4.32110 reviewsPrice
$17/night
Booking
Reservable
Sites
Varies
Season
Campground closes in...
Cell
No Service
Pets
Very Pet Friendly
Price
$17/night
Booking
Reservable
Sites
Varies
Season
Campground closes in...
Cell
No Service
Pets
Very Pet Friendly
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Learn more about alerts →Shades State Park
7751 S. CR. 890 W., WAVELAND, Indiana, 47989, United States
We'll monitor this campground and alert you the moment sites become available.
Free to start · paid plans add 2-min scans
256,000+ sites monitored · Email alerts to start; SMS and in-app with an account
Learn more about alerts →Hikers after serious terrain do well here. Devil's Backbone and the Ladder Trails are genuinely rugged, with sheer drops and tight canyon paths. Fall weekdays hit the sweet spot: 45-65°F, no bugs, leaf color framing the sandstone cliffs, and thinner crowds than summer holiday wee
No electric hookups anywhere in the campground, so RVers needing power should look elsewhere. Restroom cleanliness comes up repeatedly in reviews, trail stairs and ladders have active maintenance issues, and the raccoons are aggressive enough that casual food storage won't cut it
Camper Report Card
Rated higher than 44% of graded campgrounds
Graded on what 87 campers actually wrote - graded on 14 things that make or break a trip. Each topic is graded against every other campground on it - A is among the best, C about average. No star ratings.
Strengths
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Each topic is graded against every other campground on it; a topic campers liked never grades below C−. ± shows the 95% confidence range from the sample size.
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Fall delivers the best experience here. Temperatures run 45–65°F, insect pressure drops, and the autumn colors frame the sandstone canyons. Hiking and photography peak during leaf season, typically less crowded on weekdays. Spring and summer are lush but bring mosquitos. Bug spray is essential. Winter turns the waterfalls icy and the cliffs frost-covered, appealing if you don't mind the cold.
Fall is described as the best season: cooler temps, peak foliage and ideal hiking conditions.
Reservation tips, booking windows, and free cancellation alerts.
The campground at Shades State Park offers a wide range of amenities designed to enhance the camping experience. Facilities include fire rings, picnic tables, showers, and flush toilets, creating an environment suitable for both rustic camping and family outings. Potable drinking water and frost-free water hydrants are available throughout the campground, and there is a dump station for RVs. Visitors have access to picnic shelters and picnic pavilions with grills for group events. Additionally, there are retail options on-site for drinks, firewood, and seasonal concessions. A bathhouse and nature programs also add to the convenience and recreational options.
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