shipshewana Indiana

We go there with one of our RV's about every year for a couple days (about 120 miles from home) and always stay at the CG immediately south of the huge flea market. About a 100 to 200 yard walk past the parked vehicles in the grass side lot right from your RV to one of the flea market entrances and/or not much further to the "downtown area" other stores/restaurants etc.

Wife is disabled and can't walk long distances and uses her walker with a seat to, in, and around the flea market etc. Besides the CG is behaved and leashed dog friendly and so is the big flea market which is a huge plus as we always take our Siberian Husky with us and in the flea market and she loves it. Actually, been taking our various Siberian Huskies along and in the flea market for roughly 30 years now. Extremely convenient and high and dry and drains off if it rains and by being higher also has breezes so not nearly as hot in summer. I can quickly walk back to our RV with our larger or heavy purchases etc rather than having to keep on carrying them around.

CG also, has self-check in envelopes. We are not buying a site in the CG and only want to rent a close in place to stay for a couple days. Quite level sites, electric, water, and sewer or electric or just dry camping, take your choice and the rates are very reasonable and sites plenty large! There's a CG restroom/bath house right at the entrance to the flea market for registered CG stayers if it's what you want too. We use our own as that's what the RV is for among so many other things.

We have longtime very close farmer friends straight south of Shipshewana at Ligonier (15 miles) and we stay there on the 1200 acre farm with our RV to visit many times but still would rather to be right at the CG at Shipshewana when doing the Shipsey area thing.

GeoBoy wrote:
My wife loves to stop at Shipshewana when we are traveling and we always stay at the South Bend KOA. Patricia and Thomas are great host their facility is beautiful and clean/well maintained.

This KOA and the one in Interior, South Dakota are our two favorites.

Thomas & Patricia are fantastic hosts & owners in South Bend!!!

For Amish food and hospitality have any meal at Das Dutchman Essenhous in Middlebury. Here is the website www.essenhaus.com/
If it is crowded you leave your name at the front desk at the restaurant. There are two locations for eating. One is the Family Style restaurant which is normally really busy but there is another restaurant that is not as busy but where you also leave your name. Sorry can't remember which one that is.

My wife loves to stop at Shipshewana when we are traveling and we always stay at the South Bend KOA. Patricia and Thomas are great host their facility is beautiful and clean/well maintained.

Twin Mills near Howe Indiana LINK is about 10 minutes from Shipshewana and is far quieter that either Shipshewana North or South. You will escape most of the truck noise. Shipshewana North you will hear a lot of truck traffic and exhaust brakes.

Twins Mills, if you want a little larger sites and less noise from neighbors ask for a site across the road when you make your reservation. The sites across the road from the office will require you to drive to the pool but it is our choice by far.

If you need more info about the area let me know, we are in Indinana and go up there a couple times a year.

Depending upon how far you are willing to drive, there are several Indiana State Parks in Northern Indiana that are all great! None RIGHT at Shipshewana, but several within a reasonable drive. Check the Indiana DNR web site.

Our only stay, in the area, was at the South campground. It was okay & close to town. The site we had was full sun, no shade. We did pass by the north cg & it looked more like a 'campground' than a parking lot. But the South is closer to everything. For 1-2 nights, I'd stay at South again. Any longer maybe North.

Another vote for North, close to town but away from the commotion.

I would vote for Shipshewana North also. Unfortunately when we were there it rained cats and dogs for awhile and we had to be towed from our spot. Dry weather it's a very nice campground in a great location.

Not sure what your requirements for "nice" are.
Last year at this time, we stayed for a week at the Shipshewana North Campground. It is just 3 miles north of town on State Road 5 (the main road in Town). There were some trees for shade, it was fairly quiet, the campers (mostly an older crowd) were very well behaved and the staff were friendly and helpful. Link to Shipshewana North Campground

Rates were reasonable $30-40 per night, depending upon what hookups. And the best thing, a real ice cream store right next to the campground. We were very happy to stay there...most of our time was spent in town shopping, looking or going to nearby Elkhart to tour Jayco plant and RV hall of fame.