Beach Camping Near Salem, Indiana, US: 12 Best Beach Campsites 2025

Salem packs in over 3,200 beach camping options, with the sand and water right at your tent flap. Expect average prices around $35 a night, with some spots dipping as low as $28. Campfires are allowed at most sites, and you’ll find showers and pet-friendly policies common. Want to swim, hike, or fish? You’re in the right place. Top picks like Hidden Valley River Camp (140 reviews), MoonLight Grove Farm (92 reviews), and Hill Springs Campground (48 reviews) have earned travelers’ trust. You’ll find campsites tucked behind dunes or steps from the water, with plenty of room for both quiet mornings and late-night stories around the fire.

100% (326)

Top-rated campgrounds

Salem packs in over 3,200 beach camping options, with the sand and water right at your tent flap. Expect average prices around $35 a night, with some spots dipping as low as $28. Campfires are allowed at most sites, and you’ll find showers and pet-friendly policies common. Want to swim, hike, or fish? You’re in the right place. Top picks like Hidden Valley River Camp (140 reviews), MoonLight Grove Farm (92 reviews), and Hill Springs Campground (48 reviews) have earned travelers’ trust. You’ll find campsites tucked behind dunes or steps from the water, with plenty of room for both quiet mornings and late-night stories around the fire.

100% (326)

Top-rated campgrounds

1. Hidden Valley River Camp

99%

(199)

36mi from Salem · 4 sites · Tents · Westport, KY

Beautiful valley on the Ohio River with 300 feet of beach front, private boat dock, covered 20x30 community pavilion and a large fire pit. A beautiful creek to explore, very secluded and off the beaten path with lots of wildlife to enjoy.Learn more about this land:Beautiful private Valley setting on the Ohio River with private boat dock. Creek bed with rocks and fossils. 2 covered pavillions and fire pit and eagles and wildlife There is a mile gravel road and steep hill is why no rv's. Cars and trucks have no problems.

2. MoonLight Grove Farm

100%

(124)

33mi from Salem · 2 sites · Tents · Battletown, KY

Simple living with a few critters and a "whole lotta" walnuts. All natural products made from nature's bounty. Learn more about this land:Come rest your mind and soul on MoonLight Grove Farm. Camp alongside the Ohio River, watch the barges go by and the Eagles swoop and play. Peaceful, Quiet, Restorative retreat.

3. Hill Springs Campground

100%

(68)

37mi from Salem · 15 sites · Tents, RVs · Dubois, IN

Hill Springs Campground is nestled on our 120-acre family farm, and we’re proud to be the third generation to care for this little piece of paradise. Tucked away in the heart of 'God’s country,' our campground offers peace and quiet, miles from the nearest town. The rolling hills provide hay for our cows and wood for the stove, and we take great pride in sharing this beautiful spot with you. Each site offers the chance to unwind by the pond, pick wild blackberries, or hike through our woods. Fire pits are available at all sites. Our sites are simple—no water, electricity, or internet—but generators are welcome, and we provide a toilet on-site. Please remember to pack out all your trash, including cigarette butts. For a glimpse of what to expect, check out a few videos of the campground on our Facebook page, 'hillspringcampground.' We’re also close to plenty of activities: Patoka Lake is just 3 miles away, with 8,800 acres of water, 26,000 sq. feet of land, and a variety of outdoor fun—boating, fishing, hiking, and even a winery. Historic French Lick and West Baden are 16 miles away, offering everything from casinos to a scenic railway, golf courses, a spa, a wildlife park, and the stunning West Baden Springs Hotel, known as the 'Eighth Wonder of the World.' The city of Jasper is 14 miles away, with a charming riverwalk, museums, parks, and food trucks to explore. The small town of Dubois is just 4.5 miles away, with local taverns, a gas station, and a True Value store. At Hill Springs, you can be as close or as far away from the action as you want to be. We’re excited to share this experience with you and welcome your feedback as we start this journey with Hipcamp. Don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions! Bryan and Nicole

4. Jackson-Washington State Forest

48 sites · Little York, Indiana

Discover the rugged beauty of Jackson-Washington State Forest.

Toilets

Campfires

5. Starve Hollow State Recreation Area

100%

(6)

150 sites · Vallonia, Indiana

Discover the natural charm of Starve Hollow State Recreation Area.

