This Indiana River State Park Offers Scenic Camping And Vibrant, Colorful Fall Foliage

If you're looking for a Midwest weekend getaway boasting fall foliage, look no further than Tippecanoe River State Park in Winamac, Indiana. The campground is accessible from three different nearby cities, taking just about two hours to drive to Tippecanoe River State Park from Chicago, Indianapolis, and Fort Wayne. It's also pet-friendly and a fun spot to take your whole family. With a fishing pier, playground, and picnic areas, the park is great for a day trip or a weekend getaway. 

To get into the park, there's a $7 per vehicle fee ($9 for out-of-state), and for other forms of transportation — bikes, buses, pedestrians — it's $2 per person. If you're camping overnight in the park, you only need to pay the park fee once for the duration of your stay and show your receipt whenever you leave and re-enter the area.

While swimming is not allowed in the Tippecanoe River, there are other ways to enjoy the river, including hiking, fishing, and canoeing. As one of the best Midwest rivers for floating, it might just be calling your name to get out in your canoe or kayak. Plus, if you have a state fishing license, you can even fish for bluegills, bass, and more. Hikers can take the River Bluff Trail to get near the river while passing through forests in the park. There are also several historic structures around the park, including the 1937 Winamac Fire Tower that boasts scenic views above the tree line. Fall is the perfect time to go on your next camping adventure and explore Tippecanoe River State Park, and see which viewpoints around the park have the best fall foliage views.

Tippecanoe River State Park has several camping options to choose from, depending on the type of camping your group wants to do. The park offers more than 100 campsites with electric hookups, at just $23 per night. For campers who would like a roof over their head but still want to feel like they're camping, the park offers "rent-a-camp cabins," which can fit up to six people and cost $50 per night. The layout is a one-room cabin with two sets of bunk beds, where four people can sleep, and then a loft where two others can sleep. There is electricity but no heat or AC, and cooking is not allowed in the cabin. Additionally, while pets are allowed in most of the campground, they're not allowed in the cabins or the surrounding area. But on the plus side, both the electric campsites and the camping cabins are near modern bathrooms and showers.

For more primitive options, there are 56 campsites that are meant specifically for campers bringing their horses. Note, you're not allowed to book these sites if you do not have at least one horse with your group. Since these sites don't have electricity, they're just $15 per night. As for those who want to be close to the boat ramp, the primitive river tent camp is for you. There are 10 tent-only sites, all a short distance from the boat ramp. That said, these sites come with the least amount of amenities, so they're only $12 per night. Either way, both primitive options (whether the Equestrian or the tent-only sites) do not have electricity and only have vault toilets available.

This beautiful park borders 7 miles of the Tippecanoe River and is the perfect spot to immerse yourself in nature. There are more than 22 miles of hiking trails, including 14 miles of horse trails, along with fishing and birding opportunities. So really, there's something for everyone, with easy to moderate activities to explore the park.

One of the activities that has to be at the top of your list at Tippecanoe River State Park is to hike the fire tower to get an epic view above the trees. This is an activity that, if you time it right with fall foliage, offers a gorgeous view at 756 feet of elevation as the trees show off their yellow and gold colors. It looks like it's just a quarter-mile trail if you go directly to the fire tower, followed by multiple flights of stairs to the top. The Winamac Fire Tower is 90 feet tall and open to visitors to climb. If you want more of a hike, you can continue on the Sand Ridge trail after climbing the fire tower, which is 1.9 miles in total.

Other than that, the park provides great bird-watching opportunities, earning a spot on the Indiana Birding Trail. There are several different areas of the park where you can spot various types of birds, from yellow warblers at the shallow lake to whippoorwills in the wooded areas, and even herons along the river. As birds migrate for the winter, fall can be a good time to get out there and see which migratory birds are on the move. And, if you can't get enough of your Midwest fall weekend trips, check out Brown County State Park, just three hours away from Tippecanoe River State Park.