C
Christian C.
Scout
Scoutmystic lake
Military base campground
Dog-Friendly Camping near Bedford, IN
16 campgrounds with availability next weekend
Search destinations
Add dates
Spring Mill State Park Campground permits leashed pets in all areas except the pioneer village. Both primitive tent sites and electric hookup RV spots welcome dogs with a picnic table at each site. Free Spirit Campground offers shaded, pet-friendly sites with fire pits and full hookups for RVs. Cabins at Starve Hollow State Recreation Area and Hardin Ridge accommodate pets with advance notification. Campgrounds maintain strict leash policies requiring dogs to be on leads no longer than 6 feet at all times. Most locations provide designated pet waste stations throughout the grounds. The campsite at Spring Mill can be unlevel in some areas, especially in the shaded loop, making setup more challenging for RVs with pets.
Berry Ridge Road dispersed camping area allows pets in a free primitive setting with basic toilets and trash collection, ideal for campers seeking a more natural experience with their dogs. Charles C. Deam Wilderness offers pet-friendly hiking trails connecting to camping areas, with dogs permitted on all paths when leashed. Paynetown Campground provides access to Lake Monroe shoreline where pets can cool off in designated swimming areas. Campers report seeing wildlife including raccoons near campsites, requiring vigilant pet supervision. Temperatures in summer months can exceed 90°F, necessitating extra water and shade for dogs. The closest veterinary services are located in Bedford, approximately 15 minutes from most campgrounds. Campground quiet hours typically run from 10pm to 7am with barking regulations enforced.
Best Dog-Friendly Campgrounds near Bedford (97)
1. Spring Mill State Park Campground
"There are trails, caves, and a “village” to be explored. The campsite has water and electric hookups (30a) and primitive sites as well."
"Spring Mill State park is a little piece of history that is in the heart of southern Indiana. Here you will find a working frontier village."
135 Sites AvailableAvailable next weekend
from $20 - $60 / night
2. Hardin Ridge
"This campground is nestled on a ridge above Indiana's Lake Monroe."
"Hardin Ridge is a fantastic place to camp, and is very close to lake Monroe. But it's also quite a ways away from any stores in case you forget anything."
Check AvailabilityCampground full next weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $24 - $64 / night
3. Blackwell Campground — Hoosier National Forest
"The ground is level and all grass with less bugs than sites directly off trail. We just have a simple backpacking tent set-up and we had a great campfire."
"Site is a wide open and well-groomed, with trails just a short walk (or ride) away. Toilets and covered picnic tables nearby."
4. Paynetown Campground
"It's a bittersweet type of situation."
"This campground is busy as it's close to a college, but it has ample room to provide for everyone."
258 Sites AvailableAvailable next weekend
from $23 - $52 / night
5. Charles C. Deam Wilderness
"A staple of our state here in Indiana. Unfortunately due to some storm damage, trails were rerouted or straight up inaccessible. Great places to find and set up camp."
"Wonderful trails, dog friendly and nice places to camp off the trail. Can’t wait to go back! Heads up! Refill your water when you come across it; the lake is harder to get to than you think."
6. Starve Hollow State Rec Area Campground
"My husband and I had a nice visit to Starve Hollow recently...we stayed 4 nights in our camper with our 3 dogs. We hiked 10 miles throughout the park, which was clean and pretty."
"There are lakeside camping lots. Also there are larger full hookup lots away from the lake"
31 Sites AvailableAvailable next weekend
from $40 - $57 / night
7. Taylor Ridge Campground — Brown County State Park
"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."
Check Availabilityfrom $20 - $43 / night
8. Yogi Bears at Lake Monroe
"Great location and clean camp ground."
"I had to nearly lower my tongue to the ground to get it level. The splash park was fun, even for the teen kids, but the pool was tiny and shallow and disappointing."
