Camping & Antique Hunting: A Fall Weekend in Northern Indiana

Who says you have to choose between a relaxing camping weekend and a little antique treasure hunting? In the Midwest, you can do both!

Chain O'Lakes State Park is one of our favorite places to camp in Indiana, especially in the fall when the leaves are changing and the air is crisp. Between the beautiful trails, lakes, and cozy evenings around the campfire, it's a wonderful place to slow down for a few days.

But what makes this camping trip even better is its location. You're just a short drive from charming small towns filled with antique stores, coffee shops, and local restaurants.

Here's how we spent a long weekend camping at Chain O'Lakes while squeezing in a little treasure hunting along the way.

Thursday: Set Up Camp & Enjoy a Relaxing Evening

Start your long weekend by getting settled into your campsite at Chain O'Lakes State Park.

There's plenty to do here, whether you enjoy biking, hiking, kayaking, or spending time at the beach. The park also has a great camp store, nature center, and a historic schoolhouse you can tour for free.

If you're camping with kids, there's a large playground in the middle of the campground. You can even reserve a nearby campsite so the kids can play while you relax around the fire.

Once you're settled in, take a bike ride or enjoy a walk through the park before making dinner.

We love having a big pot of chili with all the fixings on a cool fall evening. There's just something about eating around a campfire with the leaves changing around you that makes camping this time of year so enjoyable.

Friday: Antique Shopping in Kendallville

One of my favorite things about camping is having a slow morning.

Make breakfast sandwiches, pour another cup of coffee, and spend some time reading before heading out for the day.

When you're ready, drive about 30 minutes to Kendallville, Indiana, for a little antique shopping.

Treasure Hunting at Carla's 5 Bucks Antiques

This is a great antique shop with plenty of booths to explore and reasonable prices.

We spotted several hen-on-nest dishes, a fairy lamp, and lots of other vintage treasures. Everyone in our group left with a few finds, which is always a sign of a successful antique-shopping day!

If you've been following my antique adventures, you know I've developed a slight obsession with hen-on-nest dishes and fairy lamps, so I was pretty happy with the selection here.

Lunch at Jen's Bistro

This cozy local café serves sandwiches, Reubens, and daily lunch specials. It's the kind of small-town restaurant where you'll find plenty of locals enjoying their lunch.

If you love a good thrift store, stop at The Bargain Shoppe right next door. You'll find everything from clothing to household items, with some prices as low as 50 cents.

Before leaving Kendallville, head across the street to Love Me Two Times on Main.

An antique store that also sells ice cream and fudge?

Yes, please!

Take your time browsing the vintage finds before treating yourself to a scoop of ice cream. It's the perfect way to wrap up your afternoon of shopping.

Back to the Campground

Head back to Chain O'Lakes for a relaxing evening.

Take another bike ride, enjoy a walk through the campground, or simply settle in around the fire.

That's the beauty of this kind of weekend. You can spend a few hours exploring nearby towns and still have plenty of time to enjoy camping.

Saturday: Pizza, Vintage Finds & Coffee in Garrett

Enjoy another slow morning at the campground before heading about 30 minutes to Garrett, Indiana.

This little town has some great local businesses, and you can easily spend a few hours exploring.

Start with lunch at Coterie Pizza.

Their pizzas are baked in a handcrafted Italian stone oven, and they also have a self-pour beer wall, which is a fun feature.

I've eaten here twice now, and both times the pizza has been fantastic.

Definitely order the cheesy bread, too. It's delicious!

Right next door is Jolene's Boutique, one of my favorite little vintage shops.

This is a perfect example of how quality beats quantity.

It's not a huge store, but the antique and vintage finds are SO good. Everything feels thoughtfully selected, and they also carry cute clothing and accessories.

If you love beautifully curated vintage pieces, don't skip this stop.

One More Antique Stop at Miss Vicki's

Drive a little farther down the road to Miss Vicki's for another round of treasure hunting.

Take some time browsing the antiques and collectibles before heading to your final stop of the afternoon.

Coffee at The Grind

You know I can't end a shopping day without a little iced coffee for the drive home!

Stop at The Grind for your favorite latte, iced Americano, or another coffee treat before heading back to the campground.

It's the perfect little pick-me-up after an afternoon of shopping.

Spend the Evening at Chain O'Lakes

Once you're back at the park, enjoy whatever sounds good.

Visit the historic schoolhouse, take the kayaks out on the water, explore another trail, or simply spend the evening relaxing around the campfire.

Sometimes the best part of camping is not having anything planned at all.

Bonus Stops: Coffee & Local Food in Albion

If you're looking for a few more places to explore, Albion, Indiana, is only about 15 minutes from Chain O'Lakes State Park.

Stop at The Fox Den for coffee, matcha, and baked goods, or spend a little time treasure hunting at Heath's Antiques.

If you're hungry, Pizza Depot and El Mariachi Mexican Grill are both local options worth checking out.

Albion is an easy addition to your weekend if you have a little extra time or want to squeeze in one more coffee stop before heading home.

Final Thoughts

One of the things I love most about camping in northern Indiana is how easy it is to combine time outdoors with exploring nearby small towns.

You can spend your mornings drinking coffee by the campfire, your afternoons hunting for antique treasures, and your evenings relaxing under the trees.

Chain O'Lakes State Park makes a wonderful home base for this kind of weekend, with Kendallville, Garrett, and Albion all just a short drive away.

If you love camping, coffee shops, antique shopping, and discovering local favorites, this is one fall getaway that's definitely worth the drive.

And honestly, is there anything better than coming home from a camping trip with a few new antique treasures?

 You May Also Like: