Camp & Hike
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Summer is in full swing, which means the chance to enjoy the great outdoors. Luckily, Indiana has lots of great campgrounds boasting tent sites, with most of them under 100 miles from Indianapolis.
At all of these sites, there's great hiking, and some feature fishing, boating, and other activities for a quick weekend getaway or longer summer vacation.
The campsite descriptions on the reservations website are very detailed, so be sure to read them before booking if you want a good site for tents, need shade, want to be close to the bathroom or drinking water, or are looking for more privacy.
Some sites offer electricity, while full-hookup sites also include water and sewer service for RVs.
Best Places at Indiana Campgrounds
Most of the campgrounds include handicap-accessible sites, which are designated on the reservation websites.
Before heading out, check for restrictions such as bans on swimming or building campfires, as well as the accessibility of certain areas and trails. These 12 take the cake for the best campgrounds in Indiana:
1. Pokagon State Park
Originally called Lake James State Park, the name was later changed to honor Leopold and Simon Pokagon, the father-and-son leaders of the Potawatomi tribe.
The park is flanked by Lake James and Snow Lake, offering plenty of opportunities for boating, fishing, and swimming (outdoor pools). Hiking enthusiasts can find nine trails marked easy to moderate in difficulty.
The campground offers 188 electric and 72 non-electric sites. Each one is pet-friendly and allows for a maximum of six people and one vehicle, with an overflow parking lot for extra cars. There are also youth and group camp areas.
Campground amenities include Vault toilets, tent camping, indoor pool, drinking water, showers, water hookups, picnic tables, fire rings with grills, and a convenience store.
The park also features boats, bicycle, and horse rentals, ball courts, a restaurant, a nature center, and an amphitheater.
READ ALSO: Smith Mountain Lake Campgrounds
2. Clifty Falls State Park
Named for the beautiful seasonal waterfalls, this is a can't-miss park with gorgeous landscapes and great hiking year-round. Clifty Creek’s bed features fossils from the ancient marine ecosystem. Explore ten hiking trails that range from easy to very rugged, with features such as steep staircases and lookout points.
The campground features 99 electric and 63 non-electric sites. Each one is pet-friendly and allows for a maximum of six people and one vehicle, with an overflow parking lot for extra cars.
Campground amenities include vault toilets, drinking water, showers, picnic tables, a fire ring with grills, firewood, easy access to a gas station, ice, and seasonal concessions for sale. So what is keeping you? Start now to plan that camping trip
3. Brown County State Park
Nicknamed the "Little Smokies" because of its resemblance to the Great Smoky Mountains, Brown County State Park is best known as a hot spot to see the leaves change in the fall.
But it's beautiful to visit the 16,000-acre park year-round, with more than 10 hiking trails that range from easy to rugged and feature stone bridges, a fishing lake, vistas, and the chance to see the rare yellowwood trees.
Another highlight is the 90-foot Fire Tower, where visitors can climb more than 120 steps to catch an amazing view of the blanket of trees below.
There are hundreds of campsites at this massive park, divided into four sections that include youth camping, primitive camping, and a campsite for horseback riders.
Each one is pet-friendly and allows for a maximum of six people and one vehicle, with an overflow parking lot for extra cars.
Campground amenities include vault toilets, drinking water, a shower house, a laundry room, a picnic table, fire rings with grills, and a convenience store.
4. Turkey Run State Park
This popular state park is an outdoor lovers' paradise offering fishing, hiking, horseback riding, canoeing, and wildlife viewing.
Soak in the beauty of the ancient sandstone gorges and ravines, walk across the 200-foot suspension bridge, and visit the nature center. The miles of hiking trails feature wooden ladders and views of Sugar Creek.
The campground has 209 electric campsites. Each one is pet-friendly and allows for a maximum of six people and one vehicle, with an overflow parking lot for extra cars.
READ ALSO: RV Camping at Lake Winnipesaukee Campgrounds
5. Indiana Dunes
In February, President Donald Trump signed a bill that officially designated a portion of the Indiana Dunes, the country's 61st national park.
Located on the southern tip of Lake Michigan, the 15,000-acre park includes 15 miles of shoreline and more than 50 miles of hiking trails that showcase the dunes, wetlands, rivers, and forests. Visitors can also swim, sunbathe and play volleyball.
