Winter Camping at Indiana State Parks

Get notified when this page is updated.

2024-25 winter season

Camping is available year-round at Indiana State Parks. Reservations can be made year-round so you can see what camping loops and sites are open for winter camping and reserve a site if you choose to. Walk-in registrations are still accepted and can be made at the park office or the gate. Some campground loops may be closed. Check with the property office when planning your visit.

• Primitive camping sites remain available at all state park campgrounds throughout winter, offering full exposure to the elements for hardy, experienced campers.
• Reservations can be made year-round so you can see what camping loops and sites are open for winter camping and reserve a site if you choose to. Walk-in registrations are still accepted and can be made at the park office or the gate.
• At most properties, the number of campsites open for reservations is reduced to sites in one or two loops, which helps us manage cleaning and site care more effectively.
• Electricity is available in most modern campgrounds, but water may not be or may be found only at a single source, so prepare accordingly.
• Most dump stations are closed or have no water available for rinsing. Contact properties for specifics.

Roughing it, with heated restrooms and water

Several campgrounds offer heated modern comfort stations (restrooms and showers) and/or a single water source through all or part of winter. Most have, at minimum, unheated vault toilets available.

• Brookville Lake (Mounds SRA): Water source available. Modern comfort stations closed.
• Brown County: One modern comfort station and water source available all winter in Buffalo Ridge campground only.
• Chain O’Lakes: One modern comfort station is open through Thanksgiving weekend. Campground has a dump station, vault toilet, and a frost-free water source available for winter camping.
• Charlestown: Modern comfort stations closed. Water source available at campground gatehouse.
• Clifty Falls: One modern comfort station. Water source available at non-electric campground comfort station. No water source at campground gatehouse. Electric campground will be closed Nov. 1, 2024, to April 1, 2025, for electrical upgrades.
• Deam Lake SRA: Water source available at the property office. Modern comfort stations closed.
• Hardy Lake: Water source available at site 98.
• Harmonie: One modern comfort station open all winter. Water source available all winter.
• Indiana Dunes: One heated modern family restroom open all winter. Water source available.
• Lieber SRA (Cagles Mill Lake): Water source available. Modern comfort stations closed.
• Lincoln: Water source available in two locations in Class A campground. Family restroom in non-electric campground available for all campers.
• McCormick’s Creek: Campground and water source is closed indefinitely due to tornado on March 31, 2023.
• Mississinewa Lake. Water source available at the property office. Modern comfort stations closed.
• Monroe Lake: Water source available. Modern comfort stations closed.
• Mounds: Water source available. Modern comfort stations closed.
• O’Bannon Woods: One modern comfort station is open all winter. Water source is available outside of comfort station A.
• Ouabache: Only one heated comfort station open. Water source available at campground gate. Sites 1-75 (loop A) are closed November through January for “Wonderland of Lights”.  All sites are reservable year-round except for the Wonderland of Lights closure.
• Patoka Lake: Modern campground – Heated modern comfort station in modern campground section A is open all winter. Water source available at the front of the camp store. Fisherman’s campground: Water available at fisherman’s gatehouse. Vault toilet only.
• Pokagon: Campground 3 open all winter with one heated comfort station and water fill station available.
• Potato Creek: Water sources available at horsemen’s fill station (frost-free hydrant) and family campground gatehouse (spigot on back of campground gatehouse – no hose). Dump station available at horsemen’s dump station. Heated comfort stations in Loop C and Horsemen’s Campgrounds open until November 30. Vault toilets available.
• Prophetstown: Comfort station with heated shower and family restroom open until December 6. Full-hook-up sites have water available.
• Raccoon SRA (Cecil M. Harden Lake): Water source available at property office and at campground gate. One non-heated comfort station open through Thanksgiving Weekend in modern campground, weather permitting.
• Salamonie Lake: Water source available. Modern comfort stations closed.
• Shades: No modern restrooms, pit toilets only. Water source available in campground.
• Spring Mill: Water source available at 4-way stop in campground. Modern restrooms closed.
• Shakamak: Water source available. Modern comfort station closed.
• Starve Hollow SRA: Water source available in Class AA campground and at property office. Modern comfort stations closed.
• Summit Lake: Water source available at main and campground gates. Modern campground comfort stations closed. North ramp restroom open and heated (no showers).
• Tippecanoe River: Water source available in modern and horse campgrounds. Modern comfort stations closed.
• Turkey Run: Water available. Modern comfort station in west side of the campground is open all winter.
• Versailles: Water source available at main gate, campground gate, and horseman’s campground. Modern comfort station closed. Vault toilet available in campground loop A (sites 1-96).
• Whitewater Memorial: Water available. Modern restrooms closed.

Need a remedy for cabin fever? How about a real cabin?

• Cabins are a place to start for those inexperienced at braving the cold. Some cabins are open all winter.
• Check the Indiana Recreation Guide (on.IN.gov/recguide) for properties offering winter cabin usage.

Just not sure you want to camp or try a cabin? State Park Inns are great alternatives!

• Indiana State Park Inns offer a winter 2-nights-for-the-price-of-1 deal from late November through the end of February on Sunday – Thursday nights. (Weekends and holiday weeks excluded.)
• Spend your days out in the park enjoying winter hikes and come back to a warm room and comfortable chairs in the lounge next to the fireplace.
• Make your reservations at indianainns.com or call 1-877-LODGES1.