The best forest campgrounds near St John, Indiana

Looking for the perfect camping experience near St John, Indiana? Look no further than Hipcamp! With over 340 options in the area, you're sure to find the ideal campsite for your adventure. Whether you prefer a cozy tent site or a rustic cabin, Hipcamp has got you covered. Plus, with an average price per night of $39 and options as low as $15, you can find a campsite that fits your budget. Check out some of our top campsites with rave reviews: Walnut Valley Realm (230 reviews), Heritage Farm Stay Adventure (196 reviews), and The Vaudeville Urban Farm Fun! (136 reviews). Don't forget to take advantage of popular amenities like showers, campfires, and toilets, and enjoy activities like swimming, surfing, and hiking. Book your camping trip now and get ready for an unforgettable outdoor experience!

97% (52)

Top-rated campgrounds

Looking for the perfect camping experience near St John, Indiana? Look no further than Hipcamp! With over 340 options in the area, you're sure to find the ideal campsite for your adventure. Whether you prefer a cozy tent site or a rustic cabin, Hipcamp has got you covered. Plus, with an average price per night of $39 and options as low as $15, you can find a campsite that fits your budget. Check out some of our top campsites with rave reviews: Walnut Valley Realm (230 reviews), Heritage Farm Stay Adventure (196 reviews), and The Vaudeville Urban Farm Fun! (136 reviews). Don't forget to take advantage of popular amenities like showers, campfires, and toilets, and enjoy activities like swimming, surfing, and hiking. Book your camping trip now and get ready for an unforgettable outdoor experience!

97% (52)

Top-rated campgrounds

1. The Mannex! Indiana Dunes Nat'l Pk

100%

(12)

30mi from St John · 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.

2. Hruby Ranch Woods Camp -Eagles Nest

93%

(57)

11mi from St John · 2 sites · Lodging · Crown Point, IN

Learn more about this land: Come enjoy a stay at the rustic Hruby Ranch. 50 acres of private land to explore. A cozy comfortable excursion tent with queen bed. There are trails throughout of which you are free to explore. And our animals will surely delight. A fire pit is always a wonderful way to end the day. Located 12 minutes from I 65 and 15 minutes from downtown Crown Point and 20 from Valporaiso. If the beach is more your style, we are 25 minutes from the Indiana dunes and Lake Michigan! We are in winter/inclimate weather conditions, all stays are hike in and out approximately 150yards from the barn and stable areas.

3. Organic Vegetable Farm

24mi from St John · 5 sites · RVs · Demotte, IN

At Perkins' Good Earth Farm, we offer a peaceful, scenic place to rest with convenient electrical hook-ups (50/30/20 amp options). Our on-site farm store features our own USDA Certified Organic produce, along with other locally sourced foods, grab-and-go soups and salads made in our farm kitchen, gourmet hardneck garlic, and a weekly veggie adventure through our CSA program. Guests can enjoy our beautiful half-mile trail that winds through woodland and native prairie. Leashed animals are always welcome! Campsites are open year-round. Our farm store is open with regular hours from May through mid-November (Monday, Wednesday, Thursday 9–5 and Saturday 9–12, plus Fridays 9–5 in June–September). Even when the store is closed, items are still available for order and pickup through our online store. On the day of your arrival, we’ll send self-check-in instructions, including how to make after-hours purchases from the online store. One last tip: we strongly recommend avoiding Chicago traffic during rush hour—or altogether, if you can!

4. Earth Mama’s Farm

26mi from St John · 1 site · Tent, RV · Pembroke Township, IL

A small rural farm tucked away in the beautiful black oak savanna prairie ecosystem. The farm features several acres of native prairie restoration, along with hiking trails in nearby woods. The campsite is set within the prairie restoration area along a wooded edge — a perfect location for those seeking starlit Midwest skies, the sounds of native birds and wildlife, and scenic views throughout their stay. Located about 30 minutes from town, you’ll have easy access to major stores via all paved roads while still escaping the hustle and bustle of urban life. Enjoy a fresh country experience in this beautiful part of Illinois, once part of the historic Grand Kankakee River Valley Marshland. A fire pit is provided at the campsite, with firewood included in your fee.

5. The Mill Creek Hideout

48mi from St John · 10 sites · Tents, Lodging · Mill Creek, IN

Hi! My name is Macy, and this is a project that my grandmother, father, brother, and I have been working on together. Our goal is to share our property with families who have children that love to ride. A quick story: When I was a kid, one of my dad’s best friends’ parents let us use about 20 acres of their farm and woods, where we set up a little campground. We had a small camper, tents, a fire pit, and a track out in the woods where we rode dirt bikes, four-wheelers, and side-by-sides. The best part was that we could keep our belongings and machines there during the week, so when the weekend came, all we had to do was show up and make memories with family and friends. To this day, we still talk about those times. With that in mind, we want to rent this cabin out to families so they can experience the same thing. We’ve tried to make it as easy as possible for you to simply show up and focus on creating memories. We hope that keeping things simple will allow for more time riding and enjoying the woods. We’re also located close to many attractions, which are listed in the cabin description. Since it’s private property, it’s a safe environment—even for beginner riders. If you have any questions or would like more information, please feel free to reach out to us.

6. The Dunes Escape

23mi from St John · 1 site · Lodging · Porter, IN

We live 4 miles from the National Lake Shore ..

