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Best Tent Camping near Bristol, IN

647 Reviews

Tent campgrounds around Bristol, Indiana offer a mix of established and primitive camping experiences for outdoor enthusiasts. Shady Point Campground in Jones, Michigan and Lakeside Campground provide tent-specific options within 30 miles of Bristol. The Pigeon River State Fish and Wildlife Area in Howe, Indiana offers a more natural setting for primitive tent camping about 15 miles east of Bristol, with both drive-in and walk-in tent sites available.

Most tent sites in the region feature grassy or dirt surfaces with varying levels of shade. Pigeon River provides basic toilets but lacks drinking water, electric hookups, and shower facilities, making it suitable for campers seeking a more rustic experience. Campfires are permitted at most locations, including Pigeon River and Lakeside Campground, though campers should check current fire restrictions, especially during dry summer months. A review from The Dyrt notes, "Shuttle service is convenient for kayak trips through winding rivers and lakes in Northern Indiana," highlighting water recreation opportunities at Pigeon River.

The tent camping experience near Bristol varies by location, with more developed campgrounds providing amenities like showers and electric hookups, while primitive areas offer greater seclusion. Shady Point Campground features lake access with swimming opportunities and has playground facilities for families. One camper mentioned that "the staff was extremely accommodating" and that the bathrooms and showers were "well maintained." Sites closer to Lake Michigan beaches are typically busier during summer months, while the inland campgrounds near Bristol often provide a quieter backcountry tent camping experience. Seasonal campgrounds generally operate from May through October, with spring and fall offering less crowded conditions for primitive tent setups.

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Best Tent Sites Near Bristol, Indiana (17)

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Recent Tent Camping Photos near Bristol, IN

12 Photos of 17 Bristol Campgrounds

Tent Camping Reviews near Bristol, IN

647 Reviews of 17 Bristol Campgrounds

  • N
    Apr. 17, 2019

    Indian Springs Campground

    Dirty

    Dirty restrooms. Dirty lake. You have to pay extra to use the slide. Camp sites have been cut in half. Only 1 bathhouse/restrooms all the eay in the front at the beach. On the 2nf day we did find a porta potty in the back but it was nasty and everyone refused to use it. Manager was rude when i could not fit my car, tent (10x20), table and fire ring on out site. Told me o had to move my tent 1 foot over after it was already set up and loaded with beds. She left and I pulled it down and restaked just in time for her to vome and look disappointed that i had followed her order to pull it down and said i did not have to do that. The site was mostly dirt very little to no grass. When it rained we had nothing but mud. Hay rides on the weekend were late and the man driving it went way to fast down the back hill making you feel you were about to fall out. Employees childrwn throwing water on the people riding the hay ride. Someone went around fogging for mosquitos and allowed the children to run and play in the fog. Karaoke lady was extremely rude to all the children.

  • 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

  • B
    Jun. 11, 2023

    Covert Park Beach & Campground

    Great Lakeside Camp

    Great campground. Better cared for than a State Park and better accommodations, too. Newish shower house with 6 uni-sex showers (all with their own locking doors). Water mechanisms on several made hot water a little tricky… test before you undress haha. If 5+ showers are in use, don't count on much hot water.

    Very friendly operators and employees. Genuinely interested in how you're doing. Above average camp store and they even deliver your firewood order to your site for you ($7 for a 15"x15"ish bundle).

    Beach access is easy and the beach is nice. On the cooler week we were there, would only see one or two other people out if any, but when school gets out mid-June, sounds like it gets busier. Our Monday-Friday stay saw us as the only tent campers which was great. Our kids enjoyed the playground and we made use of the grills by the picnic shelter a few times.

    All tent sites (except for T12) are walk in (but most are only 100-300 feet).

    Tent Sites 1, 2, 3, 11 and 12 as well as the group site are on their own away from the main loops. They are served by a flush toilet with running (cold) water. Or you can make the slightly longer walk to the shower house.

    Tent 1 is 100 foot walk, small site, easily visible from T-2 and 3 as well as the group site.

    Tent 2 is medium sized, across from T-3 and visible from T-1 and T-3. 

    Tent 3 is large. Slightly overlooks the group site and can see T-1 and T-2.

    Tent 4 is large, but almost totally isolated. It's surrounded by hills (although T-5 is on one of those hills so could overlook it. Long walk to bathroom.

    Tent 5 overlooks 4 a little and is a medium sized site. Also long walk to bathroom.

    Tent 6 is elevated above everything so overlooks T-5, T-7 and the RV loop. It's a huge site with nothing but nature around and above you. Long walk to bathroom.

