Lieber State Recreation Area

Stayed at Poplar Grove. Great sites. Lots of activities for families. The beach was fun. Very social campground, but respectful and quiet after dark. Really enjoyed our summer evening there.

My family and I went for Labor Day weekend, and had a great time. Not only are the camp sites nice, there are tons of activities for the kids. We hiked a nature trail, went to the beach, visited the nature center, and went to see the falls.

Pros: Very nice large-size pool with slide, attached playground, green space, and sand-filled soccer pitch all included on the pool grounds. These amenities are great as the pool takes a 15 minute clear-out break about once per hour. There is a concession stand with limited selection, but the benefit is that it takes credit card (and cash). 

The camp store is not the best we've visited. Very limited supply, but they did keep a stock of bacon in their refrigerator and that made my wife happy. 

Cons: Typical Indiana State campground. We visited for a weekend and landed in a terrible spot. The grade was severe and despite using all the travel trailer tricks to level my site, I could not get level. We dealt with it, but I noticed 4 or 5 quality spots that sat vacant through the weekend, however, were allegedly reserved. I had terrible anxiety for the entire weekend that we would roll backward into a ravine. 

We were on an electric side of the park, and the pull-through site across from us was occupied by a tent with a minivan. No judgment here, but they were watching highly taboo movies on a wide screen projector with loud speakers around midnight, well after quiet hours had expired. 

Verizon and AT&T cell phone service were nil, even with a booster and WiFi pack. Our site was littered with cellophane wrappers and cigarette butts. Clearly the previous campers did not adhere to the "leave no trace" doctrine. 

DNR was very, very present at the campground, but at many sightings it seemed like they were watching for rule infractions as opposed to upholding the integrity of the park. I know that seems conflicting, but if you visit this park you will understand. 

Bathrooms were mostly clean. Vault toilets were disgusting, but that's expected for concrete topped port-a-potties.

Although our campsite was large, there was absolutely no privacy. It was as if we were camping in a field. The site was grassy and clean.

The lake has absolutely no shade, so bring an umbrella.

The pool was excellent! Skip the lake and enjoy the pool.

Very flat and ideal for bike riding.

Overall, just ok…wouldn’t go back. Nothing to do besides swim.

Not a ton of hiking trails but the site was shaded and good size and the pool was really nice! Very quiet even though it was packed, and there were tons of families around. Will definitely keep on our list!

Decent camping sites, the camp store had basics but not much. Very few hiking trails near campground. With a park and lake of this size I would expect more hiking options.

Nice big campsite for our tents. Flush toilets; bathrooms could use some repairs. Fishing dock and area were clean with portable toilets. Walking trail. Safe area, well lit, and patrolled often. Pool & beach. We rented a pontoon boat which was very nice. Camp store for basic supplies. No cell service at all in camp area. Just a short driving distance to Cataract Falls - which is beautiful with a nice walking trail and covered bridge.

The center piece of Lieber State Recreation Area is the 1,400 acre Cagles Mill Lake. This is a flood control reservoir that is popular for pleasure boating, small house boats and sport fishing. Nearby attractions include the beautiful Cataract Falls. The campground consists of 115 Class A(electric only) and 94 Class B campsites with most tucked under hardwood and pine tree canopy. The campground features include a camp store for basic needs; firewood, ice, sundries and boat rental plus a recently updated dump station and potable water access area and clean comfort stations. Electric service is 30 amp only. Plenty of spots for larger rigs and many are fairly level with asphalt pads. The park offers a seasonal aquatic center with a zero entrance pool and water slide, a nature center with interpretive naturalist program, numerous shelters, playgrounds and picnic areas. Boating is the focus...but the camping is nice too! Easy access location just 3 miles south of Interstate I-70 on IN-243, 40 miles West of Indianapolis, 35 miles East of Terre Haute. Reservations recommended on summer weekends; reserveamerica.com

Probably the most favorite site we have ever had.. but.. despite the fact that we chose our site based on being next to water.. they have the spickets hacked off So you couldn’t attach a hose.. also.. ZERO cell phone coverage.. only had 1 walking trail.. but had pool & lake..

We had a great weekend here! There was plenty of room at our site for a 10 person tent. Neighbors were kind and didn’t mind that we had music playing. The lake water was high due to rain so fishing was uneventful. But nonetheless made for a great weekend. And cataract falls 20 minute drive from the park is a must see!

What a great time we had. This park had everything you could want. The sites are spacious, wooded and all have 2 picnic tables.

Electrical sites are not great for tents but non electrical can be a wild party during memorial weekend.

There are over 200 sites in this park. We reserved a spot 2 weeks before our vacation. I dont know if it was empty because it was a Tuesday night or if no one knows about this park.....people need to know about it. Each campsite is spacious and has plenty of space away from your neighbors. There was plenty of shade even though our pad wasn't tucked back in the woods. We were right next to the bathrooms which were big (plenty of stalls and showers), CLEAN, and comfortable. There is someone at the gate until 11p.m. After that, I think you have to contact the camp host for entry. Anyway.....the grass was cut, the staff was helpful and knowledgeable, and it's not far from some pretty cute little waterfalls (Cateract Falls.) Oh, and if you camp at Lieber you get free entrance to the falls. We are definitely planning to return for a longer stay.

A great campground with flat and level spots for various campers. bathrooms are decent not the best, not the worst. Would stay again if I find myself needing a place to stop off of I70

Great place to celebrate Halloween on goblins weekend.

We love going to this park several times a year. We especially like camping in the fall for their Goblins weekend.

Lieber State Recreation Area, Cloverdale, IN is west down I70 from Indianapolis, 2 miles down RT243. Cagles Mill Lake borders the southwestern side of the area.

We arrived to a very quiet campground with few campers. Our site was next to the showerhouse, in the trees and had an attached grass trail out the back. All of the campsites boasted two picnic tables and some were very spacious. The sites were electric only and there were water sites positioned strategically throughout the campground.

The showerhouse was older but maintained. There were also pit toilets throughout the campground( not much to say about typical pit toilets....)

There were primitive sites in the adjacent campground that did not have much tree cover but appeared to be good size sites to set up in.

This is a big state park with a lot of different things to do in nature (in or on the water, a few trails). It’s close to 70, staff enforce rules well, pool, sports fields, lots of different camping loop options, most are wooded, ok privacy. Unfortunately it’s crowded, could use another bath house.

Nice sites. Outhouses are very rundown. Lots of trees.