The best camping near Gary with campfires

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If you're looking for camping near Gary, Indiana, Hipcamp has over 350 options for you to choose from. Whether you prefer tent camping, RV camping, or cabin rentals, you'll find the perfect accommodation to suit your needs. With an average price per night of $39 and options as low as $15, there's something for every budget. Check out some of the top campsites with rave reviews, like Walnut Valley Realm (230 reviews), Heritage Farm Stay Adventure (196 reviews), and The Vaudeville Urban Farm Fun! (136 reviews). Enjoy popular amenities like potable water, pet-friendly sites, and trash disposal. And if you're adventurous, you can partake in activities such as boating, horseback riding, and whitewater paddling. So pack your bags and get ready for an unforgettable camping experience!

95% (892)

Top-rated campgrounds

Willowthorne

1. Willowthorne

97%
(251)
12mi from Gary · 6 sites · Tents, RVs · Lynwood, IL
Discover the Charm of Willowthorne: Your Rustic Sanctuary Amid Natural Beauty. Willowthorne invites you to revel in the natural allure and organic rhythm of life on the farm, fostering enduring memories that extend long after your visit. Nestled within a serene 9-acre organic blueberry farm , Willowthorne emerges as an idyllic escape where the sunsets are sublime, and the night sky brims with twinkling stars, and the hosts are charming and delightful. This unique getaway marries the essence of organic farming, educational pursuits, and warm hospitality to create an unparalleled outdoor experience. Catering to tent camping aficionados and retreat groups, our pastoral campgrounds are graced with picturesque views of a tranquil pond and willow trees. While our space welcomes the modest charm of tents, small RVs, and campers, we maintain a rustic essence without power hook-ups, encouraging guests to connect with nature. Each campsite is thoughtfully equipped with a personal fire ring and table for your convenience. Our area offers an incredible variety of recreational and sightseeing activities. Find peace and tranquility among nature or travel just 25 miles north to visit the heart of Chicago! We are central to many Illinois, Indiana and Michigan State Parks and beaches. Several good restaurants and breweries are also nearby. PLEASE NOTE: Please drive slowly and cautiously through our property. We are an active farm with a lot of activity all year round. Please pitch your tent in the designated campground area. In support of conservation of the natural ecosystem, please refrain from broadcast pesticides, i.e. Raid, Yard Guard, etc. Spraying skin, clothing, and personal property with mosquito repellent in your designated camping is fine. Our farm has beehives placed at a safe distance from the campsites to ensure guest safety. Obey posted signs and please stay out of designated work areas OBSERVE FIRE SAFETY. Leave fire ring in designated spot. Never leave fire unattended. No fires on windy days. Extinguish fire before leaving campsite. Please read: https://www.hipcamp.com/journal/everything-you-need-to-know-about-fire-safety For Your Convenience: Firewood: Purchase bundles of wood on site as non-local wood can disrupt the local ecosystem through disease or invasive species. Feel free to collect any small, fallen twigs for kindling. (Wood in stacked piles is not for burning but reserved for mushroom cultivation and other projects.) Honey: We offer honey harvested from blueberry blossoms in spring and the rich flavors of black locust and clover in late summer. Blueberries: Come July, partake in our U-pick blueberry farm, an experience seamlessly woven into your stay. Misc. We also offer a variety of organic garden vegetables and herbs throughout the growing season. Kindly inquire on availability upon arrival if you are interested in any of these farm fresh goodies. Catch-and-Release fishing is welcome. We look forward to having you enjoy the natural beauty at Willowthorne!
Pets
Potable water
Toilets
from 
$54
 / night
The Vaudeville Urban Farm Fun!

2. The Vaudeville Urban Farm Fun!

93%
(315)
28mi from Gary · 8 sites · Tents, RVs · Chicago, IL
Twenty years of growing this farm... Not what grows here but the farm itself! Stone and brick pulled from the ground till we found the beautiful earth beneath and built an incredible community around it. Or rather, it grew itself from the energy that surrounds it. It's a special spot where you may happen upon a fire in the sugar shack while we boil city collected sap into maple syrup or have an open jam night with world class jazz musicians. Enjoy the morning serenade of our rooster! Really, just come and be here. Though we think we're pretty cool, a few things to note that you may not think are so cool: There is a train that runs directly behind the farm. Light sleepers, may want to bring ear plugs. We try to accommodate parking your car on site but it's weather and situation conditional. Assume the possibility that you may need to park on the street. Bring your tent to The Vaudeville! (RVs, campers, trailers, vans please see the ** at the bottom). Our urban farm is smack in the middle of Chicago only a 10 minute bike or train ride from Downtown, Lake Michigan, The Mag Mile and all Chicago has to offer! Bike the Lake Shore Trail, walk the 606, kayak the Chicago River, catch a blues show or Hawks game or just relax with the goats and chickens in the 9,000 square foot farm that we absolutely love to share with fellow campers! ** We have stopped hosting RVs, campers/vans, pull behinds and larger vehicles because we are finding it difficult to get them in the entrance gate but if you feel amazingly capable with your backing in skills in your rig and you're super patient, laid back and extra cool, let us know and we may be able to make it work!! :)
Pets
Potable water
Toilets
from 
$48
 / night
Sleek Acres

