Campgrounds near Waverly, Indiana range from full-service RV parks to basic tent camping areas, with several options within a 30-mile radius. Lake Haven Retreat and Indy Lakes Campground provide water and electric hookups for RVs, while Johnson County Park offers a more spacious setting with widely spaced sites. Most developed campgrounds in this central Indiana region accommodate both tent and RV campers, though several properties have shifted toward primarily RV use in recent years.
Access to most campgrounds remains consistent year-round, with many facilities like Lake Haven Retreat and Morgan-Monroe State Forest operating through all seasons. Water and electric hookups are standard at most developed sites, though sewer connections vary by location. The region features generally mild terrain with minimal elevation changes, making most campgrounds accessible without specialized vehicles or equipment. Reservations are recommended, especially for weekend stays during summer months when Indianapolis-area campgrounds fill quickly. A camper noted, "Johnson County Park is an interesting conglomeration of activity with 58 sites with 30amp/50amp electric and water hookups, level gravel pads and a dump station."
Mixed-use campgrounds dominate the Waverly area camping landscape, with many facilities balancing recreational amenities with natural settings. Johnson County Park spans 622 acres with two campgrounds, hiking trails, and multiple recreation facilities including an equestrian school. Lake Haven Retreat features communal fire rings rather than individual fire pits, which some visitors appreciate for the social atmosphere. The Waverly camping region offers convenient access to both outdoor recreation and city amenities, making it an ideal base for exploring central Indiana. Campers frequently mention the convenience of these locations for exploring both natural areas and Indianapolis attractions. Several reviews highlight the balance between access and tranquility, with one visitor noting that Lake Haven Retreat offers "a nice quiet place" despite being just 20 minutes from downtown Indianapolis, making it "very quiet and relaxing" while providing reasonable city access.
$60 / night
"We attended a wedding at the Scottish Cathedral in the center of downtown Indy and from the campground, it was a nice drive into the city off the interstate that only took about 20 min."
"Close to the city without being “in it”. We would stay here again."
$25 - $55 / night
"This is probably the best state forest in the state of Indiana. The property is well maintained. There is a new visitors center built a few years ago."
"Site 13 has a little trail that goes down to a large flooded sinkhole behind the campsite. There were lots of tree frogs singing because of the proximity to water."
"The park is 622 acres that include two campgrounds, approximately 5 miles of hiking trails, equestrian school, 18 hole disc golf course, shelter houses, amphitheater, lakes, fishing and more."
"We have camped here twice, we needed to be as close to Trafalgar Indiana as possible, not many camping options in the local area."
$43 / night
"We have visited Nashville Indiana several times but this is our first time camping nearby. My wife loves to visit Nashville and all the little shops they offer."
"It was backed up to the edge of the woods which made for a lovely view. Driving through the campground it looks like there are some sites pretty close together but ours wasn’t too bad."
$60 - $80 / night
"It’s very close to an interstate so it’s not exactly a picturesque setting. The pricing seems high for what it is. Walking distance to Mount Comfort RV Dealership."
"Clean and friendly..easy access to the highway..a lot of transient sites..nice pool!"
$43 / night
"This is a beautiful State Park situated in the rolling hills of southern Indiana."
"I make multiple visits here every year, mainly for the mountain bike trails. There are almost 30 miles of trails inside the park with new trails every year for the past 3+ years."
$12 - $38 / night
"Bathrooms very far walk from campsites. Showers are pay only. Difficult to navigate/find your camp without a map."
"This is the Bill Monroe Bluegrass Music Park & Campground near Nashville, IN. Very nice facility with nice stage for events."
GuideThis campground was fine. Very clean pit toilets, but some of the sites were pretty sloped and close together. 154 was the best spot I scoped. 133 was very uneven and no privacy
GuideThe coordinates took me to nowhere, just a spot on the side of the road. There are some sites along the road though.
GuideJust the edge of a dirt road. Signs nearby saying no camping. You could maybe get away with it late at night, but it didn’t feel like a good spot to stay overnight to me.
ScoutWe just stopped overnight. It was just fine
GuidePit toilets clean and well stocked. Area is open with lots of room to choose your spot. Have visited before and will again..
GuideNice big open field with plenty of places to park and pitch. A bit crowded for midweek, but not too bad.
ScoutHad a great annual relationship with this campground. When we first started going they did not have their canoes and kayaks service. We had our our own so no big deal. They let us put in and take out. Then they started their livery service. They were hesitant about letting us use they put in and take out spot but since we would help with some of the chores around the campground we built a good relationship with the owners. They once said "you are the only ones we allow to do this" thought that we were sort of grandfathered in at that point. 20 years later....they must have forgotten their words and we were told since we took out our canoes at there site we were not allowed to come back ever again. You word goes a long way in my book and it evidently got forgotten or they just got mean.
GuideThis is a beautiful park with lots of amenities. The sites have paved pads but very few are level - weird. Lake access, wooded and sunny sites.
GuideWe traveled from Tennessee for a concert in Indianapolis (about a 40-minute drive) and absolutely loved this campground! The sites are paved, level, and offer plenty of yard space, with many located right along the river.
It’s right at the entrance to a scenic walking trail, and they even offer electric bike rentals to explore the area. The campground store is one of the nicest we’ve seen, and the bathrooms are clean and well maintained. There’s also a new, modern playground.
Wi-Fi is available, and we had solid cell service with 3 bars on US Cellular and T-Mobile. If we lived closer, we’d definitely be back!
Winter season is over middle of April, and we were here April 3rd. Water was turned off at the sites, but they had a spot to fill up your holding tank.
