13 things to do and eat in Elkhart, Indiana
13 things to see and eat in Elkhart, Indiana
What’s there to do in Elkhart, Indiana? This is known as the RV capital of the world and for good reason. Many RV manufacturers have operations here which is also a draw for visitors for a lot of reasons including obtaining factory service for their RVs.
But, more than that, it’s a bustling community with a bunch of great things to see and do in the area and some top-notch campgrounds as well.
Know that, from Elkhart, it seems that everything is about a half an hour away.
Where to eat
There are a lot of Amish people in the area which is reflected by Das Dutchmen Essenhaus. This is a hotel but also an incredible buffet restaurant. Oh, sure, you could go to the plain old restaurant but the hot tip is to enjoy the buffet.
The way I describe the buffet is that it’s a lot of specialty items, a lot of meat like you’d make in a crock pot and some top-notch fried chicken. I basically go and get fried chicken and then buttered noodles and mashed potatoes with the various types of gravy available.
They also have an okay selection of dessert and I guess you could get salad but, come on.
Smokin’ Fatty’s
Smokin’ Fatty’s is a barbecue joint that you could ride a bicycle to from Elkhart Campground and it’s goooooooooood. We’ve enjoyed their nachos, which is a monster pile of chips, incredible cheese sauce and other things you’d expect in nachos. The two of us shared just the nachos for dinner after seeing another couple with them.
We’ve also gone back for the barbecue, including the brisket. The brisket is outstanding and we’ve been thrilled with all the things we’ve ordered on our multiple trips there. Another thing that is really stand-out are the servers, all of whom have been absolutely exceptional at their jobs.
Vanilla Bean Ice Cream
Ice cream is such a simple thing - pretty much sugar, cream and basic flavor ingredients. Except we’ve gotten so used to ice cream being a laundry list of stuff yet we still eat it.
Vanilla Bean creamery
Well Vanilla Bean is a local chain of ice cream places that have that kind of ice cream some of us remember from childhood. Simple, honest ingredients and both traditional and some unusual flavors.
We love Vanilla Bean and have turned a number of friends on to them who want to go back. My personal favorite is to get the Amish Peanut Butter ice cream with hot fudge and Spanish peanuts. Ohbabyohbabyoh.
Rise & Roll
If you come to this part of the world and don’t go to Rise & Roll bakery they may ask you not to come back. Okay, not really. But if you hear of Amish crack donuts this is the place you get them. There is the original location but there’s also one close by in Elkhart.
The donuts in question are the cinnamon caramel donuts and they’re fantastic. These are soft powdered donuts with that powder being the cinnamon caramel in the equation. This topping is much like the beignets in New Orleans in terms of volume and consistency.
Wedgewood Brewery
If good beer is part of your adventure as it is mine, Wedgewood Brewing Company is going to be a must visit. They have a continuously rotating selection of house-brewed beers and I have yet to have one I don’t like.
They also have a variety of food choices including smash burgers with a variety of combinations of toppings that are really good as well. Do note that this is in Middlebury, the next town over, and is worth the drive.
Heritage Ridge Creamery
This is a newer discovery for us - Heritage Ridge Creamery, also in Middlebury. This is a cheese shop just like Vanilla Bean is an ice cream shop. The ingredients in the cheese are what you’d expect from 100 years ago with just the basics. But then they also offer a huge variety of really good cheeses.
We are particularly fond of the garlic cheese which you can really taste the garlic in. The cheddar is also really good and, quite honestly, we haven’t had anything but an exceptional experience here as well.
They also offer grilled cheese sandwiches with your choice of cheese. Good stuff.
Where to Stay
Assuming that you’re going to have your RV with you our favorite campground in the area is Elkhart Campground. This huge park has about 500 spots with full hook-ups. The prices are fair and everything is very well maintained here.
In addition to the sites themselves there’s also a clean laundry room with plenty of front-load and top-load washing machines - it’s only $2.50 per wash and you don’t have to buy one of those wash cards.
There’s also a really nicely maintained miniature golf course so the wee ones will also have something to enjoy. Oh, and don’t forget a pretty extensive playground. There are also pickleball courts here.
Something we’ve noticed is that this place is pretty popular with groups and that makes a lot of sense. In addition to the covered pickleball courts there are also two meeting rooms - a larger one and a smaller one.
Almost all the sites here are pull-through sites, again, with full hook-ups. While we were here the campground was repaving many of the roads so they’re constantly doing maintenance and it shows. Based on the main building this used to be a KOA but now is an independent campground. The owners are really friendly and you can also have packages delivered here - we’ve had quite a few in the time we’ve been on site.
Things to See
If you’re here during the summer time there’s a huge car show every Thursday at Das Dutchmen Essenhaus. You can get a buffet dinner and feast upon an incredible variety of cars of all eras.
RV MH Hall of Fame
For RV travelers, this is the obvious place to start.