8. Sleek Acres

100%
(116)
46mi from Gary · 8 sites · Tents, RVs · Grovertown, IN
Sleek Acres is a total of 13 acres, which includes our homestead, our chicken yard and barn, a fishing pond with a beach, and over 8 secluded acres to the back of the property where guests can explore (including walking trails). We provide a bathhouse, which includes a toilet and shower. A handwash/dishwashing station is located right outside the bathhouse. Fire rings, cooking grates, and picnic tables are provided at each site. A small amount of firewood is provided, and additional firewood is available for purchase. Located central to many destinations, we are: *5 minutes from All-Sports Koontz Lake; *10 minutes from Plymouth, (plenty of shopping, restaurants, and home of the Blueberry Festival - Labor Day weekend); *10 minutes from Walkerton, home of the Falloween Fest (Sept. 26, 27, 28); *20 minutes from Potato Creek State Park, *25 minutes from Bass Lake Beach *25 minutes from Valparaiso; *50 minutes from Indiana Dunes State Park, *45 minutes from Notre Dame If you are looking for a quiet, relaxing place to camp, yet close to many attractions, Sleek Acres is the place to be! :) (Please note: Check in and out times, as well as quiet hours, are based on central time.)
Pets
Potable water
Toilets
from 
$34
 / night
The Mannex!  Indiana Dunes Nat'l Pk

16. The Mannex! Indiana Dunes Nat'l Pk

100%
(12)
20mi from Gary · 1 site · RV · Beverly Shores, IN
The Man's Annex aka the Mannex is located on Scenic US HWY 12 to the South and The South Shore Commuter Rail to the North.  The campsite is very clean, tidy and safe.  The main pebble parking area slopes gently to the North so you will want levelers if you're in a camper.  I have a brand new RV Pedestal complete with 50 and 30amp service, a mechanical timer for the LED lights encompassing the parking area as well as a rheostat so you can dim the lights.  I have a 40" firepit with spark arrestor (please use to be in compliance with local laws) as well as a polywood octagonal picnic table and well water with 100' hose.  Trash and human waste is to be carried out.  Please keep your camper to the east of the blue and yellow birdhouses as access to the building is needed. The location is great!  You're inside the dunes national park and only 1.35 miles to the beach.  Just north of the train tracks is the Calumet bike path.  .35 to the west is a gas station with a bathroom, the south shore train station (day trip to Chicago anyone?), a great restaurant and liquor store as well.  Bikes are HIGHLY recommended to be able to help facilitate your exploring of this very unique part of the country. If you're a birder and you don't already know, bring your binocs, this is one of the best birding towns in the Midwest / country due to the location and it's biodiversity.
Pets
Potable water
Trash
from 
$135
 / night
Glamping in a Tiny Cabin on a Farm

18. Glamping in a Tiny Cabin on a Farm

100%
(3)
41mi from Gary · 1 site · Lodging · New Carlisle, IN
Experience a serene and relaxing getaway in our off-grid tiny cabin on our farm. Created with the intention of slowing down (no tv, no wifi and no refrigerator), enjoy wandering the fields relaxing in one of the hammocks, cooking on the outdoor fire pit, sipping coffee on the front deck and generally taking a break from modern life. If you'd like to explore the area, we are nearby popular trails and bike routes, U-pick farms, breweries & restaurants and beaches along Lake Michigan. **From November -March the outdoor shower is weather dependent.** ******The term "glamping" means "glamorous camping" with an emphasis on camping. The tiny home and bathroom provide a comfortable and modern experience while still allowing the feel of rustic and outdoorsy traditional camping. All of your cooking will be done outside with our propane cooktop, grill or fire pit. There is a wash station on the back deck for washing dishes. ******* The tiny home was crafted to blend in with the scenery and to impact the surrounding trees and fields as little as possible. The loft includes a cozy queen bed with plush pillows and linens and the living space has a pull out sleeper sofa with a memory foam mattress. Relax indoors while taking in the view from the couch or enjoy a glass of wine on the front porch or one of the hammocks. Just steps away, the tiny home has a separate private bathroom with heated outdoor shower. We have three potbelly pigs that enjoy company as well as chickens and a turkey. Deer frequent through the campsite and surrounding area as well. This is an operating farm so the owners and employees are in the fields tending to the plants, washing, and packing produce throughout the week. You may hear people talking or the occasional tractor in a nearby field. The farm is certified naturally grown and works with the USDA on land management.
Potable water
Toilets
Showers
from 
$111
 / night
Cozy