Stories from the community

D

Deron

October 2025

24 ft travel trailer

3 nights at The Mannex! Indiana Dunes Nat'l Pk

Absolutely PERFECT private camping spot!! Geoff has done an immaculate job of setting up a well maintained and comfortable stay. 30amp plug in, hose to transfer water, fire pit and café lighting hung for ambiance. Timer and dimmer in the electric box. As it says in his profile, there is the e-train that goes by occasionally- but by no means does it minimize the stay! Geoff stopped by to welcome us, great guy. Had some common threads and ended up having a couple beers with him and great conversation. Ended up booking with him b/c the campgrounds were full - but will easily stay there again no matter what!

Vanisa

September 2025

With kids

Weekend Trip to Hruby Ranch Woods Camp -Eagles Nest

The Hruby Ranch was everything we were hoping for and more. You can tell immediately that there is a lot of love put into the property. It is very well maintained and easy to do our overnight getaway, having comforts of home and still outdoor camping feeling. Seeing both sunset and sunrise from our site was so special. The animals were our kiddos favorite along with the trampoline! Thank you Tom and Ally for the hospitality, we hope to make this at least an annual getaway.

Sitting at camper looking towards tracks (didn’t mind the trains!)

M

Mindy

August 2025

25 ft Class C

Group trip

1 night at The Mannex! Indiana Dunes Nat'l Pk

We stayed at the Mannex with a small Class C and pull behind vehicle. We were able to unhook and rehook the tow vehicle right in the driveway, and was room to park both within the camping area. Be sure to have leveler blocks though as to get close to electrical box and keep your awning towards the tracks (and not the road) you’ll likely need them. Wasn’t a problem though and was a perfect spot for us en route to Iowa to check out the Indiana Dunes. I’d bring a Thermacell for nighttime to keep bugs at bay. I would stay again if coming though the area. (Timer/lights hung at site is a nice touch as is all the bird houses!)

L

Levi

July 2025

25 ft travel trailer

With kids

1 night at The Mannex! Indiana Dunes Nat'l Pk

Very nice and well kept place. 5 minute drive to the beach was extremely convenient. Very private.

From the picnic table, facing towards road.

J

James

July 2025

26 ft Class C

2 nights at The Mannex! Indiana Dunes Nat'l Pk

This is a very well maintained (new!) site, that while right off the road is very private, and perfect if you want some privacy and easy access to Indiana Dunes and the local sights. Not a huge fan of Michigan City, but this local area had some nice restaurant and convenience store/gas stations/gift shop. Indiana Dunes state park itself is extremely nice with a more traditional beach, and great trails. The town of Beverly Shores is this weird little enclave right along the coast, it's got a really nice little scenic drive along the coast but you can't park anywhere without a parking pass, sort of reminiscent of the snobbier coastal towns up in New England. There's a national park beach down the road but it's a bit of a hike to the beach from the parking lot. This is a premium location if your rig/trailer is able to fit in, larger RVs and trailers won't fit. Really enjoyed the site and the host!

April

July 2025

18 ft pop-up camper

With kids

4 nights at The Mannex! Indiana Dunes Nat'l Pk

We camped with our ALiner here for the 4th of July weekend. This spot did not disappoint. Geoff was a great host and gave us so many pointers - where to go to the beach, where to eat, etc. Our kiddos loved watching all the trains go by our spot. The space was spacious and you can tell Geoff put a lot of care into it. The beaches nearby are lovely and just down the road. Our only suggestion would be to have a porta potty on site. :)

Cara

July 2025

21 ft Class B

With pets

1 night at The Mannex! Indiana Dunes Nat'l Pk

This was a great spot! Very close to the beaches. Felt secluded enough but close enough to town to grab anything. We went with our lab and toddler and it was perfect.

w

william

July 2025

16 ft travel trailer

2 nights at The Mannex! Indiana Dunes Nat'l Pk

Great location and beautiful site set up. Light sleepers may be affected by road and train noise.

E

Erica

June 2025

27 ft travel trailer

With pets

Weekend Trip to The Mannex! Indiana Dunes Nat'l Pk

We had a fantastic stay at this campsite! Jeff was absolutely awesome — super friendly, helpful, and clearly dedicated to making sure guests have a great experience. He checked in to make sure we had everything we needed and made us feel totally welcome from the start. The location is ideal — peaceful and private, but still really close to the beach and anything else you might need. It was so convenient to pop out for groceries, food, or hit the coast for the day. One thing we were a little unsure about beforehand was the commuter train tracks nearby, but they turned out to be no issue at all. The trains weren’t loud, and from inside our camper, we couldn’t hear them at all — it didn’t disturb the peace in the slightest. The site itself was clean, well-maintained, and had a relaxed, easygoing vibe. Whether you’re looking to unwind in nature or use it as a base to explore the area, this place is perfect. Highly recommend — we’ll definitely be back!

L

Laurie

June 2025

24 ft Class C

With pets

1 night at The Mannex! Indiana Dunes Nat'l Pk

Camping at Mannex was great! Clean, great utilities, welcoming host. Located within minutes of Lake Michigan, beautiful beach and sunset. Bike trail to the beach is easily accessed, restaurant with live music just down the road. Pet friendly, too! Thank you, Geoff!