Lake Camping Near Columbus, Indiana, US: 12 Best Lake Campsites 2026

Looking to camp near Columbus, Indiana and enjoy a beautiful lake? Look no further than Hipcamp! With over 200 options available near Columbus, Indiana with lake access, you're sure to find the perfect spot for your outdoor adventure. Whether you're looking for a serene lakeside retreat or a campsite with activities like hiking, boating, or snow sports, Hipcamp has got you covered. Check out some of our top campsites like Lake Farm (106 reviews), Happy Campers Campground (48 reviews), and Camp Kokovoko (44 reviews). With amenities like trash disposal, potable water, and pet-friendly options, you can focus on enjoying your outdoor experience. Prices start as low as $15 per night, with an average price per night of $45. So pack your camping gear and get ready to make memories at one of our fantastic lakeside campsites near Columbus, Indiana!

83% (46)

Top-rated campgrounds near Columbus

Looking to camp near Columbus, Indiana and enjoy a beautiful lake? Look no further than Hipcamp! With over 200 options available near Columbus, Indiana with lake access, you're sure to find the perfect spot for your outdoor adventure. Whether you're looking for a serene lakeside retreat or a campsite with activities like hiking, boating, or snow sports, Hipcamp has got you covered. Check out some of our top campsites like Lake Farm (106 reviews), Happy Campers Campground (48 reviews), and Camp Kokovoko (44 reviews). With amenities like trash disposal, potable water, and pet-friendly options, you can focus on enjoying your outdoor experience. Prices start as low as $15 per night, with an average price per night of $45. So pack your camping gear and get ready to make memories at one of our fantastic lakeside campsites near Columbus, Indiana!

83% (46)

Top-rated campgrounds near Columbus

1. Dirt Weapon Ranch

98%

(41)

40mi from Columbus · 10 sites · Tents, RVs

Come and enjoy our private 90-acre retreat, perfect for any outdoor enthusiast. Nestled in an arch of the White River, this secluded sanctuary boasts two private lakes, offering opportunities for swimming, hiking, fishing, and relaxation. Conveniently located within a short driving distance to Indy, Bloomington, and Southern Indiana, you'll find yourself immersed in nature while still having access to nearby urban amenities. We offer five powered campsites and numerous options for primitive camping lakeside or riverside. Please note that there are no direct water hookups, so be sure to bring your own water for your stay.

2. Cera Sports Park and Campground

62%

(13)

6.6mi from Columbus · 301 sites · Tents, RVs, Lodging

With 326 campsites, CERA offers plenty of camping spots. 252 sites are full-service sites with water, 30 & 50 amp electric, and sewer hookups. Check out our campground map below to see which sites will suit your stay! CERA offers six camping cabins of various sizes. All cabins sit on lakefront lots amid the trees. Bathhouse facilities are located within 100 feet directly behind the cabins. Our camping cabins are a great option for enjoying the outdoors without having to pitch a tent or pull a camper. There are three shower houses available and a centrally located dump station.

3. Little Cabin

100%

(1)

26mi from Columbus · 3 sites · Tents, RVs

Welcome to Little Cabin, where you're invited to immerse yourself in the serene beauty of the countryside. Nestled on 25 acres adorned with a tranquil pond, our location offers ample space for your tent or RV. Situated just 30 minutes from Madison, Indiana, and a mere three miles from Stream Cliff, we provide convenient access to nearby attractions. Additionally, our proximity to Louisville, Cincinnati, and Indianapolis, approximately an hour from each, makes us an ideal retreat. There are a couple of important details to note: 1. Please be aware that we have honey bees onsite. 2. We have two cats and a dog which roam around 3. Regrettably, we do not offer hookups or restroom facilities. We look forward to hosting your stay at Little Cabin!

4. Yellowwood State Forest

100%

(3)

90 sites · Nashville, Indiana

Discover the natural splendor of Yellowwood State Forest and its myriad outdoor activities.

Toilets

Campfires

Potable water

5. Morgan Monroe State Forest

67%

(3)

35 sites · Painted Hills, Indiana

Discover the natural splendor of Morgan Monroe State Forest.

Toilets

Campfires

Potable water

6. Monroe Lake

92%

(8)

312 sites · Smithville Sanders, Indiana

At Monroe Lake, your trip will be about as deluxe as a state park stay gets. Lounge your days away at the Fourwinds Resort & Marina, where the crisp linens and mini-fridges will spoil you into oblivion. Even if you're looking to rough it a little on the campgrounds, you'll still have access to a vast array of activities. Two different beaches perfect for swimming, boat rentals, and several beautiful hiking trails highlight the natural beauty in the area. Whether you're on the hunt for waterfowl or want to waterski on the gorgeous sparkling waters, your favorite outdoor activity is likely found here. Did we mention there's a Marina called The Pleasure Craft? Just soak that in for a minute. No more information needed.

Pets

Electrical hookup

Toilets

7. Starve Hollow State Recreation Area

100%

(6)

150 sites · Vallonia, Indiana

Discover the natural charm of Starve Hollow State Recreation Area.

Pets

Electrical hookup

Campfires

8. Hardy Lake

162 sites · Deputy, Indiana

Discover Hardy Lake's serene waters and vibrant wildlife.

Pets

Electrical hookup

Toilets

9. Jackson-Washington State Forest

48 sites · Little York, Indiana

Discover the rugged beauty of Jackson-Washington State Forest.

Campfires

Toilets

Picnic table

10. Versailles State Park

100%

(3)

220 sites · Versailles, Indiana

Discover Versailles State Park's rich history and outdoor adventures.

Pets

Toilets

Campfires

11. Spring Mill State Park

100%

(2)

224 sites · Mitchell, Indiana

See how pioneers lived and learn about outer space at this southern Indiana park.

Pets

Electrical hookup

Toilets

Public campgrounds near Columbus

100%

(3)

Yellowwood Campground

23mi from Columbus · 90 sites · Tents, RVs · in Yellowwood State Forest

100%

(1)

Scout Ridge Youth Tent Campground

28mi from Columbus · 6 sites · Tents, RVs · in Morgan Monroe State Forest

Mason Ridge Campground

28mi from Columbus · 19 sites · Tents, RVs · in Morgan Monroe State Forest

100%

(1)

Oak Ridge Campground

28mi from Columbus · 10 sites · Tents, RVs · in Morgan Monroe State Forest

Clean inviting campgrounds at Paynetown SRA on Monroe Lake. There are Modern toilets/showerhouse nearby.

92%

(8)

Monroe Lake Campground

28mi from Columbus · 312 sites · Tents, RVs · in Monroe Lake

100%

(6)

Starve Hollow State Recreation Area

29mi from Columbus · 150 sites · Tents, RVs · in Starve Hollow State Recreation Area

Hardy Lake Campground

32mi from Columbus · 162 sites · Tents, RVs · in Hardy Lake

Jackson-Washington Campground

35mi from Columbus · 48 sites · in Jackson-Washington State Forest

100%

(3)

Versailles Campground

39mi from Columbus · 220 sites · Tents, RVs · in Versailles State Park

100%

(2)

Spring Mill Campground

43mi from Columbus · 224 sites · Tents, RVs · in Spring Mill State Park

Recent reviews from the Hipcamp community

M

Matias Ignacio

November 2025

19 ft campervan

With pets

Weekend Trip to Cera Sports Park and Campground

Quiet and beautiful place. Kids friendly. Clean bathrooms.

Z

Zack

October 2025

Tent

Weekend Trip to Dirt Weapon Ranch

Great place to pitch a tent. I would go back. View was great.

J

October 2025

45 ft travel trailer

3 nights at Dirt Weapon Ranch

Pros: RV electric hookups. Clean onsite bathroom with running water, sink, flushing toilet and shower. Nice well maintained camping sites (tent and RV). Plenty of land to roam and enjoy nature. Beautiful views of the lakes, nature and wildlife. Cons: Limited number of firepits. All 5 RV sites share one firepit. Not a real issue if you're the only one there but not great if there are other groups booked on site. Some of the camping sites have firepits but not all of them. Lakes have some junk in them, tires, etc. There is overflow from the river so when it floods the river flows into the lakes and it brings along the trash with it. It wasn't too bad but does give you pause when considering swimming or fishing. Overall: We had a great trip and will book here again. The pro's outweigh the cons and it was a lot of fun getting away for a weekend with friends.

A

Alexander

October 2025

Tent

1 night at Dirt Weapon Ranch

I love this place, very quiet, spacious, good place to fish and enjoy nature, the owner always responded quickly to any questions and always willing to help, in short I would live here without problems, we will definitely return to this place soon

A

Alexander

October 2025

Tent

With kids

Weekend Trip to Dirt Weapon Ranch

the place is beautiful, it's quiet, we loved it, we would definitely go back!

