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Best Campgrounds near Charlestown, IN

562 Reviews

Charlestown State Park Campground provides the primary developed camping area near Charlestown, Indiana, with over 190 sites accommodating tent and RV camping along with cabin rentals. The park encompasses former ammunition plant land along the Ohio River, offering a mix of wooded and open sites with concrete pads and full hookups. Several additional established campgrounds dot the region, including Deam Lake State Recreation Area and Louisville North Campground, which together provide a range of camping experiences from primitive tent sites to glamping opportunities and cabin rentals within 30 minutes of downtown Charlestown.

Most developed campgrounds in the area remain open year-round, though services may be limited during winter months. Reservations are recommended, especially for weekend stays from spring through fall. The region experiences four distinct seasons with humid summers and occasional winter snow. Hiking trails connect many of the camping areas, with multiple routes leading to scenic areas like Rose Island and various waterfalls. "This state park was totally boring nothing to do," noted one camper, but most reviews praise the park's cleanliness and natural features, suggesting different expectations among visitors.

Campers consistently rate Charlestown State Park highly for its spacious, well-maintained sites that offer privacy despite their proximity. The concrete pads and full hookup options appeal to RV travelers, while tent campers appreciate the natural vegetation separating neighboring sites. Several visitors mentioned the park's hiking trails as key attractions, particularly the Rose Island trail with its historic ruins. According to one visitor, "We loved the campground, it was very luscious and beautiful and even though there was a lot of people, it still felt like you had your privacy in your own site." Bathhouse facilities receive generally positive reviews for cleanliness. The dispersed camping options are limited in the immediate area, with nearby Jackson Trailhead and Knobstone Trail offering more primitive experiences for those seeking backcountry camping.

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Best Camping Sites Near Charlestown, Indiana (76)

    1. Charlestown State Park Campground

    37 Reviews
    Charlestown, IN
    2 miles
    Website
    +1 (812) 256-5600

    $30 - $40 / night

    "My husband & I spent 5 nights at Charlestown State Park in mid-September 2020.  Campground was nice with concrete pads and full hookups."

    "Charlestown State Park is a great, quiet campground for us to get away in our RV. We love that all of the sites are paved and most of the full-hookup sites offer a lot of privacy."

    2. Deam Lake State Recreation Area Campground

    18 Reviews
    Borden, IN
    11 miles
    Website
    +1 (812) 246-5421

    $30 - $69 / night

    "I used this location as my FOB for a weekend of hiking in southern Indiana. The campground was nice."

    "Great sites close to the lake"

    3. Add-More Campground

    7 Reviews
    Clarksville, IN
    8 miles
    Website
    +1 (812) 283-4321

    "Close to shopping and restaurants. We will stay here again when back in the Louisville area."

    4. Clifty Falls State Park Campground

    46 Reviews
    Madison, IN
    26 miles
    Website
    +1 (812) 273-8885

    $19 - $32 / night

    "If you live outside of Indiana you have to pay a $9 entrance fee on top of the campground reservation fee, which makes for a pricey weekend trip for those on a budget."

    "No sewer or water hookup as you would expect at most Indiana State Parks. The sites are extremely spacious and plenty of sites with shade."

    5. Knobstone Trail

    4 Reviews
    Borden, IN
    10 miles
    Website
    +1 (812) 358-2160

    "The KT is rugged and has lots of elevation gains over short distances. Everywhere you hike there are lovely vistas and lots of fossils on the trail snd creek beds."

    "Most people, even Hoosiers don't realize the Knobstone Trail exists. It's often referred to The Little AT by those who know about it. It's no walk in the park."

    6. Louisville North Campground

    5 Reviews
    Clarksville, IN
    12 miles
    Website
    +1 (812) 282-4474

    $40 - $45 / night

    "If you are looking to be close to downtown Louisville, this is the campground for you. The staff was super nice and the location is very convenient for getting downtown."

    7. Jackson Trailhead

    2 Reviews
    Borden, IN
    12 miles
    Website
    +1 (812) 294-4306

    "there’s parking after a decrepit gravel road and suitable for camping. there are campsites along the trail just have to find them"

    8. Shale Bluff Campground — Hardy Lake State Recreation Area

    16 Reviews
    Deputy, IN
    24 miles
    Website
    +1 (812) 794-3800

    $30 / night

    "This is a great State Park offering hiking, swimming, boating, skiing, camping, interpretive naturalist program and the only DNR property in the state of Indiana with a raptor rehabilitation program."

