Soaring mountains and ocean views might be off the menu in Indiana, but this heartland state still crams plenty of variety into its state parks. Discover golden sand dunes on the shore of Lake Michigan, canoe to hidden waterfalls along the Ohio River, or hike through forested ravines with some of the best leaf-peeping in the Midwest. Camping is available at all 32 parks, whether you’re hiking to backcountry campsites or parking your RV at a modern campground. April through early November is the main camping season, but some campgrounds even provide heated restrooms through winter.
Northwest Indiana
Three miles of Lake Michigan Shoreline, complete with towering dunes and sandy beaches, await at Indiana Dunes State Park, making this one of Indiana’s most popular summer destinations. The state’s north-western corner is also home to Tippecanoe River State Park, where campers can hike, canoe, and horseback ride (equestrian camping is also available), and Potato Creek State Park, where the campground has electric hookups and lakeside cabins.
Northeast Indiana
Prairie farmlands, lakeside beaches, and Amish villages pepper the rural landscapes of north-eastern Indiana. There’s outdoor fun through all four seasons at Pokagon State Park, which is as famous for its winter toboggan run as it is for its summer swimming beaches. To the south, Chain O’Lakes and Salamonie Lake state parks are both idyllic spots for lakeside camping, where you can boat, fish, and bird-watch to your heart’s content.
Indianapolis and the Central Plains
Forested plains and lowland lakes break up the corn belt of central Indiana, and there are multiple state parks within day-tripping distance of Indianapolis. With views like this, you’ll want to stay the night, whether pitching a tent by Monroe Lake or renting a cozy cabin at Shakamak State Park. For the best hiking and leaf-peeping, head to the "Little Smokies" in Brown County State Park or Turkey Run State Park, with its dramatic canyons and sandstone ravines.
Southern Indiana
Old-growth forests blanket the lowlands of southern Indiana, tumbling down to the banks of the Ohio River. To the east, the wooded trails and waterfalls of Clifty Falls State Park are one of the most scenic spots along the Ohio River, while nearby Charlestown State Park is bird-watching nirvana. Inland, Patoka Lake is popular with RV campers, or you can explore natural caves and visit the Pioneer Village at Spring Mill State Park.
State Park campgrounds in Indiana.
Discover lakes, sand dunes, and forested ravines in Indiana’s 32 state parks.
Soaring mountains and ocean views might be off the menu in Indiana, but this heartland state still crams plenty of variety into its state parks. Discover golden sand dunes on the shore of Lake Michigan, canoe to hidden waterfalls along the Ohio River, or hike through forested ravines with some of the best leaf-peeping in the Midwest. Camping is available at all 32 parks,
Read more...Soaring mountains and ocean views might be off the menu in Indiana, but this heartland state still crams plenty of variety into its state parks. Discover golden sand dunes on the shore of Lake Michigan, canoe to hidden waterfalls along the Ohio River, or hike through forested ravines with some of the best leaf-peeping in the Midwest. Camping is available at all 32 parks, whether you’re hiking to backcountry campsites or parking your RV at a modern campground. April through early November is the main camping season, but some campgrounds even provide heated restrooms through winter.
Northwest Indiana
Three miles of Lake Michigan Shoreline, complete with towering dunes and sandy beaches, await at Indiana Dunes State Park, making this one of Indiana’s most popular summer destinations. The state’s north-western corner is also home to Tippecanoe River State Park, where campers can hike, canoe, and horseback ride (equestrian camping is also available), and Potato Creek State Park, where the campground has electric hookups and lakeside cabins.
Northeast Indiana
Prairie farmlands, lakeside beaches, and Amish villages pepper the rural landscapes of north-eastern Indiana. There’s outdoor fun through all four seasons at Pokagon State Park, which is as famous for its winter toboggan run as it is for its summer swimming beaches. To the south, Chain O’Lakes and Salamonie Lake state parks are both idyllic spots for lakeside camping, where you can boat, fish, and bird-watch to your heart’s content.
Indianapolis and the Central Plains
Forested plains and lowland lakes break up the corn belt of central Indiana, and there are multiple state parks within day-tripping distance of Indianapolis. With views like this, you’ll want to stay the night, whether pitching a tent by Monroe Lake or renting a cozy cabin at Shakamak State Park. For the best hiking and leaf-peeping, head to the "Little Smokies" in Brown County State Park or Turkey Run State Park, with its dramatic canyons and sandstone ravines.
Southern Indiana
Old-growth forests blanket the lowlands of southern Indiana, tumbling down to the banks of the Ohio River. To the east, the wooded trails and waterfalls of Clifty Falls State Park are one of the most scenic spots along the Ohio River, while nearby Charlestown State Park is bird-watching nirvana. Inland, Patoka Lake is popular with RV campers, or you can explore natural caves and visit the Pioneer Village at Spring Mill State Park.