Prophetstown State Park RV & Campground Guide
Indiana
Stepping onto the part of the plain that makes up the 2,000-acre Prophetstown State Park, you can appreciate the strategic intellect of the man who developed a Native American community of over 6,000 people who lived there in 1811. Huddled between the Tippecanoe and Wabash Rivers, the region offered natural barriers to invasion from the east. Where the rivers did not provide protection, swampy fens made passage of a large group nearly impossible. Today, the region contains a few structures like a replica of a Shawnee Council House, a few lodgepole buildings typical of Shawnee habitations, and a reproduction of an 1820s farm. The park is a commemoration of a lifestyle that disappeared shortly after the Battle at Tippecanoe, where a superior number of Native American forces, missing their tactically superior leader—Tecumseh—were destroyed by American troops. West Lafayette is only two miles southwest, while Indianapolis, the largest city in Indiana, is a mere hour drive from the park.
Spring 31-74 F
Summer 61-85 F
Fall 34-78 F
Winter 19-39 F
RV Resorts & Campsites in Prophetstown State Park
Camping in an RV is the easiest and most fun way to camp at Prophetstown State Park. Traveling in an RV allows the whole family to enjoy the ride while taking all the essentials with them. The added room, the increased comfort, and the fact that RVs are easy to move between campgrounds make vacations a memorable event. Use this Battle Ground, IN, site to find an RV to rent near the park.
Prophetstown State Park Campground
Prophetstown State Park Campground offers 110 spacious RV campsites with fire rings and picnic tables. Of those sites, 55 have full hookup potential. Roads in the park consist of asphalt as do the campsite pads. A dump station is provided near the entrance to the park. Restrooms and a bathhouse add comfort elements for campers. RVs can fill their water tanks at a separate water station. Drinking water is provided at pumping stations throughout the campground.
- Water Hookup: Yes
- Electric Hookup: 15/20/30/50 amps
- Sewer Hookup: Yes
- Wi-Fi Available: No
- Pet-Friendly: Yes
- Fee: $26 to $40 per night
Wolfe’s Leisure Time Campground
Wolfe’s Leisure Time Campground sits only six miles from Prophetstown State Park. Fifty-three RV campsites are available for temporary occupancy. Each site offers spacious gravel pads and a fire ring. Five of the campsites offer pull-thru access; the rest are back-ins. These sites can accommodate rigs up to 50 feet in length. Hot showers and a laundry facility are available for all guests at the campground bathhouse, and the restrooms have flush toilets. A boat ramp allows visitors to launch their craft into the river for easy fishing. This campground features two huge playgrounds that will keep the kids busy all day. A swimming pool, volleyball and basketball court, and hiking trails are available for all guests.
- Water Hookup: Yes
- Electric Hookup: 30/50 amp
- Sewer Hookup: Yes
- Wi-Fi Available: Yes
- Pet-Friendly: Yes
- Fee: $23 to $38 per night
Charlarose Lake and Campground
Charlarose Lake and Campground sits 40 miles southwest of Prophetstown State Park. This is a seasonal campground open from April 1 through November 1. Of the 112 campsites, 38 are available for temporary RV camping. Each of the sites is 26 feet in width, leaving plenty of room for the picnic table and fire ring provided on each site. While the two pull-thru sites can accommodate rigs up to 60 feet in length, the rest are back-ins with a limit of 50 feet. Hot showers, restrooms with flush toilets, and a laundry facility are available. A dump station is provided for guests to clean their waste tanks. Lake Charlarose lies next to the campground. The lake is well-stocked with fish twice per year. Guests can rent boats, canoes, or kayaks to enjoy the surface of the lake. A self-service RV wash is located inside the campground as well as an onsite RV service. Outdoor games are sponsored by the campground. A game room with an arcade and other exciting games lies inside the office building.
