Best Campgrounds near Dugger, IN

Dugger, Indiana serves as a gateway to several notable camping options in southwest Indiana, including Greene Sullivan State Forest and Shakamak State Park. The area combines both primitive and developed campground settings for tent, RV, and cabin campers. Greene Sullivan's Narrow Lake Campground provides 15 year-round cabins and electric sites, while Shakamak State Park offers a more developed camping experience with full amenities. Both locations feature multiple lakes, with Greene Sullivan State Forest containing approximately 120 fishing lakes throughout its 9,000 acres of reclaimed mining land. Hillbilly Acres Campground near Linton represents another option with 25 sites accommodating tents, RVs, and cabins.

Most campgrounds in the region maintain year-round access, though seasonal considerations impact facility availability. "The campsites were well kept, shaded, and the bathroom/shower house was clean. There were several nice looking trails, 3 lakes that were great for fishing, and a really nice pool with water slides and diving board," noted one visitor about Shakamak State Park. Narrow Lake Campground in Greene Sullivan State Forest provides potable water and a dump station, while primitive sites at Wampler Lake and Reservoir 26 offer more rustic options without electricity for $13 per night on a first-come, first-served basis. Cell service varies throughout the area, with several reviewers mentioning limited connectivity, particularly for Verizon users who may only get one bar in some locations.

Water access and fishing opportunities emerge as the primary draws for campers visiting this region. According to one reviewer, Greene Sullivan State Forest represents a "fisherman paradise" with lakes "rich with bass, bluegill, crappy, redear" and even rainbow trout stocked in Airline Lake. Shakamak State Park features three large lakes with electric-only boating regulations, creating quiet conditions for paddling and angling. Campers consistently rate the shaded, level sites at Shakamak positively, with many mentioning the unusual flatness of all sites—"ALL FLAT!!! No inclined sites at all! Unheard of in an Indiana State Park." The region experiences moderate traffic during summer months when the Shakamak pool is operational, while spring and fall offer quieter camping experiences with fewer visitors.

Best Camping Sites Near Dugger, Indiana (89)

    1. Shakamak State Park Campground

    24 Reviews
    Jasonville, IN
    7 miles
    Website
    +1 (812) 665-2158

    $16 - $1200 / night

    "This is just a beautiful Indiana State Park located near the small community of Jasonville, Indiana which offers simple dining, grocery store, hardware store and fuel."

    "There's 7 hiking trails. All are nice walks in the woods. All were muddy in sections. There's an old coal mine on Trail 2. Blocked off for safety. "

    2. Narrow Lake Campground — Greene Sullivan State Forest

    5 Reviews
    Dugger, IN
    3 miles
    Website
    +1 (812) 648-2810

    $23 - $40 / night

    "There are many lake with good fishing, most of which have boat ramps (small boats). Great for kayaking and canoeing. There are cabins for rent, two campgrounds on Reservoir 26 and Wampler lake."

    3. Fowler County Park

    17 Reviews
    Terre Haute, IN
    19 miles
    Website
    +1 (812) 462-3413

    "Shaded campground sites at lake's edge on east side of park, 53 electrical hookups including 1 pull-thru, 14 primitive/tent sites. Fire ring and picnic table at each site. Water hydrants nearby."

    "The access to the campground is gated and locked at 10pm each night. There is a colonial village and covered bridge on the north end of the lake. The lake that it is located on is beautiful."

    4. Sullivan County Park

    2 Reviews
    Dugger, IN
    8 miles
    Website
    +1 (812) 268-5537

    "My family has stayed at Sullivan Lake many times. It is an awesome place to go for a family outing. They have all kinds of camping sites, a huge lake that can support all sizes of family boating."

    "Boating, fishing, and lake swimming/beach area are great. The bath houses have vault toilets. Many weekends they have live music and/or activities for the family."

    5. Hillbilly Acres Campground

    1 Review
    Linton, IN
    3 miles
    Website
    +1 (812) 798-5636

    $40 / night

    6. Terre Haute Campground

    23 Reviews
    Terre Haute, IN
    25 miles
    Website
    +1 (217) 342-1111

    $40 - $999 / night

    "This campground is great proximity to I-70 for an easy on/off the interstate and just outside of downtown Terre Haute (approximately eight miles). The park is nice and shady with large trees."

    "It was an interesting drive to the CG off I-70 through 2 traffic circles and into the CG as it's close to I-70 but not right off the highway. There was good signage to the CG."

    7. Sunset Park & Lake Campground

    1 Review
    Linton, IN
    6 miles
    Website
    +1 (812) 798-3861

    8. Eagles Nest Camping

    1 Review
    Linton, IN
    7 miles
    Website
    +1 (812) 699-8160

    $40 / night

    9. New Vision RV Park

    2 Reviews
    Carlisle, IN
    16 miles
    Website
    +1 (812) 745-2125

    "Most spots there are occupied by traveling workers for the nearby power plant so even when the campground is full it’s very quiet. If you have kids i recommend spot #1."