J

October 2025

Tent

With pets

Weekend Trip to Dirt Weapon Ranch

Me and the wife, as well as our two children, had a wonderful time! We caught a lot of fish, and my son caught one of his biggest fish yet out of one of the two ponds! My daughter is soon to be 4, and the grass and property were very well maintained as well as the roads being very easy to navigate! We stayed for 3 days and two nights and had wished we had longer to stay. You're close to two town where you can pick up any warm food if you didn't bring anything like that or any supplies you may need. The bathroom and shower was a very nice addition that we don't always find at every hipcamp. The wildlife in the area is plentiful! Both nights we had deer behind our tent, and one night even had one close enough to hear it make it's snort/blow sound and my family loved that. We will definitely be back anytime we want to camp in that area. The pond by the beach is super clean, and would be great swimming in the summer!

Z

Ziv

October 2025

Tent

1 night at Dirt Weapon Ranch

Very cool place, private and convenient. I highly recommend

T

Tim

October 2025

Tent

1 night at Dirt Weapon Ranch

Loved how quiet and private this site felt! I would definitely come back and recommended this to anyone looking for a clean, beautiful and easy place to camp!

M

Micaela

October 2025

Tent

Weekend Trip to Dirt Weapon Ranch

Beautiful land. We stayed during a hot October weekend and there were no other campers, so it felt private. Loved being able to cool down in the lake and watch all of the fish splashing out of the water. Plus, this time of year there's not too many mosquitos. There is a communal restroom at the end of the drive with interior and exterior showers. Someone elsewhere out in the woods enjoyed their own weekend, which we could hear. It wasn't an issue for us, but I can understand if that would be a consideration for someone looking for something truly secluded. The long gravel drive was fun to drive down and didn't pose an issue for my tiny 2wd sedan. Thanks for the relaxing stay!

Jenny

October 2025

Tent

With pets

1 night at Dirt Weapon Ranch

Stayed one night after exploring the Redbird State Recreation area and headed east. What a beautiful evening listening to the crickets and frogs and the birds in the morning. We booked the primitive lake site 1 but the host reached out to share we were the only reservation for the night so could camp wherever worked best. Went for a morning walk before hitting the road again and enjoyed seeing deer. Would definitely stay here again if ever back in this direction.

T

Thawng

September 2025

Tent

Weekend Trip to Dirt Weapon Ranch

It was a very nice spot. I love that it wasn’t crowded and it almost felt like we had the whole place to ourselves. Has an easy access to the river and ponds.

R

Russell

September 2025

Tent

2 nights at Dirt Weapon Ranch

Awesome property. The host was very responsive. Very nice property with bathrooms and water available. Very nice primitive camp sites available with views of the pond. I woke to a nice surprise of juvenile bald eagles getting in some practice. Huge bonus for a bird lover like myself. I really enjoyed this property.

J

Joshua

August 2025

Tent

1 night at Dirt Weapon Ranch

Jonathan & Nicole were extremely responsive and helpful hosts that made sure I was taken care of. Beautiful lake-side private campgrounds left us feeling extremely safe!

N

Neleta

July 2025

22 ft campervan

With pets

1 night at Cera Sports Park and Campground

Great location with lots to do. Would stay again if in the area. Bathrooms were clean.

M

Maureen

July 2025

Tent

With pets

1 night at Dirt Weapon Ranch

3rd time here. Love that you can see the stars and it was quiet.

T

Todd

June 2025

30 ft travel trailer

Weekend Trip to Cera Sports Park and Campground

Amazing campground. Amazing ball complex. We enjoyed camping on the water. And watching the ducks. And listening to the live music on Saturday night.

Andrew

June 2025

Tent

Weekend Trip to Dirt Weapon Ranch

Everything thing about this site was gorgeous. The dirt road in was idyllic. I have a low profile 2WD car and made it with no problem. I camped on the side of the road under some overripe mulberry trees. Delectable. No one else was there. Highly recommend.

M

Maureen

June 2025

Tent

1 night at Dirt Weapon Ranch

I had my second night at Dirt Weapon Ranch. Like the first, it was very peaceful and quiet. The host is great about communicating.

M

Michael

June 2025

20 ft travel trailer

With pets

1 night at Dirt Weapon Ranch

This place is just fantastic! Excellent sites and amenities, the property was beautiful and well-maintained, and it was very peaceful. The pictures really don't do justice to how beautiful it is. The owners were very helpful and welcoming, but give you your space as well which is always appreciated. I'll be back with my kids soon!

K

Kennecia

June 2025

Tent

Weekend Trip to Dirt Weapon Ranch

It’s a cool spot for camping and fishing. We enjoyed the quietness and the atmosphere. The mosquitoes were bad so have plenty deterrent but overall it’s a nice place.