Located near Bloomington, Clear Creek offers diverse camping opportunities within Indiana's hardwood forests and rolling hills. Most campgrounds sit between 550-750 feet elevation, creating moderate temperature variations between day and night even in summer months. The area receives approximately 45 inches of annual rainfall, making spring camping occasionally muddy but providing lush vegetation.
What to do
Hiking trails for all levels: Morgan-Monroe State Forest provides extensive hiking opportunities with varying difficulty levels. "This is probably the best state forest in the state of Indiana. There are a lot of trails to hike 2 of them are over 10 miles (lower gap and three lakes). The Tecumseh trail (40 miles) starts in Morgan Monroe State Forest passes through Yellowwood State Forest and ends in the Hoosier national Forest," notes a camper at Morgan-Monroe State Forest.
Fishing and boating: Starve Hollow State Recreation Area offers multiple water access points for anglers. "My husband and I had a nice visit to Starve Hollow recently... 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!" shared one visitor at Starve Hollow State Rec Area Campground.
Adventure activities: Beyond standard camping, several sites offer specialized activities. "This camp has ziplines, paintball, arrow tag, ATVs, off-road tours, mountain biking, hiking, cabins," explains a visitor at eXplore Brown County, which provides numerous options for active campers looking for something beyond traditional camping experiences.
What campers like
Private wooded sites: Many campers appreciate the seclusion available at certain campgrounds. At Hoosiers On The Ridge, a visitor notes: "We loved this spot in Brown County. Far enough away from town to be peaceful but close enough to be convenient. Riley has made a great spot to camp and relax."
Clean facilities: Consistently mentioned in reviews is the quality of facilities. "Great forest area. Bathrooms were a short walk up the hill to the office. Pretty good, though they often needed supplies restocked," reports a camper at Brown County-Nashville KOA.
Proximity to attractions: The location between natural areas and towns is highly valued. A visitor to Ransburg Scout Reservation shared: "Located on Monroe lake, they have canoeing, row boats, sailboats, motor boats, and skiing. Lots of fun activities to do, and great hiking trails. Their mess hall is top notch. We have camped here in a cabin, and also tent camped."
What you should know
Seasonal considerations: Many campgrounds have limited seasons or change significantly between seasons. "This campground is busy all season so book a long time in advance. Also they are very strict about dogs even in the large open areas so beware to keep them on leash at all times. No frisbee or fetch games allowed," advises a visitor to Brown County State Park.
Site limitations: The terrain sometimes creates challenges for larger vehicles. At Yogi Bears at Lake Monroe, a camper observed: "Nice family campground overall, but really geared toward the 8 and under crowd. Had a back in gravel site that was difficult to back into and sloped back. I had to nearly lower my tongue to the ground to get it level."
Noise levels: Some campgrounds are quieter than others. "This is the campground for bringing your battery powered hammock string lights and bluetooth speakers to play Glass Animals or Boy Harsher at a reasonable volume," notes a visitor to eXplore Brown County, indicating it's more suited for social camping than solitude seeking.
Tips for camping with families
Swimming options: Lake Monroe Village offers various water recreation options for families. "We keep our camper here full-time. Close to Lake Monroe. Nice pool. Great people," shares one regular visitor, highlighting the swimming opportunities beyond natural lakes.
Kid-friendly activities: Programmed events can keep children entertained. "We came here in 2017 with a group of friends and camped in the primitive camping area. It was an awesome set up and we had a great time. We went around Halloween time so the kids participated in a costume contest, pumpkin decorating contest, and trick or treat," notes a family who visited Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park.
Playgrounds and facilities: Multiple review mentions highlight recreation areas specifically for children. "Great park! Great splash pad and pools lots to do for the kiddos! Great trails to hike, friendly staff!" reports a visitor to Jellystone Park, showing the range of activities available for younger campers.
Tips from RVers
Site selection strategy: For RVers, knowing which sites can accommodate larger rigs is crucial. "The full hook-up sites are spacious with most offering a nice tree canopy. A large number of electric only sites are bordering the 145-acre Starve Hollow Lake," explains a visitor to Starve Hollow State Rec Area.
Leveling challenges: Many campsites in the area require additional equipment for leveling. "I can probably only get my 36 ft 5th wheel into a third of the sites, but there are many of sites that had shorter units on them," advises an RVer about the electric-only sites at Starve Hollow, highlighting the importance of researching site dimensions before arrival.
Hookup considerations: The placement of utilities affects setup ease. A camper at Yogi Bear's noted: "Whereas power and water were reasonably placed, the sewer was setup in a manner that waste water had to flow uphill," indicating the need to bring additional equipment to manage hookups effectively.
