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Dog-Friendly Camping near Clear Creek, IN
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Hardin Ridge and Yellowwood State Forest include dedicated pet-friendly camping areas where dogs can accompany visitors. Both locations maintain strict leash policies requiring pets to remain on leashes no longer than 6 feet at all times while on campground property. Campsites on the primitive Peninsula Trail offer free dispersed camping options for tent campers with dogs, with minimal facilities but greater privacy. The campsites remain fairly clean and most pet owners maintain good waste management practices despite limited pet waste stations in the area. Accommodation options range from basic tent sites to RV hookups and even pet-friendly cabins at selected campgrounds.
Charles C. Deam Wilderness trails provide extensive hiking opportunities where leashed dogs can join their owners on backcountry adventures. The dispersed camping area along Berry Ridge Road allows pets in both tent and RV sites with toilets and picnic tables available for campers. Lake Monroe offers several access points where dogs can cool off during summer months, though not at designated swimming beaches where pet restrictions apply. During peak summer weekends, many campgrounds become quite busy, making weekday visits preferable for those camping with pets who need quieter surroundings. Yogi Bears at Lake Monroe welcomes pets but maintains specific pet-friendly loops separated from non-pet areas to accommodate families with allergies.
Best Dog-Friendly Campgrounds near Clear Creek (85)
1. Paynetown Campground
"It's a bittersweet type of situation."
"This campground is busy as it's close to a college, but it has ample room to provide for everyone."
from $20 - $45 / night
Check Availability2. Hardin Ridge
"This campground is nestled on a ridge above Indiana's Lake Monroe."
"Hardin Ridge is a fantastic place to camp, and is very close to lake Monroe. But it's also quite a ways away from any stores in case you forget anything."
from $24 - $64 / night
Check Availability3. Blackwell Campground — Hoosier National Forest
"The ground is level and all grass with less bugs than sites directly off trail. We just have a simple backpacking tent set-up and we had a great campfire."
"Site is a wide open and well-groomed, with trails just a short walk (or ride) away. Toilets and covered picnic tables nearby."
4. Taylor Ridge Campground — Brown County State Park
"We have visited Nashville Indiana several times but this is our first time camping nearby. My wife loves to visit Nashville and all the little shops they offer."
"It was backed up to the edge of the woods which made for a lovely view. Driving through the campground it looks like there are some sites pretty close together but ours wasn’t too bad."
from $20 - $43 / night
Check Availability5. Buffalo Ridge Campground — Brown County State Park
"This is a beautiful State Park situated in the rolling hills of southern Indiana."
"I make multiple visits here every year, mainly for the mountain bike trails. There are almost 30 miles of trails inside the park with new trails every year for the past 3+ years."
from $43 / night
Check Availability6. Charles C. Deam Wilderness
"A staple of our state here in Indiana. Unfortunately due to some storm damage, trails were rerouted or straight up inaccessible. Great places to find and set up camp."
"Wonderful trails, dog friendly and nice places to camp off the trail. Can’t wait to go back! Heads up! Refill your water when you come across it; the lake is harder to get to than you think."
7. Peninsula Trail
"The Peninsula Trail and Grub Ridge trails both have marked campsites that are very far apart and totally private. These are dispersed/primitive sites with a fire ring only. "
"this was a wonderful scenic hike meant for the beauty of indiana"
8. Yogi Bears at Lake Monroe
"Great location and clean camp ground."
"I had to nearly lower my tongue to the ground to get it level. The splash park was fun, even for the teen kids, but the pool was tiny and shallow and disappointing."
9. Berry Ridge Road - Dispersed Camping
"Trails, plenty of dry wood, away from the roads, no running water or electricity, decent amount of spaces we came in at night and counted about 9 very far spread out camp sights."
"If you are into boondocking at all defiantly check out berry ridge it’s just south of brown county Indiana beautiful country mostly hills tons of camp spots sometimes half mile or more apart haven’t seen"
10. Ransburg Scout Reservation
"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.""Our Boy Scout troop enjoyed visiting this location. It was well maintained and the staff was helpful."
Drive Time
- 5 min from Bloomington, IN
- 55 min from Indianapolis, IN
- 55 min from Columbus, IN
- 1 hr 10 min from Terre Haute, IN
Recent Dog-Friendly Camping Photos near Clear Creek, IN
78 Photos of 85 Clear Creek Campgrounds • uploaded by The Dyrt campers
Paynetown Campground
Peninsula TrailA
Blackwell Campground — Hoosier National Forest
Charles C. Deam Wilderness
Mccormick's Creek State Park Campground
Hickory Ridge Campground — Hoosier National ForestA
Taylor Ridge Campground — Brown County State Park
Raccoon Ridge Campground — Brown County State Park
Oak Ridge Camping Area — Morgan-Monroe State Forest
Celtic Glen
Berry Ridge Road - Dispersed Camping
Dog-Friendly Camping Reviews near Clear Creek, IN
641 Reviews of 85 Clear Creek Campgrounds
LDS Sister H.
