SUMMIT LAKE STATE PARK - NEW CASTLE, IN

This Illinois State Park is located on Rend Lake and covers miles and miles. There are multiple camping areas including several handicap sites. All have beautiful mature trees, and lake views from most. The sites are paved and level and include electric only, but water is available to fill your tank upon entry and dump station available. There are multiple camp hosts throughout the park and you check in with one of them upon your arrival. One area is available to reserve in advance, all other sites are first come, first served. The showers/restrooms are nice and well kept. The area is somewhat remote and you will likely see all kinds of wildlife depending on the time of year. We saw deer, turkey, owls and even a skunk (but not near our camper). There is a Walmart just down I-57 in Marion, IL, and you might want to visit the nice people at Pheasant Hollow Winery in Whittington for a tasting.

Mounds State Park is located just off of I-69 east of Anderson. The site is home to 10 unique earthworks thought to be built by the Adena-Hopewell Indians. The largest, the Great Mound, is believed to have been constructed in 160 B.C. There are many hiking trails that range in distance and difficulty. There is a very nice nature center, pool in the park and fishing available on the White River. The campground is located on the back side of the park. The campground has both back in and pull through sites which have electric only. There is water available to fill your tank while at the park and 2 dump stations. There is a camp store that has a few camp and food items including ice cream. You can purchase wood from either the camp store or the camp host. Most sites have trees and are paved and level. If you need or want to head to town, you are just minutes away from restaurants, Walmart, Lowes and Hoosier Park Casino.

Mississinewa State Park is located between Peru, Indiana and Wabash, Indiana. This a large state park with many back in sites. Most sites have mature trees, Like most state parks, each site has electric hook up only, with water available to fill your tank upon arrival and dump stations for when you leave. Each site has a picnic table and fire ring. Wood is available for purchase at the check-in stand or with the multiple camp hosts. This campground is located on Mississinewa Lake and offers a great beach area about 1 mile from the campground. The beach area hosts a large camp store that sells supplies as well as gifts, pizza and ice cream. If you have a boat there is also a boat dock. Mississinewa Lake is an Army Corps of Engineers reservoir, so for a fun side trip, drive over to the dam. There is good fishing and when the water is high, they open the dam to release into the river. This campground is not close really close to a town, so be sure to do your shopping in advance, or be prepared to drive 20 minutes to Wabash, with by the way is the first electrically lighted city, and my home town.

Prophetstown is Indiana's newest State Park is located where the Tippecanoe River meets the Wabash River just north of Lafayette, Indiana off of I-65. The park is named after Tucumseh (the Prophet) a Shawnee Indian who lived in this area in the 1800's. He brought together over 14 different tribes to build a settlement large enough to stop westward settlement. Unfortunately this did not work, a two hour battle ensued, the Indians lost and Prophetstown was burned to the ground by the soldiers. In the park there is a pool, and a 1920's farmstead called "The Farm at Prophetstown" where you can visit for free, tour the grounds, purchase fresh fruits and vegetables when in season and see farm animals. You can also walk through over 900 acres of restored prairie ground with restored natural habitat such as wetlands and open woodlands. You can also take a replica of an Indian village in the park. Because the park is new, there are not a lot of mature trees, but the sites are big, gravel and level. Each site has electric only with water available to fill your tank upon entry and a dump station. Showers and bathrooms are very nice and well maintained. You can visit the site of the Prophetstown battle just a short distance from the park and if you are wanting to go into town, you are not far from Lafayette, Indiana. If you like local wineries, be sure to visit Wildcat Creek Winery in nearby Lafayette, but don't bring your RV, as the roads are narrow and there is limited parking. But the wine is good and you will enjoy the tasting.