Brownstown, Indiana sits at the edge of Jackson-Washington State Forest in south-central Indiana, where the terrain transitions from flat farmland to rolling hills with elevations reaching 900 feet. The area's camping season runs strongest from April through October, with summer temperatures averaging 75-85°F during peak months. Winter camping remains available at most locations with reduced services and significantly fewer campers.
What to do
Hiking trails: Jackson-Washington State Forest connects directly to several hiking options with significant elevation changes. "The property offers several stunning hiking trails and some are of the more challenging nature due to the elevation changes," notes a visitor to Jackson Washington State Forest. Trail difficulty varies with terrain that showcases native hardwood forests.
Water activities: Hardy Lake at Shale Bluff Campground provides multiple recreation options just 20 minutes from Brownstown. "The reservoir is 741 acres with boating and fishing plus a huge beach area that is open for swimming. There are four boat launches, fishing piers, fish cleaning stations," explains a camper at Shale Bluff Campground.
Free camping options: Berry Ridge Road offers dispersed camping opportunities for those wanting to avoid fees. A camper reports, "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. Some sites, at least one, could fit a pretty good sized camper." This provides budget-friendly alternatives to established campgrounds.
What campers like
Lake views: Lakeside sites at Starve Hollow State Recreation Area rank among campers' favorites. "We stayed in site 21 which was right on the lake. All the lake front spots seem to have a good amount lakefront footage. We probably had at least 40 feet," shares a reviewer at Starve Hollow State Rec Area Campground.
Spacious campsites: The campsites at many local campgrounds provide good separation between neighbors. One camper at Berry Ridge Road - Dispersed Camping appreciates that "each site is fairly far apart. It's really quite only seen a handful of cars drive by and I've stayed here for 2 nights, would highly recommend."
Convenient location: The proximity to towns for supplies makes longer stays practical. Spring Mill State Park offers this advantage: "The campground is located inside the state park entrance so the gate fee applies to your first entry, but once you check into your site you can come and go as you wish. There is a little camp store with decent prices and lots for the kids to do."
What you should know
Pet policies: All dog friendly campgrounds near Brownstown have specific rules for pets. Hardin Ridge requires leashes at all times when outside your vehicle or tent. "I have camped at Hardin Ridge since the 70s. I have tent camped in regular primitive, hike-in, and in electic with a camper... They do expect every rule to be followed at all times and will tell you to pack up and leave if you are an asshole about noise, dogs, etc," advises a regular at Hardin Ridge.
Site selection: Many campgrounds in the area have sloped sites that require leveling equipment. At Delaney Creek Park, "every lot slopes down towards the lake. If you have levelers, should not be a problem, but be sure to bring extra, because it's a good 3" to 5"."
Seasonal water availability: Water sources at primitive sites might not function year-round. At Jackson-Washington State Forest, "potable water is available seasonally and firewood can be purchased at the forest office."
Tips for camping with families
Educational programs: State parks in the area often provide family-friendly activities through their naturalist programs. "They had a Smokey the Bear program for the kids and some really fun activities at the nature center while we were there. We were able to rent a paddle boat for $8/hr and saw tons of turtles!" shares a family who visited Spring Mill State Park Campground.
Pet-friendly trails: Many camping areas near Brownstown welcome dogs on their trail systems. One camper notes, "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."
Playground access: Several campgrounds feature playground equipment for children. "There's a lodge, restaurant, playgrounds, store, pit toilets, bath houses, swimming pool (fee required)," notes a camper from Brown County State Park.
Tips from RVers
Access considerations: Some campgrounds have restrictions that affect larger RVs. A reviewer at Brown County State Park warns, "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.'"
Hookup locations: RVers should prepare for non-standard utility placements at some campgrounds. At Delaney Creek Park, "The electric and water hookups are not in standard locations for RV hookups. Make sure you bring an extension for your electric hookup, otherwise you might not be able to reach the post. Same for water hookup."
Site leveling needs: Multiple reviewers mention site leveling challenges throughout the region. "There are at least five different areas to stay plus a big modern hotel/lodge. The rangers gave us some great recommendations for dinner in the nearby town too," shares a visitor at Buffalo Ridge Campground.