20. Harbor Country Cabins

100%
(13)
42mi from Gary · 2 sites · Lodging · Sawyer, MI
I become owner of this property in 2017. The cabins were built in the late 90's financed by the previous owner. The property was vacant for decades prior to that. In the 1950's, the property was a drive-in motel called the 'Harbert Motel'. We have an arial photo from this time period which showed a number of small bungalows for guests, each with its own carport. I love all the stories I hear from locals who have been around long enough to remember how things 'used to be'. Southwest Michigan has an interesting history and has been a 'destination' from city dwellers for close to 100 years. Even Al Capone and his goon's frequented the area as they moved illegal good during the days of prohibition. Learn more about this land: Breweries, Wineries, Berry Picking, Art Studios, Farmers Markets, hiking trails, biking trails, Lake Michigan boating, kayaking, fishing, canoeing.......all those things and more await you in Southwest Michigan. We have 6 'tiny house' style cabins on 1-acre property we call - Harbor Country Cabins. Harbor Country Cabins is located along the Lake Michigan Wine Trail. Our resort offers a unique lodging and gathering location in the center of Harbor Country, near Southwest Michigan’s premier destination for beaches, breweries, wineries, dining and summer fun. With 12 queen bunk and 4 twin bunk beds spaced across 6 cabins, our property can hold up to 28 people. Price in this listing is for rental of all 6 cabins.
Pets
Potable water
Toilets
from 
$855
 / night

If you're looking for camping near Gary, Indiana, Hipcamp has over 350 options for you to choose from. Whether you prefer tent camping, RV camping, or cabin rentals, you'll find the perfect accommodation to suit your needs. With an average price per night of $39 and options as low as $15, there's something for every budget. Check out some of the top campsites with rave reviews, like Walnut Valley Realm (230 reviews), Heritage Farm Stay Adventure (196 reviews), and The Vaudeville Urban Farm Fun! (136 reviews). Enjoy popular amenities like potable water, pet-friendly sites, and trash disposal. And if you're adventurous, you can partake in activities such as boating, horseback riding, and whitewater paddling. So pack your bags and get ready for an unforgettable camping experience!

95% (892)

Top-rated campgrounds

Willowthorne

1. Willowthorne

97%
(251)
12mi from Gary · 6 sites · Tents, RVs · Lynwood, IL
Discover the Charm of Willowthorne: Your Rustic Sanctuary Amid Natural Beauty. Willowthorne invites you to revel in the natural allure and organic rhythm of life on the farm, fostering enduring memories that extend long after your visit. Nestled within a serene 9-acre organic blueberry farm , Willowthorne emerges as an idyllic escape where the sunsets are sublime, and the night sky brims with twinkling stars, and the hosts are charming and delightful. This unique getaway marries the essence of organic farming, educational pursuits, and warm hospitality to create an unparalleled outdoor experience. Catering to tent camping aficionados and retreat groups, our pastoral campgrounds are graced with picturesque views of a tranquil pond and willow trees. While our space welcomes the modest charm of tents, small RVs, and campers, we maintain a rustic essence without power hook-ups, encouraging guests to connect with nature. Each campsite is thoughtfully equipped with a personal fire ring and table for your convenience. Our area offers an incredible variety of recreational and sightseeing activities. Find peace and tranquility among nature or travel just 25 miles north to visit the heart of Chicago! We are central to many Illinois, Indiana and Michigan State Parks and beaches. Several good restaurants and breweries are also nearby. PLEASE NOTE: Please drive slowly and cautiously through our property. We are an active farm with a lot of activity all year round. Please pitch your tent in the designated campground area. In support of conservation of the natural ecosystem, please refrain from broadcast pesticides, i.e. Raid, Yard Guard, etc. Spraying skin, clothing, and personal property with mosquito repellent in your designated camping is fine. Our farm has beehives placed at a safe distance from the campsites to ensure guest safety. Obey posted signs and please stay out of designated work areas OBSERVE FIRE SAFETY. Leave fire ring in designated spot. Never leave fire unattended. No fires on windy days. Extinguish fire before leaving campsite. Please read: https://www.hipcamp.com/journal/everything-you-need-to-know-about-fire-safety For Your Convenience: Firewood: Purchase bundles of wood on site as non-local wood can disrupt the local ecosystem through disease or invasive species. Feel free to collect any small, fallen twigs for kindling. (Wood in stacked piles is not for burning but reserved for mushroom cultivation and other projects.) Honey: We offer honey harvested from blueberry blossoms in spring and the rich flavors of black locust and clover in late summer. Blueberries: Come July, partake in our U-pick blueberry farm, an experience seamlessly woven into your stay. Misc. We also offer a variety of organic garden vegetables and herbs throughout the growing season. Kindly inquire on availability upon arrival if you are interested in any of these farm fresh goodies. Catch-and-Release fishing is welcome. We look forward to having you enjoy the natural beauty at Willowthorne!
Pets
Potable water
Toilets
from 
$54
 / night
The Vaudeville Urban Farm Fun!

