Hey all. Random question here. I've been approached by a potential employer about relocating to Northern Indiana, around the Elkhart area. I've lived in the Southeast for most of my adult life and absolutely love the location where I currently reside in SC. I'm just a few hours to the beach, and a few hours to Gatlinburg. We do a lot of long weekend camping trips in TN, SC and NC. My question is - what are my options for long weekend camping within a few hours of the Elkhart area. Thanks in advance.

We just came thru southern Illinois and I was surprised to find quite a few COE cg. And I see a lot of them down below Louisville. So that's one option for you.

Check campgroundreviews.com by city and state to find a list of campgrounds in the areas you are interested in.

Indiana Dunes National Park The National Park Service wrote:Welcome to Indiana Dunes National Park. Stretching along 15 miles of the southern shore of Lake Michigan, this national park offers an incredible diversity of habitats and visitor experiences. Beyond the sandy beaches, explore rugged dunes, quiet forests and tranquil wetlands along 50 miles of hiking trails. World-class birding and over 1,100 native plant species makes this 15,000 acre park among the most biologically rich in the nation.

51% of Michigan is forested and has several thousand CG's total, The state has more than 100 state parks and more than 11,000 inland lakes not including 4 of the 5 huge clean Great Lakes with over 3200 miles of Great Lake's shoreline and gobs of sugar sand golden beaches and 87,000 miles of rivers and streams in the state. West Michigan is beautiful and so much to do and see. Lots of very large high (up to 450 feet high) public sand dunes with beaches and CG's too in West Michigan. Elkhart is less than 10 miles south of the Nichigan border so it's really close and are so are vast numbers of state, county private owned, etc CG's for you. East side of the state and the west side of the state are apples to oranges diferent. The Upper peninsula is very different form the Lower Peninsula also.Camping, boating, and fishing for so many very big and small good eating fish is a way of life in Michigan. Walleye, laketrout, salmon, great eating mild tasting lake perch, bass, and so many others. So much to do and see in the state that you'll always have new places to camp and explore each long weekend for the rest of your life. Elkhart is 110 miles south of where we live and have for over 77 years on the Lake Michigan shoreline and have RV'd for 55 years so far and we also go down to northern Indiana a few times each year. Elkhart area is where 65-to 70% of all the RV's are made in North America and shipped all over.Indiana is largly a farming state but does have a lot of CG's spread out arond the state. Lots of very nice ones too. Your problem will be not finding a CG you desire but which one as there are so many. By count, there's more for you to chose from than all the CG's in SC, NC, TN, and GA combined and then some. Just our local less than 10 mile semi circle radius area has 12 CG's now and another big one is about ready to start building.

Lake Michigan Beaches (Michigan side of the lake) blow away the beaches near your current location. Of course the west side it beautiful to and not too far to get up into Wisconson.To the south and west you can get to the major rivers which have lots of beautiful areas to explore.

Camping in the Midwest | Good Sam Community

20 Replies

Trekkar
Explorer II
Sep 05, 2019
Many good ideas presented so far. You have the opportunity to expand your camping enjoyment to 4 full seasons. If you dress for the situation, cold weather camping is amazing. Skiing, cross country skiing, snowshoeing, snowmobiling, etc., let you enjoy an expanded number of activities.

Hope you enjoy whatever decision you make.
Edd505
Explorer
Sep 05, 2019
Check https://www.rvparky.com/ and
http://www.campgroundreviews.com/

You will find reviews by people been there and tips on whats in the area to see & do.
welove2drive
Explorer
Sep 04, 2019
In Illinois there is Starved Rock SP just West of Elkhart and Shelbyville Lake and Carlyle Lake in the central part. Southern IL and Mo are nice but further.
valhalla360
Navigator
Sep 03, 2019
ken56 wrote:
You will have a MUCH SHORTER camping season. Plus there is quite high pressure on all the campgrounds so getting reservations might be difficult too.

If you are worried about season, when it gets too cold to head north to Michigan and Wisconson just head south to Kentucky and Tennessee.

Northern Indiana doesn't get near the snow you see just a couple hours north in Michigan. So usually if you are heading south, it's quite possible to camp most months of the year if you pick weather windows.
Bob806
Explorer III
Sep 02, 2019
Thom02099 wrote:

I've read about (but never been to) the Hocking Hills area in Ohio, another apparently popular area that's not in Michigan.

There's a lot of Amish areas in Indiana and Ohio, so a trip to camp/visit could be something of interest.

Not to detract from Michigan, because there's a lot to see and do up there, just that there are other areas as well.

Yes indeed, we love Michigan too (mainly the UP and northern lower peninsula) but there's some good stops in Ohio, Kentucky, West Virginia, & New York.

Hocking Hills SP in Ohio doesn't have a lot of sites to fit bigger rigs, but it's a great area. Mohican SP is very nice but you really have to plan ahead and reserve. Geneva SP is great, nice little small town.

The NY Finger Lakes region may be around 7 or 8 hours from Elkhart, but look into it. Kentucky has several nice SPs, particularly Natural Bridge. West Virginia gets a bad rap nationally but is great for campers.
travelnutz
Explorer II
Sep 01, 2019
Sorry, I meant, Chain O Lakes
travelnutz
Explorer II
Sep 01, 2019
Thom02099,

Yes, there are so many other places/states to RV to that are not a day's driving time to get there from Elkhart. We know of many others too but those in the close states and also around in Indiana too. We have been to Brown County State Park several times and also around the area too. Lots to do or do nothing at all and just relax at your campsite. Chain of Lakes SP is another not over an hour from Elkhart south of Albion, IN.
Thom02099
Explorer II
Sep 01, 2019
I was just back in the midwest in NE Indiana in July. Plan was to visit Brown County State Park in the southern part of the state, about a 4.5-5 hour drive from where I was. Unfortunately didn't make it due to an accident that affected my trailer, but still somewhere that I'd like to see.

The Brown County area has a lot of things to see and do. Notably a goodly number of covered bridges. Also a hilly area with what looks to be some great sightseeing, small towns to visit and shop.

I've read about (but never been to) the Hocking Hills area in Ohio, another apparently popular area that's not in Michigan.

There's a lot of Amish areas in Indiana and Ohio, so a trip to camp/visit could be something of interest.

Not to detract from Michigan, because there's a lot to see and do up there, just that there are other areas as well.
theoldwizard1
Explorer II
Aug 31, 2019
Many (most ?) floks from IN, IL and OH head to MI. A bit of a drive for a weekend, but there are lots of nice campground in the SW corner of MI.

Tourist sites really close down after Labor Day, but most private campgrounds are open into October with State campgrounds open even later.

Enjoy the color change this fall. It can get down to freezing at night in some ares in late September.
travelnutz
Explorer II
Aug 31, 2019
We have camped in all 12 months in Michigan and never been cold or without a place to camp. Usually snow on the ground in January but it's usually light fluffy snowfall, not ice or icy. also Been in Tennesee evry winter since 1965 with an RV and froze our but off a few times as it's a wet cold feel and have had ice storms so you'd stay put a couple times already if smart. Especially in eastern Tennessee I-75 when we used to go that way to Florida to visit family. You don't wisely go down to Florida in the summer with it's very humid and sticky sickening heat.

Won't forget late December in the Nashville area on I-65 as it was like on greased roads even at 20 mph with inches of freezing sleet and snow on them and was even rutted so you didn't wander or else. Scary as heck!!! We had to overnught in a Mcdonalds truck/RV parking lot and the next day too as they don't really plow the roads like up north where they are kept plowed. Thus, we feel the true season for RV camping is quite bogus as to region stays.