    10. Prairie Creek

    3 Reviews
    West Terre Haute, IN
    19 miles
    Website
    +1 (812) 462-3392

    $12 - $25 / night

    "Lots of trees and wild life with hiking trails. Nice little pond to fish or watch the geese. Spacious camp site at a good price."

    "Men's and women's shower house playground few trails rv tent and camper electric a few primitive sites 2 sites r 50 Amp I think the rest r 30 Amp water gets wonderfully hot Verizon works can have door"

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Recent Reviews near Dugger, IN

433 Reviews of 89 Dugger Campgrounds


  • Lisa M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 28, 2025

    Shakamak State Park Campground

    Great State Park

    Most of the spaces that had both water and electric were mostly in the sun. But all the other spaces had plenty of shade and trees around them. Our space was spot on level and nice area around each space to where you didn’t feel like you were camped on top of other people. The showers were adequate. Great hiking trails in the area. Very quiet. Although we were there on a weekday. One downside was we had Verizon as a cell phone carrier and only had one bar.

  • L
    Aug. 20, 2025

    Shakamak State Park Campground

    Clean, pretty, quiet, spacey.

    We had a nice site that was evenly spaced from the other campsites by trees and was nice and close to water, the bathrooms, and the shower houses, which were very clean! The camp store was nice and the paddle boats were fun! The pool was only opened on the weekends in August which was disappointing but there was a large fishing dock and many boating opportunities. Very nice camping spot, but in August beware of the bugs!

  • Joshua R.
    Aug. 11, 2025

    Plainview Campground — Lincoln Trail State Park

    Its ok

    Camp sites had some trash from previous campers. Bathrooms were dirty and outdated. Only scolding hot water in the shower. Host and another staff member made me turn my camper to face the other direction so the door wouldn't face another camp site, even though I have a door on both sides after we had camp set up. Sites themselves are nicely spaced apart. Place was pretty empty for our 4 day weekend there.

  • Tom B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 12, 2025

    Ouabache Trails County Park

    Excellent County Park

    Great gem of a woodsy campground. Stayed one night before visiting George Rogers Clark National Park (you can park your rig right in front of the natl park visitors center on the street). Campground is out of the way, which I consider a positive. 

    The staff were great. Excellent communication, seamless reservation process. Received prompt response to email, voicemail message was left after booking explaining exactly where my site was located. 

    If you are coming in for one night, definitely pick site 23 or 24 pull throughs. TIP: Make sure you have an extension for your 30/50 AMP, and one for your water as well (but what serious camper doesn't already have those?). Definitely on the list of "do agains."

  • R
    Jun. 28, 2025

    New Vision RV Park

    Great campground !

    We have stayed here several times and it’s always been a great time. Most spots there are occupied by traveling workers for the nearby power plant so even when the campground is full it’s very quiet. If you have kids i recommend spot #1. It’s big and borders a very nice playground. I also recommend not going for the back left (NE) corner. Train tracks are way too close. The hosts are great and bathhouse/laundry facilities are clean and nice. Disclaimer: it has been a couple years since we’ve visited because we moved.

  • SThe Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 20, 2025

    Robinson City Park

    Nice park

    Very clean only 4 hookups. You can pay at the swimming pool. $25/per night

  • SThe Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 17, 2025

    Lieber State Recreation Area Campground

    Plenty of outdoor activities

    Stayed at Poplar Grove Electric campground. We were there for two nights. We were working and we were grateful StarLink worked well. Husband was able to take his gravel bike out for a nice ride after work and I got in a nice little walk. Bathrooms were fine but a long walk.

  • Shirlee A.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 13, 2025

    Hawthorn County Park

    Quiet , good stopping point

    We passed through here and stayed the night. Prices are a little high compared to when you receive but the park is beautiful.

    We stayed at site 1 thinking it would be nice for the kids to be next to a park but the park was pretty dull.

  • Cora P.
    Jun. 1, 2025

    Fowler County Park

    It ain't what you think, nor what they say!

    Our first night, we arrived just at dusk. We set up right by the water. Mind you, we have a tent. The host asked where our Rv was, and I clearly marked that I had a tent. We woke up the following morning to find the lake is actually a large pond, 10 ft deep that is stocked every 2 years. Okay, I'm thinking the fishing would be good, even out on the boat, NOPE. MOSS EVERYWHERE! Raw sewage next to our camp site in the lake, the lake is filled with moss and black sewage overfill also. They packed the campers and tent within 10 to 15 feet if you were lucky of each other. Some of the parents were out of control, to the point the camp host even told us he wasn't a babysitter, but neither are my own two children. The lack of parenting really surprises me. We were fallowed by the host and workers on many occasions till the troubled parents came with their children. Needless to say, fishing sucked, do to moss even in the middle of the pond. Would have been nicer if we could have caught something, other than trying to pull other people's children out from in front of a MOVING RV!! And we weren't stacked on top of one another. Extremely crowded, stalker weird employees, they do not offer firewood or ice. They do offer an overcrowded experience, moss filled fishing, and free babysitting at other campers expense. We even asked multiple times if we could move spots, even if to primitive, we were told no, they were all booked, yet the spots remained empty. WILL NEVER BE BACK! If we didn't live 3 hours away, my husband even said we would have gone back home.