9. Berry Ridge Road - Dispersed Camping
"If you are into boondocking at all defiantly check out berry ridge it’s just south of brown county Indiana beautiful country mostly hills tons of camp spots sometimes half mile or more apart haven’t seen"
"Trails, plenty of dry wood, away from the roads, no running water or electricity, decent amount of spaces we came in at night and counted about 9 very far spread out camp sights."
10. Free Spirit Campground
Drive Time
- 26 min from Bloomington, IN
- 1 hr 4 min from Columbus, IN
- 1 hr 26 min from Louisville, KY
- 1 hr 31 min from Terre Haute, IN
Recent Dog-Friendly Camping Photos near Bedford, IN
99 Photos of 97 Bedford Campgrounds • uploaded by The Dyrt campers
Blackwell Campground — Hoosier National Forest
Charles C. Deam Wilderness
Hickory Ridge Campground — Hoosier National ForestA
Paynetown Campground
Peninsula TrailA
Berry Ridge Road - Dispersed Camping
Starve Hollow State Rec Area Campground
Taylor Ridge Campground — Brown County State Park
Raccoon Ridge Campground — Brown County State Park
Delaney Creek Park
Jackson Washington State Forest
Dog-Friendly Camping Reviews near Bedford, IN
743 Reviews of 97 Bedford Campgrounds
LDS Sister H.
GuideFriends O' Mine Campground & Cabins
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Our First RV Home Has Been Such a Blessing!
My husband and I absolutely loved our first few months here at Friends O' Mine Campgrounds & Cabins as first-time RV owners with our Class A RV.
We downsized from our 5-bedroom home in the Ozark Mountains of Missouri. We sold our home and I followed my Husband back here to Indiana after he received a wonderful career opportunity. My Husband is a Veteran, 🇺🇸 and after moving to Nashville, Indiana, we had immediately fallen in love with this small town - where we respected and admired the way Nashville reminds us of where we had just moved from in Missouri.
We stayed at Grand Wood Suites for six months, after paying for a hotel, all while continuously paying for our two large storage units, as well as our mortgage payment and then rent for most of the beginning of this year; so, we decided to downsize to save money to buy land sooner, instead of continuing to rent. 🏕️ We already loved camping - we started with a pop-up camper on the 🔝 of our Jeep and camped dozens of times, then traded up to a pop-up camper. So we used what we had in savings, bought our Class A RV, donated our pop-up camper, and came to Friends O' Mine - and it was the best decision!
From day one, the other campers have been so friendly, as are the nice employees and amazing owners. They truly make you feel like family. They set up weekly entertainment that brings the whole campground together around the campfire - there is a huge fire in the middle with six porch swings attached to a massive gazebo and veranda surrounding it. It's incredibly cozy and just inviting you to join in.
We've enjoyed live musical singers entertaining us around the campfire all evening, and we were invited to watch a documentary about a local racecar driver in their indoor recreational room, right next to the indoor laundry facilities.
There is also a subterranean pool that my Husband and I enjoyed swimming in almost every day during our first month here - it was very relaxing and refreshing!
One of our favorite parts has been our peaceful, nighttime walks around the large, well-stocked catch-and-release pond. My Husband and I hold hands together and walk around it at sunset almost every evening. It's so serene and calming to hear the sounds of the water and feel the beautiful Autumn breeze.
This has been a very relaxing, enjoyable, and heartwarming experience for us. If you are looking for a clean, friendly, peaceful, and welcoming place to stay - whether for a weekend or for a season - we cannot recommend Friends O' Mine Campgrounds & Cabins enough. We are so grateful we found it!