The area is also home to Indiana Dunes State Park, which includes more than 2,100 acres of beaches, dunes, hardwood forests, marshes, and national parklands.
There are also 16.5 miles of trails, a swimming beach, a small bird conservatory, picnicking, and a snack bar.
Dunewood Campground: The campground at Indiana Dunes National Park includes 67 campsites with 54 drive-in sites and 13 walk-in sites. This campground is open April 1 through Nov. 1.
Indiana Dunes Campground: Inside Indiana Dunes State Park, this campground includes 134 electric sites, and four tent-only sites. Each one is pet-friendly and allows for a maximum of six people and twp vehicles.
Campground amenities: Both campgrounds include vault toilets, an RV park, drinking water, showers, basketball courts, picnic tables, fire rings with grills, and access to convenience stores.
6. McCormick’s Creek State Park
Features: Indiana's oldest state park is known for its stunning waterfalls and limestone canyon.
There are ten trails to choose from, ranging from easy to rugged, that take hikers through diverse fauna habitats and the flowing creek, as well as a trail that offers access to Wolf Cave.
Visitors can also climb the fire tower and check out the Statehouse Quarry, which provided the limestone to build the Indianapolis capitol.
Find 181 electric sites and 32 primitive camping sites. Each one is pet-friendly and allows for a maximum of six people and one vehicle, with an overflow parking lot for extra cars. There's also a youth camping area.
Campground amenities include vault toilets, drinking water, picnic tables, fire rings with grills, and a convenience store. The park also features horse rentals, ball courts, a restaurant, a nature center, and an amphitheater.
READ ALSO: Campsite Near Dauphin Island
7. Hardin Ridge Recreation Area
Situated in Hoosier National Forest, the 1,200-acre recreation area is located right by Lake Monroe, Indiana's largest lake. Visitors can enjoy boating, fishing and swimming, hiking trails and sandy beach.
There are 200 campsites and a handful of double sites. Single sites allow a maximum of eight people and two cars. Double sites allow a maximum of 16 people and four cars. Each one is pet-friendly.
Campground amenities include flush toilets, drinking water, showers, picnic tables, fire pits, grills, and firewood for sale.
8. Shades State Park
This tree-shrouded park Is 17 miles southwest of Crawfordsville. There’s no swimming in the creek, but visitors can go canoeing and fishing.
The 11 hiking trails range from easy to very rugged and showcase beech, tulip, and oak trees, a pond, Sugar Creek, sandstone cliffs, waterfalls, and the Pine Hill Nature Preserve.
There are 105 non-electric sites in the main campground. Each site is pet-friendly and allows a maximum of six people and one vehicle, with an overflow parking lot for extra cars.
There’s also a youth camping area for organizations, and a walk-up Canoe Camp with 10 sites, and a Backpack Camp with seven sites.
The Canoe Camp is 1.8 miles or a 30 to 40-minute float from the parking lot, while the Backpack Camp is 2.5 miles away.
Campground amenities include vault toilets, drinking water, showers, picnic tables, fire rings with grills, and a camp store.
9. Starve Hollow State Recreation Area
The 280-acre recreation area within the Jackson-Washington State Forest is named for the 145-acre Starve Hollow Lake, which provides visitors with great fishing, boating, and swimming and features a sandy beach.
Hikers and mountain bikers can find 11 miles of trails just east of the lake. The education center provides a lesson on conservation.
The campground has 87 electric sites and 52 with full hookups. Each one is pet-friendly and allows for a maximum of six people and twp vehicles.
Campground amenities include Vault toilets, drinking water, showers, picnic tables, fire rings with grills, and ice and firewood for sale. There are also boat rentals and a nature center.
READ ALSO: NC Coastal Campgrounds
10. Versailles State Park
Versailles State Park is among the beautiful Indiana state parks located in the gorgeous rolling hills of the southeastern part of the state with beautiful scenery.
It is Indiana’s second-largest state park and is steeped in Civil War history; long, long ago, this place was an ancient sea, as evidenced by an interesting and unique fossil record in the region.
There’s a pristine lake, many miles of awesome hiking and horseback riding trails, and, of course, excellent camping opportunities.
Versailles State Park is probably the least bustling of all the options on this list. It’s beautiful and very peaceful – the perfect place to go camping for those who are interested in a more low-key experience.
