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Dispersed Camping

Mitchell Creek Road Dispersed

CAMPER SUMMARY PRESENTED BYFord

Mitchell Creek Road Dispersed, near Mitchell, Indiana, is a no-frills spot for those who enjoy a rugged camping experience. This location offers a few roadside pull-offs along Mitchell Creek, perfect for pitching a tent and soaking in the natural surroundings.

Visitors have noted the serene atmosphere, with thick forests and rock outcroppings providing a beautiful backdrop for exploration. While amenities are minimal—no restrooms or picnic tables—campers appreciate the quiet and seclusion, making it ideal for those looking to escape the hustle and bustle. One reviewer mentioned, “I would camp here again for the quiet and its proximity to Hemlock Cliffs and Yellow Birch Ravine.”

Keep in mind that this isn’t a traditional campground; it’s more of a make-your-own campsite situation. Some spots may be tricky to access, especially for larger vehicles, so a smaller rig or tent is recommended. The area is also known for its wildlife, with one camper sharing their experience of spotting turtles on the road.

If you’re up for a bit of adventure and don’t mind roughing it, Mitchell Creek Road Dispersed could be just the place for you. Just remember to bring your own supplies, as there’s no water or trash service available.

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Location

Mitchell Creek Road Dispersed is located in Indiana

Detail location of campground

Coordinates

38.29587547 N
86.65221175 W

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Connectivity

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Connectivity

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Access

  • Drive-In
    Park next to your site
  • Walk-In
    Park in a lot, walk to your site.
  • Hike-In
    Backcountry sites.

Site Types

  • Tent Sites
  • Dispersed

Features

For Campers

  • Alcohol
  • Pets
  • Fires

DISPERSED CAMPING

Enjoy dispersed camping on government land and leave no trace. Pack in and pack out. No (or limited) services at this camping area. Permit may be required.


PERMIT might be REQUIRED

We curate permit requirements across the US for our PRO members. Try PRO to see if Mitchell Creek Road Dispersed needs a permit.


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Reviews

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out of 5

6 Reviews

Reviewed Sep. 16, 2025

Small pull off on the side of a gravel road.

This is a bare bones location. There was evidence of a homemade fire pit and a small cleared area. No cell service at the site but there was a bar or two on the road just a few feet away. With a weboost there was att and tmobile service. Very quiet, only 2 vehicles passed by in the 36 hours I was there. 38.515995, -85.870726, 871 ft

Siten/a
Month of VisitSeptember
Reviewed Apr. 7, 2024

It’s a very spartan spot

Spot has a creek and is flat enough for a tent mostly just a single person spot no toilets. Road south coming in was destroyed some time ago have to w yer from east or west road.

Month of VisitApril
Reviewed Jul. 5, 2023

Perfect for Invisible Boondocking

This is NOT a campground, but just roadside pull-offs on public land. There are no restrooms, fire rings, picnic tables, or other amenities. However, if you are camping in a self-contained SMALL vehicle, this is quiet, secluded, and beautiful. I did not see any pull offs that would accommodate an RV of any size, and nothing large enough to turn a trailer around.One pull off was nearly too small to turn around my small pick up truck. But the thick forest was beautiful. There are rock outcroppings along this road, which follows Mitchell Creek and lots to explore on foot. While I was exploring and camping on this road, only two vehicles passed during the entire 16 hours. VERY quiet. Have a paper map handy, as there is no cell signal and GPS was spotty. The place I camped had a small graveyard behind it, so if you’re superstitious, this may not be for you. There was also a big white building that was all locked up surrounded by open meadow that a larger vehicle might be able to park behind. A circular “drive” was mown around the building. A few of the pull offs I didn’t explore because they were muddy or washed out after several days of rain. I would camp here again for the quiet and it’s proximity to Hemlock Cliffs and Yellow Birch Ravine.

Sitea small pull off near a cemetery .
Month of VisitJuly
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  • Review photo of Mitchell Creek Road Dispersed by Jaymi A., July 5, 2023
Reviewed May. 7, 2021

There is no camp ground

There are just a couple of sites along the road. One is at the trail crossing for horses, hikers, and bikers. Its basically a make your own campsite. Ok place if you like to really rough it.

