12 Best Private Campsites Near Shelbyville, IN, US 2025

Looking to go camping near Shelbyville, Indiana? Hipcamp has over 280 private campsite options available in that area. With an average price per night of $30 and options as low as $25, there's something for every budget. Check out some of our top campsites with rave reviews: Happy Hollow Homestead (441 reviews), Walnut Valley Realm (230 reviews), and Lake Farm (106 reviews). Whether you enjoy climbing, wildlife watching, or whitewater paddling, there are plenty of popular activities to choose from. And don't worry, popular amenities like pets, campfires, and potable water are available too. Happy camping!

98% (131)

Top-rated campgrounds

Looking to go camping near Shelbyville, Indiana? Hipcamp has over 280 private campsite options available in that area. With an average price per night of $30 and options as low as $25, there's something for every budget. Check out some of our top campsites with rave reviews: Happy Hollow Homestead (441 reviews), Walnut Valley Realm (230 reviews), and Lake Farm (106 reviews). Whether you enjoy climbing, wildlife watching, or whitewater paddling, there are plenty of popular activities to choose from. And don't worry, popular amenities like pets, campfires, and potable water are available too. Happy camping!

98% (131)

Top-rated campgrounds

1. Cattail Springs

99%

(37)

40mi from Shelbyville · 12 sites · Tents, RVs, Lodging · Anderson, IN

Welcome to Cattail Springs! Nestled on nine wooded acres conveniently located just one mile off I-69 in Daleville, Indiana, this relaxing and peaceful property also features a stunning five-acre pond. The pond is fully stocked with a variety of fish, inviting anglers of all skill levels to cast a line. We do ask that you respect the catch and release rule. Surrounded by trees, this former stone quarry feels like a world away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Enjoy peaceful mornings by the water, afternoons filled with outdoor activities and quiet evenings by the fire pit under a starlit sky. Keep an eye out for deer, our resident blue herons, songbirds, ducks and other woodland creatures. Up to two dogs are permitted. Pet waste must be properly bagged and thrown away and dogs must be leashed when not at your immediate campsite. Enjoy free wifi to stream your favorite shows or connect to the office. The level of interstate travel noise that can be heard varies since the campground is within a mile of I-69. LOCAL ATTRACTIONS + CONVENIENCES (Anderson, Daleville + Chesterfield are all within minutes of the campground) Showers and gray water disposal: Pilot, 15876 W. Commerce Road, Daleville, IN 47334. Laundry at EZ Wash: 323 Anderson Road, Anderson, IN 46017. Badger Bait and Tackle: 121 W. Plum Street, Chesterfield, IN 46017. Firewood: purchase from us for a donation or at local gas stations. Groceries or supplies: Harvest Market (205 Federal Drive, Chesterfield, IN 46017). Exit 226, one exit south, offers Meijer, WalMart, pet food stores and more. Harrah's Hoosier Park Casino Racetrack: horse racing and gaming (4500 Dan Patch Circle, Anderson, IN 46013). Mounds State Park: 4306 Mounds Rd, Anderson, IN 46017, two miles from the property, features beautiful trails as well as ten earthworks built by the Adena-Hopewell people, prehistoric Indians. Entrance fee is typically $7. Dining: exit 234 offers traditional fast food options (Starbucks, Wawa, Wendy's, McDonald's, Subway, Wendy's, Culvers, Pizza King, Bird's Smokehouse and more). Exit 226, one exit south of Cattail Springs, offers a robust variety of restaurants, including McAlister's, Chic-fil-A, Montana Mike's, Texas Roadhouse, Chipotle, Olive Garden, Cracker Barrel and more.

2. Dirt Weapon Ranch

98%

(41)

49mi from Shelbyville · 10 sites · Tents, RVs · Gosport, IN

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.

3. H.E.R. LIVING CAMPUS

99%

(36)

19mi from Shelbyville · 20 sites · Tents, RVs, Lodging · Indianapolis, IN

H.E.R. stands for Honor, Educate, and Restore. As avid campers who have enjoyed the beauty of nature by camping all across America, we are happy to share the joys of camping with others. We do this in the solid spirit of Honoring our Ancestors, Educating our children, and Restoring the spirit of family. We share these values with every visitor to H.E.R. Living Campus. We hope to share these values with you.

4. Pirate Woods: 45acre Wood & Prairie

100%

(6)

23mi from Shelbyville · 13 sites · Tents · Knightstown, IN

We'd love to host you, your friends, and your pets on our 45 acres of woods and prairie! More about the location: 45 acres of combined farmland, prairie reserve, and forest--Pirate Woods is the perfect location for a getaway that still has nearby access to rural community amenities. This property is located 5 minutes from I-70 and 30-45 minutes from downtown Indianapolis. You can also access Knightstown via U.S. 40. Camp Areas: Pirate Woods campsites: are located in an 8 acre forest. There is a communal campfire ring with stocked woodpile for your use. Nearby are a few chairs for your use. You may create a fire ring at your own campsite if a fire ban is not in effect - but please be responsible. Sites 5 and 7 boast the best spots for hammock campers. Fauna: Pirate Woods is home to a variety of animals: great horned owls, deer, a mysterious grey wolf fox, chickens, pileated woodpeckers (and other varieties), finches, rose-breasted grosbeaks and more. Activities and Water: Feel free to walk, jog, or mountain bike the mowed paths. Bringing your own water is best. Though it's a short walk along the property to reach our back barn where there is a spigot available for your use (you may drink it from the tap, but purifying it recommended.) Town (Knightstown): A trip to town is only a 2 minute drive (or bike) away where you can grab Mexican or pub food at local restaurants when you don't feel like cooking over a fire. Additionally, the Blue River runs nearby and there is local access in town where you can rent kayaks. Other Town Highlights: 1. The Hoosier Gym (from the movie Hoosiers) 2. Farmers and Artisan market every Saturday morning June-July 3. Boondocks farm frisbee golf 4. Royal Highlands Golf (we're located on Greensboro Pike, the third (grassy) drive south of the golf course.)