- Water Hookup: Yes
- Electric Hookup: 30/50 amp
- Sewer Hookup: Yes
- Wi-Fi Available: Yes
- Pet-Friendly: Yes
- Fee: $35 per night
What to Do at
Prophetstown State Park
Inside Prophetstown State Park
Among the favorite activities that visitors enjoy are hiking trails that run beside Harrison Creek, through swamp fens, and into the Native American Village. Two of the pathways are rated as easy as they traverse the prairie, and one is rated moderate since it includes trails that traverse one of the more difficult fens. An aquarium center provides fun for kids and adults; it contains a 30-foot tube slide, a lazy river float area, and an aquatic activity area. At this park, visitors observe realistic replicas of Shawnee lodgepole buildings and structures favored by other tribes. The “Farm at Prophetstown” organization rents 125 acres of the park, where participants reenact the farming conditions on the prairie during the early 19th century.
Outside Prophetstown State Park
The area surrounding Prophetstown State Park is full of opportunities for families and individuals to explore. Whether you are looking for a new taste or a familiar one, the restaurants in the area offer an immense variety of cuisines. Shopping opportunities are abundant, mainly due to the density of the population. Activities such as nature trails, a Frank Lloyd Wright-designed home, and other fun opportunities await every visitor.
Restaurants
East End Grill
East End Grill serves a mix of American foods. Try their shrimp and grits for a touch of Southern cuisine or their barbeque rib basket for a different dinner entirely.
Type: American
Location: 1016 Main Street, Lafayette, IN 47901
8Eleven Modern Bistro
Drop-in at the 8Eleven Modern Bistro for an American cuisine influenced by the modern bistro movement. Their truffled spaghetti or New Zealand mussels are dinners that will take you beyond your normal palate experience.
Type: American
Location: 201 North Grant Street, West Lafayette, IN 47906
Revolution Barbeque
There is nothing like a barbeque restaurant that takes a different approach to their product. At Revolution Barbeque the idea of merely splashing sauce over everything and calling it good does not exist. Here you find barbecue that is rubbed, smoked, and handcrafted to get the most nuanced flavors possible.
Type: Barbecue
Location: 721 Main Street, Lafayette, IN 47901
Shopping
Tippecanoe Mall
The nearest shopping center to Prophetstown State Park is Tippecanoe Mall. The shopping center hosts 88 stores, some of which are national brands.
Location: 2415 Sagamore Parkway South, Lafayette, IN 47905
Gretel’s
When you are in the mood to visit a gift shop to commemorate your trip to Prophetstown State Park, stop by Gretel’s. Here you find creative gifts that border on the eccentric or quirky.
Location: 1530 Win Hentschel Boulevard, West Lafayette, IN 47906
Fresh Thyme Market
There are times on a camping trip that you will require more fresh produce. The freshest produce you can find in West Lafayette is at the Fresh Thyme Market. Whether you are looking for fresh vegetables, milk, eggs, or any other perishables, this is the place to visit.
Location: 2410 North Salisbury Street, West Lafayette, IN 47906
Sightseeing
Samara House
The architecturally significant Samara House is an essential visit for anyone in the area of West Lafayette, IN. The home displays 40 of the innovative concepts that Frank Lloyd Wright used in his revolutionary designs. Two-hour tours are available for guests and are often attended by architectural students from around the world.
Location: 1301 Woodland Avenue, West Lafayette, IN 47906
Celery Bog Nature Area
The Celery Bog Nature Area is a 195-acre reserve where children interested in the function of nature take classes in the care and utilization of naturally occurring plants. There are seven miles of trails that wander through the savannahs, woods, and prairie areas of the reserve.
Location: Celery Bog 1620 Lindberg Road, West Lafayette, IN 47906
How to Get to
Prophetstown State Park
The quickest routes to Prophetstown State Park run through Lafayette, IN. To get there from Lafayette, travel north on Interstate 65 (I-65) to exit 178, opening onto State Route 43 (SR-43). Turn south on SR-43 for 200 feet and turn left onto Burnett Road. Follow Burnett Road to Ninth Street and turn left onto Swisher Road. Follow Swisher Road over I-65 to the park entrance.
To get to Prophetstown State Park from Indianapolis, follow I-65 N to exit 178 and follow the directions above.
Entering Prophetstown State Park
Prophetstown State Park is a day-use area that is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Entry fee (in-state visitors) : $8
Entry fee (out-of-state visitors) : $10
You’ll make memories that last a lifetime when you take an RV adventure to Prophetstown State Park. If you don’t have an RV of your own, rent one with RVshare! If you share your trip photos on social media, be sure to tag us, or send them to [email protected] for a chance to be featured on our blog.