Tent camping near Centerville, Indiana offers primitive and walk-in sites throughout the southern Ohio and eastern Indiana regions. Campsites in this area sit at elevations between 850-1,100 feet with a humid continental climate featuring four distinct seasons. Summer temperatures typically range from 75-90°F with frequent afternoon thunderstorms, while spring and fall camping seasons feature milder temperatures and colorful foliage.
What to do
Hiking on the Twin Valley Trail: Explore over 25 miles of trails at Dayton Metro Parks (Five Rivers Metroparks) with challenging terrain. "This was a lovely backpacking trail that is both challenging while not being too hard for new backpackers," notes one camper who appreciated the trail markings and diverse ravines.
Fishing at multiple lakes: Cast a line at the fishing lakes in Possum Creek Metro Park (Five Rivers Dayton Metro Park) where no fishing license is required at the designated ponds. The park features both Argonne Lake and smaller fishing ponds within walking distance of campsites.
Historical exploration: Discover abandoned structures while hiking at Possum Creek Metro Park where the land holds surprising remnants. Campers can find "old abandoned items such as a pool and street car in the woods. The land has an interesting history you will want to explore."
Visit local covered bridges: Take a short drive from Twin Creek Metro Park to see the historic covered bridge in Germantown. "We drove into town and discovered a covered bridge that I had missed on an earlier camping trip."
What campers like
Privacy between sites: The spacing between campsites at Quakertown State Rec Area provides a quieter experience with good tree cover. "Nice clean bathrooms. Site was a little pricey at $30. A shooting range nearby is a little annoying. There's a good amount of trees for shade coverage," notes a camper who appreciated the natural setting.
Free firewood with reservation: The Five Rivers Metroparks system provides substantial firewood with campsite bookings. One camper explains: "Each night in the front country camp sites they include a bundle of fire wood. This is not the small sad bundle that you often buy at gas stations or other markets. This is a huge bundle."
Clean facilities: Many campers highlight the consistent cleanliness at Five Rivers Metroparks sites. "The vault toilets are one of the best as they are always clean. We have hand sanitizer and toilet paper. We didn't have to share our vault toilet with any other family units."
Waterfront camping options: Morgan's Outdoor Adventures offers prime river access for tent campers. "We loved the views of Morgan's. Steps away from gorgeous river views. There is nothing like waking up and making breakfast while watching the river roll by!"
What you should know
Limited water access: Most primitive sites require bringing your own water. At St. Mary's Section - Buckeye Trail (Points 6-7), there's an Adirondack shelter "large enough for six to sleep comfortably off the ground" but no water source, so pack accordingly.
Bathroom facilities vary: While some locations have vault toilets, others like Possum Creek offer just porta-potties. "The bathroom is simply a porta john. It is the accessible one and was fairly clean while I was at the site. No running water, electricity, or other perks."
Seasonal considerations: Summer months can be humid with temperatures reaching the 90s. Many sites operate seasonally with limited winter access. Spring and fall offer more comfortable temperatures with less crowding.
Equipment rentals available: Five Rivers Metroparks offers camping equipment rentals for newcomers. "If you do not have camping gear but still want to get out and try it then you can rent it from them. A set of 6 is $50.00 for the weekend. This includes the tent, sleeping pads, and sleeping bag."
Tips for camping with families
Consider noise factors: Some campgrounds have nearby shooting ranges or roads that create occasional noise. At Quakertown, a camper noted, "A shooting range nearby is a little annoying" which might affect nap times for small children.
Farm animals for kids: Sycamore State Park Campground offers diverse family activities. "This park has such a variety of things to do. There's a great disc golf course, really nice trails to hike with challenging hills and nice areas with shelters for grilling and parties and such. Also includes playground and pond for kids to fish in."
Private sites for pandemic camping: Twin Creek Metro Parks offers secluded sites for families wanting separation. "We didn't want to share a common bathroom/bath house or playground area. We picked this as the Twin Creek camp site only has 3 camp sites within the park. Even then they are out of side from each other."
Multiple tables at group sites: The extra picnic tables at group sites provide space for kids' activities while adults prepare meals. "The nice thing about their site is the additional tables made it easy for us to socially distance. We also were able to have kids do craft at one of the tables while we were preparing meals."
Tips from RVers
Limited hookup options: Most campgrounds near Centerville offer primitive camping without RV hookups. For water and electric options, Pine Lake Fishing & Camping Resort provides lakefront sites with hookups. "This was really convenient and close to Indy, where we took the grandkids to the children's museum."
Parking lot considerations: Group sites at Twin Creek Metro Park feature paved parking areas that can accommodate larger vehicles. "Paved parking lot for the larger groups which is nice."
Short-term stays recommended: For RVers looking at Pine Lake, one camper suggests: "Pretty place and fun for a laid back place to stay. I wouldn't recommend it for long term."
