Top Tent Camping near Columbus, IN
Looking for the best options for tent camping near Columbus? Find the best tent camping sites near Columbus. You're sure to find the perfect campsite for your Indiana tent camping excursion.
Best Tent Camping Sites Near Columbus, IN (77)
1.
Taylor Ridge Campground — Brown County State Park
Nashville, Indiana27 Reviews105 Photos2 Saves- Electric Hookups
- RVs
- Tents
- Showers
- Drinking Water
- Toilets
2.
Buffalo Ridge Campground — Brown County State Park
Nashville, Indiana22 Reviews58 Photos- Electric Hookups
- RVs
- Tents
- Showers
- Drinking Water
- Toilets
3.
Paynetown Campground
Clear Creek, Indiana28 Reviews86 Photos177 SavesLocated 6 miles south of Bloomington and the IU campus, Monroe Lake is the largest in Indiana. Paynetown Campground is a recreation area that is part of Monroe Lake. Activities at Monroe include fishing, hunting, hiking, camping, picnicking, water recreation, bird/eagle viewing, and many others.
- Pets
- Fires
- Electric Hookups
- Phone Service
- Reservable
- ADA Access
$16 - $30 / night
4.
Starve Hollow State Rec Area
Vallonia, Indiana25 Reviews86 Photos129 Saves- Pets
- Fires
- Electric Hookups
- Phone Service
- Reservable
- ADA Access
$25 - $40 / night
5.
Hardin Ridge
Heltonville, Indiana24 Reviews61 Photos201 SavesOverview
Hardin Ridge is a 1,200-acre recreational complex located on the shores of Monroe Reservoir in Hooiser National Forest. The complex includes six shady campground loops, two picnic areas with shelters, and two rental cabins. The area offers something for everyone, with activities like camping, picnicking, boat launching, swimming, nature walks, and interpretive programs offered in a forested environment.
Recreation
A 300-foot swimming beach on Lake Monroe offers a place for children to play and swimmers to sunbathe and enjoy the water. The beach offers a combination of sand and sun, with a shady grass-covered hillside above. There are no lifeguards on duty. No glass containers or pets are allowed in the beach area. The Hardin Ridge Trail is a 2-mile hiking and bicycle trail that runs from the day use area to the various campground loops. This trail roughly follows the main campground road and provides a safe surface for families to hike or bike, as well as a scenic overlook. Fishing is allowed anywhere along the lakeshore within the recreational complex, but several quiet inlets provide secluded fishing holes along the lake's banks. Popular catches include blue gill, striped bass, large mouth bass and crappie. On the Ted T. Turtle interpretive trail, visitors can travel 1.2 miles through a scenic hardwood forest, along a small creek and down to Lake Monroe and back. On the trail, visitors have the opportunity to learn about the history, geology, and wildlife common to southern Indiana. For visitors interested in boating, the lake has a 3-lane launch ramp that is open year-round. A 75 vehicle/trailer parking area is also available as well as a fully accessible loading dock provided at the boat ramp.
Facilities
There are 197 camp sites at Hardin Ridge, 36 of which are walk-in tenting only sites. With the exception of Eads and Southern Point loops, the areas have electric hookups at about half the sites (walk-in sites to do not have electric hookups). Centralized water, flush toilets and showers are provided. In addition to the campground loops, there are two picnic areas with numerous tables, along with three shelter houses, two of which overlook the lake. Two of the shelters also have electricity and lights. If the shelters are not reserved, they may be available on a first-come, first-served basis. There is ample space in the fields around the picnic sites for games. The Hardin Ridge Recreation Area has two primitive cabins available for rent. The cabins each offer 6 bunk beds, one of which is a double bed, for a total sleeping capacity of 7 people. The cabins are located on the shores of Lake Monroe, between the boat launch and swimming beach. There is a picnic shelter nearby and a shared toilet between the two cabins.
Natural Features
Monroe Reservoir spans 10,750-acres and is the largest lake in Indiana. There is an overlook on Hardin Ridge Road that is spectacular in any season and gives visitors a high vantage point of the lake, colorful marinas across the water and a vast expanse of forest. The entire area is forested with hardwoods and is well-shaded to give visitors the feel of being in the deep woods. In spring, the dogwoods and redbuds bring bright color to the forest and in fall, the foliage offers colors in vibrant hues of yellow, orange and red.
Nearby Attractions
Special Places on the Hoosier National Forest Brooks Cabin____ Buffalo Trace____ Carnes Mill Site____ Clover Lick Barrens____ Hickory Ridge Lookout Tower____ Initial Point____ Lick Creek African American Settlement____ The Jacob Rickenbaugh Homestead____ Wesley Chapel Gulf__
- Pets
- Fires
- Electric Hookups
- Phone Service
- RVs
- Tents
$50 - $55 / night
6.
CERA Sports Corporation
Columbus, Indiana7 Reviews5 Photos61 Saves308 Campsites with full service or water and electric options.
No RV? No problem.
CERA offers 3 RV rentals as well as 6 cabins!
With 308 campsites, CERA offers plenty of RV spots. 234 sites are deluxe sites with sewer hookups. See our campground map on which sites will suit your stay!
There are three shower houses available and a centrally located dump station.
Dump station usage is free when camping at CERA or $15 with no overnight stay. CAMPING RULES CERA PASS HOLDERS AND GOOD SAM CAMPING CLUB MEMBERS WILL NEED TO CALL AND MAKE A RESERVATION TO RECEIVE DISCOUNT
- Pets
- Fires
- Electric Hookups
- Phone Service
- Reservable
- ADA Access
$59 - $127 / night
7.