    "Boats are a big part of this lake. There are 4 boat launches on the lake! Lots of people were water skiing, tubing& playing in the water. There's also a beach, which looked clean."

    9. Scottsburg/Raintree Lake KOA

    8 Reviews
    Scottsburg, IN
    20 miles
    Website
    +1 (812) 752-4062

    $45 - $125 / night

    "The lake is GORGEOUS. Sites have mature trees, variety of singing birds. Really nice stay here as we were passing through."

    "A lot of things to do around the campground, and kids will absolutely love it."

    10. Horine Reservation Camping at Jefferson County Memorial Forest

    18 Reviews
    Fairdale, KY
    25 miles
    Website

    $15 - $30 / night

    "Tent sites have so many trees surrounding them. If you're looking for more privacy anything off of the loop will do just fine."

    "Just a guess, but I would say around 1.5 acres. About 2/3 of this site is open, grassy field. The other 1/3 is shaded."

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Recent Camping Photos near Charlestown, IN

131 Photos of 76 Charlestown Campgrounds

Recent Reviews near Charlestown, IN

562 Reviews of 76 Charlestown Campgrounds

  • AThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 8, 2025

    Elkhorn Creek RV Park

    Wonderful place to stay with easy access to the Bourbon Trail and Frankfort

    We stayed for several days so that we could visit distilleries on the Bourbon Trail. Frankfort is almost close enough to bicycle to. Lexington is less than an hour away. It was a great base for visiting many interesting places.

    Elkhorn Creek RV Park was fantastic. The sites were clean and everything worked. The staff was super friendly. We stayed in a creekside site so we had a little bit of scenery. It is a pretty urban place, not a state park, so we didn't expect it to be as pretty as it turned out to be.

    The pool was plenty warm. The bathroom was clean. The classic rock singer who came in and sang in the pavilion on Saturday night was fun.

  • Patrick T.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 8, 2025

    Hones Pointe Campground

    Amazing camp site

    Wonderful campsite. They put a lot of time and thought into this property. It’s truly incredible.

  • Amanda W.
    Sep. 7, 2025

    Elkhorn Campground

    Quiet & friendly

    I stayed here for 2 weeks while visiting family in the area. Very safe & quiet campground with very friendly staff.

  • DThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 6, 2025

    Charlestown State Park Campground

    Charlestown

    Very clean and friendly state park. Quick stop over but would definitely stay again if in the area. Would like to do some of the trails there

  • DThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 6, 2025

    Charlestown State Park Campground

    Charlestown

    Quick stop over. Would definitely return if in the area. Would have like to have had more time to do some of the trails. Very clean, friendly. Be aware of an additional $9 feet at the gate besides the camp fee.

  • Desert B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 5, 2025

    Knobstone Trail

    not accessible

    Maybe Google Maps took me to the wrong place (probably not).  I drove back and forth on the road several times looking for this place  The only thing I found was what I believe was the entrance with a cable across it.  There was no place to park otherwise.

  • L
    Aug. 20, 2025

    Spring Mill State Park Campground

    Fun, sunny, clean.

    This was an amazing campground! There were amazing trails and a cave, as well as Pioneer Village which was so fascinating and well run. Our campsite wasn't far from the bathrooms and showers house which were pretty clean. We were near water as well. Our campsite was on a small hill so it was well distanced from all the other campers, which was nice and peaceful. 

         There was a sweet place where you could get ice cream down the road from Spring Mill called Dairy Bell. Spring Mill wasn't far from the town were there was a Walmart, Rural King, and several more stores. 

    Very pretty and nice campground!

  • Becca M.
    Aug. 11, 2025

    Grand Trails RV Park

    Not for rv stsys

    This place could be nice but it is full of permanent trailer occupants, which is fine but .  It shouldn’t be advertised as a RV park.  There were 3 empty spaces, we chose  one and we couldn’t hook the sewer up because the pipe is too high off the ground.  They charged us 45.95 which is too high for the amenities offered.  The spaces are very close, no table, no place to set up a bbq.  We should have left but we were very tired.

Guide to Charlestown

Camping near Charlestown, Indiana, offers a mix of beautiful nature and fun activities for everyone. Whether you're looking for a peaceful getaway or an adventure-filled trip, there are several campgrounds to choose from.