Pets

Potable water

Campfires

6. Deam Lake State Recreation Area

100%

(3)

215 sites · Borden, Indiana

Find your lake life vibes in southern Indiana.

Pets

Potable water

Toilets

7. 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

Potable water

Toilets

8. Hardy Lake

162 sites · Deputy, Indiana

Discover Hardy Lake's serene waters and vibrant wildlife.

Pets

Potable water

Toilets

9. Hoosier National Forest

88%

(13)

252 sites · Paoli, Indiana

See the wilderness of southern Indiana from the Ohio River to just south of Bloomington.

Potable water

Toilets

Campfires

10. Charlestown State Park

100%

(4)

189 sites · Charlestown, Indiana

Discover Charlestown State Park's rugged beauty and outdoor adventures.

Potable water

Toilets

Campfires

11. O'Bannon Woods State Park

75%

(3)

291 sites · Leavenworth, Indiana

Discover O'Bannon Woods State Park and its lush landscapes, historic sites, and outdoor adventures.

Pets

Potable water

Toilets

12. Patoka Lake

100%

(1)

445 sites · Birdseye, Indiana

Discover plenty to do on the water at Indiana's second-largest lake.

Pets

Potable water

Toilets

13. Martin State Forest

26 sites · Shoals, Indiana

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

Potable water

Toilets

Campfires

Public campgrounds near Salem

Jackson-Washington Campground

8.6mi from Salem · 48 sites · in Jackson-Washington State Forest

100%

(6)

Starve Hollow State Recreation Area

15mi from Salem · 150 sites · Tents, RVs · in Starve Hollow State Recreation Area

100%

(3)

Deam Lake State Recreation Area

16mi from Salem · 215 sites · Tents, RVs · in Deam Lake State Recreation Area

100%

(2)

Spring Mill Campground

19mi from Salem · 224 sites · Tents, RVs · in Spring Mill State Park

Hardy Lake Campground

24mi from Salem · 162 sites · Tents, RVs · in Hardy Lake

Springs Valley Recreation Area

26mi from Salem · 6 sites · Tents, RVs · in Hoosier National Forest

100%

(4)

Charlestown Campground

28mi from Salem · 189 sites · Tents, RVs · in Charlestown State Park

75%

(3)

O'Bannon Woods Campground

29mi from Salem · 291 sites · Tents, RVs · in O'Bannon Woods State Park

Little Salt Creek Group Site

30mi from Salem · 1 site · Tent, RV · in Hoosier National Forest

100%

(6)

Hardin Ridge Campground

33mi from Salem · 200 sites · Tents, RVs · in Hoosier National Forest

100%

(1)

Patoka Lake Campground

33mi from Salem · 445 sites · Tents, RVs · in Patoka Lake

Martin Campground

35mi from Salem · 26 sites · Tents, RVs · in Martin State Forest

Stories from the community

J

Joshua

November 2025

Tent

Group trip

Weekend Trip to Hill Springs Campground

Great hosts with an excellent, secluded spot…totally recommend!

C

Caleb

November 2025

Tent

With kids

Weekend Trip to Hidden Valley River Camp

Beautiful and peaceful location. The kids loved running around and playing on the huge field and along the riverbank. The large pavilion with electric comes in handy for blowing up mattresses and the porta-pot style toilet was the cleanest I've ever seen! This was our second time staying here and look forward to staying again.

Z

Zach

November 2025

Tent

With kids

Weekend Trip to Hidden Valley River Camp

Love this area. We have now camped here 4 times and have not had a single complaint. The hosts are very welcoming and even take our kids for rides on their golf cart. This trip was our second annual camping trip with high school friends and bringing all of our kids together to play is awesome. Three of the campsites border a nice 2 acre or greater size yard and the kids play until they are so tired or it’s time for s’mores. We are already talking about another trip this summer.

c

chris

October 2025

Tent

1 night at Hidden Valley River Camp

Very nice couple and great secluded campsite. Would go again

B

Ben

October 2025

Tent

With kids

Weekend Trip to Hidden Valley River Camp

Awesome hosts. Loved the view of the river and the hospitality. We will definitely be back in the summer.

