Potato Creek State Park
Address: 25601 State Road 4, North Liberty IN 46554
Phone: 574-656-8186
Time from Chicago: 2 hours, 15 minutes (95 miles)
Website: www.in.gov/dnr/parklake/2972.htm
Camping at Potato Creek State Park
Potato Creek State Park is just south of South Bend, Indiana. That makes it a substantial trek from the Windy City, but it’s not too far out of the way. It’s about a two-hour drive, which makes it a good choice for Chicagoans who want to escape the city and get out into nature.
The massive campground features 287 electric sites bunched together in five separate ring-shaped areas. Cost ranges from $12 to $29 per night; check Indiana’s online reservation site for more specific details on pricing. More than 25 of the camp sites are wheelchair accessible.
One of the popular features of the park is the 327-acre Worster Lake, which serves as a center for hiking, fishing, and boating. Want to spend some time on the water? Canoe, kayak, and paddleboat rentals are available. Bike rentals are also available for those looking to ride around on the park’s three miles of paved bike trails.
Potato Creek State Park includes woodlands, wetlands, and prairies. It’s a popular spot for watching birds and observing plants. Commonly spotted wildlife inside the park include deer, swans, squirrels, and other small mammals like the woodchuck.
Potato Creek also has 17 cabins, so if you’re looking for a place near Chicago to rent a cabin, this state park may be an option worth considering. During peak season, there may be a minimum stay of one week required to rent a cabin (though this could be reduced to as little as two days, depending on demand.)
As of this writing, the daily cost to rent a cabin here is $80 per night during the week and $90 from Thursday through Saturday nights.
Click to take a “virtual tour” of the inside of the cabins on the park’s website.
Images: annahesser, ndomer73
