Brown County State Park dominates the camping scene near Brownsburg, Indiana, with its distinctive rolling landscape containing three separate campgrounds across the 16,000-acre park. Located approximately 50 miles south of Brownsburg, the park features terrain that's unusually hilly for Indiana, with sites situated atop ridgelines. Camping options near Brownsburg range from mountainous state park camping to private RV parks, with most facilities closed from November through March due to seasonal weather conditions.
What to do
Mountain biking trails: Brown County State Park offers almost 30 miles of purpose-built trails for all skill levels. "The mountain biking is excellent, with purpose built trails for beginner to expert (flow, berms, rollers, jumps...)," notes a visitor at Buffalo Ridge Campground. The trails include technical features for experienced riders and gentler routes for beginners.
Horseback riding: For equestrians, dedicated horse camping facilities and guided trail rides are available. A reviewer at Horsemen's Campground shared: "It is Beautiful! I have only been twice and we took our hours to trail ride! There are a lot of fun hills and trails that you can ride for hours which we love to do."
Hiking to lakes: Multiple trails wind through the park, including routes connecting to two lakes. "The park as a whole is beautiful and there's a trailhead that's walking distance from the campsite that leads down a beautiful trail to a lake," according to a camper at Taylor Ridge Campground.
Nashville shopping: The artisan town of Nashville is minutes from several campgrounds, offering unique shops, restaurants, and attractions. A reviewer at Taylor Ridge noted: "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."
What campers like
Clean shower facilities: Many campgrounds maintain well-kept bathhouses, a priority for tent campers. "Very clean bathrooms and shower houses," writes a reviewer at Taylor Ridge Campground. Another visitor added that "the pit toilets were probably the cleanest pits I've ever used" at Raccoon Ridge.
Spacious, wooded sites: Campers frequently mention appreciating the natural setting of certain campgrounds. "There are 3 separate campgrounds in the park Buffalo Ridge, Raccoon, and Taylor Ridge. We stayed in Taylor which was dubbed 'wooded' and the one I would most suggest. The others were pretty cleared out and too close together," notes a Taylor Ridge visitor.
Kid-friendly amenities: Several campgrounds offer dedicated facilities for children. At S and H Campground, "They have a little section full of carnival like rides. Several playgrounds! Campground big and spacious," according to a recent visitor. Another adds: "The splash pad/water park was fun...my kiddos finally got in and had fun on the slides."
On-site dining options: Some facilities offer food service directly at the campground. Muncie RV Resort provides meal options, and a camper at Indianapolis KOA mentioned: "We ordered pizza for dinner they deliver to the site which is nice. Ice cream available a lot of flavors and real ice cream not just soft serve."
What you should know
Uneven terrain: Many sites require leveling equipment, particularly in the state park. One camper at Raccoon Ridge Campground noted: "Some spots are uneven and tight, but also some very large (back of loop and some of the spots on side of loop in the front)." Another mentioned that "some sites were fairly sloped as well."
Site selection matters: Campground layouts vary significantly, affecting your experience. "I would say pay particular attention to the size of the site you're booking as some were pretty small," advises a Taylor Ridge camper. Another visitor suggests: "262 was the biggest and most private site I saw when walking around. 260 is a pull through site."
Bathroom quality varies: Facilities differ widely between campgrounds and even within the same park. A visitor to S and H Campground reported: "The only thing we didn't like was the bathroom conditions. The floor tiles were breaking off and there was certainly a mold issue."
Weather considerations: Brown County's terrain makes it susceptible to weather issues. "There were trees down throughout the park including our campsite. It took a couple hours for them to come clean it up," reports a visitor after a storm. Another notes flood risks at S and H: "Hancock County had 2″ of rain on Friday. The campground (lower) sits at a low elevation. Our site was 70% flooded."
Tips for camping with families
Water activities: Several campgrounds offer swimming options for children. "The pool is delightful especially for littles who will enjoy the fountains and big pouring bucket," says an Indianapolis KOA visitor. S and H Campground offers a pool, worn out mini-golf, and "small carnivalesque rides."
Nature programs: Educational opportunities exist at many parks. "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 a camper at Taylor Ridge. Another mentions attending "a Raptor show that was put on at the nature center" at Buffalo Ridge.
Animal encounters: Some campgrounds feature on-site animals that children enjoy visiting. "Our favorite part is visiting with Fred and Rain, the friendly onsite horses who are always ready for head rubs and snacks," writes a visitor to Indianapolis KOA.
Weekend activities: Many campgrounds schedule special events for families. "This campground was wonderful. We stayed on a Thursday, but saw that they have a ton of activities going on during the weekend including live music and cornhole tournaments," notes an S and H camper. Another mentioned: "The Saturday night we stayed they were playing a kids movie in one part of the campground and live music 'on the hill'."
Tips from RVers
Park entrance restrictions: Large rigs must plan their route carefully when visiting Brown County State Park. "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,'" warns a Buffalo Ridge visitor.
Power considerations: During peak usage times, electrical systems may be strained at some rv sites near Brownsburg, Indiana. A visitor to S and H Campground reported: "When everyone started turning on their AC, my surge protector kept kicking due to voltage swings."
Campground selection for RVs: Of the three Brown County campgrounds, some are more suitable for larger rigs. A reviewer advises: "For more secluded and wooded setting, chose Taylor Ridge (careful with larger RV's)." Another notes: "The roads are not marked very well and it took a bit to find our site which needed level blocks and is just wide enough for the RV."
Site terrain: Many RV sites require leveling equipment due to sloped terrain. "Driving through the campground it looks like there are some sites pretty close together but ours wasn't too bad. Also, some sites were fairly sloped as well," notes a Taylor Ridge camper. For those with larger rigs seeking smoother sites, a reviewer at Muncie RV Resort mentioned it was "spacious and quiet" with easier access.