2. The Vaudeville Urban Farm Fun!

93%
(315)
28mi from Gary · 8 sites · Tents, RVs · Chicago, IL
Twenty years of growing this farm... Not what grows here but the farm itself! Stone and brick pulled from the ground till we found the beautiful earth beneath and built an incredible community around it. Or rather, it grew itself from the energy that surrounds it. It's a special spot where you may happen upon a fire in the sugar shack while we boil city collected sap into maple syrup or have an open jam night with world class jazz musicians. Enjoy the morning serenade of our rooster! Really, just come and be here. Though we think we're pretty cool, a few things to note that you may not think are so cool: There is a train that runs directly behind the farm. Light sleepers, may want to bring ear plugs. We try to accommodate parking your car on site but it's weather and situation conditional. Assume the possibility that you may need to park on the street. Bring your tent to The Vaudeville! (RVs, campers, trailers, vans please see the ** at the bottom). Our urban farm is smack in the middle of Chicago only a 10 minute bike or train ride from Downtown, Lake Michigan, The Mag Mile and all Chicago has to offer! Bike the Lake Shore Trail, walk the 606, kayak the Chicago River, catch a blues show or Hawks game or just relax with the goats and chickens in the 9,000 square foot farm that we absolutely love to share with fellow campers! ** We have stopped hosting RVs, campers/vans, pull behinds and larger vehicles because we are finding it difficult to get them in the entrance gate but if you feel amazingly capable with your backing in skills in your rig and you're super patient, laid back and extra cool, let us know and we may be able to make it work!! :)
Pets
Potable water
Toilets
from 
$48
 / night
Sleek Acres

8. Sleek Acres

100%
(116)
46mi from Gary · 8 sites · Tents, RVs · Grovertown, IN
Sleek Acres is a total of 13 acres, which includes our homestead, our chicken yard and barn, a fishing pond with a beach, and over 8 secluded acres to the back of the property where guests can explore (including walking trails). We provide a bathhouse, which includes a toilet and shower. A handwash/dishwashing station is located right outside the bathhouse. Fire rings, cooking grates, and picnic tables are provided at each site. A small amount of firewood is provided, and additional firewood is available for purchase. Located central to many destinations, we are: *5 minutes from All-Sports Koontz Lake; *10 minutes from Plymouth, (plenty of shopping, restaurants, and home of the Blueberry Festival - Labor Day weekend); *10 minutes from Walkerton, home of the Falloween Fest (Sept. 26, 27, 28); *20 minutes from Potato Creek State Park, *25 minutes from Bass Lake Beach *25 minutes from Valparaiso; *50 minutes from Indiana Dunes State Park, *45 minutes from Notre Dame If you are looking for a quiet, relaxing place to camp, yet close to many attractions, Sleek Acres is the place to be! :) (Please note: Check in and out times, as well as quiet hours, are based on central time.)
Pets
Potable water
Toilets
from 
$34
 / night
The Mannex!  Indiana Dunes Nat'l Pk

