Kausalia V.
Scout
ScoutCornerstone Campground
we arrived during a halloween kids party. the hostess was super nice. the women’s showers and wash rooms clean. the men’s shower was sport locker style.
Tent Camping near Carmel, IN
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Tent camping near Carmel, Indiana ranges from primitive forest sites to lakefront tent campsites, with several campgrounds accessible within an hour's drive. Top tent campsites in the area include primitive spots in a secluded forest setting and lakefront sites ideal for weekend getaways. Pine Lake Fishing & Camping Resort in Pendleton provides tent campsites with lakefront access, while Clovis Creek features approximately 20 tent sites with basic amenities.
The Oak Ridge Camping Area in Morgan-Monroe State Forest features primarily small, rustic tent sites with minimal development. Most sites include a fire ring, picnic table, and gravel parking pad. Vault toilets and outdoor washing stations with drinking water are available, but no showers or electric hookups. A recent review noted, "Many sites are small and can only accommodate a tent," making this location particularly suited for tent campers seeking a more primitive experience. The campground operates on a first-come, first-served basis with self-registration at the park office, requiring exact change for payment.
Tent campers at Morgan-Monroe State Forest benefit from extensive hiking opportunities on multiple trails, including routes over 10 miles long. The property remains relatively quiet even during peak seasons, with one camper sharing that "even with beautiful weather and the opening of squirrel season, it was relatively light with other campers." The forest setting provides ample shade for tent sites during summer months. Pine Lake offers a different tent camping experience with lakefront sites closer to Indianapolis, making it convenient for weekend getaways. Firewood is available for purchase at Morgan-Monroe when the office is open, and campers are permitted to gather downed wood throughout the forest for campfires, though chainsaws are prohibited.
Best Tent Campgrounds near Carmel (3)
1. Pine Lake Fishing & Camping Resort
"This was really convenient and close to Indy, where we took the grandkids to the children’s museum. The lake is fabulous, but there didn’t seem to be too many fish available for catching!!"
2. Clovis Creek
from $25 - $45 / night
3. Oak Ridge Camping Area — Morgan-Monroe State Forest
"When tent camping and want something quiet and a place with great trails, this is a good place to go. Even though it’s hot outside today, there’s lots of shade and a breeze."
"Site 13 has a little trail that goes down to a large flooded sinkhole behind the campsite. There were lots of tree frogs singing because of the proximity to water."
Check Availabilityfrom $25 - $55 / night
Drive Time
- 23 min from Indianapolis, IN
- 34 min from Kokomo, IN
- 53 min from Muncie, IN
- 55 min from Lafayette, IN
Recent Tent Camping Photos near Carmel, IN
4 Photos of 3 Carmel Campgrounds • uploaded by The Dyrt campers
Tent Camping Reviews near Carmel, IN
313 Reviews of 3 Carmel Campgrounds
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!
- AAmber H.Scout
Mystic Waters Campground
Best Campground in the Area
Beautiful, great amenities too. Right off highway to travel anywhere
- SkywaystoHighways.com Y.Legend
Shades State Park Campground
Nice, but….
Nice halfway point for our road trip to Door County. We stayed here the week after Labor Day. Not sure if park staff had enough time to clean the grounds after the busy holiday weekend… There was a disappointing amount of litter at our site. We had remove the various cans, plastic bottles and ice pack out of our fire ring and the surrounding wooded area was full of more of the same including a full trash bag of garbage. And speaking of full… the pit toilets…There’s a $15 out of state fee above the $25 p/night charge. There’s only one shower for the park so be prepared. The amount of gnats and mosquitoes had us running for cover. The staff we encountered here, we’re cordial and friendly.
- Jason
GuideCamp 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.
Gail G.GuideWhite River Campground
love this place
Back in site, along the river, has full hooks! Wonderful bike, walking, you could even see horses on the path! Well taken care of campground, owned by the county. Lots of shade trees, clean bathrooms, playground.
- TTrinity E.Scout
S and H Campground
Would stay again
Great staff, super helpful! Put us in their “VIP” spots on the “hill”. Access to the family fun zone including in the stay. So much for our littles to do! And totally safe and clean.
- Bob H.
TravelerJohnson County Park
Johnson County Park
The good: Hosts are very nice. Bath/shower house clean. Close to the city of Franklin, but rural. Not so good: next to an Indiana National Guard site. Was mostly quiet during the week, but louder on weekend. Revelry playing at 6 am, helicopters, etc. Also, be aware, website does not say, but they do not allow tent camping, car camping, makeshift tent trailers, box truck campers etc. But currently allow pop up campers. I have a Sylvan Sport Go and was told I'd have to leave. Eventually allowed me to stay for my reserved time and decided it was a legit enough camper.
