• Where can I go camping in Indiana?
    • Camping in Indiana goes beyond just the tent. The state is full of campgrounds, regional and state parks, and more that offer many more activities than just camping, making them a true destination.
  • What activities can I enjoy while camping in Indiana?
    • There’s waterfalls, forests, horseback riding, historical landmarks, wildlife, hiking, lake swimming, fishing, and more.
  • How far are Indiana's best camping destinations from Indianapolis?
    • Many of the best Indiana camping destinations are less than one hundred miles away from Indianapolis.
  • What types of camping options are available in Indiana?
    • Indiana offers numerous places for tent camping, trailer camping, RV camping, and even campgrounds and resorts with cabins for rent.

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1. Paynetown Campground


Paynetown Campground

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Located just outside of Bloomington and the University of Indiana campus, the Paynetown Campground is located on the shores of Monroe Lake, the largest lake in the state of Indiana.

Benefitting from a location just a short walk from the lake, there are numerous outdoor recreation activities possible at the campground and the surrounding recreation area. Such outdoor activities include birdwatching, hiking, watch recreation, picnicking, hunting, fishing, boating, playgrounds for children, an activity center and much more.

The campground includes picnic tables, clean restrooms and showers, and drinking water, as well as campsites that feature hookups for electric, water, and sewer.

Find it at this Address: IN-446, Bloomington, IN 47401, Phone: 812-837-9546

2. Hardin Ridge Recreation Area


Hardin Ridge Recreation Area

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The Hardin Ridge Recreation Area is situated along the lakefront of the largest lake in Indiana, Monroe Lake, and provides countless different ways for campers to get out and have fun in the outdoors.

Possible recreation activities here include fishing, boating, and swimming in the day-use area, as well as multiple hiking trails in the Hoosier National Forest.

Two hundred spacious, shaded sites make up the campground at the Hardin Ridge Recreation Area, including private, large tent campsites.

The campground is open seasonally from April until October and offers modern facilities, such as restrooms, located a short distance from the campsites.

Find it at this Address: 6464 Hardin Ridge Rd, Heltonville, IN 47436, Phone: 812-837-9453

3. Dogwood Springs Campground


Dogwood Springs Campground

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The Dogwood Springs Campground is a seasonal campground for RV camping in the small town of Cloverdale, Indiana.

The sprawling campground spans across five hundred acres and is open from the month of April through the month of November.

Guests can enjoy wildlife viewing, hiking, fishing, and more within the Dogwood Springs deep forest.

The grounds include a gated entrance, a playground, winter storage, a dump station, fifteen ponds and lakes, stocked fishing lakes, and shaded, spacious RV campsites.

The Dogwood Springs Campground is located about thirty miles from Terre Haute and thirty-five miles from bustling Indianapolis.

Find it at this Address: 8105 IN-243, Cloverdale, IN 46120

4. Lake Waveland


Lake Waveland

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Encompassing more than six hundred acres, Lake Waveland offers plenty of fun and exciting opportunities for visitors on both water and land, such as camping, fishing, swimming, and boating.

The campground includes primitive campsites in abundance, with no reservations required, including both lakeside and wooded sites. There are also modern restrooms and shower facilities.

The modern campground also offers fifty-four electric sites, as well as water hookups, and amenities include a playground and shower house within a short walk from the campsites and a dump station near the front. There are also cabins available for rent along the lakefront.

Find it at this Address: 11677 S State Rd 47, Waveland, IN 47989, Phone: 765-435-2073

5. Hoosier National Forest


Hoosier National Forest

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The Hoosier National Forest lies in the south central Indiana hills and offers a wide variety of resources and opportunities for visitors to enjoy.

Rural crossroad communities, backcountry trails, and rolling hills make the small, but gorgeous forest a local gem. In addition to the several campgrounds found within the Hoosier National Forest, there are several other activities, such as fishing, water sports, and swimming.

Patoka Lake in particular, which is the state’s second largest lake, offers water skiing, swimming, and fishing. Highlights of the forest include the Hemlock Cliffs, the forest’s box canyon that features seasonal gentle waterfalls.

Find it at this Address: 811 Constitution Ave, Bedford, IN 47421, Phone: 812-275-5987

6. Grandpa's Farm Campground


Grandpa's Farm Campground

© Grandpa's Farm Campground

Situated in Eastern Indiana’s rolling countryside, Grandpa's Farm Campground and RV Park provides a family-friendly camping destination that has been a part of the Richmond community for more than fifty years.

This family owned and operated campground offers a quiet atmosphere, a rural setting, a gentle river, and pleasant scenery, as well as an array of both indoor and outdoor activities to entertain guests.

Activities include hiking, frisbee, horseshoes, shuffleboard, basketball, volleyball, and much more. Amenities include a recreation room, arcade games, billiards, and a heated swimming pool as well. Grandpa's Farm Campground also hosts planned activities.

Find it at this Address: 4244 IN-227 N, Richmond, IN 47374, Phone: 765-962-7907

7. White River Campground


White River Campground

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Situated along the west bank of the White River, the picturesque White River Campground provides an ideal destination for a camping getaway weekend near Cicero, Indiana.Guests can explore twenty-six beautiful acres by river or by foot, go hiking or fishing, and view the various wildlife.

The campground consists of more than one hundred campsites, including both primitive and modern sites, as well as quiet spots for relaxation, boating, and fishing. Open from mid-April through the end of October, the White River Campground also offers several amenities, such as a playground, picnic tables and shelters, laundry facilities, and restrooms.

Find it at this Address: 11299 E 234th St, Cicero, IN 46034, Phone: 317-770-4430

8. Deam Lake State Recreation Area


Deam Lake State Recreation Area

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The Deam Lake State Recreation Area offers opportunities for a wide variety of outdoor recreation activities, including camping, hunting in designated areas, hiking, picnicking, swimming, boating, and fishing.

Named for the first state forester of Indiana, Charles Deam, the lake spans across nearly 200 acres. There a little more than 100 campsites in the recreation area’s family campground. 36 stall campsites and 68 campsites featuring a hitching post can be found as well in the horseman’s campground. The Deam Lake State Recreation Area also offers sixteen camper cabins available for rent, three of which are located in the horsemen’s campground.

Find it at this Address: 1217 Deam Lake Rd, Borden, IN 47106, Phone: 812-246-5421

9. Raccoon Lake State Recreation Area


Raccoon Lake State Recreation Area

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Located near Rockville, Indiana, the Raccoon Lake State Recreation Area offers a large area for outdoor recreation and include the Historic Mansfield Roller Mill.

The upper section of the Big Racoon Creek is lined with large rock outcrops and native forest and Raccoon Lake offers plenty of water recreation activities. The Historic Mansfield Roller Mill is an example of an 1880’s flour mill, an unchanged and almost complete example of the time period. Activities include camping, boating, hiking, fishing, swimming, water skiing, wildlife viewing, and picnicking. Playgrounds, horseshoes, volleyball courts, and basketball courts are available as well.

Find it at this Address: 1588 S Raccoon Parkway, Rockville, IN 47872, Phone: 765-344-1884

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