16. The Mannex! Indiana Dunes Nat'l Pk

100%
(12)
20mi from Gary · 1 site · RV · Beverly Shores, IN
The Man's Annex aka the Mannex is located on Scenic US HWY 12 to the South and The South Shore Commuter Rail to the North.  The campsite is very clean, tidy and safe.  The main pebble parking area slopes gently to the North so you will want levelers if you're in a camper.  I have a brand new RV Pedestal complete with 50 and 30amp service, a mechanical timer for the LED lights encompassing the parking area as well as a rheostat so you can dim the lights.  I have a 40" firepit with spark arrestor (please use to be in compliance with local laws) as well as a polywood octagonal picnic table and well water with 100' hose.  Trash and human waste is to be carried out.  Please keep your camper to the east of the blue and yellow birdhouses as access to the building is needed. The location is great!  You're inside the dunes national park and only 1.35 miles to the beach.  Just north of the train tracks is the Calumet bike path.  .35 to the west is a gas station with a bathroom, the south shore train station (day trip to Chicago anyone?), a great restaurant and liquor store as well.  Bikes are HIGHLY recommended to be able to help facilitate your exploring of this very unique part of the country. If you're a birder and you don't already know, bring your binocs, this is one of the best birding towns in the Midwest / country due to the location and it's biodiversity.
Pets
Potable water
Trash
from 
$135
 / night
Glamping in a Tiny Cabin on a Farm

18. Glamping in a Tiny Cabin on a Farm

100%
(3)
41mi from Gary · 1 site · Lodging · New Carlisle, IN
Experience a serene and relaxing getaway in our off-grid tiny cabin on our farm. Created with the intention of slowing down (no tv, no wifi and no refrigerator), enjoy wandering the fields relaxing in one of the hammocks, cooking on the outdoor fire pit, sipping coffee on the front deck and generally taking a break from modern life. If you'd like to explore the area, we are nearby popular trails and bike routes, U-pick farms, breweries & restaurants and beaches along Lake Michigan. **From November -March the outdoor shower is weather dependent.** ******The term "glamping" means "glamorous camping" with an emphasis on camping. The tiny home and bathroom provide a comfortable and modern experience while still allowing the feel of rustic and outdoorsy traditional camping. All of your cooking will be done outside with our propane cooktop, grill or fire pit. There is a wash station on the back deck for washing dishes. ******* The tiny home was crafted to blend in with the scenery and to impact the surrounding trees and fields as little as possible. The loft includes a cozy queen bed with plush pillows and linens and the living space has a pull out sleeper sofa with a memory foam mattress. Relax indoors while taking in the view from the couch or enjoy a glass of wine on the front porch or one of the hammocks. Just steps away, the tiny home has a separate private bathroom with heated outdoor shower. We have three potbelly pigs that enjoy company as well as chickens and a turkey. Deer frequent through the campsite and surrounding area as well. This is an operating farm so the owners and employees are in the fields tending to the plants, washing, and packing produce throughout the week. You may hear people talking or the occasional tractor in a nearby field. The farm is certified naturally grown and works with the USDA on land management.
Potable water
Toilets
Showers
from 
$111
 / night
Cozy

20. Harbor Country Cabins

100%
(13)
42mi from Gary · 2 sites · Lodging · Sawyer, MI
I become owner of this property in 2017. The cabins were built in the late 90's financed by the previous owner. The property was vacant for decades prior to that. In the 1950's, the property was a drive-in motel called the 'Harbert Motel'. We have an arial photo from this time period which showed a number of small bungalows for guests, each with its own carport. I love all the stories I hear from locals who have been around long enough to remember how things 'used to be'. Southwest Michigan has an interesting history and has been a 'destination' from city dwellers for close to 100 years. Even Al Capone and his goon's frequented the area as they moved illegal good during the days of prohibition. Learn more about this land: Breweries, Wineries, Berry Picking, Art Studios, Farmers Markets, hiking trails, biking trails, Lake Michigan boating, kayaking, fishing, canoeing.......all those things and more await you in Southwest Michigan. We have 6 'tiny house' style cabins on 1-acre property we call - Harbor Country Cabins. Harbor Country Cabins is located along the Lake Michigan Wine Trail. Our resort offers a unique lodging and gathering location in the center of Harbor Country, near Southwest Michigan’s premier destination for beaches, breweries, wineries, dining and summer fun. With 12 queen bunk and 4 twin bunk beds spaced across 6 cabins, our property can hold up to 28 people. Price in this listing is for rental of all 6 cabins.
Pets
Potable water
Toilets
from 
$855
 / night

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Happy farmer sitting in a truck in a grassy field
Happy farmer sitting in a truck in a grassy field