Full hook-ups!
Campgrounds surrounding Waverly, Indiana primarily sit in gently rolling terrain with elevations rarely exceeding 900 feet above sea level. Most camping facilities in this central Indiana region operate year-round with minimal seasonal closures. Water access varies significantly between sites, with some properties offering multiple ponds or lake access while others maintain primarily wooded settings without water features.
Hiking trails: Morgan-Monroe State Forest offers extensive trail networks for day hiking. "This is probably the best state forest in the state of Indiana. The property is well maintained. There are a lot of trails to hike 2 of them are over 10 miles (lower gap and three lakes)," notes Ron H. from Morgan-Monroe State Forest.
Fishing opportunities: Several campgrounds feature fishing ponds or lake access with minimal restrictions. A visitor at Lake Haven Retreat mentions: "Our site had a nice grass lawn near the water. But, near the water there was the resident Canadian geese and the 'mess' they leave. That aside it was very nice."
Music events: Bill Monroe Memorial Music Park hosts regular musical performances throughout their operating season. A camper reports: "This is the Bill Monroe Bluegrass Music Park & Campground near Nashville, IN. Very nice facility with nice stage for events. Sites are variable, some shaded & some full sun but it's really all about the music!"
Mountain biking: Brown County State Park maintains some of the region's best mountain biking trails. "The mountain biking is excellent, with purpose built trails for beginner to expert (flow, berms, rollers, jumps...)," according to a visitor at Buffalo Ridge Campground.
Community fire rings: Unlike many campgrounds that provide individual fire pits, some properties offer communal fire areas. At Lake Haven Retreat, a camper noted: "Campsites also don't have fire rings but there are a bunch of communal ones around the lake. Plus free communal firewood."
Walking paths: Several campgrounds feature internal walking paths that provide exercise opportunities without leaving the property. One camper at Lake Haven Retreat shared: "We walked up and down all the various roads within and it turned out to be a nice 1.1 mile walk."
Bathroom facilities: Clean and well-maintained restrooms are consistently mentioned in positive reviews. "Clean bathrooms and sites," reports a visitor to Bill Monroe Memorial Music Park & Campground, though they also note "bathrooms very far walk from campsites" and "showers are pay only."
Proximity to Indianapolis: Many campers appreciate the ability to visit city attractions while maintaining a campground base. Scott P. explains Lake Haven Retreat is "minutes away from Luca Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. For an urban campground, it is better than others. The grounds are clean and the sites aren't too tight."
Tent camping restrictions: Several campgrounds near Waverly have eliminated tent camping entirely. "They used to have awesome tent camping sites, but they stopped allowing tent camping. RV/camper's are the only thing they allow now," reports Chris W. about Johnson County Park.
Military training noise: Some campgrounds operate near active military installations. Stephen & Theresa B. note that Johnson County Park is "located in close proximity to an active reserve military base that from time to time has exercises with air traffic and the sounds of shells and artillery fire."
Access limitations: Certain campgrounds have entrance restrictions that affect larger vehicles. TMB advises about Buffalo Ridge Campground: "The north entrance is through a covered bridge with a 9 foot clearance and 3 ton limit! Otherwise, use the easily accessible west entrance, just a few miles 'around the corner.'"
Seasonal crowding: Fall foliage season brings significant visitor increases to campgrounds in Brown County. Most sites require advance booking during September and October when leaf colors peak.
Playground access: Several campgrounds provide playground equipment for children. Daisy C. mentions Morgan-Monroe State Forest has "a playground at the entrance of Mason Ridge campground and a fire tower."
Educational opportunities: Nature centers offer interactive learning experiences. Rachel W. at Buffalo Ridge Campground shares: "We also went to a Raptor show that was put on at the nature center where we got to look at some interesting raptors."
Water activities: Some campgrounds offer water-based recreation suitable for children. "Perks of this KOA are a very nice playground and wading pool area. So if you have younger children, ideal for you," notes Shelly S. about Indianapolis KOA.
Combined camping and shopping: Families often combine camping with trips to nearby towns. Chris W. explains: "Nashville is only a 5 minute drive from the campgrounds, and it's a blast going to all of the different shops and restaurants located in town."
Site leveling needs: Many campgrounds in the region require leveling equipment. Michael S. at Taylor Ridge Campground advises: "Pay particular attention to the size of the site you're booking as some were pretty small. Also, some sites were fairly sloped as well."
Electrical service quality: Power supply varies between campgrounds and specific sites. Todd L. reports good quality at Lake Haven Retreat: "We had 50amp service and measured 119vac with both a/c units running."
Size restrictions: Larger RVs face limitations at some properties. According to Ron H., Morgan-Monroe State Forest can be challenging: "We are RV campers and there are only about 5 sites we could get in to. Our camper is about 25' and it was tight get in and out of the campground."
Dump station conditions: Several campgrounds offer dump stations with varying quality. Don N. notes: "The only drawbacks were that the vault toilets are in pretty bad condition and the dump station hose did not have a connection to allow me to flush the blackwater holding tank."
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Waverly, IN?
According to TheDyrt.com, Waverly, IN offers a wide range of camping options, with 115 campgrounds and RV parks near Waverly, IN and 11 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Waverly, IN?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Waverly, IN is Kamp Indy with a 3.8-star rating from 8 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Waverly, IN?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 11 free dispersed camping spots near Waverly, IN.
What parks are near Waverly, IN?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 11 parks near Waverly, IN that allow camping, notably Monroe Lake and Cecil M. Harden Lake.
Keep Exploring