GuideFriends O' Mine Campground & Cabins
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Our First RV Home Has Been Such a Blessing!
My husband and I absolutely loved our first few months here at Friends O' Mine Campgrounds & Cabins as first-time RV owners with our Class A RV.
We downsized from our 5-bedroom home in the Ozark Mountains of Missouri. We sold our home and I followed my Husband back here to Indiana after he received a wonderful career opportunity. My Husband is a Veteran, 🇺🇸 and after moving to Nashville, Indiana, we had immediately fallen in love with this small town - where we respected and admired the way Nashville reminds us of where we had just moved from in Missouri.
We stayed at Grand Wood Suites for six months, after paying for a hotel, all while continuously paying for our two large storage units, as well as our mortgage payment and then rent for most of the beginning of this year; so, we decided to downsize to save money to buy land sooner, instead of continuing to rent. 🏕️ We already loved camping - we started with a pop-up camper on the 🔝 of our Jeep and camped dozens of times, then traded up to a pop-up camper. So we used what we had in savings, bought our Class A RV, donated our pop-up camper, and came to Friends O' Mine - and it was the best decision!
From day one, the other campers have been so friendly, as are the nice employees and amazing owners. They truly make you feel like family. They set up weekly entertainment that brings the whole campground together around the campfire - there is a huge fire in the middle with six porch swings attached to a massive gazebo and veranda surrounding it. It's incredibly cozy and just inviting you to join in.
We've enjoyed live musical singers entertaining us around the campfire all evening, and we were invited to watch a documentary about a local racecar driver in their indoor recreational room, right next to the indoor laundry facilities.
There is also a subterranean pool that my Husband and I enjoyed swimming in almost every day during our first month here - it was very relaxing and refreshing!
One of our favorite parts has been our peaceful, nighttime walks around the large, well-stocked catch-and-release pond. My Husband and I hold hands together and walk around it at sunset almost every evening. It's so serene and calming to hear the sounds of the water and feel the beautiful Autumn breeze.
This has been a very relaxing, enjoyable, and heartwarming experience for us. If you are looking for a clean, friendly, peaceful, and welcoming place to stay - whether for a weekend or for a season - we cannot recommend Friends O' Mine Campgrounds & Cabins enough. We are so grateful we found it!
Kaley A.GuideBuffalo Ridge Campground — Brown County State Park
We absolutely LOVED this park! It was hands down our favorite of this year. We camped at site 100 and it has a neighbor on one side and behind while the other side was a huge open space. It is in the center of a loop. It was mostly level. There was some minor doming to the site but not bad at all. It was a busy camp ground but not as crowded (sites not on top of each other) as some I’ve been in. The outsides of the loops did have more space between and privacy but could be smaller or more sloped, it just really depended. The bathrooms and showers were cleaner than some of the other state parks we have been to, so much so my 11 year old son mentioned it. The park itself is absolutely gorgeous. The hiking trails (which is what we usually go for) were nice but I believe that the biking trails were actually more scenic than the hiking trails and a lot more rugged. We liked trail 8 starting from the west lookout tower and stopping at Hesitation Point for lunch/break/bathroom. Trail 6 was also a pretty, rugged, shorter trail. The Nature Center was also nicer than a lot of the others we have been to in the state. We did choose to do horseback riding at the stables. We showed up about 5 minutes after opening and were able to pay and told to come back in an hour and 45 minutes. That didn’t bother us since we had the time but if you are on a tighter schedule, the earlier the better. We also went into Nashville and it was a very cute town to visit. Well decorated for Halloween, very walkable, and a little something for almost everyone. Prices were about what I would expect for a tourist town but not terrible. I also have T-Mobile and had pretty good service almost everywhere in the park.
- JJacob S.Scout
Ogala Horse Camp
Little loop pull off with a stone fire pit in the middle. Walking trail goes down to a swampy pond.
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.
Greta H.
TravelerTerre Haute Campground
Such a fun magical spot with kiddos
We were only here for one night as we are passing through, however we loved this little spot. They have so much fun and activities for the kiddos in addition to a little ice cream parlor and pizza shop. We loved it!
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!
- TTanner P.Traveler
Hawthorne Park campground
Nice camp
A bunch of shade and nice staff
- JasonGuide
Camp 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.
