Eby’s Pines Campground in Bristol

The boys and I were eager for a chance to get away together while Daddy was working horribly long hours. We felt like doing something fun–while also covering a small Hoosier town we hadn’t yet visited.

So, we stayed at Eby’s Campground in Bristol, Indiana.

Eby’s Campground in Bristol

There are different campsite options at Eby’s Campground. I love choices! Campsite locations range from near the river, among the many pine trees, or by the big pond. There’s primitive campsites, nicely shaded, for those who love tent camping. Electric and water sites are also available though tent campers may need an adapter.

This Indiana campground offers RV hookups, deluxe pull-through 50 amp sites for large units or Full hook-up sites that have the welcome addition of water, electric and sewer. Both options have a picnic table and a fire ring, because it hardly counts as camping if you can’t do a campfire at least once! I admit, however, that we didn’t–we had too much exploring to do.

Anyone who had previously visited Eby’s Pines Campground in the past may want to take a second look. The Main Bathhouse has since been updated with new tile, counters, and touch-less faucets. The full hook-up section has also had a bit of a makeover! I’ve been told that many trees were removed to give these campers a larger site complete with new 20/30/50 electric, water, and sewer hookups. But don’t worry: those trees didn’t go to waste!

Instead, they were milled and then used for the construction of the Amish-built Comfy Cabin. Local Amish craftsmen built the cabin in the fall of 2013.

The Comfy Cabin at Eby’s Pines

The kids are old pros at this whole traveling thing. They know, without me having to remind them, that they can’t touch anything until mom goes over it with her camera. We easily found our cabin and parked. It’s in a great location, close to everything yet still maintaining a bit of privacy.

So, after looking inside the Comfy Cabin, but not touching, they headed outside to play while they waited for me to finish up! Stepping out of the cabin, our boys were laughing and giggling as they raced rocks down the ramp. Yes, they grabbed big rocks from the bottom and rolled them to see who could get theirs the farthest. That’s one thing I love about them: no matter where we are, they will find something to do! With a big hole nearby (maybe chipmunk?) there was an element of danger too. The most winning rock could easily land in the hole and disappear forever!

I made the rounds through the rooms. Though small, it is indeed “comfy.” There’s even heating and cooling in here! That was a pleasant surprise as our visit had warm days and cool nights.

A sofa, dining table with bench seating, plus a TV and DVD player at least give you a few different places to park it.  A kitchenette held all the gadgets you need. At the time of this writing, there was a K-cup coffeemaker, plenty of gadgets, cooking utensils, and the pots and pans needed for a weekend or a week-long stay. With a full-size fridge, a stove-top, and an oven, the kitchen was not only well-equipped but very clean.

Clean and Tidy

The bedrooms are at opposite ends. The boys had two sets of bunk beds but they opted to sleep in the same one. Yes, they were up late giggling and talking. First thing, they decided the window seat needed army men. Soldiers everywhere!

Located at the other end, the second bedroom holds a larger bed. Both bedrooms lack walls that reach to the ceiling. It helps with air flow but doesn’t make it easy to stay up when sleeping boys are nearby. So, I recommend flipping the switch in the bathroom. The fan was loud, provided a bit of white noise for our sleeping kiddos, and muffled any sounds of me moving around.

The bathroom was really well done. Time showers and hot water usage right. Shower before or well after prime water usage or you run the risk of a cold shower!

We spent most of our time on the patio. With multiple chairs and a picnic table, in addition to the fire pit, it gave the boys plenty of space to set up their army men while I read.

Camp Store

Whether checking in, checking out, or just popping by for more supplies, you can find everything you need at the camp store. This was a fun place to browse! The boys really liked looking at everything because there’s so many different things all gathered together. Friendly staff also man the gates during office hours but your key card will let you in the gated entrance. I love that!

Remember that DVD player in the cabin? They offer videos to rent. Perfect for a rainy day or when you just don’t feel like doing anything. That’s what a vacation is for, remember?

Before checking out, grab your trash, turn out the lights, lock the doors, wash your dishes, and make sure your kids pick up any rocks they rolled down the ramp. Then, drop the key off at the office.

As we stepped out of the office, a couple stopped me, asking if I could take their picture. Of course I said I would. They stated that they love tent camping and usually visit Potato Creek but that they really enjoyed their time at Eby’s and planned to bring back their children. In return, I asked them to snap a pic of the three of us. Now that was great timing! Kid #1 was a bit bummed that we were leaving (I had to tear them away from the playground).

What to Bring to Eby’s Pines Campground

You will need to bring along all of your linens: sheets, blankets, pillows, and towels for both the pool and the shower. Don’t forget your standard travel items, too like shampoos, bath soaps, and the like.

I would recommend that if you stay at the Comfy Cabin that you bring along a small auto shut-off coffeemaker if you have one. Although some folks love the K-cup, I don’t like the extra waste–and I love having multiple cups of coffee at the ready! Just don’t forget your coffee grounds.

There is a broom located inside the door which came in handy. Don’t forget your s’mores ingredients, a good book to read, and random toys for the kids. You never know when you will have unexpected downtime. It’s always a good idea to arrive prepared!

Things to Do at Eby’s Campground (and Nearby)

On the property you will find the usual campground recreational opportunities like scheduled activities, a pool (with lifeguards), a playground, basketball hoops, tennis courts, snowmobile trails, and catch and release fishing. There’s more, but that gives you a pretty good idea that you can stay as busy on the site as you want! We didn’t do much more than hang out at the playground and throw some quarters in the inexpensive classic arcade games near the pool pavilion. As for the pool, it looked nice but it wasn’t yet open for the season during our stay so I can’t comment on the temperature of the water.

Across the street from Eby’s Pines lies Eby’s Family Fun, a roller skating rink that also boasted of laser tag and mini bowling but we did not even peek inside. We wanted to and, really, I had planned on it when I saw that they also have an arcade (I am the Centipede master) but we had so much to pack into our schedule we couldn’t take out the time to do it! Next time.

If you want to venture away from the campground, the location couldn’t be better! There’s a path that takes you straight to Bonneyville Mills County Park. A twenty minute walk, it’s an excellent place to explore!

While I will be sharing more about Bonneyville Mills County Park soon, for now you should know that it is free to enter and free to park. There’s a couple of different trails available (something like five miles of trails total) as well as the Bonneyville Mill, a working mill that is really a fabulous piece of history.

Then there’s nearby Middlebury (again, I’ve got tons to share about that one!) and an excellent park in downtown Bristol. Oh, and there’s a great place to eat too! I managed to snap awesome pics of our food before we downed it, making yummy noises the entire time. Stay tuned for that as well.

Go There

Eby’s Pines Campground was such a wonderful experience to share with our boys. We can’t wait to go back and bring my husband! I know he will enjoy being able to get away from it all while being surrounded by fun (and mostly inexpensive) things to see and do. I loved that we had the privacy and comforts of home in a cute little space to call our own. Rain or shine, it wouldn’t even matter if you are weathering it out in the Comfy Cabin!

It is the only cabin of its kind there so if you want in, you will need to make reservations in advance. Look for special events and the latest campground info on the Eby’s Pines Campground Facebook Page. It is frequently updated.

I was provided a hosted stay but did not receive payment of any kind. Opinions remain mine and mine alone.  

Small Towns: Destinations, not Drive-Thrus! I’m Jessica Nunemaker and THIS is little Indiana!

Eby’s Pines Campground
14583 State Road 120
Bristol, IN 46507
574.848.4583

Just don’t forget to tell ’em that  little Indiana sent you!

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