Jeep behind it. There was plenty of room to maneuver around. The sight also had a wood picnic table and fire ring for a wood fire pit. We will definitely be back! I wish I had taken more photos from the beach and beach pavilion.

  • Roger W.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 25, 2024

    Elkhart County Fairgrounds

    Area Convenient and Clean

    Elkhart County 4-h Fairgrounds: (Scale 1- bad, 5-Very good

    (72 yr olds in 27’ trailer.)

    Overall Rating: 4 for access to the area, very clean facilities, and not too many campers thus time of year.
    Price 2024: $35 for water/electric only. Security: No Usage during visit: Very light Visual Privacy Between Adjacent Sites: none Site Spacing: very close Pad surface: our area was grass Reservations: Yes Campground Noise: Quiet except for one day of motorcycle raises at the nearby track.
    Outside Road Noise: Not most sites Through Traffic in campground: Some for activities at the fairground Electric Hookup: Yes Sewer Hookup: some sites Dump Station: yes Potable Water Available: At sites Bathroom: Very nice flush toilets Showers: yes Pull Throughs: Yes Cell Service (AT&T): Varied throughout campground Setting: open grass fields around very well manicured county fairground. Recent Weather: 70s and rain. Insects:None Host: I am not sure.
    Rig Size: Large Sites: full hookups and water/electric only

  • Ari A.The Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 15, 2020

    Indiana Dunes State Park Campground

    Nice layout and a ton of nature activities

    The state park is located within the boundaries of the Indiana Dunes National Park (formerly National Lakeshore), so don't get confused by this. There also is a national park campground, but it's closed in the winter.)

    This state park has a nice layout because the sites seem to be staggered so that they don't back up to each other. Also, there is a good buffer space behind the sites and decent space between each site. 

    All sites have 20- 30- and 50-amp service available, plus almost all are a combination of a concrete pad and asphalt apron. Note that just because they're paved doesn't mean all of them are level. Each site has a fire pit and it appeared they all have grill grates on them.

    One nice touch is that some sites have wider asphalt aprons so if you have a longer rig, you can put your towing vehicle or your towed vehicle off to the side once your rig is in place. Also, the ADA sites are nicely laid out with larger concrete pads so that even the fire pits are in the concrete section for ease of access. 

    Note that after Nov. 1, the water is shut off and bathrooms are shut down until spring, although there are vault toilets available. 

    You will hear a pretty regular stream of train whistles at this campground, but they aren't so loud as to be disruptive. 

    You can hike to the 1929 Dunes Pavilion and a large beach on Lake Michigan. The best hiking activity, however, and also easily accessible by walking from the campground, is the series of dune trails. The Nature Center, which sits between the campground and the trails, has some good visitor's information about the dunes, the flora and fauna, and the history of the area. 

    Once you finish seeing what you want in the state park, there's still the entire national park to see. Plus, there's a multi-use trail that runs for 9 miles along the state park and into the national park. 

    Cell service for Verizon was two bars but speeds seem to be good. Less signal and speed for Google Fi, but not terrible.

  • Jessica D.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 31, 2025

    Covert Park Beach & Campground

    Small, lakeside, chill

    This was our first time staying at Covert Park Beach + Campground. We stayed in site 52 with our 21 ft travel trailer. The site is a good size. Tree placement made it a little tricky to back into, but nothing crazy. We stayed Sunday to Saturday, so we got to see it at its bustling weekend peak and the quiet, cozy weekday vibe. Family friendly, dog friendly and kid friendly. Dogs aren't allowed on the beach, but there's a beach a few minutes down the road (Hagar Beach) where you can bring leashed dogs. Sunset views were beautiful. Bathrooms were very clean and showers nice and hot. The two guys who were running the check-in and campground operations were super cool- they were the perfect mix of attentive and laid back. No sewer on campsites but there's a dump station when you enter/exit. Ice and firewood are abundantly available and can be delivered to your site. We loved our stay here. Tree cover is generous, and it really preserves the camping feel. Weekend crowd was fun, friendly and lots of locals. Would definitely stay again!

  • Nancy W.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 23, 2017

    Elkhart County Fairgrounds

    Typical Fairgrounds Camping Experience

    I have camped here a couple of times while visiting northern Indiana to have repairs done on my RV. Overall, I like this campground where for $30/night you can get a 50 amp full hook-up site or $23/night a 30 amp and water site. If you plan on staying longer weekly and monthly rates are really good. The campground sits in the middle of the county fairgrounds so there is usually something going on – either a fair, concert, horse event, or an RV rally. Depending on what time of year you are here and part of the week, the campground could be very crowded or very empty. The nice thing is the people in the office let you pick whatever site you want and don’t assign one to you. There are 275 full hook-up sites with 50 amp full hook-up and 30 amp water & electric only. There are no fires allowed and some sites don’t have picnic tables but you can request one and they will bring it to your site.

