river along a hiking path in a state park near muncie indianaIf you live in or around the city of Muncie, the Indiana State Parks system provides you with plenty of opportunity to enjoy the great outdoors.

Not only are there 24 state parks you can visit, there are also no less than seven smaller satellite locations, as well as two state forest recreation areas, and eight reservoir properties you can check out too.

Collectively housing more than 700 miles of trails, as well as 15 stunning beaches, 17 marinas, 75 launching ramps and around 160 playgrounds, boredom is not an option here. There are plenty of chances to hike, bike, fish, swim or engage in a range of water sports activities like canoeing, kayaking and paddle boarding.

There are also plenty of places to stay overnight too, with accommodation options incorporating some 635 hotel rooms, 7700 campsites, 200 shelters and around 150 cabins.

So there are really no excuses for not making the most of these outstanding outdoor recreational activities.

Map of State Parks Near Muncie IN

Here is a map of the Indiana state parks covered in this post:

List of State Parks Near Muncie

Outlined below is a selection of five fabulous state parks near Muncie you should really try and visit.

All of these state parks can be reached in a day and also have camping facilities should you wish to stay overnight or a little bit longer.

1. Mounds State Park

Location: 4306 Mounds Rd, Anderson, IN 46017

Situated just 15 miles from Muncie, the Mounds State Park is a great place to visit at any time of the year.

An area of huge cultural significance for Native Americans, you will find the park just off the I-69 towards the east of Anderson.

The park features ten ceremonial mounds which are believed to have been built by the prehistoric Adena people. The largest of which dates back to 160 BC and is thought to have been a gathering place for religious ceremonies.

As well as this fascinating and educational landmark, the park also offers a number of interesting hiking trails. It also has a number of spectacular white river spots, a lovely swimming pool and plenty of plant and wildlife spotting opportunities.

Should you wish to stay a night, or more, there are 75 electric sites available for camping, as well as youth tent areas. There is even a dumping station here too, along with a convenient camp store.

2. Mississinewa Lake

Location: 4673 S. 625 E.Peru, IN 46970

Mississinewa Lake is about a 70 minute drive northeast of Muncie. It is one of three outstanding Upper Wabash flood-control reservoirs that lie within the north-central region of Indiana.

Providing superb options for boating, fishing, swimming and hunting, the lake is surrounded by a spectacular landscape of prairies, forests and farmland, which is also great for hiking, photography and wildlife spotting.

The well-equipped campground here is very big and features over 400 sites and cabins. It also boasts a basketball court, volleyball court, horseshoes and a Frisbee Golf Course. While other amenities include playground equipment for kids, two fishing piers, a fish cleaning station and a marina with 4 boating ramps.

3. Summit Lake State Park

Location: 5993 N Messick Rd, New Castle, IN 4736

Another fantastic destination that is only a 25 minute drive from the city of Muncie is Summit Lake State Park.

Covering a distance of over 2680 acres, the main feature of the park is the magnificent lake, which offers fantastic fishing, boating, beaching and picnicking options.

The area is also a renowned region for bird watching and wildlife observation, with rarer species like the bald eagle, black tern, American bittern, sandhill crane, king rail, least bittern and osprey often making an appearance.

The campground here accommodates 120 electric campsites. It also has numerous hiking trails, as well as three boat ramps, two large open shelters and a beach bathhouse that can be reserved for events like birthday parties, weddings or other types of celebrations.

4. Potato Creek State Park

Location: 25601 IN-4, North Liberty, IN 46554

Although it’s almost a 2 hour 30 minute drive from Muncie, the charmingly named Potato Creek State Park is well worth the drive north.

Located about 12 miles southwest of South Bend, the park has a notable history that dates back to when native peoples used it for hunting and fishing.

Comprising of a bosky landscape of mature woodlands, lush fields, verdant prairies and picturesque wetlands, one of the parks main highlights is the spectacular Worster Lake which covers some 327-acres.

If you love fishing, swimming, canoeing, kayaking and other recreational water sports, you’ll want to spend a lot of time around this shimmering lake. While hikers and nature enthusiasts will enjoy the many trails that showcase the magnificent flora and fauna that is dotted around the area.

The campground facilitates 287 electric sites as well as youth tent areas too. While there is also a water fill and dump station, and a camp store that stocks basic and essential items you might need during your time there.

5. Indiana Dunes State Park

Location: 1600 N 25 E, Chesterton, IN 46304

The furthest state park on this list from Muncie is the Indiana Dunes State Park. Accessed via a three hour drive northwest of the city, the park hugs 15 spectacular miles of the southern shoreline of Lake Michigan.

Comprising of some 2,182 acres, this stark and primitive landscape features a spectacular stretch of beach that houses 200 foot tall sand dunes that soar above Lake Michigan. Taking thousands of years to form, they are a truly wonderful sight and you will be able to take plenty of fabulous Instagram worthy photos.

As the beach runs for some 3 miles it is good for both walking, fishing and beach combing. There are also lots of hiking trails and picnic shelters, while bird watching opportunities are aplenty too.

Unfortunately dogs are not allowed on the Indiana Dunes State Park beach. However it does have 140 campsites that all come with 50 amp electricity, as well as a youth tent area should you want to book in for a few days.