Dispersed camping options near Edinburgh, Indiana provide opportunities for overnight stays in more rustic settings. The area sits at an elevation of approximately 670 feet and experiences seasonal weather changes with hot summers and cold winters. Fall camping draws larger crowds as the local forests display colorful foliage, while spring camping often means dealing with muddy conditions due to seasonal rainfall.
What to Do
Hiking trails access: Brown County State Park offers multiple trail options for campers. "The park is gigantic! It takes a long time to get from the entrance of the park to the actual campground, but the drive is beautiful. The sites around us were spacious and had a lot of mature trees. The nature center is really fun with animals and a bee hive that the children really enjoyed," shares Jessie W. from Taylor Ridge Campground.
Kayaking and floating: Hidden Paradise Campground provides water recreation directly from campsites. A visitor noted, "Our site had a ton of trash all along the waters edge. Otherwise we did find the campground enjoyable! You can swim out back of many of the campsites along the River." The campground also offers rentals if you don't bring your own equipment.
Lake activities: CERA Sports Corporation offers fishing and paddleboat opportunities. According to one camper, "We spent a week there and the kids never got bored. Everyone had a blast." The facility includes "a beautiful peaceful lake, our grandkids love the pool with the slide and rock wall, the mini golf, the paddle boats and the amazing playground."
What Campers Like
Privacy between sites: Berry Ridge Road Dispersed Camping offers secluded free camping. One reviewer stated, "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." Another camper noted, "Each site is fairly far apart. It's really quite only seen a handful of cars drive by and I've stayed here for 2 nights."
Clean facilities: Johnson County Park maintains their restrooms well according to visitors. "Clean bathrooms/showers!!! Park is nice and clean too!! Very reasonable!!" reports Janet F. The campground includes electric and water hookups with a camp host available for assistance.
Convenience to attractions: Brown County-Nashville KOA provides easy access to nearby points of interest. Chris W. explains, "Nashville is only a 5 minute drive from the campgrounds, and it's a blast going to all of the different shops and restaurants located in town." Another reviewer adds, "Very close to Brown County State Park and Nashville, IN. Lots of mature trees."
What You Should Know
Military activity nearby: Camp Atterbury Campground operates near an active military installation. A recent camper shared, "If you don't mind gunfire 24/7 this is the best place ever. No issues with me or my Service Dog." Another stated, "If you don't mind fireing guns 24/7 it's a great little place."
Seasonal limitations: Heflen Park operates with restricted dates from Memorial Day to September 30. The park offers water hookups and permits pets, though one visitor noted, "I don't think people know what quite hours mean. We have stayed here a few times and every time there's multiple parties going on later into the night."
Tent camping restrictions: Some campgrounds no longer permit tent camping. A Johnson County Park reviewer reported, "They used to have awesome tent camping sites, but they stopped allowing tent camping. RV/camper's are the only thing they allow now." Always call ahead to confirm current policies.
Tips for Camping with Families
Look for activity options: Hidden Paradise Campground offers multiple recreation possibilities. Angela H. shares, "We love this campground so much that we return every year! Great riverside sites. We take our own rafts and kayaks, although both are available for rent/purchase at the camp store. Our boys & friends spend most of their time in the river, but also enjoy the quarry lake with inflatables & paddle boats."
Consider noise sensitivity: For pet friendly camping near Edinburgh, Indiana, be aware of sound issues. "Camp is close to an active reserve military base that from time to time has exercises with air traffic and the sounds of shells and artillery fire," warns one reviewer about Johnson County Park.
Check site sizes carefully: When booking at Taylor Ridge, one camper advised, "I would say pay particular attention to the size of the site you're booking as some were pretty small. Also, some sites were fairly sloped as well." Sites vary significantly in terms of space, levelness, and shade coverage.
Tips from RVers
Accessibility challenges: Bill Monroe Music Park & Campground can present navigation difficulties. "The spot we were given was too close an difficult to back in. We were lucky that camp was pretty much empty," reports one RVer. Another mentioned, "Difficult to navigate/find your camp without a map."
Leveling requirements: RVers should come prepared with leveling equipment. One Nashville KOA visitor noted, "Pads are gravel and we did need to use several leveling blocks on our site, which made for a doosey of a bottom step into and out of our trailer."
Road considerations: When exploring pet-friendly camping options near Edinburgh, pay attention to access routes. "If coming from the north-west, try to arrive before dark as the road over the hills to this place is beautiful, but narrow and forested with some trees very close to the roadway," advises one Brown County-Nashville KOA guest.