    There is very little shade and during my last visit the late September fall temperatures climbed to nearly 90 degrees and was brutal. This campground is better suited for RVs than tents but you are permitted to tent camp. Bathrooms and showers are scattered about and I was amazed at always how clean they (and the grounds as a whole) are. They do offer WiFi which worked pretty well in non-peak hours like early morning but was not reliable and sometimes frustrating. Since many sites have a clear view of the sky, you most likely will get satellite television reception and a dozen or so antenna channels.

    One of the things I like about this park is the vast expanse of grounds to wander about walking my dog. There is a trail system just outside of the park that allows you miles and miles of walking and biking trails. Downtown Goshen is less than two miles away and has some great restaurants (including Venturi Pizza, Maple Indian Cuisine – which has an awesome buffet, and Goshen Brewing Company). The Saturday farmers market is great with lots of produce, breads, meats, cheeses, and crafts.

    The last time I visited coincided with the Mennonite Relief Fund which was a big fund raiser for their charity that packed the grounds with stuff for sale, food, and activities. It was fun to be there during the event but it meant the campground and grounds were packed.

    Now for the bad about this campground. It is located right next to very busy train tracks that operate 24/7 and blow their horns quite often. They were really annoying in the middle of the night. Sites are close together so if it is crowded and you have a neighbor, you will be right on top of them. There is no shade which can be very miserable.

    Pros:

    · Price - $30/night for a 50 amp full hook-up site

    · Nearby downtown stores and restaurants

    · Sites are not assigned so you can pick where you want to camp

    · Grassy patios

    · Large grounds to meander around

    · Nearby biking/walking trail

    Cons:

    · Very noisy from nearby trains operated at all hours

    · Few trees for shade or privacy

    · Some sites are very tight and close to your neighbor

    · Can be very crowded

    · WiFi provided but not reliable

  • Lee D.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jan. 14, 2025

    Shipshewana North Park Campground

    Nice campground in a convenient location

    We were passing through and decided to stop for frozen custard at the stand right next to the campground. The first review for this place did not seem very inviting but a more recent one was a little more positive. After checking it out, I thought it could use a little reinforcement of the positives! I’m not sure if there have been new owners since the first review but I received a very friendly greeting, and the office is open from 9 am– 8 pm and clearly marked as the place to check-in. 

    There are many options here: back-in or pull-thru tent sites, w/e sites, full hook-up sites, camper cabins, and fully equipped cabins. The campsites range from $32-$46 per night and the cabins range from $69-$144 per night. Sites 47-52 are close to the road so you will hear road noise, but Sites 11-35 are farther from the road and are more shaded. The layout is RV park style but there is reasonable separation between the sites. 

    The restrooms have a code for entry, and I did not see the inside of these.

    Amenities include:

    - a community fire pit

    -  game room with television

    - guest laundry 

    - dump station

    - gift shop

    - pet friendly options

     -WiFi

    - There is, of course, an ice cream/frozen custard stand that I dare you to resist. 

    While we would not consider it a destination, we would definitely consider camping here en route – the price is reasonable, and the staff is friendly and welcoming.

  • Laura H.The Dyrt PRO User
    Apr. 23, 2020

    Twin Mills Camping Resort

    Beautiful Wooded Campground

    Twin Mills is a really beautiful and quiet RV Campground, with tall trees in Northern Indiana. We frequent this location when getting RV Repairs and visiting Elkhart, the birth place of most RVs.

    There are cabins and tent sites and a large lake access point with a beach area. The playgrounds seemed to be in good shape and the dumpsters were centrally located.

    The park has a gate entrance for security.

    There is a large pool area and basketball court.

    There are several sections in the park, some more wooded and narrow sites, some are more spread out.

    Cellular: T-Mobile had good signal strength and bandwidth, AT&T was not as good but still doable.

    Most of the sites are full hook up, some have 30amp and some have 50amp.

    Amenities: Pool Clubhouse Basketball Volleyball Picnic tables Fire rings Trash Playground Lake access Beach area Dock Cabins Tent sites

  • M
    Sep. 17, 2021

    Shamrock Park

    Great stay

    Village owned and operated campground, right on the St. Joseph River. Open all year. Many long term campers. $35 gets you a level full hook up site with WiFi. Very clean and well maintained with friendly staff.

  • C
    Jun. 3, 2021

    Michigan City Campground

    Great campground, will return

    This is a beautifully kept campground just outside Michigan City, IN. It is gated so will need to call in once you arrive to enter. We stayed  in the premium sites which were 90ft pull thought with 50A service, water and sewer, and the best wifi I have seen at a campsite. The cement patio was large with a picnic table and an adjacent fire pit. There is swimming pool and a game room, and a small store with the essentials, and propane.