Of course, on holidays and weekends, this place can still get going – so be prepared to make lots of new friends (and bring all your current ones, too).
This is probably one of the best campgrounds in Indiana for being a family-oriented campground perfect for RV camping and special events!
11. Raccoon State Recreation Area
Features: Known officially as Cecil M. Harden Lake, the more than 2,000-acre body of water is a result of damming of Big Raccoon Creek for flood control.
Tourists have benefited because the recreation area is known for good fishing, boating, and swimming.
The large campground features 240 electric sites, 39 non-electric sites, and 35 primitive camping sites.
Each site is pet-friendly and allows a maximum of six people and two vehicles. There's also a youth camping area.
Campground amenities: Vault toilets, drinking water, picnic tables, fire rings with grills, and a convenience store. There’s also access to ball courts, boat rentals, and a playground.
READ ALSO: Monticello Campgrounds and RV Parks
12. Charlestown Campground
Park Info: Once upon a time, this area was an undeveloped Indiana Army ammunition plant.
At 5100 acres in size, it’s Indiana’s third-largest state park, and with its amazing vistas and stunning hiking trails, it’s hard to see why this park isn’t just a little more popular.
Oh, and did we mention the remains of the abandoned amusement park? Because there’s the remains of an abandoned amusement park.
Camping at Charlestown State Park is a delight. The entire park is a delight, and getting to wake up here is just the icing on the cake!
With 188 campsites to choose from available to book online up to six months in advance, there’s nothing you’ll be left to want for when you arrive (unless, of course, you forget the fixin’s for the s’mores).
Campsite types include electric, full hookup, and a couple of outdoor shelters as well. Don’t forget to meander around Rose Island, the aforementioned abandoned amusement park right here in Charlestown.
Fans of hiking will be happy to hear that there is more than 13 amazing miles of trails to choose from... why not try ‘em all? This is one truly unique campground in Indiana that urbexers will love, too.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. Can I carry a handgun while visiting an Indiana State Park?
A person may possess a handgun at DNR State Parks & Reservoir properties with the exception of properties that have land leased from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (e.g., Mississinewa, Salamonie, Patoka, Brookville, Cagles Mill, Cecil M. Harden, and Monroe lakes) or at Falls of the Ohio State Park.
Q2. Where can I ride my regular bicycle or my mountain bike?
Regular bicycles are permitted on paved surfaces within state parks and reservoirs, and on specially designed and labeled trails. Many properties have paved bike trails, and several properties have mountain bike trails.
Mountain Bike trails are currently available at Potato Creek State Park, Versailles State Park, Brown County State Park, Salamonie Lake, Fort Harrison State Park, O'Bannon Woods State Park, and Harmonie State Park.
Q3. How do I request a permit to host a company picnic or other special event at a state park or reservoir?
The process for obtaining a special event permit begins by contacting the property where you'd like to go for the event. Talk with the property manager.
The property manager will provide you with a permit request, evaluate your needs, and establish the appropriate fee for facility use and staff services required. There is a $25 special event application fee.
Q4. Which state parks and reservoirs allow horseback riding? Which have saddle barns where I can rent a horse and go for a ride?
You are welcome to bring your own horse to Brown County State Park, O'Bannon Woods State Park, Potato Creek State Park, Tippecanoe River State Park, Whitewater Memorial State Park, and Salamonie Reservoir.
Saddle barns are located at Brown County State Park, Fort Harrison State Park, McCormick's Creek State Park, Pokagon State Park, Shakamak State Park, Turkey Run State Park, and Whitewater Memorial State Park.
Q5. Where can I buy an annual pass to state parks and reservoirs?
Annual entrance passes are available for purchase at state parks and reservoirs at property offices and entrance gates when staffed.
They are also available at the Customer Service Center in the Indiana Government Center and online @ http://innsgifts.com.
Bottom Line
All in all, Indiana is an absolutely amazing place for all things camping (and all things outdoors).
This list is just a few of the best campgrounds (favorite places for family fun) in Indiana… in reality, there are so many more that we simply cannot list them all in one reasonable-length article.
The most accurate list of the best campgrounds in Indiana is up to you – what are your top picks for the all-time best campgrounds in Indiana? Let us know!