    Tent 7 shortest walk to car parking, but surrounded by other sites. Access to other sites runs through site as well.

    Tent 8 and 9 are basically one large site with two tables and fire rings. Requires a walk up several flights of stairs, but puts you on top of a bluff that, without trees, would give you a view of the lake. They charge a premium for these sites.

    Tent 11 is probably the longest walk… you walk past T-1,2,3, then up 70 steps to the top of a ridge. You cannot see or be seen and the picnic table is covered with a shelter. Not a ton of space, but a great site for a lite packer.

    Tent 12 is a drive in site right next to the bathroom and the main drive into the campground.

    We were pleasantly surprised and, outside of a cold shower or two, never disappointed in our stay.

  • Brian O.The Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 12, 2020

    Shamrock Park

    Great for fishing

    We wanted to stay at Warren Dunes State Park, but I think this discovery was a better choice. A clean and friendly municipal campground on the St. Joseph River. The grounds are mostly open with little shade, but we had a tent site by the river and trees. What impressed me most was that they have a building specifically for cleaning fish, with scales, cutting boards and sinks. Another nice feature is the outdoor sink at the shower & restroom building for campers to wash dishes. As tent campers I wish more places had a set up like that. There’s a large stack of firewood, so it’s easy to get a bundle that’s good and dry. We did go to Warren Dunes for an afternoon. It’s busy and crowded. If you go to the beach, be aware there’s very little shade. North of there is Grand Mere State Park, which is better for hiking. In Berrien Springs, check out Zick’s specialty meats across the river from the camp.

  • Amy M.
    May. 14, 2017

    Warren Dunes State Park Campground

    TICKS

    We stayed in the semi modern sites, which was tents and no RVs nearby, which was good. That was about it. The Interstate was directly behind the sites, so the highway traffic noise took away from the feeling you want when camping, that off the grid feeling.

    The site was clean, picnic table and fire ring. There was a water spigot close by too. We did some short hiking to sand dunes which was really cool. Nice paths lead to beautiful sunset over dunes.

    Upon returning from the hike, we set up camp. That's when we found the ticks. We found probably 10 on our dog, several on us. The couple next to our site was struggling with ticks also, and they hadn't hiked, so makes me think they were from the campground. (We stayed ON the trail carefully while hiking). We've camped a lot and never dealt with this many ticks.

    We actually ended up bailing due to how many were on us all. Spent the next 24 hours picking them off everyone in our family at home. Not good. We know it's a fact of life, but this place was infested. Bummer of a trip.

  • Gay G.
    Aug. 19, 2021

    Thousand Trails Bear Cave

    Great Campground

    This is a nice, family friendly campground. Lots of very friendly other campers, a heated pool, playground for the kids, nice size lots with fire pits, picnic tables, electric& water (including at tent sites). Pool has an ADA lift chair. 2 shower/bath houses, camp store, a real bear cave you can tour in (free), a creek that meanders through it. The resort sits on the St. Joseph river & this park has a boat ramp & dock for fishing. There is a gate that campers need a code to get into so it keeps out unwanted’s. Nice staff. Yolanda is a great manager. Security, a ‘honey wagon’. Laundry center. Quiet hours are 10p-8a. It’s near Buchanan Michigan and the RED BUD Motor Cross track. Very friendly people, always stopping and talking.

  • Clay T.The Dyrt PRO User
    Dec. 26, 2024

    Chain O'lakes State Park Dispersed Campsite

    "Free, never heard of that app."

    Although it states in the app free dispersed camping. Doesn't always mean just that. The cheapest campsite at primitive camping is $12 bucks. (Tent sites) For more, you can get electric hookup sites galore that all include a fire ring picnic table and a pretty leveled out spot.

  • Art S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 12, 2019

    Warren Dunes State Park Campground

    Lake Michigan camping with dunes and trails

    I remember coming here when I was young but haven’t stayed here in decades. It was time to try it out again. We arrived around 5 or 6 and found lots of open sites on a Wednesday. They put us in a nicely wooded site with empty neighboring sites. We could see our neighbors and others walked by on the road so there were plenty of people in camp. There were water puddles in the road and some campsites. It rained during the night too. Our site is sandy with no grass which wasn’t as great with the wetness. However it’s camping at the dunes so it’s expected. The vault toilets are ok- one had standing water in the corner. Water is available a few sites down and a garbage bin is on the way out. We camped in the rustic loop- no electric or other hookups. There is a larger section with 2 loops that has these amenities. Showers are also located over there. It’s a longer walk or you can drive to the showers. 

    We tried hiking and found fallen trees blocking the path. There are other trails to choose from. Be sure to check out the beach and climb up the sand dunes. 