Guide to Dugger

Camping near Dugger, Indiana, offers a mix of beautiful landscapes and family-friendly activities. Whether you're looking to pitch a tent or park your RV, there are several campgrounds that cater to different needs and preferences.

What to do:

  • Hiking: Explore the trails at Turkey Run State Park Campground. One reviewer mentioned, "Trail 7 leads unexpectedly to a small stream running past a recessed cave. It’s a peaceful spot."
  • Fishing: Head to Patoka Lake Campground for some fishing fun. A visitor shared, "The fishing is very difficult here, but the lake is beautiful and worth the trip."
  • Nature Center: Visit the nature center at Patoka Lake Campground for a serene escape. One camper noted, "The nature center is a delightful feature, offering a serene escape into the beauty of the surrounding area."

What campers like:

  • Clean Facilities: Campers appreciate the cleanliness of the restrooms and showers at Cecil M Harden Lake Raccoon State Recreation Area. A reviewer said, "The bathhouse is clean, plenty of showers, flush toilets."
  • Spacious Sites: Many enjoy the spacious sites at Hardin Ridge. One visitor remarked, "Beautiful spacious sites. Spread out with plenty of room between sites."
  • Family-Friendly Atmosphere: Campgrounds like Paynetown Campground are great for families. A reviewer mentioned, "This campground was very family-friendly with lots of kids on bicycles flying around."

What you should know:

  • Privacy Concerns: Some sites at Turkey Run State Park Campground lack privacy. One camper noted, "Many sites are in an open, level area without a lot of trees or bushes between them."
  • Raccoon Visitors: Be cautious of raccoons at Patoka Lake Campground. A visitor warned, "The raccoons definitely are active so make sure you lock it all up at night."
  • Site Conditions: Some sites may not be level, especially at Taylor Ridge Campground. A camper mentioned, "The roads are not marked very well and it took a bit to find our site which needed level blocks."

Tips for camping with families:

  • Activities for Kids: Look for campgrounds with playgrounds and activities. Terre Haute Campground has "lots of free activities for kids," according to a reviewer.
  • Plan for Crowds: If you’re camping on weekends, expect a busy atmosphere. One camper at Paynetown Campground said, "This is known in Indiana as a party park."
  • Pack Snacks: Bring extra food to avoid raccoon encounters. A visitor at Patoka Lake Campground advised, "Do not turn your back to your dinner table at any time if there’s food out."

Tips from RVers:

  • Check Site Levels: Before booking, check the site levels at Buffalo Ridge Campground. A reviewer noted, "Pay attention to your campsite for slope and camper accessibility."
  • Be Mindful of Space: Some sites are close together, so be prepared for tight quarters. A camper at Terre Haute Campground mentioned, "Sites are very close together."
  • Use Reservations Wisely: Make reservations ahead of time, especially during peak seasons. A visitor at Hardin Ridge said, "You can reserve sites, or some are first come first served."

Camping near Dugger, Indiana, has its perks and quirks. With a little planning and awareness, you can enjoy a great outdoor experience!

Frequently Asked Questions

What amenities are available at camping sites near Dugger?

Campgrounds near Dugger offer varied amenities to suit different camping styles. Lieber State Recreation Area Campground provides showerhouses, sites with attached gravel pads, and access to Cagles Mill Lake. Many sites include fire rings, picnic tables, and some electrical hookups. For RV campers, Thousand Trails Horseshoe Lakes offers a large park with full hookups, though tent camping areas are limited to gravel sites. Most state park campgrounds in the region provide basic facilities like pit toilets, while developed campgrounds feature modern restrooms and shower facilities.

Where can I find camping spots in Dugger, Indiana?

While Dugger itself has limited camping, several excellent options are nearby. Shakamak State Park Campground near Jasonville is a beautiful option with three lakes spanning 400 acres, perfect for fishing and recreation. Just 30 minutes away, Sullivan County Park offers electrical hookups, water access, and both reservable and primitive sites. For those willing to drive a bit further, Hillbilly Acres Campground near Linton provides a more rustic camping experience with drive-in access.

When is the best time of year to go camping in Dugger?

Late spring through early fall offers the best camping weather near Dugger, with May through October being prime camping months. Yellowwood State Forest is particularly beautiful in autumn when the southern Indiana hills display spectacular fall colors. Be aware that some facilities at parks like Plainview Campground — Lincoln Trail State Park close seasonally, with showerhouses typically closing around November 1st. Summer weekends tend to be busiest, so consider weekday trips or spring/fall camping for more solitude. Always check for seasonal closures or weather-related concerns before planning your trip.