Guide to Carmel
Tent camping opportunities near Carmel, Indiana extend beyond established campgrounds to several natural areas within a 60-mile radius. The region features a mix of state forests and recreational areas situated in Indiana's central upland terrain, with elevations ranging from 700 to 900 feet above sea level. The area experiences four distinct seasons, with summer temperatures averaging 75-85°F and occasional thunderstorms that can affect camping conditions.
What to do
Hiking extensive trail networks: Morgan-Monroe State Forest provides multiple hiking trails ranging from short loops to extensive backcountry routes. "My favorite forest with traditional camping, backwoods camping, and a wonderful secret pioneer cabin for rent. This is the best camping within an hour of Indianapolis," notes camper Sars C. about Morgan-Monroe State Forest.
Fishing in nearby lakes: Pine Lake Fishing & Camping Resort offers lakefront access for anglers. "This was really convenient and close to Indy, where we took the grandkids to the children's museum. The lake is fabulous," reports Debbie S. about her stay at Pine Lake Fishing & Camping Resort.
Nature education: The Tree Trail at Morgan-Monroe provides educational opportunities about local flora. "Plenty of great trails nearby. Nothing crazy or particularly noteworthy, but a nice little park. Recommend the tree trail," suggests Rob R. who camped at Morgan-Monroe State Forest.
What campers like
Privacy and seclusion: The Oak Ridge Camping Area offers a more isolated camping experience. "Oak Ridge Campground is a second campground loop in MMSF. It only has a handful of sites but feels very secluded. Most of these sites are suited for tents only, or little teardrop campers," explains Daisy C. about her experience at Oak Ridge Camping Area.
Minimalist camping settings: For those seeking a true back-to-basics experience, some areas provide just the essentials. "It's a very off the beaten trail clearing that's the very minimum of a campsite. But because of this, not many people are there so it's super quiet and not busy," describes Nikke S. about car camping at Morgan-Monroe State Forest.
Shade coverage during summer: The forested settings provide natural cooling. "When tent camping and want something quiet and a place with great trails, this is a good place to go. Even though it's hot outside today, there's lots of shade and a breeze," reports Ginger T. from her experience at the best tent camping near Carmel, Indiana.
What you should know
Self-registration process: Most campgrounds require self-registration upon arrival. "When you arrive set up at your site. Then you will need to go WITH EXACT CHANGE to the sign in at the main building. It's easy, there is a little box on the side of the firewood shed," explains Rob R. from his camping trip at Morgan-Monroe State Forest.
Site limitations: Many campgrounds have terrain constraints. "We stayed pretty much on our site. Generally, we aim to do a bit of exploring, but we used their camping as a rendezvous. I was slightly disappointed by the site selections being mostly on a slant," notes rickie F. about Morgan-Monroe camping.
Facility maintenance: Bathroom facilities at some locations may be basic. "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," reports Don N. about his camping experience near Carmel.
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Some campgrounds offer recreational facilities for children. "There is a playground and fire tower right next to the Mason Ridge campground, but both were closed due to coronavirus," mentions Daisy C. about the family amenities at Clovis Creek.
Firewood considerations: Planning for campfires requires some preparation. "Firewood is available to purchase, but only when the park office is open, and hours are limited. It is also allowed for campers to gather downed wood throughout the forest for campfires," notes Daisy C. from her camping experience.
Weekend crowd patterns: Understanding busy periods helps with planning. "Great forest for camping. Even with beautiful weather and the opening of squirrel season, it was relatively light with other campers," shares Rob R. about weekend crowds at Morgan-Monroe State Forest.
Tips from RVers
Size restrictions: Larger vehicles face limitations at many campgrounds. "The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is, 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 getting in and out of the campground," explains Ron H. about Morgan-Monroe State Forest.
Dump station access: Some locations have challenging waste disposal facilities. "There is a dump station, but I barely got in to dump. So not real RV friendly," continues Ron H. regarding RV accommodations near Carmel, Indiana.
Generator considerations: For tent camping near Carmel without hookups, plan for alternative power. "This is a great place to camp and hike, although there is no electric hookup we had a generator that we used sparklingly," shares Don N. about his Winnebago Micro Minnie stay at Morgan-Monroe State Forest.
Frequently Asked Questions
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campsite near Carmel, IN?
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Carmel, IN?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Carmel, IN is Pine Lake Fishing & Camping Resort with a 3-star rating from 2 reviews.
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Carmel, IN?
What is the best site to find tent camping near Carmel, IN?
TheDyrt.com has all 3 tent camping locations near Carmel, IN, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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