S

Steven

October 2025

Tent

With kids

Weekend Trip to Hidden Valley River Camp

Amazingly kind host, definitely a great spot. Bathrooms were super clean and had a nightlight in it and wash station. Easy access to the river and very peaceful out there. You rarely ever heard any other noises other than the occasional flight over. Most of the sites are not private, there’s just one private site. So if you want the privacy, make sure you request that one set back off in another field close to the creek or check its availability.

s

sophia

October 2025

Tent

With kids

Weekend Trip to Hill Springs Campground

This was a lovely camping spot! The views are gorgeous. The signage and directions to the site are easy to follow. Hosts were communicative and friendly. We love a secluded campsite and this felt like we were surrounded by nothing but trees and rolling farmland. The site was large with plenty of room for our tent and vehicles. We loved watching the sunset here! 10/10 recommend and would love to visit again!

Emily

October 2025

Tent

Group trip

Weekend Trip to Hidden Valley River Camp

Our group loved camping on Kathy and Scott's land! Very chill, welcoming hosts. Talking with Scott and meeting Sam the dog was definitely a highlight. :) Such a beautiful, peaceful spot by the river. Very spacious and FLAT campsites. Port-a-toilet even had a foot-pump sink and soap next to it – so nice to be able to wash your hands and not just use hand sanitizer. Amazing view of the river and barges going by in the morning. We loved it and will definitely be back again!

D

Dung

October 2025

Tent

With pets

Weekend Trip to Hidden Valley River Camp

We love the place especially the river bank area where dogs and kids can play. Hosts are supper nice and friendly , beautiful river view. Nice shade and grass area.

D

Devin

September 2025

Tent

5 nights at Hidden Valley River Camp

Great access to the river with an awesome view. Kathy and her husband were awesome hosts

S

Stephen

September 2025

Weekend Trip to Hidden Valley River Camp

I loved this place. Kathy and her husband were so nice! The camping spots were so spacious. Kathy’s husband even let my son drive his golf cart. My son loved this experience. The land was clean the views are amazing and even had a super clean bathroom. I can’t wait to come back and camp again. 10/10 will be camping here again. Even pet friendly. Thanks for the great experience.

T

Tim

September 2025

Tent

With pets

Weekend Trip to Hidden Valley River Camp

Great location, super hosts. Had an awesome time.

A

Amelia

September 2025

Tent

Weekend Trip to Hidden Valley River Camp

I had a great time camping on Kathy and Scott's land! They were friendly, communicative, and kind. There is a beautiful view of the Ohio river. We hope to return!

BRIAN

September 2025

Tent

With kids

Weekend Trip to Hidden Valley River Camp

This was such an amazing spot to camp out. Being so close to the river offered some incredible views and awesome scenery. The hospitality of the host was absolutely unmatched and I will definitely be taking my family back there.

A

Austin

September 2025

Tent

4 nights at Hidden Valley River Camp

Very lovely place. Secluded and beautiful. The hosts were very warm and welcoming. Had fun will come back!

C

Cortney

September 2025

Tent

With pets

Weekend Trip to Hidden Valley River Camp

What a gem of a place to be! We had so much fun just relaxing and hanging out with the owner Scott and his wonderful pup Sam! We will 100% be back, sooner than later. Thank you Scott and Sam for your amazing hospitality, conversation, and allowing us to enjoy our time on your beautiful property.

Jeremy

September 2025

Tent

With pets

Weekend Trip to MoonLight Grove Farm

My kids and I had such a great time on this amazing property. Everything was great from the fishing, the animals, the private space for our tent.

B

Ben

September 2025

Tent

Group trip

Weekend Trip to Hidden Valley River Camp

Absolutely beautiful spot. We were able to get right down on the water. Sit and relax, watch the barges go by. They were great hosts.

C

Christy

September 2025

Tent

1 night at MoonLight Grove Farm

This was an absolutely perfect get away for those who love the outdoors and animals. Our hosts were beyond accommodating and kind. We truly felt like this spot by the river was a piece of paradise.

S

Scott

September 2025

Tent

1 night at MoonLight Grove Farm

We only stayed a night but we're already planning a longer stay. Quiet and peaceful, I haven't slept that good in ages. Can't wait to go back