J
Jodie C.
Traveler
TravelerFort Custer Recreation Area
Family campground
Large campground, many nice paved sites, about half 50 amp, no rustic sites. Most all sites are pretty secluded with growth between them. Bring your mosquito spray!
Camping near Bristol, IN
137 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
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Camping near Bristol, Indiana ranges from full-hookup RV parks to cabin rentals and tent sites, with campgrounds like Ebys Pines and Elkhart Campground providing developed facilities for tent campers, RV travelers, and cabin seekers within 20 miles of Bristol's town center. The area campgrounds predominantly feature full-service amenities including electric hookups, water access, shower facilities, and sewer connections. Several properties in the region combine traditional camping options with cabin rentals and glamping accommodations, creating options for both primitive and comfort-oriented outdoor stays.
Seasonal operation affects most campgrounds in the Bristol area, with typical opening dates from April 1 through late October or early November. The majority of established sites require reservations, particularly during summer weekends and holiday periods. Many campgrounds maintain swimming pools, recreation facilities, and proximity to local attractions like Bonneyville Mill County Park. Water pressure and electrical service quality vary between properties, with some offering 50-amp connections for larger RVs. As one camper noted, "Shady spaces, mostly pines. Depending on the time of the year sap will get on your unit."
Campers seeking space and privacy should carefully review site placement before booking, as many reviews mention the tight spacing between RVs at certain properties. Sites adjacent to ponds or wooded areas generally receive higher ratings than interior spots. Campground amenities vary significantly, with some locations offering extensive recreation options including mini-golf, basketball courts, and playgrounds, while others provide more basic services. Elkhart Campground receives consistent praise for cleanliness and maintenance, with one visitor reporting it as "clean, with decent amenities" while noting that "front and side sites seemed nicer and had ample shade with some concrete sites." Family-friendly environments predominate at most campgrounds in the region, with several properties featuring dedicated dog parks or pet-friendly policies.
Best Campgrounds near Bristol (137)
1. Elkhart Campground
"Elkhart Campground is great Clean , easy access, lots of pull through sites with full hook up - pool, Close to big lake too!!!"
"Very clean, nice sized dog park, quiet and close to restaurants. If had an occasion to stay here again…we definitely would!"
2. Ebys Pines
"Trails lead to a local County park - Bonneyville Mill. There’s a roller skating rink and laser tag across the street."
3. Elkhart RV Resort by Rjourney
"They have trails that are a nice walk for the dogs and a pond to catch and release fish."
"This clean, well kept campground is really close to grand design. We stayed here to go tour the manufacturers process."
4. Elkhart County Fairgrounds
"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.""A little close to your neighbors but the way the sites are angled you had plenty of room. Very friendly people. Easy in and out."
5. KOA Campground Middlebury
6. Shipshewana Trading Place RV Park
"Easy access to the Shipshewana Flea Market and E&S Sales (greatest bulk food shopping EVER!) Campground was impeccably clean and quiet."
"The park was clean and quiet and next to some beautiful grazing fields with cattle and horses."
7. Potato Creek State Park Campground
"I feel this is one of the best state parks in Indiana. Come with your own water as they don’t have water hookups at your campsite but there are some nearby. The sites are very spacious and clean."
"Younger families tend to book up front near the playground and the noise and activities are more robust. Be ready with back up cords, some sites require 75 ft to hook up."
from $20 - $90 / night
Check Availability8. Willow Shores Campground
"Just stay away from our upstairs area 😅"
from $25 - $35 / night
Check Availability9. Elkhart RV Resort
"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."
"The sites were set with nice gravel onto a cement patio surrounded by large trees. So it had the nice feel of outside with no mud and dirt tracked into our pull through RV site."
from $39 - $47 / night
Check Availability10. Shipshewana North Park Campground
"We were passing through and decided to stop for frozen custard at the stand right next to the campground."