Kaley A.GuideBuffalo Ridge Campground — Brown County State Park
We absolutely LOVED this park! It was hands down our favorite of this year. We camped at site 100 and it has a neighbor on one side and behind while the other side was a huge open space. It is in the center of a loop. It was mostly level. There was some minor doming to the site but not bad at all. It was a busy camp ground but not as crowded (sites not on top of each other) as some I’ve been in. The outsides of the loops did have more space between and privacy but could be smaller or more sloped, it just really depended. The bathrooms and showers were cleaner than some of the other state parks we have been to, so much so my 11 year old son mentioned it. The park itself is absolutely gorgeous. The hiking trails (which is what we usually go for) were nice but I believe that the biking trails were actually more scenic than the hiking trails and a lot more rugged. We liked trail 8 starting from the west lookout tower and stopping at Hesitation Point for lunch/break/bathroom. Trail 6 was also a pretty, rugged, shorter trail. The Nature Center was also nicer than a lot of the others we have been to in the state. We did choose to do horseback riding at the stables. We showed up about 5 minutes after opening and were able to pay and told to come back in an hour and 45 minutes. That didn’t bother us since we had the time but if you are on a tighter schedule, the earlier the better. We also went into Nashville and it was a very cute town to visit. Well decorated for Halloween, very walkable, and a little something for almost everyone. Prices were about what I would expect for a tourist town but not terrible. I also have T-Mobile and had pretty good service almost everywhere in the park.
- JJacob S.Scout
Ogala Horse Camp
Little loop pull off with a stone fire pit in the middle. Walking trail goes down to a swampy pond.
Mark T.ScoutIrwin City Park
Nice little city park/campgound
Clean paved sites, rigs under 35 feet will fit. Water and electricity 50/30 (water is in the ground.
SkywaystoHighways.com Y.
LegendBill Monroe Memorial Music Park & Campground
Fun Event Location
We stayed for the weekend during a Campout event. Lots of fun seeing all of our camping buddies. I don’t think we would camp here otherwise as it isn’t really our type of camping. Sites are close together, so don’t expect privacy. Porta potties had not been serviced from their previous event… needless to say, it was foul. The country music museum was pretty cool. The guide was very knowledgeable!
Jennifer N.ScoutHoosier National Forest South Slope Loop Campground
Great sites
Each campsite has trees encircling them for mostly shade and a little more privacy. Only thing they could do is add more full hook up sites. Shower houses and restrooms are very well kept.
- TTanner P.
TravelerMitchell Creek Road Dispersed
Peaceful!
There’s not a lot of designated camp spots but there’s not many people around. Very peaceful
- JasonGuide
Camp Atterbury Campground
Host is great, park is nice, MWR needs help
Great place to stay. Full hook ups, about 90 percent level sites. 33 RV sites and 3 or 4 primitive camp sites. The main bathhouse is pretty clean, included laundry, and a great host and hostess (Mark and Denise). The only bad is the price hikes here. One would think MWR would throw money towards some things...like a dog park, some leveling, lights at the kids playground, and MWR sponsored and paid for holiday parties/outings for vets, retirees, and all the active here on base. But nope, just collecting revenue without any beanies. Anyway, the host keeps it grounded.
Guide to Bedford
Lake Monroe, the largest lake in Indiana at 10,750 acres, anchors the camping region near Bedford. Situated in the hills of south-central Indiana, most campgrounds rest at elevations between 500-800 feet, creating varied terrain with limestone outcroppings. Summer temperatures typically range from 75-90°F during peak camping season, with nighttime lows averaging 65-70°F.
What to do
**Boat cave tours: Available at Spring Mill State Park Campground where visitors can experience underground waterways. "There is a cave tour also on offer in which you ride thru the cave system in a boat. Yes there are even lifevests for customer to wear," explains Rachel W.
Trail hiking for all skill levels: The Charles C. Deam Wilderness offers multiple well-maintained routes. "The trails are well paved and marked, not too strenuous. So many beautiful trees and plants to see, plus lots of creeks to walk through," notes Hannah F., who recommends the 6-mile Sycamore Loop.
Geode hunting along creek beds: Several areas within the wilderness provide opportunities for rock collectors. "I walked the creek for hours just looking at all the rocks on the sandbars. I have never encountered so many geodes in my life," reports Sarah R., who explored Patton Cave Trail.
