Camping in the forested hills of southern Indiana offers diverse terrain within the Western Lowlands region at elevations of 600-900 feet. Several campgrounds near Brownstown, Indiana provide access to thousands of acres of public land where dense hardwood forests create natural canopies over campsites. Fall temperatures average 45-65°F, while summer months typically remain in the 70-85°F range with moderate humidity.
What to do
Hiking trails access: Brown County State Park connects to an extensive trail network with varying difficulty levels. "The park is gigantic! It takes a long time to get from the entrance of the park to the actual campground, but the drive is beautiful. The sites around us were spacious and had a lot of mature trees. The nature center is really fun with animals and a bee hive that the children really enjoyed," notes one Taylor Ridge Campground visitor.
Mountain biking options: Dedicated trails accommodate riders from beginners to experts at Brown County State Park. A camper at Buffalo Ridge Campground shared that "the mountain biking is excellent, with purpose built trails for beginner to expert (flow, berms, rollers, jumps...)." The park features nearly 30 miles of dedicated bike trails with new routes added regularly.
Water recreation activities: Starve Hollow Lake offers multiple options for water-based activities during summer months. According to one camper, "We brought our canoe and a kayak, and enjoyed fishing the lake for small mouth bass, crappie, and cat fish. It was very nice to camp right on the water!" Boat rentals typically cost $5-15 per hour with electric trolling motors only permitted on the 145-acre lake.
What campers like
Lakeside camping spots: Sites directly on the water at Starve Hollow provide prime fishing access. "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 camper at Starve Hollow State Rec Area.
Woodland privacy: Many sites offer natural screening and mature trees. A visitor to Taylor Ridge Campground noted, "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."
Family-friendly facilities: Multiple playgrounds and recreation areas keep children entertained. At CERA Sports Corporation, one camper mentioned, "We absolutely love this place. A lot to do, swimming, mini golf, ect. You can bring your golf cart for a extra fee. We liked it so much that we became members this year."
What you should know
Seasonal considerations: Fall foliage brings increased visitor traffic, requiring advance reservations. A camper at Raccoon Ridge Campground remarked, "We stopped by Brown County State Park for one night during our travels. This was our first visit and stopped here on a whim. We were very pleased with what the park had to offer."
Site selection strategy: Research specific sites as conditions vary significantly within each campground. "The site we stayed in was lovely. 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. I would say pay particular attention to the size of the site you're booking as some were pretty small," notes a Taylor Ridge visitor.
Weather impact: Heavy rainfall can affect certain campsites and trails. One visitor observed, "There were trees down throughout the park including our campsite. It took a couple hours for them to come clean it up but even when the did they didn't do a complete job."
Tips for camping with families
Cabin options: For families wanting a camping experience without tents, several parks offer rustic cabin rentals. Starve Hollow provides cabins with specific features: "Each cabin has a front porch with a swing, outside electric outlet and front porch light. Inside there are two small rooms each providing a ceiling fan with light, a heating/cooling unit and electrical outlets."
Swimming areas: Dedicated beach facilities operate seasonally for family water activities. A Scottsburg/Raintree Lake KOA visitor shared, "The lake is GORGEOUS. Sites have mature trees, variety of singing birds. Really nice stay here as we were passing through. There is a sand volleyball net, gah gah ball, dog park, playground, mini golf."
Educational opportunities: Nature centers provide interactive learning experiences for children. "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," noted a visitor to Taylor Ridge Campground.
Tips from RVers
RV size limitations: Large rigs require careful site selection and entrance planning. As one Horsemen's Campground visitor pointed out, "Most of the sites also have electric hook-up, although water spigots are few and far between. Arrangements for the horses are Hit or Miss depending on what site you stay on. Some of the sites are well shaded, but others are out in the open in full sun."
Leveling requirements: Many sites throughout the region need leveling blocks. A camper at Taylor Ridge Campground mentioned, "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. Nice to have water supply within 10 feet."
Entrance routing: RV camping near Brownstown, Indiana requires attention to specific entrance requirements at certain parks. One Buffalo Ridge visitor advised, "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.'"
