Following our first shakedown trip to Mounds State Park in Anderson, Indiana, it was time to start enjoying our new travel trailer. The very next weekend, we made sure we were packed up and ready to roll as soon as M came home from school. We had our sights set on Brookville Lake – more specifically, Quakertown State Recreation Area, a little less than two hours from home. Although it’s not a bad area, it’s not necessarily a major destination and we landed on this site because we planned late and all of our top destinations were fully booked.
There are two state recreation areas on Brookville Lake. The lake itself covers about 8.5 sq miles and seems to be enjoyed by quite a few boaters. The two recreation areas are Quakertown and Mounds State Recreation area. If you book the latter, be careful that you don’t land on the Mounds State Park booking page. The Indiana DNR even has a warning on their booking pages.
Quakertown Campground
Our arrival at Quakertown Campground was a bit confusing. Google Maps was convinced that the entrance to the park was to the right, off a very small road, and eventually a dirt trail. We followed instructions and can confirm that this wasn’t the right way. Thankfully that very small road made a loop back to the main road after a short distance and we were able to get back on track. If it had dead-ended, there was no place to turn around and we weren’t quite ready to practice backing up the RV for a mile down the road!
Sometimes technology doesn’t always help and Google’s confusion was an overpass. The entrance to the park is on one side of the road and then loops back to the other side of the main road via an overpass.
As per usual in Indiana State Parks, checking in at the campground was quick and easy. We were pointed to our space and were excited to get the weekend started. This campground has electricity, but not water or sewer hookups. So we made sure to fill our freshwater tanks to the brim.
The park was well visited, but it was very quiet and peaceful. We found the campsites to be well spaced out and there were nice large trees spread around the campground. The pads also seemed to be fairly level which is always appreciated.
After setting up, we quickly headed out with our Great Dane to explore the small campground. Compared to Mounds State Park, we were sad to see that no trails were leading directly from the campground.
Discovering Quakertown Recreation Area
Right next to the campground entrance, we found an area that was nice to walk dogs. It’s an archery range (so, keep your eyes open while exploring), but there were no archers there any time we walked through. It’s a nice walk of about 1-mile roundtrip to circle the archery range. Sadly, that’s the only real walkable option directly from the campground.
This recreation area is all about water sports, with boating being the number one attraction. We explored the marina a bit which was a very popular and busy spot. The lake is decently sized and probably would be nice for swimming in the summer or fishing. Unfortunately, there were not a lot of great options for casting from the shoreline, though.
Exploring Metamora, Indiana
Following a great night’s sleep and breakfast at the camper, we went to explore the historic town of Metamora. It’s about a 30-minute drive from the Quakertown Campground, taking you through some pretty scenic views for Indiana standards. The town itself is located along one of the old canals that served as a mode of transport and commerce in years gone by.
Old Buildings and Architecture
Arriving in Metamora is a bit like time stood still. The historic facades line up on Main Street and the canal cuts through everything. The old gris mill, which was Metamora’s main business in the past, is open to visitors who want to take a tour (admission charged). We opted to just explore the area from the outside and the nearby shops.
The shops of Metamora are quite touristy, offering all types of knick-knacks and curiosities. We had a great time going from store to store, looking at the eclectic mix of wares.
The Ice Cream Experience
Our favorite stop was “Grannie’s Cookie Jars & Ice Cream Parlor” which has (according to Guinness Book) the world’s largest collection of cookie jars. They submitted a count of 2,653 cookie jars to the officials at the Guinness Book. It was quite impressive to see just how many cookie jars were on the market. We even recognized some of them from the kitchen counters of our =relatives. Of course, all of them are for sale in case you find one you just have to have one!
Aside from Cookie Jars, this place also had some surprisingly good ice cream. We each bought a cone and continued to explore.
While the town isn’t huge, we still spent about 2 hours just wandering around, looking at all of the sights and stores. There are little restaurants as well and a few places weren’t yet open when we arrived at around 10:30 am. They decorate at Christmas which must be beautiful and have events during the year, so if you want to visit, we recommend checking out their local events pages.
Breakfast at Liberty Restaurant
Sunday morning breakfast is one of our favorite activities when exploring a new place. We discovered Liberty Restaurant, in nearby Liberty, Indiana, on Google Maps with a respectable 4.7-star ranking. The restaurant is quite small and looks just like you’d expect from a small-town breakfast place. We felt like we were the only folks in there who didn’t know each other by name. The interior hasn’t been updated in quite some time, adding to its charm.
We enjoyed our delicious breakfast and M was thrilled because they had French Toast (her favorite which is often hard to find). After breakfast, we decided to walk off some calories before heading back to the campground. Liberty’s “downtown” area is not very large, but we still enjoyed wandering the really cute town square.
The End of Another Weekend
Sadly, the end of the weekend came way too quickly and we made our way home Sunday afternoon. Visiting Brookville Lake and surrounding areas was a relaxing and fun weekend outing from Indianapolis. It was nice to see that the “weak points” we’d discovered in our camping experience had been fixed and we could live without the sewer hookup for a few days. We love our travel trailer and it’s become a second home – with all its comforts.
Have you ever been to this area and visited any of these destinations? We’d love to hear what you think in the comments below. Have additional suggestions in the area? Tell us below.
FAQs
- What makes Quakertown State Recreation Area a great destination for an RV trip?
- Quakertown State Recreation Area is less than 2 hours from Indianapolis, making it convenient if you live in the area. It also has a nice lake making it great for a longer getaway. It’s located among great scenery and there are fun sights to see nearby.
- Can you recommend any must-visit spots in Metamora?
- We enjoyed all of the small shops and places to grab a bit to eat because they were so eclectic. Our favorite was Grannie’s Cookie Jar & Ice Cream Parlor and A One of a Kind gift shop.
- What are the best activities to do in and around Quakertown Campground?
- If you have a boat, this area must be amazing. Otherwise, there is not too much to do around the campground itself. We spent our time relaxing at the campground and going for walks.
- How suitable is the area for first-time RV travelers?
- The campground is very nicely laid out, with wide paths and easy-to-back-in sites.
- What is the best time of year to visit for the optimal experience?
- Indiana isn’t known for its great winter weather. If you are looking for water activities Summer is probably the best time to visit. We visited in late September and the weather was perfect for taking walks and exploring.
