Camping is the ultimate get-away-from-it-all experience. Combine that with stunning, natural scenery that only Southern Indiana can deliver, and you’ll have a memorable, relaxing, and soul-restoring camping trip! Enjoy an adventurous weekend of hiking and biking, or a quiet day in nature and around the campfire. Either way, we look forward to sharing our forests, parks, and outdoor adventures with you in down home Southern Indiana.
Below you will find some of the leading camping sites in Southern Indiana. Some are deeply nestled in the wilderness among our gentle rolling hills and waterways, while others are in our outstanding parks offering a long list of amenities.
Spring Mill State Park, Mitchell
Spring Mill State Park is a unique blend of nature and history. The water flowing from cave springs led to the founding of an industrial village in the early 1800s. Pioneers used this water source to run several grist mills and other manufacturing mills. One of the grist mills remains today along with a restored pioneer village ready to explore. Glorious scenic camping, an astronaut museum, the Twin Caves boat tour, and the nature center provide plenty of activities. The rugged and easy trails that wind through the park provide nature hikes just right for you.
Sun Outdoors Lake Rudolph, Santa Claus
With close proximity to Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari, this camping resort has something for everyone in your family. There’s lots of camping options from air-conditioned, fully stocked cabins to primitive campsites. Family fun is front-and-center with lake access, a large outdoor pool, a splash park with slides, parks, and activity center.
Lost River Hostel, West Baden
Located close to Hoosier National Forest, caves, waterfalls, and the unique Wesley Chapel Gulf, Lost River Hostel is one of the most unique camping experiences you can have in Southern Indiana. Stay in a tree house 30 feet in the air, or book a cozy Nest. The 29-acre property includes wooded hills, a labyrinth, trails, a swimming hole, outdoor showers, a rooftop bathtub, a library, an art porch, instruments, and organic gardens.
Patoka Lake Marina and Lodging, Birdseye
Patoka Lake is a sprawling and sparkling lake covering 8,800 acres. Including the surrounding park, the over 26,000 acres of land and water spreads across three counties. In addition to typical camping sites, Patoka Lake offers houseboats, unique floating cabins on the lake, and cabins on land, too. Bring your boat or rent one of theirs. The views here are truly breath-taking.
Wilstem Ranch, Paoli
Who says you can’t camp with elephants, giraffes, kangaroos, bears and sloths in Indiana? At Wilstem Ranch you can! Rent one of their cabins and then head out to the drive-through-safari or make an appointment to give an elephant a bath. Unique adventures and animal encounters await you at Wilstem Ranch.
Charlestown State Park, Charlestown
Charlestown State Park is a hikers’ paradise with scenic vistas along the Fourteenmile Creek valley and the Ohio River. Here, elevation changes of over 200 feet provide rugged hills and deep ravines. The unique topography offers up Devonian fossil outcrops and sinkholes. You can even hike through the ruins of Rose Island, an abandoned amusement park from the 1920s! Camping options include primitive and full hookup sites.
Deam Lake Recreation Area, Borden
Deam Lake State Recreation Area in Borden is home to several hiking trails, including access to Indiana’s longest, the Knobstone Trail. Trails range from easy to rugged. Deam Lake also has a 194-acre lake, 2 campgrounds, cabin rentals, Forest Education Center, horse trails, mountain biking trails, and boat rentals.
Sleeping Bear Retreat, French Lick
No tent? No problem! Sleeping Bear Retreat is located on over 60 beautifully wooded acres in scenic French Lick, Indiana. Visitors can stay in tipis, covered wagons, lodges, and a-frames! Enjoy hiking and biking trails, a lake, a giant chess game, a 9 hole disk golf course, and more.
Lincoln State Park, Lincoln City
This scenic 2,026-acre park was established in 1932 as a memorial to Abraham Lincoln’s mother, Nancy Hanks. Choose from cabins, RV spots, or primitive camp sites and enjoy Lake Lincoln, boat rentals, a nature center, picnic areas, and trails!
New Vision RV Park, Oaktown
New Vision RV Park offers RV and primitive camping sites for a peaceful and relaxing stay. Amenities include playgrounds, basketball, horseshoes, and a fishing pond.
Spanning over 200,000 acres, this huge forest includes lakes, sandy beaches, boat launches, hiking, biking, bridle trails, and kayaking. Choose your camping experience from cabins to primitive. Adventures are endless with swimming, climbing, fishing, hunting, and enjoying nature in every way imaginable.
O’Bannon Woods State Park, Corydon
Nestled inside the 2,400-acre Harrison Crawford State Forest, O’Bannon Woods State Park offers camping, hiking, fishing, boating, and even an aquatic center to cool off at!
Scales Lake Park, Boonville
Scales Lake has something for everyone! Fish and kayak at the 66-acre lake, take a dip at the beautiful beach area, or explore the walking and mountain trails. They also offer beautiful campsites and lakefront cabins for the perfect trip this summer.
Buffalo Trace Park, Palmyra
Buffalo Trace Park is loaded with activities. With tennis and basketball courts, volleyball pits, swimming, ball diamonds, disc golf, trails, playgrounds, corn hole, horseshoes, boating, and even a petting zoo, your camping trip will be as fun-filled as you want it to be. From primitive sites to cabins, your idea of roughing-it is covered.
Cave Country Canoes, Milltown
Camp right on the beautiful Blue River at Cave Country Canoes in Milltown, Indiana. If you’re up for even more outdoor adventure, book a paddling trip that takes you through this scenic section of Southern Indiana.
Burdette Park, Evansville
Burdette Park in Evansville has camping sites and rustic chalets available to rent. This park features a massive aquatic center, 180 acres of woods to hike, pickleball courts, and playgrounds. The grounds are open to the public 365 days a year.
West Boggs Park, Loogootee
West Boggs Park near Loogootee offers over 150 campsites plus cabins available to rent. The beautiful 622-acre lake has some of the best fishing in the area! The park also features a putt putt course, golf course, kayak rentals, scenic trails, and an Amish-style lakeside restaurant.
Prides Creek Campground, Petersburg
Enjoy fishing, kayaking, and swimming April 1st through October 31st at Prides Creek Campground in Petersburg. The campground is full hookup with 30 and 50 AMP sites available.