Yellowwood State Forest
Unionville, Indiana13 Reviews63 Photos137 Saves- Pets
- Fires
- ADA Access
- RVs
- Tents
- Group
8.
Berry Ridge Road - Dispersed Camping
Freetown, Indiana9 Reviews26 Photos255 Saves- Pets
- Fires
- Phone Service
- Reservable
- Tents
- Group
9.
Brown County-Nashville KOA
Nashville, Indiana8 Reviews26 Photos35 Saves- Pets
- Fires
- Electric Hookups
- Phone Service
- Reservable
- ADA Access
10.
Johnson County Park
Nineveh, Indiana8 Reviews32 Photos24 Saves- Pets
- Fires
- Electric Hookups
- Phone Service
- Reservable
- RVs
Popular Camping Styles near Columbus
Pet-friendly camping near Columbus
Paynetown Campground
177 Saves
Located 6 miles south of Bloomington and the IU campus, Monroe Lake is the largest in Indiana. Paynetown Campground is a recreation area that is part of Monroe Lake. Activities at Monroe include fishing, hunting, hiking, camping, picnicking, water recreation, bird/eagle viewing, and many others.
- Pets
- Fires
- Electric Hookups
- Phone Service
$16 - $30 / night
Starve Hollow State Rec Area
129 Saves
- Pets
- Fires
- Electric Hookups
- Phone Service
$25 - $40 / night
Hardin Ridge
201 Saves
Overview
Hardin Ridge is a 1,200-acre recreational complex located on the shores of Monroe Reservoir in Hooiser National Forest. The complex includes six shady campground loops, two picnic areas with shelters, and two rental cabins. The area offers something for everyone, with activities like camping, picnicking, boat launching, swimming, nature walks, and interpretive programs offered in a forested environment.
Recreation
A 300-foot swimming beach on Lake Monroe offers a place for children to play and swimmers to sunbathe and enjoy the water. The beach offers a combination of sand and sun, with a shady grass-covered hillside above. There are no lifeguards on duty. No glass containers or pets are allowed in the beach area. The Hardin Ridge Trail is a 2-mile hiking and bicycle trail that runs from the day use area to the various campground loops. This trail roughly follows the main campground road and provides a safe surface for families to hike or bike, as well as a scenic overlook. Fishing is allowed anywhere along the lakeshore within the recreational complex, but several quiet inlets provide secluded fishing holes along the lake's banks. Popular catches include blue gill, striped bass, large mouth bass and crappie. On the Ted T. Turtle interpretive trail, visitors can travel 1.2 miles through a scenic hardwood forest, along a small creek and down to Lake Monroe and back. On the trail, visitors have the opportunity to learn about the history, geology, and wildlife common to southern Indiana. For visitors interested in boating, the lake has a 3-lane launch ramp that is open year-round. A 75 vehicle/trailer parking area is also available as well as a fully accessible loading dock provided at the boat ramp.
Facilities
There are 197 camp sites at Hardin Ridge, 36 of which are walk-in tenting only sites. With the exception of Eads and Southern Point loops, the areas have electric hookups at about half the sites (walk-in sites to do not have electric hookups). Centralized water, flush toilets and showers are provided. In addition to the campground loops, there are two picnic areas with numerous tables, along with three shelter houses, two of which overlook the lake. Two of the shelters also have electricity and lights. If the shelters are not reserved, they may be available on a first-come, first-served basis. There is ample space in the fields around the picnic sites for games. The Hardin Ridge Recreation Area has two primitive cabins available for rent. The cabins each offer 6 bunk beds, one of which is a double bed, for a total sleeping capacity of 7 people. The cabins are located on the shores of Lake Monroe, between the boat launch and swimming beach. There is a picnic shelter nearby and a shared toilet between the two cabins.
Natural Features
Monroe Reservoir spans 10,750-acres and is the largest lake in Indiana. There is an overlook on Hardin Ridge Road that is spectacular in any season and gives visitors a high vantage point of the lake, colorful marinas across the water and a vast expanse of forest. The entire area is forested with hardwoods and is well-shaded to give visitors the feel of being in the deep woods. In spring, the dogwoods and redbuds bring bright color to the forest and in fall, the foliage offers colors in vibrant hues of yellow, orange and red.
Nearby Attractions
Special Places on the Hoosier National Forest Brooks Cabin____ Buffalo Trace____ Carnes Mill Site____ Clover Lick Barrens____ Hickory Ridge Lookout Tower____ Initial Point____ Lick Creek African American Settlement____ The Jacob Rickenbaugh Homestead____ Wesley Chapel Gulf__
- Pets
- Fires
- Electric Hookups
- Phone Service
$50 - $55 / night
Instant BookCERA Sports Corporation
61 Saves
308 Campsites with full service or water and electric options.
No RV? No problem.
CERA offers 3 RV rentals as well as 6 cabins!
With 308 campsites, CERA offers plenty of RV spots. 234 sites are deluxe sites with sewer hookups. See our campground map on which sites will suit your stay!
There are three shower houses available and a centrally located dump station.
Dump station usage is free when camping at CERA or $15 with no overnight stay. CAMPING RULES CERA PASS HOLDERS AND GOOD SAM CAMPING CLUB MEMBERS WILL NEED TO CALL AND MAKE A RESERVATION TO RECEIVE DISCOUNT
- Pets
- Fires
- Electric Hookups
- Phone Service
$59 - $127 / night
