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.
What to do
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.
What campers like
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."
What you should know
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.
Tips for camping with families
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."
Tips from RVers
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."
