When planning a road trip or weekend getaway, you probably don’t first think of the Midwest. While Indiana, Illinois, and Missouri don’t get much love from travelers, locals have their favorite hidden gems. Today, we’re sharing about France Park, a beautiful oasis with plenty of outdoor recreation. If you’re looking for a place to camp for a few days, check out the sites and activities in this Logansport park. Let’s dive in!
Located in Cass County, Indiana, France Park is 90 minutes north of Indianapolis and 90 minutes southwest of Fort Wayne. The park sits along the banks of the Wabash River in north-central Indiana. It’s easily accessible via several highways like 35, 25, 29, and 17, which all run through Logansport.
Pro Tip: Check out the best spots in Indiana to camp at for free before heading to the Hoosier State!
France Park is over 500 acres of beauty in Logansport, Indiana. You can enjoy scuba diving through the Indy Dive Center. The Old Kenith Stone Quarry is lined with limestone cliffs and is one of the most popular diving locations in Indiana, reaching a depth of 31 feet. There’s also a beach area, and swimming is allowed. Kayakers can also enjoy the quarry as long as no divers are present.
There’s a boat ramp at Elzbeck Lake, where anglers can launch and enjoy a day on the lake trying their hands at largemouth bass, red ear blue gill, and crappie. There are also primitive campsites along the lake.
In addition to water recreation, visitors can bike 15 miles of trails in France Park. These trails are single-track, double-track, gravel, and asphalt, and range from flat and easy to more strenuous cobbled climbs.
Finally, locals love visiting France Park to play a round of mini golf or disc golf. The 9-hole mini golf course is $3 per person, but you get $1 back when you return the balls and clubs. The disc golf course offers holes for beginners and seasoned pros. Be sure to bring your own discs.
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There are several miles of hiking trails at France Park. Perimeter Trail is the longest at four miles. The Paw Path Trail is about 1.5 miles, and the Trimmer Trail is about 1.2 miles. All other trails are less than a mile long. The trail to the waterfalls is near the fishing lake.
However, quite a few Google reviews mention how poorly marked these trails are. One visitor wrote, “Really nice park, but their trails are not well marked or maintained.” Another hiker said, “The trails are fantastic, with our only gripe being that the trail markings are poor – in fact, trail markings are non-existent. Be prepared to check the map on your phone often if you find yourself confused about where to head next!” So, be aware of this information ahead of time and be prepared to find your way around France Park.
To visit France Park, you’ll pay a $5 entrance fee at the gate. This is per person and not per car. On the weekends and holidays, this entrance fee increases to $10 for adults. You can also purchase an individual pass for $100 or a family pass for $200. This is good for a year.
Primitive campsites are $20 per night, and modern electric campsites range from $30 to $40 depending on the day of the week and type of electric service. The 30-amp sites are a bit cheaper than the 50-amp sites. France Park also offers weekly rates.
We mentioned that there are primitive campsites around the fishing lake at France Park. There are also modern electric sites at the main entrance. The campground includes a playground, a community fire pit, a pavilion, a store, restrooms, and a dump station. Water is available at most modern sites.
The maximum stay is 12 nights in the campground and six nights in a primitive campsite. During the off-season of November 1st to April 30th, no camping is permitted.
One visitor shared, “France Park is a great place to explore and hike! We had never been here before and were pleasantly surprised by how calm and uncrowded it was on a summer morning. The sights were breathtaking, including the water-filled quarry and the waterfall. The trails are fantastic as well.”
A local who has been coming to France Park for years said, “It’s so clean and beautiful. Photo ops are everywhere, and the price is (great). I’ve been going here since I was a little girl, and I’m now camping with my teenagers.”
Logansport, Indiana, is home to France Park, a beautiful oasis in the north-central part of the state. Locals enjoy year-round recreation, including biking, hiking, camping, fishing, scuba diving, and swimming.
So if you’re in the area, take a page out of the local Cass County handbook and visit France Park. Spend a few days camping and enjoying the outdoor recreation, adding beautiful scenery. Be rejuvenated before heading back to the daily grind. You’ll be glad you did!