"The other reviewer must have been at the campground next to the flea market because this campground has trees and no way resembles a fairground site."
from $32 - $134 / night
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Drive Time
- 10 min from Elkhart, IN
- 29 min from South Bend, IN
- 35 min from Niles, MI
- 51 min from Kalamazoo, MI
Recent Camping Photos near Bristol, IN
218 Photos of 137 Bristol Campgrounds
Sean H.
Ebys Pines
Jackie F.
KOA Campground Middlebury
RJourney R.
Elkhart RV Resort by Rjourney
Nancy W.
Elkhart County Fairgrounds
Nicole P.
Shady Point Campground
Joshua B.
Shipshewana Trading Place RV Park
Laura H.
Twin Mills Camping Resort
Dave E.
Cranberry Lake Campground
Melissa M.
Blooming Bus Farms
Ken W.
Indian Lakes Campground
Brandon E.
Maple Ridge Campground
Liz K.
Trading Post Outfitters
Recent Reviews near Bristol, IN
701 Reviews of 137 Bristol Campgrounds
- EEd D.
ScoutShipshewana Campground South Park
no power and no refund
I stayed for a week at this park and they lost power due to a storm. Not their fault, I stayed the 1st night afterwards with no power but on the 2nd night they could not tell me when/if power would be restored and I am disabled and need power so I left. The refused to refund the unused days, even when I explained that I paid for a full hookup site and they could not provide power. The campground is decent, the showers are like "prison showers" where you have to push a button every 30 seconds and there is no hot/cold control. I would give it a 3-star if the customer service was not so lacking.
Rachel T.
GuideOff Map
Charming Glamping with Thoughtful Touches
We stayed at Off Map over Memorial Day weekend in a Safari King Tent and absolutely loved it. The tent was private, comfortable, clean, and such a fun setup for a glamping weekend.
The property itself was so charming, with string lights, cool little paths throughout, and a beautiful, well-maintained setting. There were so many great touches: the group fireplace area, live music, s’mores in the evening, and a pop-up wood-burning sauna and cold plunge.
Breakfast was served in the main building with great options like hard-boiled eggs, fruit, oatmeal, and coffee. It got a little chilly at night, so we really appreciated the wood-burning stove inside the tent. It made the space feel cozy and would be especially great for shoulder season camping.
The bathrooms and showers were also fantastic. Everything was super clean, easy to access, and honestly much nicer than expected for a glamping property. Overall, this was such a fun, easy, and memorable weekend getaway. We’d definitely come back and highly recommend the Safari King Tent.
- SScott B.Guide
Potato Creek State Park Campground
Nice park
Lots to do here. Swim, bike, trails, kids parks, good camp store. Towns near the park. You can rent bikes and canoes. Our site #55 was big but 3”dip drivers side and 12” dip back to front.
- SSherri B.Traveler
Markin Glen County Park
Nice Park
Nice county park with paved roads, campsites, and walking paths. Very dog friendly. Plenty of trees for natural setting and sound buffering. Quiet and peaceful overnight stay.
Ula W.ScoutShamrock Park
Shamrock Rv park
Very nice place , very clean. Good for family
Mary D.TravelerShipshewana Campground South Park
Narrow lots
The campground itself is beautiful—very clean, well‑kept, and surrounded by lovely green spaces. Unfortunately, the site layout is the real issue. The sites are long enough for larger rigs, but they’re packed in with almost no space between them. Each site has a fire ring, but using it would not be recommended. With our slides out, I could nearly touch both my camper and the one next to us at the same time. We couldn’t put our awning out without it hitting the neighbor’s rig. Because the neighboring unit was so large, sitting outside meant staring directly at their wall—and sitting right next to their sewage drain. When we asked for a different spot, we were told none were available because a group was coming in, yet there were easily 50 empty sites all weekend. Very disappointing, because otherwise it truly is a beautiful place. (See pictures) Side note: the power was off Friday until Sunday morning due to a storm on Thursday night. Would have been nice if we received a discount for not having electricity. The CG saved during this time period.
