Tent campsites near Chandler, Indiana range from basic roadside pull-offs to more established areas within Wildlife Management Areas. Most primitive camping options are located within a 30-60 minute drive of Chandler, with the closest options in Hoosier National Forest. Weather conditions significantly impact accessibility during spring and fall, when heavy rainfall can make gravel and dirt access roads challenging to navigate even with four-wheel drive vehicles.
What to do
Fishing access points: Lake Mauzy East offers direct waterfront camping with excellent fishing opportunities. As reviewer Richy R. notes, "The tent pads are right by the water, offering stunning lake views," making it convenient for early morning or evening fishing sessions.
Explore rock formations: Hoosier National Forest contains several interesting geological features near camping areas. At Mitchell Creek Road Dispersed, Jaymi A. mentioned, "There are rock outcroppings along this road, which follows Mitchell Creek and lots to explore on foot."
Wildlife observation: The natural areas surrounding Chandler provide ample wildlife viewing opportunities. At Lake Mauzy Higgins-Henry WMA, campers report diverse wildlife sightings. Adrianne shared her experience: "Super quiet, tons of birds, and we saw snake mounds but not yet seen one...birds and butterflies and owls...OH MY."
What campers like
Accessible seclusion: Most tent campsites within driving distance of Chandler offer a surprising level of solitude despite being relatively accessible. At Mitchell Creek Road Dispersed, Jaymi A. found exceptional quiet: "While I was exploring and camping on this road, only two vehicles passed during the entire 16 hours. VERY quiet."
Proximity to supplies: Despite the rural setting of most camping areas, basic supplies remain accessible. Richy R. points out that at Lake Mauzy East, "Despite its remote feel, Walmart is just a 12-minute drive away for any last-minute supplies."
Cost-free camping: Several locations offer no-fee camping options. Adrianne enthusiastically noted about Lake Mauzy: "Absolutely beautiful! Been traveling 150 days, 23 states plus DC, ...THE most pretty state! We lucked out and got an amazing spot... well they're all great!"
What you should know
Limited amenities: Most tent sites near Chandler are primitive with minimal facilities. Phil L. describes Mitchell Creek Road Dispersed: "There are just a couple of sites along the road. One is at the trail crossing for horses, hikers, and bikers. Its basically a make your own campsite. Ok place if you like to really rough it."
Navigation challenges: Cell service is unreliable in much of Hoosier National Forest. Jaymi A. advises: "Have a paper map handy, as there is no cell signal and GPS was spotty."
Vehicle considerations: Access roads to many dispersed sites are narrow and sometimes difficult to navigate. Sofia A. notes about Mitchell Creek Road: "After 5 min of driving on the very skinny gravel road y saw what it look like spots but Iam not sure really."
Tips for camping with families
Best established sites: For families, Newton-Stewart offers more predictable accommodations. Steve D. describes it as a "Primitive. 45 spots" campground that provides basic facilities suitable for family camping.
Seasonal bugs: Plan accordingly for insects, especially during summer months. One camper at Mitchell Creek noted: "The area was rather buggy, and to be honest a little sketchy, so we slept in our van."
Weather contingencies: Be prepared for changing weather when tent camping near Chandler. Richy R. shared: "We would have loved to stay longer, but incoming storms cut our trip short," highlighting the importance of having backup plans when camping with children.
Tips from RVers
Size restrictions: Large RVs and trailers face significant limitations at most tent campsites near Chandler. Jaymi A. cautions about Mitchell Creek Road: "I did not see any pull offs that would accommodate an RV of any size, and nothing large enough to turn a trailer around. One pull off was nearly too small to turn around my small pick up truck."
Boondocking options: Some locations support limited boondocking. Tammy notes about Yellowbank Creek: "Lake mauzy is very quiet. No hookups but if you want to boondocks this is a great place."
Road conditions: Unpaved access roads can present challenges for RVs. Sabrina C. warns about Mitchell Creek Road: "Road south coming in was destroyed some time ago have to w yer from east or west road," indicating the need to carefully plan route access for larger vehicles.