Guide to Clear Creek
The Charles C. Deam Wilderness area offers 13,000 acres of primitive camping terrain near Clear Creek, Indiana. Located at elevations between 550-800 feet, the region experiences mild springs and falls with hot, humid summers reaching the mid-80s. Most dispersed camping sites require a quarter to half-mile hike from parking areas on primarily gravel forest roads.
What to do
Hiking on unmarked trails: Peninsula Trail in the Deam Wilderness provides multiple lakeside camping opportunities. "This trail is pretty easy. Campsites 10, 11, 12, 13 are very accessible with a short hike and are fantastic spots," notes Matt V. about the Peninsula Trail.
Mountain biking: Brown County State Park maintains nearly 30 miles of purpose-built trails. "The mountain bike trails are fantastic, with purpose built trails for beginner to expert (flow, berms, rollers, jumps...)," according to TMB at Buffalo Ridge Campground.
Fishing for bluegill: Monroe Lake offers productive fishing spots accessible from campgrounds. "We went fishing down by the ramp and caught a mess of bluegill which we fried up back at the campsite!!!" shares Sheldon E. about his experience at Hardin Ridge.
Hunting for geodes: Many creek beds throughout the area contain these geological treasures. "I walked the creek for hours just looking at all the rocks on the sandbars. I have never encountered so many geodes in my life," writes Sarah R. about her time in Charles C. Deam Wilderness.
What campers like
Private, wooded sites: Taylor Ridge Campground offers secluded camping spots. "The site we stayed in was lovely. It was backed up to the edge of the woods which made for a lovely view," shares Amanda D. about her experience at Taylor Ridge Campground.
Free camping options: Berry Ridge Road provides no-cost camping without reservations. "Multiple campsites in the area, I've stayed at two both of which were away from others, clean, fairly flat and had plenty of dead wood around to burn," explains Jeremy F. about the Berry Ridge Road dispersed camping.
Lake access: Paynetown Campground offers direct lake entry points. "There are beaches everywhere besides the designated one so it's easy to swim with your dogs or find private spots," notes Rebecca J.
Clean facilities: Campground maintenance receives consistent praise. "The grounds are kept very clean, as well as the shower rooms, bathrooms, and vault toilets," says Deb T. about Hardin Ridge.
What you should know
Water availability varies: Many primitive sites require carrying water. "Long walk to the water so make sure you bring plenty of drinking water. Springs available in the valleys but watch for timber rattlesnakes," warns Elliot F. about Peninsula Trail.
Cell service limitations: Most areas have minimal coverage. "Cell service by various providers is 1-2 bars," reports Betsy W. about Blackwell Campground.
Reservation systems: Some campgrounds only accept walk-ins. "This state forest campground does not accept reservations. It is first come, first served. Drive up, select your site, and then go to the park office to pay using a self-pay envelope," explains Daisy C. about Yellowwood State Forest.
Wildlife awareness: Be prepared for encounters with local fauna. "I did see a rattlesnake dead on the road," mentions Ax H. about camping at Berry Ridge Road.
Tips for camping with families
Activity centers: Paynetown Campground offers programmed activities. "The activity center has programs all the time and there is always something going on there," shares Jamie B. at Paynetown Campground.
Water recreation options: Multiple swimming and boating areas exist. "This campgroung has lots of amenities to offer all the way down to a beach," notes Johnathan H. about Hardin Ridge.
Kid-friendly splash zones: Some private campgrounds feature water attractions. "They have a huge splash park, wading pool for toddlers, and a 4 foot pool besides tons of interactive activities for kids," describes Pamela H. about Yogi Bears at Lake Monroe.
Nature education: Wildlife and educational programs available seasonally. "We also went to a Raptor show that was put on at the nature center where we got to look at some interesting raptors," shares Rachel W. about Buffalo Ridge.
Tips from RVers
Site leveling challenges: Many campgrounds have uneven terrain. "I had to nearly lower my tongue to the ground to get it level," reports Joe M. about his experience at Yogi Bears.
Campground loop selection: Different areas cater to various RV sizes. "There's 4 loops with 30 & 50 amp. 2 loops with no electric. Well spaced all tucked into the trees on a ridge," describes Cynthia K. about Hardin Ridge.
Access route considerations: Some roads have restrictions. "The north entrance is through a covered bridge with a 9 foot clearance and 3 ton limit! Otherwise, use the easily accessible west entrance, just a few miles 'around the corner,'" advises TMB about Buffalo Ridge Campground.
Limited hookup options: Plan for self-contained camping. "Primitive camping at its best," states James W. about the pet friendly camping areas near Clear Creek, Indiana at Berry Ridge Road.
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Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Clear Creek, IN?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Clear Creek, IN is Paynetown Campground with a 4.6-star rating from 29 reviews.
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