Patoka Lake is the second largest lake in Indiana and has so much to offer! It includes a state park area with camping, hiking, archery, and a marine for boating. I went there on a family camping trip and really enjoyed myself and tried to enjoy the park as much as possible. This is my experience and maybe you will find some of the information useful.
Helpful Links
- Lake info: https://www.in.gov/dnr/parklake/2953.htm
- Modern Campground Reservations: https://indianastateparks.reserveamerica.com/camping/patoka-lake/r/campgroundDetails.do?contractCode=IN&parkId=570052
- Modern Campground Map: https://www.in.gov/dnr/parklake/files/patoka_electric_1_367.pdf
- Lake Level: https://www.lrl-wc.usace.army.mil/reports/lkreport.html
- Lake Temperature: https://www.lrl.usace.army.mil/Missions/Civil-Works/Water-Information/Updated-Lake-Temperatures-and-Dissolved-Oxygen-Lev/Patoka-Profile/
- Patoka Lake Marina and Lodging: https://www.patokalakemarina.com/
History
Army Corps of Engineer History: The lake lies in Dubois, Crawford, and Orange counties in southern Indiana. The dam is located approximately 118.3 miles above the mouth of the Patoka River, a tributary of the Wabash River approximately 12 miles northeast of Jasper, IN.
Patoka Lake exists as a cooperative management effort between the Corps of Engineers and the Indiana Department of Natural Resources. The lake has 8,880 acres of water in the summer for fishing, boating, swimming and other water-related activities. The Patoka Lake region offers many opportunities to enjoy wildlife or recreate in the great outdoors.
Patoka Lake was authorized under the Flood Control Act of 1965. The Louisville District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers designed, built, and operates the project to reduce flood damages downstream from the dam.
During the fall and winter months, when excessive rainfall is likely, the lake is kept at a relatively low level referred to as the winter pool. Should heavy rains occur, surface water runoff is stored in the lake until the swollen streams and rivers below the dam have receded and can handle the release of the stored water without damage to lives or property.
Camping
There are two campgrounds located in the state park. One is the Fisherman’s Campground and the other is the Modern Campground. The fisherman campground is located on the west side of the park and also includes a tent camping area near the lake in the woods. There is also a boat launch area adjacent to the campground so it has easy access to the water.
The modern campground is where I stayed. I stayed in site 13 which is right next to a large playground area. The modern campground is extremely large! The entire campground area seemed full when I stayed. The campground includes RV hookups for electricity but didn’t include any water hookups so you will need to fill up your RV water tank or have bottles. There is a water fill-up area near the check-in shack to fill up your tanks. See the link above to see the layout of the campground.
The campground has bathroom buildings located throughout the park and each of the bathrooms has 3 showers and 3 toilets. They were free and didn’t require any coins or tokens. There was plenty of hot water for the shower too which was great! There is also a dump station just south of the check-in shack if you need to clean out the RV toilets too. The campground is full of RVs and boats so you’ll be in good company with your home on wheels and toys!
Marina, Boating, and Cabins
The marina is one of the best parts of this state park. You can rent boats for lake use from the marina. There are all kinds of options for fun on the water. The marina offers pontoon boats, two-story fun-and-play boats with slides, small fishing boats, houseboats, and even a wine cruise. We rented a pontoon boat on Friday and then the two-story fun-and-play boat on Saturday. Pro Tip…tie a rope to a bucket so you can put water on the slide so you don’t get stuck to the plastic on your way down.
The Marina also books lodging options. These include lodging at the winery near the entrance to the park and the floating cabins near the marina. The floating cabins are a unique stay in Indiana and the Patoka Lake Winery is a cool rustic place that has a unique flare. If you have the time and money, then both places would be a fun place to stay!
Other Park Activities
The park offers lots to do besides water activities. There is an archery area. Multiple hiking areas and trails. There are bike trails. There is even a fitness trail with different stations to do bodyweight exercises and a paved path that starts at the modern campground area. The park is also just beautiful and still pristine in a lot of areas like the sunflower field above.
If you’re ever in southern Indiana and are looking for a lake and campground this is the place for you. There are plenty of things to do in and out of the park. There’s tons of space and so much to do. You should put Patoka Lake on your trip map for the future!
If you’re ever in Oklahoma, I’ve already searched out some great camping areas so check it out here. I live in Oklahoma so the plains and the west is my normal area.
Camping is something I love and I’ll continue to check out new and interesting places. Safe Camping and Trekking, everyone!