Best Camping in and near Hoosier National Forest

89% (9 reviews)

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

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Public campgrounds in the park
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Stay at a public campground in Hoosier National Forest

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Hardin Ridge Campground

200 sites · RVs, Tents In Hoosier National Forest

Little Salt Creek Group Site

1 site · RV, Tent In Hoosier National Forest

Springs Valley Recreation Area

6 sites · RVs, Tents In Hoosier National Forest

Tipsaw Lake Campground

22 sites · RVs, Tents In Hoosier National Forest

All of the sites looked this good at least. Level and easy to back into.

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Indian Celina Lake Campground

23 sites · RVs, Tents In Hoosier National Forest

Top-rated campgrounds near Hoosier National Forest

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Happy Hollow Homestead

24 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents30 acres · Marengo, IN

We now have 3 buildings for rent. The Cozy Camping Cottage, the Camping Cabin and the newest addition is our A-frame which is the most secluded spot on the land. - Voted best Hipcamp in Indiana to visit for 6 years. - Listed on Rachael Ray Magazine's "8 of America's Coolest Campgrounds" We offer a "Camping Cabin", The "Cozy Camping Cottage" or tent camping in Black Walnut Grove, in an open field, in the woods, or a shady grove. We like to interact with people or you can keep to yourself and have a quiet getaway in the woods. Sorry, but the tree house isn't available to rent since it is my home. I may rent it out in the future. Also in progress is the "Dome" We are on a solar powered, off the grid 30 acre homestead that has 24 acres of wooded land and 6 acres of groomed land. Come explore our land and relax in the "Tree Web", see the 2 story tree house that I live in, have fun on the tire swing, or just sit and enjoy all that nature has to offer. You can explore our interesting topography that has close to 100 foot of elevation changes, our (mostly) dry creek system that starts with 2 springs that drain into 3 sinkholes or walk 3 miles of trails (if you follow each trail from end to end). We love groups - Host your event here or have a group gathering with all your friends and family. We have spaces large enough to host hundreds of people. We welcome pets for camping, but no pets allow in the Camping Cabin. Also be aware that we have 2 friendly dogs on the land that roam freely. - 3.5 miles to Marengo Cave - 7 miles to the Blue River (canoes, rafting and swimming) - 30 minutes to Patoka Lake - 37 miles west of Louisville - 13 miles north of Interstate 64

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Camp Escape

6 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents15 acres · Louisville, KY

15 acres with a barn and creek. Our property also boarders the Jefferson County Forestry and is close to Tom Wallace Park. This 5 acres is a corner lot next to railroad tracks so there are two roads on two sides. This is a very rural type area yet still in the city so you will hear and see a combination of city/country things. We are very close to Fort Knox and Knob Creek gun range. You will most likely encounter wildlife, hear gunfire, hear cars and the train go by, you will probably see and hear us and the neighbors on tractors and trucks. This is a working farm among other farming type residents. This is a space for someone to camp with their personal camping equipment. There is no water, no shower, no electric or anything else besides a fire pit. You need to bring your own supplies. We border the Jefferson County Forestry with an entrance about 1 mile away. We are about 30 mins away from downtown, but just 5 mins from a Kroger, Walmart, and a dozen different restaurants. We are also about 15 mins from Fort Knox. There is a shared porta potty onsite.

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Lost River Hostel

18 sites · Lodging31 acres · West Baden Springs, IN

The Lost River Hostel is a nonprofit arts and cultural center located on a 29+ acre hillside in West Baden Springs, Indiana overlooking a section of the Lost River valley. Lost River Hostel strives to build and maintain an extraordinary space fueled by a constant cycle of generosity and creativity. We hope everyone who stays here will go back into the world refreshed and rejuvenated – wanting to be better people and do great things. Everything we do here is driven by our mission statement: "To provide a sandbox for exploration of goals and growth through nature and human connection." We accomplish this by providing a distraction-free, reflective space that is welcoming of people from all backgrounds and beliefs. A communal dinner with gratitude circle is included in every stay. We also host workshops and events related to music, writing, yoga, organic gardening, cooking, and environmental sustainability.

