The best camping near Spring Mill State Park

Spanning nearly 1,400 acres, Spring Mill State Park offers tons of things to see and do, from historic sites to limestone caves. Highlights include a restored 1800s Pioneer Village, a nature center offering cave tours and interpretive programs, a mountain biking trail, a seasonal Olympic-size swimming pool, and a memorial to astronaut Gus Grissom, where visitors can check out his spacesuit and the Gemini 3 Molly Brown space capsule. There’s also an inn and a campground with restrooms, a playground, and a dump station. Most of the 224 sites have electricity and nine have full hookups.

1. You can reserve a Spring Mill campsite through the Indiana Department of Natural Resources website or by calling the Indiana State Park reservation hotline.
2. You can reserve sites up to six months in advance. Same-day reservations are also available, both online and over the phone.
3. If visiting during the busy summer season, you’ll have more luck securing a site if you’re willing to come on a weekday.

If you can't get a reservation at Spring Mill Campground, you may have better luck nearby at Starve Hollow State Recreation Area or Patoka Lake.

Spring Mill State Park is open year-round, and summer is the most popular time to visit. However, the park offers programming throughout the year, from bird hikes to wood-burning workshops. Winters are cold and oftentimes snowy, with sub-freezing temperatures in the darkest months, while summers are hot and humid, with highs in the 80s from June through September. Families pack the park between the Memorial Day and Labor Day weekends—consider visiting in early to mid-May or mid-to-late-September to beat the crowds.

• The closest place to pick up groceries and other supplies is Mitchell, a short drive west of the park. There's also a camp store.
• Firewood cutting and collecting is sometimes allowed in the park, but you'll need to obtain a permit through the park office first.
• Leashed pets are allowed at campsites but not in any indoor facilities.
• The park offers accessible restrooms and parking, and the Grissom Museum, the inn, and many of the pathways accommodate wheelchairs. An all-access wheelchair is also available for use.