What to do:

  • Hiking: Explore the scenic trails at Charlestown State Park Campground. One visitor mentioned, "Great hiking opportunities and cool exploration of historic Rose Island Theme Park."
  • Fishing and Boating: At Starve Hollow State Rec Area, you can enjoy fishing and canoeing. A camper shared, "Electric sites near the lake with several waterfront sites. Very friendly staff."
  • Visiting Distilleries: If you're a fan of bourbon, the area is close to many distilleries. One reviewer noted, "Located very close to Bardstown and a lot of distilleries on the bourbon trail."

What campers like:

  • Clean Facilities: Campers appreciate the cleanliness of the restrooms and showers. A visitor at Hardin Ridge said, "Restrooms are clean. Well maintained facility."
  • Spacious Campsites: Many campgrounds offer plenty of space between sites. A reviewer at Patoka Lake Campground mentioned, "Nice Park, but not cheap for nonresidents. Well spaced & few with a water view."
  • Friendly Staff: Campers often highlight the helpfulness of the staff. One camper at Paynetown Campground remarked, "Staff were very friendly and helpful."

What you should know:

  • Site Sizes Vary: Some sites may require leveling, as noted by a camper at Big Bone Lick State Park Campground: "Most of the sites will require some extra leveling."
  • Busy on Weekends: Many campgrounds can get crowded, especially during summer weekends. A visitor at Paynetown Campground said, "It's always been a busy place."
  • Limited Cell Service: Be prepared for spotty cell service in some areas. A camper at Clifty Falls State Park Campground mentioned, "I question the validity of these reviews sometimes also, as cell signal was rated good...and both were spotty at best."

Tips for camping with families:

  • Choose Family-Friendly Campgrounds: Look for campgrounds with playgrounds and activities for kids. A parent at Charlestown State Park Campground said, "My children loved all the playgrounds around the state park."
  • Plan for Wildlife: Be cautious of raccoons and other wildlife. One camper at Big Bone Lick State Park Campground warned, "Put ALL your food away!"
  • Bring Outdoor Games: Keep kids entertained with outdoor games. A family at Patoka Lake Campground enjoyed the "abundance of activities at this state park."

Tips from RVers:

  • Check Site Levels: Make sure to check if your site is level enough for your RV. A camper at Clifty Falls State Park Campground noted, "The electric situation is poor...the park was put in about 1919."
  • Reserve Early: Popular sites fill up fast, especially on weekends. A visitor at Paynetown Campground mentioned, "It's always been a busy place."
  • Bring Extra Cords: Many sites require long power cords and hoses. A camper at My Old Kentucky Home State Park Campground advised, "Be prepared for required extensions to your power and water hoses."

Camping near Charlestown, Indiana, has something for everyone, from families to RV enthusiasts. Just remember to plan ahead and enjoy the great outdoors!

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the best time to camp at Charlestown State Park?

Mid-September through October is an excellent time to visit Charlestown State Park Campground, offering comfortable temperatures ideal for exploring the park's rugged hiking trails. The summer months can be busy but provide full access to all amenities. For those seeking alternative seasons, Starve Hollow State Rec Area Campground offers excellent spring camping with beautiful lake views and wildlife opportunities. Both parks are less crowded during weekdays and in early spring or late fall, though amenities may be limited during off-season periods.

What amenities are provided at Charlestown State Park campgrounds?

Charlestown State Park Campground offers concrete pads with full hookups (water, electric, and sewer) at many sites. The park features clean bathhouses conveniently located throughout the campground. Most sites provide good privacy thanks to thoughtful landscaping. The park also maintains excellent hiking trails, including the popular Rose Island trail which is paved and family-friendly despite some steep sections. The grounds are consistently well-maintained and clean, with friendly staff available to assist campers.

What camping options are available at Charlestown State Park in Indiana?

Charlestown State Park Campground primarily offers RV camping with paved sites and full hookups. These sites are spacious and many provide good privacy. For those seeking alternatives nearby, Deam Lake State Recreation Area Campground offers more diverse options including drive-in and walk-in sites with water and toilet facilities. Both campgrounds are reservable. For RV campers specifically, Charlestown is popular for its paved, level sites that accommodate larger rigs while still offering a natural setting.

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