Stories from the community

Z

Zack

October 2025

Tent

Weekend Trip to Dirt Weapon Ranch

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

Mycah

October 2025

With pets

Weekend Trip to Cattail Springs

I had a great experience at The Hollow at Cattail Springs! I was the only one onsite during my time there, so I had the whole place available to me. There was plenty of firewood so the fire stayed hot, I had complete access to the pond, and I had ample time of solitude which I was after. I couldn't recommend booking through Cole enough! He was there waiting for me when I arrived and was like talking to someone I had known for a long time. Thanks for the hospitality!

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!

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Ziv

October 2025

Tent

1 night at Dirt Weapon Ranch

Very cool place, private and convenient. I highly recommend

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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!

The Hideout is located on the south side of Cattail Springs five-acre pond. The site is mostly sunny, but has a little shade. (Bring cover with you if you want guaranteed shade). It has a few areas to access the pond for fishing (catch and release) and is near the canoe drop in spot. To access this campsite, a flat, short walk will be required through the woods. Fire pit and picnic table provided. Porta potty is located on the other side of the pond (near where you'll park).

t

taylor

October 2025

Tent

With pets

Weekend Trip to Cattail Springs

The hideout was great! A large space to spread out and a beautiful view of the pond. Thoughtful additions, like well kept trails to ensure privacy, firewood, trash bins and a cart to get your gear to camp. Instructions were easy to follow and hosts were very communicative. Would stay again!

D

Drew

October 2025

Tent

Weekend Trip to Cattail Springs

Super lovely campsite. My friend and I stayed here for a weekend for a little relaxing getaway. Although we didn't get to meet Cole it was such an enjoyable and welcoming stay. There was firewood at our campsite when we arrived and he had plenty in case you needed more(brought our own packs since we didn't know haha). But overall would recommend this place to anyone who wants a nice private camp weekend. The Cove was wonderful and secluded and you could barely hear the highway at night. Overall 10/10!!!

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.

M

Megan

September 2025

Tent

With kids

Weekend Trip to Pirate Woods: 45acre Wood & Prairie

We had an awesome evening on Michelle's land! We were fortunate enough to have the place to ourselves for the evening and were really about to explore and get a feel for the place. Michelle was both responsive on the app and prepared for our visit. Cannot say enough good things. We're already making plans to come back with our extended family.

Waterfront campsite location situated at the bottom of the hill. Adjacent to former stone quarry rocky edge with ease of access to fish from the dock (catch and release), relax by the fire pit, enjoy the outdoor dining area and more.

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Nick

September 2025

Tent

Group trip

Weekend Trip to Cattail Springs

Very peaceful, you don’t even know you’re close to the road/highway! The grounds were very well kept and the pond had great fishing. Cole swung by and checked on us and made sure we had everything we needed! Very kind and personable. Would definitely recommend for a weekend camping trip!

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.

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Nicole

August 2025

Tent

Weekend Trip to Cattail Springs

The hideout was awesome for camping with our dogs! They were able to be on long tie outs without any worry about other animals or people walking through. They have put alot of thought and effort into guests privacy! Fishing from the campsite was on point and my husband caught the biggest bass he has ever caught! (See the photo) Would definitely recommend trying it out for yourself! Groceries, gas, ice, etc all less than a 5 min drive away! Starbucks too! 😉 They are in the process of adding glampers and can't wait to try those out!

Jeff

August 2025

26 ft travel trailer

Weekend Trip to Cattail Springs

Cole & Janel were great hosts. The property was awesome with great personal space between camp sites. Cole was very attentive to our needs. We had family come to visit for the day and dinner. They enjoyed fishing and the peace and quiet at the camp. For a new private campground that is close to the freeway and shopping, this was a great spot and we will certainly be back when visiting family in Muncie. We stayed at the Eagles nest site which had 50amp power and water. Nice level spot to camp on with 26ft RV. Thank you Cole & Janel.

The Cove is the most secluded campsite at Cattail Springs. Enjoy the shade, an abundance of birds and privacy to unwind and relax.

Annette

August 2025

Tent

With kids

3 nights at Cattail Springs

My family had an AMAZING stay here at The Cove at Cattail Springs. A few things to note: This is definitely a beginner camper/family friendly spot. It offers a primitive camping experience without feeling absolutely stranded. Some people wanna FULLY detach but as somebody with a toddler it was so ideal being close enough to civilization we could grab anything we needed while experiencing nature and a gorgeous view all day. The site was super spacious and they offer lots of kindling and wood for fires for a small donation. Having a porto potty was also a major plus. Only thing I want to mention is the vicinity to the freeway gets a bit loud at night but it wasn't a deal breaker! Cole and Janel are just very warm people who are always down for a chat but gave us all the privacy in the world. They are building their campground all by themselves and the little touches really show how much love they have poured into their property. We have deemed this an annual tradition and cannot wait to come back next year!! Thank you for everything.

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Oriel

August 2025

Tent

Weekend Trip to Cattail Springs

We had an amazing time here. It’s really close to the city so it’s a great quick getaway and the site was wonderful. The sites are well thought out and really private. We cooked on the campfire and had a great relaxing night. Cole is a great host and we are looking forward to going back.