Potato Creek State Park
- Status
- Open (per official listing)
- Entrance fee
- Statewide rule — see below
- Day-use reservations
- None mentioned
- Dogs
- Not stated — check with park
- Camping
- 357 campsitesAlso cabins
- Official site
- in.gov574-656-8186
Official page last checked Oct 29, 2026. How we keep this current
Current alerts 1
Water quality BLUE-GREEN ALGAEFound in lakes year round. Don't drink the water. Shower after you swim. More information.
Posted by the park. Official alert
Overview
Covering about 3,586 acres, Potato Creek State Park lies in St. Joseph County, about 11 miles southwest of South Bend.
Visitors come for cross-country skiing, horseback riding, ice fishing, mountain biking, and winter sports. On the water side, there is a swimming beach, a boat ramp, and a fishing pier. For overnight stays there are 357 campsites across 2 camping areas (tent sites). If you'd rather not camp, the park offers cabins.
Hours
Park, gate, office and facility hours are listed separately because they often differ. Alerts above override normal hours.
| Facility | Days | Hours | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Other — Property | Daily | 7 a.m. – 11 p.m. | — |
Official wording
Property: Daily, 7 a.m. - 11 p.m.
Source: official park page, checked Oct 29, 2026. Times are local to the park (America/Indiana/Indianapolis).
Fees and passes
Per vehicle daily gate fee: $7 Indiana plates / $15 out-of-state at state parks and state-managed lakes; exceptions Indiana Dunes ($7/$20), Prophetstown ($8/$16), Falls of the Ohio Interpretive Center ($9 adult/$7 child); $2 per person age 5+ on foot, bicycle or horseback.
Statewide fee rule from Indiana's park system; this park’s page doesn’t list its own fees.
Indiana park passes
- Annual Entrance Pass — $50. Noncommercial vehicle, driver and passengers at DNR properties that charge a gate fee Details
- Non-resident Annual Entrance Pass — $120. Non-Indiana resident noncommercial vehicles Details
- Golden Hoosier Passport — $25. Indiana residents 65+ or eligible for SS disability; vehicle, driver and passengers Details
- Disabled Hoosier Veteran Pass — $25. Persons eligible for a Disabled Hoosier Veteran plate Details
- SSDI Pass — $25. Indiana residents receiving or eligible for SSDI Details
From the Indiana state guide. Confirm which passes this park accepts.
Reservations
- Day use
- No day-use reservation requirement mentioned
- Booking system
- ReserveAmerica (Indiana State Parks) for camping, cabins, shelters, group camps; separate inn reservations
- Phone
- 1-866-622-6746 (camping, cabins, shelters, group camps); 1-877-563-4371 (inns and Brown County cabins)
We link to the official booking system rather than showing live availability, which changes minute to minute.
Camping
| Campground or site type | Sites | Hookups / features | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electric (Electric Map) | 287 | Electric | — |
| Horsemen's Electric (Horseman's Electric Camp Map) | 70 | Electric | — |
Camping details from the park
- Electric / 287 sites (Electric Map)
- Horsemen's Electric / 70 sites (Horseman's Electric Camp Map)
- Youth Tent Areas (Youth Tent Map)
- Camp Store
- Water Fill Station/Dump Station
From the official park page, checked Oct 29, 2026. Site counts and prices can change; confirm when booking.
Cabins and lodging
Cabins / 17 (Cabin Floor Plans)
Things to do
PicnickingHikingBikingBoatingHorseback ridingWinter sportsCross-country skiingFishingIce fishingMountain bikingCanoeing and kayakingSwimmingWildlife viewing and birdingCamping
Trails
| Trail | Length | Difficulty | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trail 1 | 2.2 mi | Moderate | Skirts Worster Lake, passing through old fields and Maple and Oak Hickory forest. Returns to Nature Center area. |
| Trail 2 | 2 mi | Rugged | Accessed either from Trail 1 or Trail 4. Winds through woods, up and down hills, to the highest point in the park. |
| Trail 3 | 1 mi | Moderate | Travels along ridge overlooking Worster Lake, passing through Beech Maple forest and down to the lake observation deck. Wonderful spring wildflower trail. |
| Trail 4 | 2.5 mi | Moderate | Scenic path along the stream through Beech-Maple woods, past the lake and old farm sites. |
| Trail 5 | 1 mi | Easy | Rolling trail cuts through old fields. Has a small wetland observation deck. |
| Trail 6 | 0.5 mi | Easy | Short loop passes wetland and woods. |
| Peppermint Loop Trail | 0.9 mi | Easy | Starts at Nature Center following Trail 1 on old Peppermint Road along the lake. Cuts through a young woods and rejoins the end of Trail 1. |
| Paved Bicycle Trail | 3.3 mi | Moderate | Trail starts at boat rental and ends near Tulip Poplar shelter. It winds up and down wooded hills, above the creek bed, and then onto flat land passing wetlands and through forests. |
| Friends Wetland Trail | — | Easy | Looped Trail passes by multiple wetlands and observation decks. |
Trail descriptions from the park
Potato Creek State Park offers a motorized wheelchair that can be taken on trails and around facilities.