Month of VisitMay
Reviewed Oct. 23, 2020

Nice but nope

It took me 20 from route 64 to find this place. If you are solo female traveler don’t even waste your time. After 5 min of driving on the very skinny gravel road y saw what it look like spots but Iam not sure really. 10 min later I got to the coordinates and there was nothing, not seven an opening just more road. Y just keep driving till I got back to 64 and found a Cracker Barrel 17 miles away.

  • Review photo of Mitchell Creek Road Dispersed by Sofia A., October 23, 2020
  • Review photo of Mitchell Creek Road Dispersed by Sofia A., October 23, 2020
Reviewed Jul. 12, 2020

Limited dispersed sites

Mitchell Creek Road in Hoosier National Forest, is just one small section of a road that runs along Mitchell Creek. On the west end, where the road turns right (north), there was a small drive to the right that went down towards the creek bed. There was a small fire ring here, and another fire ring around the back, both set up on the rocks of the dry riverbed. These didn't seem like great camping areas, let alone a "campsite". Towards the middle this road, just east of an intersection for a road to the south, there was a campsite creek side, and a little farther, a campsite on the hillside. The hillside spot was taken, so we took that last spot. Lookout for turtles on the road, we spotted and removed 4 of them.

The area was rather buggy, and to be honest a little sketchy, so we slept in our van. Only two cars drove by, each time kicking up a big cloud of white dust which covered most of the foliage by the road. It hadn't rained in a while. We went briefly down to the creek, but it was very buggy and not very nice to hike. At night, we heard some loud mysterious crashing in some nearby trees, and what was possibly a large band of coyotes in the distance. Can't imagine I'd ever come back to this area, but it's there as an option for sure!

Month of VisitJune
  • Review photo of Mitchell Creek Road Dispersed by Tommy S., July 12, 2020
  • Review photo of Mitchell Creek Road Dispersed by Tommy S., July 12, 2020
  • Review photo of Mitchell Creek Road Dispersed by Tommy S., July 12, 2020
  • (5) View All

Frequently Asked Questions

Is dispersed camping permitted near Birdseye, Indiana along Mitchell Creek Road?

Yes, dispersed camping is permitted along Mitchell Creek Road in the Hoosier National Forest near Birdseye, Indiana. This is public land where primitive camping is allowed. The area consists of a few roadside pull-offs rather than designated campsites. It's important to note that this is truly dispersed camping - you'll need to be self-sufficient and practice Leave No Trace principles. The road is narrow and graveled, so plan accordingly when accessing this camping area.

Where is Mitchell Creek Road dispersed camping located in Indiana?

Mitchell Creek Road dispersed camping is located in the Hoosier National Forest in southern Indiana. The camping area runs along Mitchell Creek, with access points from Route 64. The road itself is a narrow, gravel path that follows the creek. It's approximately 20 minutes from Route 64, making it relatively secluded. The area is accessible from both east and west approaches, though portions of the southern access road have been damaged and may be impassable.

Are there any attractions or activities near Mitchell Creek Road camping area?

The Mitchell Creek area offers outdoor recreation opportunities typical of the Hoosier National Forest. There's a trail crossing near one of the dispersed sites that accommodates hikers, mountain bikers, and horseback riders. The creek itself provides a scenic natural feature and potential water source (though water should be properly filtered). The secluded, forested setting offers opportunities for wildlife viewing, photography, and enjoying nature. Due to the remote location, visitors should plan their activities with the understanding that commercial attractions are limited in the immediate vicinity.

What amenities or facilities are available for dispersed camping on Mitchell Creek Road?

Mitchell Creek Road offers extremely primitive camping with virtually no amenities. There are no restrooms, designated fire rings, picnic tables, or other facilities typically found at developed campgrounds. A few makeshift fire rings exist at some pull-offs, but campers should be prepared to be entirely self-sufficient. The sites are essentially just small clearings or pull-offs along the roadside. This location is best suited for experienced dispersed campers who are comfortable with true backcountry camping and have all necessary supplies.