    This was a nice campground within a couple hours of Chicago.

  • Katelyn K.
    Aug. 30, 2017

    Warren Dunes State Park Campground

    Great for one night!

    I stopped here with my dog for the night. The semi-modern or tent sites have okay privacy. Some sites like 18 and 19 (where I stayed) share space so those sites would be great for groups. Could hear the traffic from the local highway but it wasn't too bad, I still slept well. The grounds were prettt empty but I was there on a Tuesday night before Labor Day.

    The dunes and dog beach were perfect for Clutch to expel energy after a long drive.

    These grounds would be perfect for a night or two or if you have a larger group.

    FYI: Vault toilets

Guide to Bristol

Tent camping near Bristol, Indiana offers a mix of developed facilities and natural settings across northern Indiana and southern Michigan. Most campgrounds in this region are situated around small lakes with sandy bottoms, typical of the glacial terrain that shapes this landscape. Summer temperatures average 80-85°F during the day and 60-65°F at night, making summer months the peak season for campsites that don't offer winter amenities.

What to do

Blueberry picking access: Covert/South Haven KOA Holiday incorporates blueberry patches throughout the property. "This KOA has blueberry fields everywhere on the property. For a period of time in summer and early fall, you can pick your own blueberries in the morning to have in your breakfast pancakes!" notes camper Cindy B.

Fishing ponds: Covert/South Haven KOA Holiday maintains stocked fishing ponds for catch-and-release fishing. "On site fishing ponds are catch and release with lots of active fish to enjoy," reports Kerry T. The ponds are accessible to all registered campers without additional fees.

Kayaking trips: Pigeon River State Fish and Wildlife Area offers kayaking opportunities with shuttle services for various trip lengths. Whitley K. notes, "Kayak through winding rivers and lakes in Northern Indiana. The shuttle service is convenient and not overly expensive."

What campers like

Clean facilities: Coloma/St. Joseph KOA Holiday receives consistent praise for maintenance. "The showers were very clean & had good pressure & hot water," mentions Cassie B., while Ryan M. simply states, "Well kept and very pretty."

Kid-friendly amenities: Multiple campgrounds feature specialized activities for children. Melissa B. shares about Covert/South Haven KOA: "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."

Seasonal camping culture: Lakeside Campground caters primarily to seasonal campers. Noel L. comments, "Campground is all seasonal campers now. Owners were super nice and found room for us for one night layover."

What you should know

Site conditions vary: Some campsites have drainage issues during wet weather. At Coloma/St. Joseph KOA, one camper reported challenging conditions: "Our site was horrid- a full hook up with a fire pit in the mud pond. We had mosquito soup for the rear of our very small campsite."

Limited availability: Several campgrounds prioritize seasonal campers, restricting availability for short-term stays. "This is a campground that is mostly seasonal campers," notes Nicole P. about Shady Point Campground.

Beach proximity: For tent campers wanting Lake Michigan access, distances vary significantly. Katie S. shares about Coloma/St. Joseph KOA: "Very close to Lake Michigan and the beach!" while Hannah S. mentions Covert/South Haven KOA is "only a 20 min drive from South Haven's beautiful beaches!"

Tips for camping with families

Playground accessibility: Circle B RV Park and Cabins offers well-maintained play areas. Jeffrey Y. describes it as a "Great campground, very well maintained, lots to do, great atmosphere."

Small campground advantages: Compact layouts benefit families with young children. Cassie B. shares about Coloma/St. Joseph KOA: "It was small enough for our kids to ride bikes around alone and they frequented the park, which we could see from our site."

Swimming options: Several campgrounds offer swimming in both pools and lakes. Nicole P. notes that Shady Point Campground "sits on Bair Lake and was great for swimming. The bathroom and showers were well maintained."

Tips from RVers

Weekend crowds: Holiday weekends can significantly change the camping experience. Kim L. warns about one location: "There were a ton of kids getting into trouble, just pushing the limits of the staff."

Cabin alternatives: For RVers with non-camping guests, Campside Michigan provides cabin options. Several campgrounds offer cabin rentals for mixed camping groups, with Lisa P. noting, "My family who are not necessarily 'outdoorsy' love that they can sleep in an air conditioned cabin with cable!"

Store amenities: On-site stores vary widely in inventory and pricing. Nicole P. mentions Shady Point Campground has "a well stocked store with very reasonable prices," which reduces the need for off-site shopping trips.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Bristol, IN?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Bristol, IN is Shady Point Campground with a 4.5-star rating from 2 reviews.

What is the best site to find tent camping near Bristol, IN?

TheDyrt.com has all 17 tent camping locations near Bristol, IN, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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