1. MODERATE (2.2 miles)—Skirts Worster Lake, passing through old fields and Maple and Oak Hickory forest. Returns to Nature Center area.
2. RUGGED (2.0 miles)—Accessed either from Trail 1 or Trail 4. Winds through woods, up and down hills, to the highest point in the park.
3. MODERATE (1 mile)—Travels along ridge overlooking Worster Lake, passing through Beech Maple forest and down to the lake observation deck. Wonderful spring wildflower trail.
4. MODERATE (2.5 miles)—Scenic path along the stream through Beech-Maple woods, past the lake and old farm sites.
5. EASY (1 mile)—Rolling trail cuts through old fields. Has a small wetland observation deck.
6. EASY (.5 mile)—Short loop passes wetland and woods.
PEPPERMINT LOOP TRAIL (.9 mile), EASY—Starts at Nature Center following Trail 1 on old Peppermint Road along the lake. Cuts through a young woods and rejoins the end of Trail 1.
PAVED BICYCLE TRAIL (3.3 miles), MODERATE—Trail starts at boat rental and ends near Tulip Poplar shelter. It winds up and down wooded hills, above the creek bed, and then onto flat land passing wetlands and through forests.
MOUNTAIN BIKE TRAIL (7.4 miles), BEGINNERS—Developed through a partnership between the Northern Indiana Mountain Bike Association and Potato Creek State Park. Please obey posted signs and ride safely. For increased safety, bikers should ride in the direction indicated and hikers should walk in the opposite direction. Bikers should always yield to hikers. Helmets recommended.
FRIENDS WETLAND TRAIL (.75), EASY – Looped Trail passes by multiple wetlands and observation decks.
Swimming
Swimming / Beach (Policy). ADA sidewalk runs from the parking lot to the water’s edge for accessible beach access.
Boating and paddling
Boat Launch Ramps / 2
Rentals Bicycle Canoe, Rowboat, Kayak Recreation Building
Fishing
Fishing / Ice Fishing / Fishing Pier
A state fishing license is usually required.
Amenities
Facilities
- Picnic areas
- Playground
- Nature center or museum
- Parking
Water
- Swimming beach
- Boat ramp
- Fishing pier
- Fish cleaning station
Camping
- Tent camping
Lodging
- Cabins
Recreation
- Horse trails
✓ listed by the park · ✕ the park says it is not available. Anything not shown here isn’t mentioned by the official source — that means unknown, not unavailable.
Accessibility
Swimming / Beach (Policy). ADA sidewalk runs from the parking lot to the water’s edge for accessible beach access.
Official accessibility information
Conditions change. Contact the park to confirm specific accessible features before your visit.
Getting there
- Nearest town
- South Bend — about 11 mi southwest (straight line)
- Coordinates
- 41.5399, -86.3597
- Phone
- 574-656-8186
Google Maps directionsApple Maps
Directions from the park
Address: Mailing: P.O. Box 908, North Liberty, IN 46554 Mapping: 25601 State Road 4, North Liberty, IN 46554
Nearby state parks
Sources and freshness
- Indiana State Parks — park page — last checked Oct 29, 2026
- Indiana State Parks 'Find A Park' property list + DNR ArcGIS site layers (coordinates)
- Wikidata
- USGS PAD-US 4.1 (boundary and acreage)
“Last checked” is when our system last read the official source. No change has been detected since this page was first published. Hours, fees and rules can change without notice — confirm with the park before you go. Methodology