Mountain biking: Trails throughout the region accommodate various skill levels, with some technical sections for experienced riders. "The mountain bike trails are fantastic," according to Michael S., who visited Taylor Ridge Campground.
What campers like
Private, secluded sites: Hardin Ridge campground offers well-spaced sites. "The sites are large and well-shaded with tables and fire pits/grates. The grounds are kept very clean, as well as the shower rooms, bathrooms, and vault toilets," reports Deb T. who appreciates the spacious layout.
Pioneer village exploration: A popular historical attraction provides educational opportunities. "There is even an amazing pioneer village to explore where an original corn mill stands and you can buy freshly ground corm mill," shares Rachel W. about Spring Mill State Park.
Free camping options: For those seeking no-cost accommodations, Berry Ridge Road - Dispersed Camping provides primitive sites. "Multiple campsites in the area, I've stayed at two both of which were away from others, clean, fairly flat and had plenty of dead wood around to burn," notes Jeremy F. about the dispersed sites.
Swimming in designated areas: Multiple locations allow water activities. "This campground is on the south side of Monroe lake and has beach access," Christine C. mentions about Hardin Ridge, providing water recreation options during hot weather.
What you should know
Seasonal road conditions: Access to some dispersed camping areas can be challenging. "The road was gravel and steep at times," reports Amber R., who visited Berry Ridge Road in a Promaster conversion van.
Site reservation timing: For popular campgrounds, planning ahead is essential. "If you want to reserve a site, I highly suggest you do it very early in the season, especially if you are including a weekend," advises Deb T. about Paynetown Campground.
Varied terrain for RV parking: Many campgrounds feature uneven sites. "Some campsites flood easy," warns Aleta C. about Starve Hollow State Recreation Area, highlighting the importance of site selection.
Wildlife awareness: Local fauna includes various species requiring vigilance. "I did see a rattlesnake dead on the road," reports Ax H. who stayed at Berry Ridge Road dispersed camping.
Tips for camping with families
Multiple playgrounds and activities: Brown County State Park provides extensive recreation options. "The nature center is really fun with animals and a bee hive that the children really enjoyed! There are a lot of diverse hiking trails for all," shares Jessie W.
Scheduled ranger programs: Educational opportunities available seasonally. "They had a Smokey the Bear program for the kids and some really fun activities at the nature center while we were there," explains Jessie W. about Spring Mill State Park.
Water recreation options: Facilities for cooling off during summer months. "We were able to rent a paddle boat for $8/hr and saw tons of turtles," reports Jessie W., highlighting affordable activities at Spring Mill.
Multiple camping loops with different amenities: Choose sites based on family needs. "There are 4 loops with 30 & 50 amp. 2 loops with no electric," explains Cynthia K. about Hardin Ridge, allowing families to select appropriate accommodations.
Tips from RVers
Site levelness considerations: Blackwell Campground provides flat terrain for larger vehicles. "Plenty of flat land making leveling easy. Wide open so solar charging was easy," notes The Wandering Shores, mentioning the ample space.
Camp store convenience: Several campgrounds maintain on-site supplies. "There is a little camp store with decent prices and lots for the kids to do," mentions Laura O. about Spring Mill State Park Campground.
Dump station availability: Facilities for waste management vary by location. "Easy and fast dump station," reports Margo B. about Paynetown Campground, noting the efficient services.
Site width limitations: Some areas restrict larger RVs. "The roads were narrow," Susan C. notes about Spring Mill, highlighting potential access challenges for bigger rigs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly
campsite near Bedford, IN?
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Bedford, IN?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Bedford, IN is Spring Mill State Park Campground with a 4.4-star rating from 24 reviews.
What is the best site to find
dog-friendly camping near
Bedford, IN?
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Bedford, IN?
TheDyrt.com has all 97 dog-friendly camping locations near Bedford, IN, with real photos and reviews from campers.
Keep Exploring