RV/MH Hall of Fame celebrates the history of recreational vehicles and manufactured housing. The museum takes visitors through the evolution of RVs, from early camping trailers to the modern motorhomes and travel trailers we recognize today.
One of the most interesting parts is the collection of historic RVs. You can see how people traveled and camped decades ago, including some wonderfully unusual early examples.
The museum is particularly interesting for RV owners because it puts today's RV lifestyle into perspective. Those huge fifth wheels, Class A motorhomes and luxury travel trailers didn't appear overnight. There's a fascinating history behind them.
We got to interview the curator of the RVMH Hall of Fame, Jose Rodriguez, in this podcast episode.
RV tip: Give yourself several hours for the museum, especially if you're interested in vintage RVs. Also, the RVMH Hall of Fame is a Harvest Hosts location and we’ve spent the night there on multiple occasions.
New York Central Railroad Museum in Elkhart
Take a Trip Back in Time at the National New York Central Railroad Museum
Elkhart's transportation history isn't limited to RVs.
National New York Central Railroad Museum explores the city's important role as a railroad center. Exhibits include railroad artifacts, uniforms, equipment, model trains, historic railcars and locomotives.
The museum also has a restored vintage amusement train, the NIBCO Century Flyer, which operates on select dates.
Even if you're not a serious railfan, the museum is an interesting way to understand how railroads helped shape Elkhart and the surrounding region.
The museum is located downtown, making it easy to combine with other downtown attractions.
Visit the Hall of Heroes Superhero Museum
Here's one you might not expect to find in Elkhart - Hall of Heroes Superhero Museum celebrates the history of superheroes and comic books. Its collection includes memorabilia from Marvel, DC and superhero movies and television.
It's an especially fun stop for families, comic-book fans or anyone who enjoys pop-culture history.
Linton’s Enchanted Gardens
More than just a place to buy plants, Linton’s Enchanted Gardens is a destination. Yes, you can buy plants here.
But there’s also an enormous gift and home decorating store with seasonal items and other stuff you don’t need but likely want. This place is also large enough to have its own bakery and the cakes are fantastic. In fact I challenge anyone to come to Elkhart and leave without gaining weight.
As you stroll the huge property you’ll find a petting zoo, a train ride, swan boats in a pond, butterfly and hummingbird garden and so very much more. This is definitely a place to go for an afternoon, stroll around, goof around and don’t forget a slice of cake and a cup of coffee.
Stroll Along the Elkhart RiverWalk
The Elkhart RiverWalk provides an opportunity to enjoy the city outdoors.
The trail follows the river and connects several downtown areas and parks. It's a good place for a leisurely walk, bicycle ride or simply a break from sightseeing.
One place worth checking out along the river is Island Park, a downtown park located on an island where the Elkhart and St. Joseph rivers meet.
For RV travelers spending a few days in town, the RiverWalk is an easy way to experience Elkhart without having to get back behind the wheel.
Go on an RV Factory Tour
One of the more eye-opening things you might do while visiting the RV capital of the world is to tour an RV factory. Whether you stroll along as they’re building entire RVs or visit one of the plants making parts, this is something that will really give you an inside look at how RVs are built.
The obvious place to start is with whomever built the RV you’re visiting in. Plenty of times the builders are very pleased to show you how your RV is made. This is especially true if you’re in the area to have your RV serviced - ask the service folks how you can arrange a tour.
Sometimes the tours happen while RVs are being produced and other times they wait until the shift ends just because of the chaos that is RV manufacturing. In some plants you’ll literally see people running with parts - it’s a lot of frenetic energy happening here.
To find an RV factory tour just reach out to the manufacturers through their websites. The vast majority of them have tours that they offer and they’re free of charge. Even better, depending on the builder, you may walk out with SWAG.
One thing to note, since you may be in an active working plant you’ll likely be asked to wear closed-toe shoes and long pants. They’ll also give you safety goggles and a hard hat so don’t be too fussy about your do - that hard hat may turn it into a don’t.
Bontragers Surplus
If you are interested in picking up an anything for your RV, one of the places you’ll want to visit is Bontrager’s Surplus. Bontrager’s has been around since 1972 and has all sorts of overstock, discontinued, close-out and scratch and dent items for both your RV and home. The company buys their materials literally by the truckload from the RV industry and it’s a great place to find parts - often even parts that have been discontinued.
While this article is about the Elkhart area know that Elkhart is very close to Michigan to the point where people generally refer to the area as Michiana. Bontrager’s is in White Pigeon, Michigan.
Don’t forget neighboring Shipshewana
Shipshewana is a neighboring community that, like so many things, is about half an hour from Elkhart. We love Shipshewana and it is a very beautiful Amish community so you’ll be guaranteed to see horses and Amish buggies clip clopping their way down the street.
We’ve done quite a few articles and podcasts about Shipshewana which you can find here.