Lea K.TravelerElkhart Campground
First hand discrimination
I have seen a lot of discrimination on TV and people talk about discrimination a lot never did I think I would actually see it in my lifetime against myself. The owner of the campground is very disrespectful even when you're being very polite and I'm confrontational he doesn't like to be asked questions he doesn't like to answer questions. All they asked was the year of my camper asked that a bunch of times insinuating that I was lying to him about that age of my camper. He talked down to me he made it very apparent that the problem was not my camper and that it was my family and that my family wasn't good enough to be in his five-star campground that we would bring down his aesthetic when I took plenty of pictures of what his aesthetic is his home looks like it was built by hillbillies there's trash everywhere a bunch of Ford camper that look like trash it has the nerve to charge $1,200 a mouth to keep ppl like us off his property. When obviously we had the money to pay. I am a well educated woman I had finished college and I'm actually working on my second degree in psychology a bachelor's degree. I have ran billion dollar businesses at one point in my life I ran the number one Taco Bell in the nation in cedar falls Iowa. I was the GM of an Arby's I actually signed paychecks controlled accounts had more money moved to my hands than that man will ever see in his sorry life. I have never felt more sorry for a person I think he probably should go back to his own country if he wants to talk to people like that and I get f***** up he's lucky I changed my life and found Jesus but I hope it's five stars they find bury that full very thoughtful since there's no customer service. He claims people have been going to live campground for 30 years but when I went around and talk to the people most of them there was their first time being there they were from other places so stop the cap and I made sure to let everybody know the type of man he was. He had the audacity to act as though I was begging him to stay in his horrible campground when I was not when I was just simply asking him what the problem was with my camper and why he was telling me I could not stay he has every right to refuse my service but he does not have the right to discriminate against me or my family it is against the law and I actually got it underestimate in me and assume I was just an ignorant person who didn't know how to do anything all right doesn't have plenty of money but I think everything is a little lesson in life and he will definitely learn his definitely when he receives the papers in the mail.
Gerard E.
RangerHoffman Lake Campground INC.
June ‘26
Thursday, June 4-8th, 2026. site M1&2 M1 and M2 are end sites with Check in was easy, pass/card left at gate 20/30/50amp, good source, share with M2 4 water spigots to share with 4 sites Waste cap at site, did not use. The site had thick green grass and well maintained. Fire pits are small, but worked well for the six of us. picnic table for 6.
Great sites if you are camping with friends/family as you are back to back and close together.
The view of the lake from the site changes as more campers arrive. The majority of the CG are seasonal campers, most of the lots are well maintained and the campground has plenty of shade and the birds are active. Huge old growth maples and walnuts throughout the campground provided a decent amount of shade during our stay.
The restrooms are decent and very clean, 3 stalls and urinals with 5 showers in the men’s bathroom. The water was hot and a decent amount of room to change clothes and keep them dry during the shower.
The pool looks very nice, we floated in the lake. The south end of the CG has a nice beach area with boat ramp.
Prompt service from the owners when we had a few questions and the seasonal campers were extremely nice when talking to them!
Guide to Bristol
Bristol, Indiana camping areas mainly operate from April through October, with most campgrounds closing by early November due to northern Indiana's cold winters. Water features are prominent in the region, with several campgrounds situated near ponds, small lakes, or rivers. Sites range from basic tent plots to full-service RV hookups with 50-amp electrical connections.
What to do
Hiking connections: Ebys Pines Campground connects to nearby trails leading to local attractions. "Trails lead to a local County park - Bonneyville Mill. There's a roller skating rink and laser tag across the street," notes Angela F., highlighting off-campground recreation options.
Water activities: Potato Creek State Park Campground offers multiple water-based options for summer visitors. "Hiking, biking, swimming, fishing, what more could you ask for," says Jason S. The park maintains a dedicated swimming beach, though water conditions can vary seasonally.