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Laurita's Casa Vieja

8 sites · RVs, Tents5 acres · Bloomington, IN

The farm is located 15 minutes west of Indiana Universities Memorial Stadium. The property is nice and private. The farm adjoins the 75 acre Stranger Hills Organic farm, the oldest organic farm in Indiana. Our 1899 Farmhouse is the only residence on the entire farm. There is a 3000 acre farm to our south. The area is quiet and very private. The campsites are in a grassy walnut grove by a small creek that runs along the eastern border of the property. We have a white deer creek cabin tent on a platform there and 3 or 4 nice level campsites to the north. There is a shaded RV site at the top of a small hill with 30 amp service. We can accomadate a large RV on packed gravel with 50 amp serice. the farm is located 15 minutes east of McCormicks Creek State Park. There is a porti -potty and a bag shower in a small building adjacent to the campsites. There is a YMCA about five minutes East of the property.

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Blue River Retreat

9 sites · Tents2 acres · Fredericksburg, IN

Welcome to our primitive campground on the beautiful Blue River! We have 2 acres of riverfront property at the end of a dead end road at the Crawford/Washington County line. Nice and secluded, we have the perfect place to getaway. There is river access for swimming and fishing or you can rent a canoe or kayak from us for a little paddling around. We provide picnic tables and fire rings. Firewood can be purchased from us for an additional cost. Our grounds are fairly flat with plenty of tree cover. If you enjoy hammock camping, our trees are perfect for that! Wildlife is abundant in the area; deer, otter, eagles, raccoons, and beaver are likely to be seen year round. If you are looking for activities nearby you will find Old Mill Canoe Rental in Fredericksburg (15 min drive), Marengo Cave (15 min drive), Beck's Mill (20 min drive), Buffalo Trace Park (25 min drive), as well as many other attractions in nearby Corydon, Salem, and Paoli.

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Rockytop Family Farms

3 sites · RVs, Tents3 acres · Henryville, IN

**25 Minutes north of Louisville, KY** Due to local demand, the dates of April 20-25 (Thunder over Louisville, KY Derby events) that are not currently booked are slightly higher in price, with a 2-night minimum. __________________________________________ RV Site(S) on our family land. 30amp electric, water, sewer. Fire-pit with seating, free firewood provided. Trash can provided. Next-door to Yankeetown Area/indoor roping arena. If you participate in the rodeo at Yankeetown, utilize our site with hookups for your horse trailer! Nearby access to the Knobstone trail access point. Just a few miles away from LM Sugarbush; Indiana's largest annual Maple Syrup Festival. Long gravel driveway; 1/4 mile or more off of State Rd 160. We border the Clark-State Forestry. We have a small farm pond that's full of fish; no license required. Bring your fishing pole and have fun! Expect to hear chickens, guineas, pigs, dogs barking, kids playing. You may hear a tractor, lawn mower, or gator ATV go by as we are always busy doing something. Your pets are welcome, but keep in mind that this property is patrolled by two large Great Pyrenees dogs, and while they are friendly to people, they are territorial and have been aggressive towards other dogs until they become friends. For the safety of all the dogs, your pets must be contained/on a leash at least until all of the dogs can get to know each other. We are 5 miles from I-65, and 19 miles north of Louisville, KY. Verizon phone/data service is good; can't confirm others.

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Full hookup RV Fairy land because of all the little Christmas lights that come on every night

