Rustic Charm: Sand Creek Campground Review, Indiana
Sand Creek Campground
Sand Creek Campground is located near Indiana Dunes National Park in Chesterton, Indiana, near the southern shore of Lake Michigan. This campground is located one hour from the middle of Chicago and about 15 minutes from Indiana Dunes National Park. The area around the campground is full of beautiful sandy beaches, dunes, and a diverse ecosystem full of woodlands and prairies. You will find camping, hiking, and other outdoor activities nearby. This is a family friendly campground, and the expectation is to respect the other campers with no display of drunkenness, drugs or alcohol use and no loud music.
Address: 1000 North 350 East, Chesterton
Reservations are made by calling them directly. I prefer to book online, but they are easy to contact, and it is easy to complete the booking via phone.
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Campground map
I called this campground a week before we were going to be in the area to inquire about occupancy. I wasn’t exactly sure what day we would be in the area and wanted to know if I should book ahead. The lady I talked to stated that their campground is rarely full, and I could book it then or wait and book later if needed. She was extremely helpful and kind in her response. Knowing that they are rarely full did make me kind of nervous, but it turned out to be the perfect spot to stay for a night.
I called to book this campground a couple hours before we were going to be there. They were extremely helpful on the phone and even provided the below map via text prior to our arrival so we would know where our options were to camp. You can see with the orangish colored pencil marks where we would enter the campground (lower left corner) and where the camping spots would be, as circled in the map.
This map was helpful in getting us to the right spot as we arrived in the dark.
Campground lots
When we arrived, we were able to pick out any open space to camp at. There is plenty of space to spread out on their 40-acre land. This allowed us to choose to be closer to people or a little further away if preferred. We arrived when it was dark, but we didn’t have any trouble finding a spot to camp. There were sections of people, and then there were areas that were less crowded.
There are different camping options available: (2024 prices)
Tents - first come first served
$32.10 a day or holidays $37.45
RV sites
partial hookups with electric, back in $40.66 a day, holidays $42.80
partial hookups with electric, pull through, $45.00 a day, holidays $50.00
full hookups with electric and sewer, back in, $48.15 a day, holidays $53.50
full hookups with electric and sewer, pull through, $52.00 a day, holidays $60.00
Cabins require $100 deposit which will be returned if there is no damage to the cabins. No kitchenette or linens provided
Cabins with bathroom
$90.95 a day, $460.00 a week (limit two weeks), $115.00 a day
Cabins without bathroom
$80.25 a day, $428.00 a week (limit two weeks), holidays $100.00 a day
Restrooms and shower
It was nice to have restrooms with a shower available. When we boondock we do not have this luxury, so it was nice to have. The shower house was clean overall but there were bugs, as expected from any campground bathroom. The floors needed an update on the painting but nothing that limited its use.
There are two bathhouses at this campground. This one closer to the entrance and the one near the pool area.
Amenities
There are several amenities available within this campground which makes it the perfect place to stay if you have kids who need to keep busy. Amenities include:
swing set
basketball court
soccer goals
volleyball net
pool (seasonal)
Final thoughts
Sand Creek Campground offered us a pleasant stay with accommodating staff and amenities that met our needs. While this campground may not be meticulously manicured, it provided the basics and comfort we needed for a restful night of sleep. You can still find untamed beauty of the surrounding area along the natural setting where Sand Creek winds throughout providing the perfect backdrop for a natural experience. If you are in the area and need a place to camp outside of Indian Dunes National Park, I would recommend this campground. This campground is privately owned and the perfect location between Chicago and Indian Dunes National Park for a night or two stay.
This campground does close during the winter months but starts taking reservations again in March.
WHILE IN THE AREA, MAKE SURE TO HEAD OVER TO CHICAGO FOR A FUN FAMILY TRIP
Enjoy the journey,
Meet the author: Jennifer
I’m just a girl who loves to travel. My favorite travels have been traveling across the US in a campervan, visiting all-inclusive resorts in Mexico, marking National Parks off my list, & many smaller trips. I love to share my adventures to inspire others to travel more. If you can dream it, you can do it! Want the whole story?
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