If you like boating on Indiana streams and want to add camping to your adventure, this site can help with locations to camp. All of the sites listed below allow boaters to access and use campsites from the water. Most sites have a fee involved. Before visiting any of these sites, it is recommended that you check with the managing entity to confirm availability and current condition.
Camping without permission at locations that are not dedicated campsites could be considered trespassing. Many people believe that islands and other land along streams are owned by the state and are open for public use and camping. This is not necessarily true. Unless listed below, publicly owned access sites, parks and other areas along streams do not allow camping. On waterways not listed as navigable, islands and lands along the streams are generally privately owned and should not be used. Even on navigable waterways, only land below the normal high water mark is considered held in public trust by the state. Additional information about navigability and rights to public use, including a navigable waterway roster, is at www.IN.gov/nrc/2390.htm.
All camping, in both campgrounds and in natural areas, should follow the Leave No Trace principles.
These locations offer camping to the public along streams in Indiana. They are all accessible from the water and canoeists are welcome.
It is recommended that you check with each site before visiting to confirm availability and current condition.
- Chain O’ Lakes
Chain O’ Lakes State Park
2355 E. 75 South
Albion, IN 46701
260-636-2654 - Driftwood River
Blue’s Canoe Livery
6700 W. Lowell Road
Columbus, IN 47201
812-526-9851 - Flatrock River
Hidden Paradise Campground
802 E. Jefferson St.
St. Paul, IN
765-525-6582 - Kankakee River
Lake County Parks
Coordinates: Latitude - 41° 15’ 59.71”; Longitude - 86° 51’ 8.54”
219-325-8315 - Pigeon Creek
Trading Post Canoe Rental
7525 E. 300 N.
Mongo, IN 46771
260-367-2493 - Sugar Creek
- Shades State Park
7751 S. 890 W.
Waveland, IN 47989
765-435-2810 - Clements Canoes Outdoor Center
8295 IN-234
Waveland, IN 47989
765-435-7270 - Sugar Valley Camping Cabins & Primitive Camping
1467 E SR 47
Marshall, IN 47859
765-597-2364
- Shades State Park
- Tippecanoe River
- Rising Sun Campground
7510 N 250 E Rd
Monterey, IN 46490
574-542-4780 - Tippecanoe River Run
1417 W 375 N
Rochester, IN 46975
574-835-3363 - Tippecanoe River State Park
4200 N. U.S. 35
Winamac, IN 46996
574-946-3213
- Rising Sun Campground
- Wabash River
- France Park
4505 West US 24 West
Logansport, IN 46947
574-753-2928 - Wolfe’s Leisure Time Campground
7414 State Road 25 North
Lafayette, IN 47905
765-589-8089
- France Park
- White River
- White River Campground
11299 E. 234th Street
Cicero, IN 46034
317-984-2705 - Riverbend Campground
21695 State Road 37 North
Noblesville, IN 46060
317-773-3333
- White River Campground
- Whitewater River
- White Water Canoe Rental
RR 1
Metamora, IN 47030 and
Whitewater Valley Canoe Rental
PO Box 2, US Hwy 52
Brookville, IN 47012
765-647-5434
- White Water Canoe Rental
To have a campground added to this list, please contact:
Allen Hurst
Trails Coordinator
ahurst@dnr.IN.gov
317-232-4070