77 sites · RVs10 acres · Brooks, KY

Learn more about this land: Beautifully landscaped, super safe, all full hook up RV Park located along Brooks Run Creek! The only park in Louisville Kentucky with creek front and or concrete pad sites. We are conveniently located just 1.8 miles from I-65 at the Brooks exit 121 just 3 miles south of the Louisville's outer loop for easy access to all Louisville, KY has to offer . Far enough away from the Freeway so there is no road noise. There are 2 nice golf courses within 3 miles. South Park Country Club and The Crossings Golf Course is adjacent to the park. We are located near shopping, restaurants, Churchill Downs, Downtown Louisville, the bourbon distillery trail, and many other attractions. Many are under 8 miles away. Come visit us! Daily rates for full hookup starting at $55 a night, weekly starting at $245-$330 and monthly rates start at $495-$925 for the creek front with concrete pad sites. We are the only RV Park in the Louisville area offering all full hookup creek front and concrete pad sites! We also offer over-sized, pull through sites, and a combo of creek front concrete pad, oversized, hill side, and pull through sites. (All rates include tax and electric except our monthly). All sites include water, sewer, dumpster service on lot 62, lawn care and monitored security cameras in beautiful and very safe park. All sites are 50 amp, and we have 50 to 30 amp adapters for sale for a $25 fee. Currently there is limited Wi-Fi available through the park but especially near the office on lot 50, if you need it, ask the Manager to put you near it because we are trying to provide a radiation free area for our Manager and guests. Enjoy the beautiful new landscaping in this Resort like RV Park with twinkly lights that come on throughout the night and we have a beautiful winding creek with creek front sites. The park has paved roads, concrete pads. This is a big rig park that can handle coaches as large as 50 feet. Because we are conveniently located in the greater Louisville metropolitan area, please know there is a nearby train track that comes by a few times a day, but you get use to it, and we are only 8 miles from the Louisville International airport, but there is no freeway noise which can be very loud. We do not have bath or shower houses, or a pool, but we do have laundry facilities on site. There are showers within 2 miles at the Pilot gas station on I-65. We strive to offer excellent customer service, so please feel free to call if you have any issues! We have an on-site Assistant Manager. Annie is located on lot 12a, and you can reach her after you arrive by calling (502) 276-6090, or look for Annie working in the park. For long term RV guests, we require RVs to be 10 years or newer. We do give variances to some Airstream and restored classic RVs with a picture pre-approval by Management plus there is a free application see our website for an application on the banner.

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Jackson County Fairgrounds

259 sites · RVs, Tents125 acres · Brownstown, IN

Located just one hour from Indianapolis, Louisville, and Cincinnati, our property is strategically positioned on your route to everywhere, right in the middle of nowhere. The historic Jackson County Fairground borders the Jackson Washington State Forest, encompassing 125 acres. This space has witnessed 85 years of an award-winning county fair, and the dirt track racing events attract more than 150,000 visitors each season. Easy access is provided via I-65 and US 50.

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Carefree Sister's Sleepover

1 site · RV, Tent6 acres · Leavenworth, IN

Our 6 acre property is a small, simple place to sleep for a night or a weekend while you're traveling through. No fancy frills, just a quiet, pretty place to pitch a tent or park your camper for an evening or two. Only 3.2 miles north of Exit 92 (Carefree exit with a Love's Truckstop), this is the perfect place to stop over while traveling. Both my sister and I travel solo and with friends and having affordable place to park your vehicle or pitch a tent with a place to go to the restroom, gaze at the stars, and have a campfire makes cross country trips more enjoyable. Our land has a gorgeous nighttime view of the stars on the front half, and the back half is wooded and borders a creek. At night, you can watch the soft glow of the Milky Way climb across the sky or sit by a campfire. There is a cleared walking path from the front of the land to the creek at the back so you can sit for a while and enjoy the sound of the running water 11 months a year (the creek is very low in August). You can't drive back there, but you could pitch your tent or hang a hammock in the flat area by the creek. If you stay for a few days, we are: 5 miles to the Louisville Astronomical Society's Dark Sky viewing location, 6.1 miles to Wyandotte Park 7.8 miles to Marengo Cave 8.6 miles Cave Country Canoe 6.6 miles Rothrocks Mill Public Access to Blue River (you can swim here!) We are a perfect half way spot between RRG and Jackson Falls NOTE: This property is completely off grid. We have an enclosed pit toilet and hand sanitizer in the green privy. A gas fire ring and a wood fire ring. You will need to bring wood for burning. This place is very safe, but I always like to be near the road when I travel solo. You might choose to park a little further in, and that is fine, but the topography goes downhill (literally) toward the back of the field. You are welcome to park by our little tiny house if your vehicle is safe to do so. Be aware that this road is gravel and in the spring, it can be muddy if there has been a lot of rain! Remember, we are in the country! :) Our neighbors have cows and they talk to each other during the day. You might hear dogs in the distance, as farmers often have dogs. This is mostly raw land, so be mindful of ticks. There is 40% Deet on the porch of the tiny yellow house if you need to use some. Be mindful if you are highly reactive to poison ivy if you are walking around in the woods. We've never had any issues but I wanted to bring it to your awareness that you should be mindful if you are reactive. You can park near the little red cabin if you'd like. In the summer, you will hear birds, crickets, and cicadas, so if nature sounds annoy you, this might not be the place for ya! Past guests have identified the following birds on the property: Cardinal House sparrow House finch Blue Jay Eastern Bluebird Crow Common crackle Bobwhite quail Yellow warbler Catbird Barn Swallow Mourning doves Chipping sparrow Field sparrow Night Herons Owls among others not identified. Also, the Indiana Brown Bat We love this little get away and we think it is perfect for a safe, simple, and affordable place to stay while you are on the road. :) If you have any questions, reach out! While you are here, please feel free to message us if you need something or have questions. We are happy to help and if we aren't sleeping, we will respond as soon as possible! For special groups that plan in advance: My little sister is a Wilderness EMT and has taught Survival courses for over 10 years. It might be fun to get a group of friends together and take a small group weekend course on the property where you'd learn how to build a fire, make simple shelters, walk slack lines, orient, and learn what to do if you are lost in the woods (and/or how to teach children what to do if they are lost in the woods), among other things. I have a telescope and for those groups, I can set up the telescope for you to see stars and planets. Other options include a rest and reflection weekend, group yoga weekends, and group sound baths. If these options interest you, reach out in advance.

