3 Favorite Camping Areas Near Indianapolis

With summer now upon us, there’s no better way to enjoy the great outdoors than to head out for a camping holiday with the whole family. For those living in Indianapolis, there are many excellent campgrounds to choose from nearby, most of which are only a couple of hour’s drive from the city. So, pack your bags and head for the hills for a weekend getaway at one of these fantastic spots.

3 Favorite Camping Areas Near Indianapolis

1. Shades State Park

Just over 60 miles from downtown, close to Crawfordsville, IN, Shades State Park is full of lush vegetation and greenery, situated along the banks of a picturesque creek. While swimming is unfortunately not allowed in the creek, it’s still a spot for canoeing and fishing, or head into the woods along with the park’s beautiful hiking trails.

The park’s main campground offers 105 sites, but all are fairly basic, without electricity or water hookups. That being said, they are pet-friendly, and drinking water and showers are never far away. Aside from the main campground, two smaller campgrounds are available that can’t be reached by car. The canoe campground has ten sites, while the backpacking site has just seven.

2. Turkey Run State Park

One of the most popular outdoor attractions in Indiana, Turkey Run State Park attracts multitudes of visitors with its breathtaking scenery and opportunities for fun outdoor recreation. You could find yourself horseback riding, canoeing on Sugar Creek, or simply soaking up the beauty of the park’s incredible sandstone gorges.

There are 209 fully electrified campsites here, but it’s still better to book online early on if you can, to avoid missing out. Vault toilets, fire rings, grills, and picnic tables are just some of the amenities you can find here. If you needed a break from camping, it’s also possible to rent one of the park’s cabins.

3. Brown County State Park

Brown County State Park is known for its beautiful autumn colors in fall and is sometimes nicknamed the “Little Smokies”, due to the park’s resemblance to the famous Great Smoky Mountains. The park is a great place for hiking at any time of year, with over 10 major hiking trails, and many smaller ones, for you to explore. if you’re here, it’s worth climbing the 90-foot high Fire Tower to enjoy some truly incredible views.

There are lots of campsites throughout this 16,000-acre park, divided into four sections. There’s space for equestrian campaign, youth camping, and a primitive campground, as well as a basic campground with space for vehicles and modern amenities. There is a limit of 6 people and one vehicle per campsite, but there is an overflow parking lot to accommodate extra cars.

These are just a few of the best camping places near the city, but there are plenty more out there to discover. Looking for a new vehicle to take you and all your camping gear out to these wonderful spots? Then visit Ed Martin Honda today, and we’ll be more than happy to help.

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