Nestled in New Castle, Indiana, is an awesome state park filled to the brim with things to do and see. It's the perfect place to get away from the hustle and bustle of day-to-day life and unwind in the great outdoors - and the best part of all, we think, is that it's open year-round. No matter when the "anywhere but here" mood strikes, no worries - head to Summit Lake State Park for a quick getaway. It's not only one of the best places for year-round camping in Indiana - it's an amazing place to visit, period. Be it summer, spring, autumn, or winter, time doesn't matter here. This amazing experience will leave you with a new appreciation of Indiana's wildlands.
Summit Lake State Park is a 2,680+ acre park with an 800-acre lake right at its heart.
It's perfect for everyone, no matter what your interests might be. Rent a canoe, go fishing, hike, birdwatch... the possibilities are only as limited as your imagination.
It helps that the lake is truly beautiful; it's crystal-clear and reflects the blue Indiana sky day in and day out.
The fishing here is great, and you can catch all sorts of varieties of fish. Of course, when it comes time to pack up the fishing gear and leave for the day, well... who says you have to leave at all? Summit Lake State Park is an awesome place for campers to spend the weekend (or longer) at this splendid little slice of paradise.
The park features 120 electric campsites, all of which are outfitted with modern comfort stations.
Whether you bring an RV or you plan to camp the old-fashioned way, reservations for campsites ought to be made ahead of time by visiting the official Indiana State Parks website.
The atmosphere here is always jovial and friendly.
There's something especially wonderful about being surrounded by stunning natural beauty and lots of friendly faces with similar interests as your own. Camping at Summit Lake is an unforgettable experience.
Even during the chilliest months of the year, the park and the lake tend to be outrageously photogenic.
If you've never sipped hot chocolate while overlooking a frozen lake as snow falls and the warmth from a nearby campfire accompanies you, you haven't lived. This here is the perfect spot for doing exactly that.
Sunsets and sunrises over the lake are particularly striking; those are the two best times of day to leave your campsite and embark on a quick spin around the lake via canoe or rowboat.
Once the sun has gone down, don't forget to look up - the sky above will be filled with millions of brilliant, flickering stars, moonlight permitting, of course.
...and in the morning, when the golden light of the sun floods the campsite and wakes you up, you can be one of the first people to hit the lake nice and early.
Check out this cool, firsthand video of Summit Lake and all the things that make it perfect:
Learn more about Summit Lake State Park and how to plan your camping trip no matter what time of year it is on the official IN.gov website.
Need some more ideas? Check out this list of more places you can camp year-round in Indiana.
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