Across northern Indiana, I-80 runs with I-90 on the Indiana Toll Road. The best RV parks along it are clustered around South Bend and Elkhart, the Amish communities of Middlebury and Shipshewana, and the two ends of the state: the Indiana Dunes in the west and Pokagon State Park near Angola in the east. For a one-night stop with full hookups and a long pull-through, the Elkhart parks are the easy choice. For a stay worth stopping a day or two, the Dunes, Shipshewana and Pokagon are the picks. Below is each option, which Toll Road exit serves it, and where to stop next once you cross into Ohio. Plan your stay at Ridge Ranch Campground in Newton Falls.
We run a campground on I-80 in Ohio, not in Indiana. These parks are listed because they’re useful to travelers on this stretch, and we have no connection to them. Confirm current details with each park before you go.
I-80 through Indiana: the basics
The Indiana Toll Road is about 156 miles long, running from the Illinois line to the Ohio line. I-80 shares it with I-90 from Lake Station east to Ohio. West of Lake Station, I-80 leaves the Toll Road and follows the Borman Expressway with I-94 into Illinois. The Toll Road’s travel plazas sit near mileposts 22 (Portage), 56 (Rolling Prairie), 90 (Elkhart) and 126 (Howe). They’re handy for fuel and food, but they aren’t campgrounds.
RV parks near South Bend and Elkhart
Elkhart Campground (Elkhart)
The go-to stop for big rigs in the South Bend–Elkhart area. It sits just north of the Toll Road on the Elkhart side and has about 250 pull-through sites, most 70 to 80 feet long. More than 130 sites are full hookup, with 20-, 30- or 50-amp service, and there are deluxe concrete-pad sites too. You’ll also find free Wi-Fi, mini golf, tennis and basketball courts, and cabins. It’s open from April 1 to mid-November. It’s the closest large full-hookup park to South Bend, roughly 15 miles east of downtown.
Elkhart County / Middlebury KOA Holiday (Middlebury)
This KOA is on State Road 13 in Middlebury, south of Toll Road exit 107 (US 131 / SR 13). It suits a longer stay, with a pool, a fishing pond, walking trails and campfire evenings. It also runs a shuttle to the Shipshewana Flea Market, which saves you unhooking.
Things to do near South Bend and Elkhart
- RV/MH Hall of Fame (Elkhart): a 100,000-square-foot museum of historic RVs, including a 1913 Earl travel trailer believed to be the oldest surviving example. It has pull-through parking for RVs. Elkhart calls itself the RV capital of the world because so many RVs are built there.
- Notre Dame and downtown South Bend: Toll Road exit 77 serves both.
Shipshewana and Amish country RV parks
Shipshewana, in LaGrange County, is a short drive south of the Toll Road and is known for its flea market and Amish shops and food. Several campgrounds cater to RV visitors:
- Shipshewana RV Park: on the Shipshewana Flea Market grounds. It has full hookups, pull-through and back-in sites, room for big rigs, free Wi-Fi and a newer shower and laundry building.
- Shipshewana Campground South Park: next to the flea market, with electric hookups, a playground, a rec hall, laundry and pavilions. It’s pet-friendly.
- North Park Campground: just north of downtown, with a bathhouse, a pavilion, Wi-Fi and an on-site ice cream shop.
The Middlebury KOA above is the other common base for Shipshewana trips.
Indiana Dunes camping (west end)
- Indiana Dunes State Park (near Chesterton): 140 electric sites, all with 50-amp service. The park has more than three miles of Lake Michigan beach and trails that climb the highest dunes in the park. Book early for summer weekends.
- Dunewood Campground (Indiana Dunes National Park, Beverly Shores): 67 sites, open April 1 through November 1, with no electric or water hookups at the sites. There’s potable water in each loop and an RV dump station. Reservations open on Recreation.gov six months ahead.
Pokagon State Park (east end, near Angola)
Pokagon is the last good stop before Ohio if you’re eastbound. Exit 144 (I-69) serves it, and the park sits about five miles north of Angola on Lake James and Snow Lake. It has about 200 electric and 73 non-electric campsites, the historic Potawatomi Inn, and a refrigerated toboggan run that’s a winter favorite. Reservations are recommended.
Quick reference
| Park | Toll Road access | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Elkhart Campground | Elkhart exits (92/96) | Big-rig pull-throughs, full hookups, overnight stops |
| Elkhart Co. / Middlebury KOA | Exit 107 | Families, Shipshewana shuttle |
| Shipshewana RV Park | South of the Toll Road via LaGrange County | Flea market and Amish country stays |
| Indiana Dunes State Park | West end, near Chesterton | Lake Michigan beach, dune hiking, 50-amp sites |
| Pokagon State Park | Exit 144 (I-69) | Lakes, trails, the last stop before Ohio |
Tips for RVing I-80 across Indiana
- Book the summer and fall weekends. Shipshewana and the Dunes are destinations in their own right and fill up on weekends. Weeknight stops at the Elkhart parks are usually easier.
- Ask about site length and amp service when you book, and request a pull-through if you’re towing.
- Check the season. Most private parks here, and the national park campground, close for the winter. Elkhart Campground runs April to mid-November, and Dunewood runs April through October.
- Plan your next day. A common RVer rule of thumb is to keep a driving day to around 300 miles. That’s about the distance from Elkhart to Northeast Ohio.
Heading east? Your next stop in Ohio
Past the Indiana line, I-80/90 becomes the Ohio Turnpike. From Elkhart it’s roughly 280 miles of Toll Road and Turnpike driving to Ridge Ranch Campground in Newton Falls, close to a full day’s drive. Ridge Ranch is a lake campground just off I-80 in Trumbull County, about 1 hour 15 minutes from Cleveland and 1 hour 45 from Pittsburgh. For big rigs, take the Newton Falls exit and follow the route through Braceville village. You’ll cross over I-80 twice on the way. Sites 22–26 are gravel pull-throughs with 50-amp service, set up for easy one-night stops. Check-in is through a gate that reads license plates, so you can drive straight to your site without stopping at the store.
A one-night stop at Ridge Ranch still comes with things to do. There’s a 17-acre lake with a sandy beach, the Wibit water park in season, a bounce pillow, an arcade and weekend events at the lakeside pavilion. Plenty of travelers end up staying a second night. See rates, amenities and our guides to campgrounds along I-80 in Ohio and RV parks along I-80 coast to coast.
FAQ
Are there RV parks near South Bend, Indiana?
Yes. The nearest large full-hookup park is Elkhart Campground, about 15 miles east of downtown South Bend off the Toll Road. The Middlebury KOA and the Shipshewana parks are within a short drive farther east.
Is I-80 a toll road in Indiana?
Mostly. From Lake Station to the Ohio line, I-80 runs with I-90 on the Indiana Toll Road. The short stretch west of Lake Station follows the Borman Expressway, which is not tolled.
Which Indiana state parks are closest to I-80?
Indiana Dunes State Park near the west end of the Toll Road, and Pokagon State Park, off exit 144 near the Ohio line.