Booked 1 time

Jubilee Field RV

3 sites · RVs1 acre · Louisville, KY

Nestled conveniently at the crossroads of I-65 and I-64 in Louisville, Jubilee Field invites you to enjoy the best of both worlds! As a traveler’s oasis, our RV campground offers a unique opportunity to camp in one of the largest green spaces within the 40217 area before we transform into a bustling outdoor food truck park. Revel in the ease of our spacious pull-through and parallel spots, perfect for all types of RVs. You'll also have access to a sprawling 1-acre field right next to your parking spot—ideal for a leisurely picnic or a game of frisbee. Come and enjoy Jubilee Field while you can! It's the perfect pit stop for a restful break or a fun daytime outing in your journey. Our location not only makes us a convenient choice but a memorable one. Watch us evolve, join us for the ride, and make Jubilee Field a delightful highlight in your travel adventures!

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Fairhaven Farm Campground

5 sites · RVs, Tents36 acres · English, IN

Until 2019, this farm was in the same family since 1889. It has been a working farm since that time. In 2019, our family purchased the farm and continue to operate it much the same way. Our family is devoted to history and preserving the essence of the past. You may very well see us pull up in one of our antique cars to greet you! Our neighbors are friendly and many are also small farmers. You can't see their farms from camp, but don't be surprised to hear roosters crowing, cattle mooing, and donkeys braying in the distance. Our farm is surrounded by the Hoosier National Forest, so you'll see and hear plenty of wildlife too. At various times during the summer, you may find wild blackberries, elderberries, and black raspberries growing right in camp!

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HOBA farm riverfront property

5 sites · RVs, Tents13 acres · Cloverport, KY

Learn more about this land: At HOBA Farm we have 13 acres of wooded river front property. We also have a large lake with kayaks and paddlebaords available! There are plenty of cute animals to visit. Near by there are plenty of hiking trails, caves, beautiful parks, and boat launches. We have plenty of room to set up tents and hammocks in a variety of locations. Its very shady down by the river too! Most of our property is natural and full of wild flowers all summer. This is primitive camping only. We have a portapotty on site but currently do not have running water or electric. Please be sure to bring your own drinking water.

The best camping near Hoosier National Forest guide

Overview

About

Discover several highlights of this vast forest. Start with Hemlock Cliffs, a box canyon with gentle waterfalls in-season. This tranquil place stays cool because limited sunlight reaches the bottom of the canyon. Marvel at the unique trees and flowers that grow here due to the distinct climate.

Fish, swim, or water ski at Patoka Lake, the second-largest lake in the Hoosier State. Cast your line in some of the hundreds of quiet coves. Regular events occur throughout the year, such as a car show, 5K run, and kid-friendly fishing demonstrations.

Look over the Ohio River at Buzzard Roost. Grab a picnic lunch and hike to the bluffs with beautiful views of one of America's iconic rivers. Keep an eye out for the buzzards that soar over the cliffs.

Drive along the scenic byway that follows the old Buffalo Trace. Bison once roamed here by the millions to migrate from west to east.

Several campgrounds throughout the forest have RV and tent sites. Reserve a cabin for glamping.

Nearby attractions

Embrace the tranquility that awaits at Lake Monroe Park in Florida. This haven for campers boasts a serene lake, perfect for quiet moments of reflection, lush greenery for peaceful strolls, and an abundance of local wildlife that nature enthusiasts will love.