    You are close to Indiana Dunes and the downtown area of Michigan city. Good food, shops are close by. 

    By the way there are a number of cabins/mini homes to rent.


Guide to Buchanan

Campgrounds near Buchanan, Michigan operate from April through November, with most parks closing for winter due to harsh regional weather conditions. The St. Joseph River flows through this area, providing riverfront camping opportunities at several locations. Many campgrounds in this region feature both wooded sites and open areas, offering campers options for shade or sun exposure depending on seasonal preferences.

What to do

Cave exploration: At Thousand Trails Bear Cave, visitors can tour a natural cave formation, though recent reviews note "the cave was closed with no plan to reopen in 2025." The campground also features "a little walking trail near the waterfall" for nature exploration.

Fishing opportunities: Riverside camping provides excellent access to fishing spots. "There is a boat launch and a few docks that can be used" at Thousand Trails Bear Cave, while Maple Ridge Campground receives praise as a "great quiet place to get away from town" with fishing access.

Amish country tours: Located near Elkhart RV Resort by Rjourney, campers can experience authentic Amish culture. "This clean, well kept campground is really close to grand design" manufacturing facilities. One visitor noted the "beautiful up close Amish experience" and mentioned being "only about 10 minutes drive to Shipshewana with very kind Amish community folks."

What campers like

Clean facilities: Maple Ridge Campground receives consistent praise for cleanliness, with one camper noting "the shower and bathroom was the best I ever saw at a campground." Similarly, Elkhart RV Resort by Rjourney maintains "spotless" bathrooms according to reviews.

Recreation amenities: Many campgrounds offer activities beyond hiking. At Covert/South Haven KOA Holiday, "on site fishing ponds are catch and release with lots of active fish to enjoy." The KOA also features "blueberry fields everywhere on the property" where "you can pick your own blueberries in the morning to have in your breakfast pancakes."

Pool areas: Most campgrounds maintain seasonal pools for summer use. Twin Mills Camping Resort offers "a large pool area and basketball court" while another visitor at Covert/South Haven KOA mentioned their "heated pool and lots of activities for kids."

What you should know

Cell service limitations: Connectivity varies significantly between campgrounds. At Twin Mills Camping Resort, "T-Mobile had good signal strength and bandwidth, AT&T was not as good but still doable." Meanwhile, Thousand Trails Bear Cave is described as "a very nice off the grid camping with no cell service" though paid WiFi is available for $5.95 per day.

Sewer access considerations: Full hookup availability is limited at some parks. At Thousand Trails Bear Cave, "most of the full hookups are taken first by the annuals" and "if you do not get a full hook up, you have to pay $15 to get pumped out."

Train noise: Several campgrounds experience railroad disruption. At South Bend Elkhart North KOA, a reviewer reported "4 Trains woke us up during the night" and stated "I won't stay here again" due to the noise level.

Tips for camping with families

Playground access: Most family-oriented campgrounds feature dedicated play areas. Thousand Trails Bear Cave provides "a playground, pool and little walking trail" while Twin Mills Camping Resort is "set up for a family camping" with "a small beach and pool available."

Scheduled activities: Warren Dunes State Park Campground offers extensive outdoor recreation options. One visitor appreciated that "there is a path to the beach for walking but it is a long walk" and advised families to "plan on driving your stuff to the beach or taking bicycles." The park features "Mt. Randall is the high dune to climb but not for the faint of heart."

Safety features: Secure campgrounds provide peace of mind for parents. Thousand Trails Bear Cave has "a gate that campers need a code to get into so it keeps out unwanteds" while Warren Dunes maintains an "alcohol free" environment where "they mean it."

Tips from RVers

Site spacing: RV parks in Buchanan, Michigan vary in site density. At South Bend Elkhart North KOA, "the sites are tight, but it didn't feel cramped" while Warren Dunes offers "lots of shade and plenty of privacy between sites."

Pump service availability: For longer stays without sewer connections, on-site pumping services save time. Thousand Trails Bear Cave offers "an onsite honeypot which will suck out your tanks for $10 each time around."

Site selection strategy: When booking RV parks near Buchanan, Michigan, some locations require planning. At Twin Mills, "there are several sections in the park, some more wooded and narrow sites, some are more spread out" allowing campers to choose based on their rig size and preference for shade.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular RV campsite near Buchanan, MI?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular RV campground near Buchanan, MI is Lakeside RV Resort with a 4-star rating from 1 review.

What is the best site to find RV camping near Buchanan, MI?

TheDyrt.com has all 83 RV camping locations near Buchanan, MI, with real photos and reviews from campers.