Cultural experiences: The campsite near Bristol, Indiana provide easy access to Amish communities. Greg D. at Shipshewana North Park Campground shares, "You can listen to the clopping of horse hooves as the Amish buggies go by," providing a unique cultural dimension to camping in this area.
What campers like
Clean facilities: Campers consistently mention facility cleanliness as a positive feature at camping spots near Bristol. Ray R. at Ebys Pines notes, "The campground was clean sites were all very nice and pool was really clean. The dog park was a nice added bonus."
Recreational variety: Elkhart Campground offers multiple on-site activities. Jacqueline F. reports, "The campground offers several amenities including basketball, pickle ball, horseshoes, putt-putt, swimming, laundry room, hot showers and a camp store."
Access to bike trails: Several campgrounds connect to the regional bike trail network. Cindy B. at Shipshewana Trading Place RV Park shares, "This campground was very convenient to the town of Shipshewanna, Amish Country and the Pumpkinvine Bike Trail."
What you should know
Train noise: Several campgrounds in the Bristol area sit near active rail lines. At the Elkhart County Fairgrounds, MickandKarla W. warns, "If you are allergic to train noise, this is not your place as trains run all day, all night, at regular intervals, and the tracks are adjacent to the FHU campground areas."
Site variability: Sites within the same campground can differ significantly in size, privacy, and utility placement. Leann O. at Ebys Pines cautions, "RV Sites are stacked on each other. We chose 306 and it was ok by the pond. No misquitos. Our friends had 310 and there was barely room to put their awning out."
Additional fees: Some campgrounds charge for services beyond the base camping rate. Sean H. notes at Ebys Pines, "Stayed here 3 nights in October campground has most of the attractions (pool etc) closed as expected but still charged visitors $5 per person per day. And charged $5 per device per day for WiFi."
Tips for camping with families
Entertainment options: Elkhart RV Resort provides numerous family-friendly activities. JD C. mentions, "Camp ground is clean, nice little nature trail, and the camp store is cute with a bunch of different classic style sodas. Also have a small off leash dog run, and free pong pong, air hockey, foose ball, and all the classic camping games to check out."
Playground access: Families should consider site proximity to play areas. Derrick P. notes about Ebys Pines, "Lot sizes do vary, pull through lots are a good size. If you like tent camping this place has a great tent/pop up only section on the river."
Weekend crowds: Prepare for busier conditions on summer weekends. Angela F. reports about Ebys Pines, "Memorial Day weekend was busy with lots of events each day. But not so crowded that you couldn't enjoy some privacy and nature!"
Tips from RVers
Utility positioning: RVers should check hookup locations before arrival. At Elkhart County Fairgrounds, MickandKarla W. notes, "The utilities are at the far end of the sites. In most areas, the sites back up to each other and share a utility post (separate outlets for each site) and share the water spigot."
Site leveling needs: Many sites require leveling equipment. MickandKarla W. reports about Elkhart County Fairgrounds, "Site needed leveling, had no shade at all and was close to major hwy. The front and side sites seemed nicer and had ample shade with some concrete sites."
Off-season considerations: Camping availability extends into shoulder seasons with reduced amenities. Douglas T. shares about Elkhart Campground, "We stayed here to pick up a new RV. It's a huge campground with lots of space. Some sites are cement ours was gravel."
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Bristol, IN?
What camping is available near Bristol, IN?
According to TheDyrt.com, Bristol, IN offers a wide range of camping options, with 137 campgrounds and RV parks near Bristol, IN and 1 free dispersed camping spot.
Which is the most popular campground near Bristol, IN?
Which is the most popular campground near Bristol, IN?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Bristol, IN is Elkhart Campground with a 4.1-star rating from 13 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Bristol, IN?
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Bristol, IN?
According to TheDyrt.com, there is 1 free dispersed camping spot near Bristol, IN.
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