Dispersed camping options near Martinsville, Indiana provide tent campers with several forested locations within a short drive. The Hoosier National Forest area offers primitive tent sites at Berry Ridge Road Dispersed Camping, while Morgan-Monroe State Forest provides established tent campsites at Oak Ridge Camping Area, situated approximately 10 miles northeast of town. Hickory Ridge Primitive Dispersed Campsites offer additional tent camping in more secluded forest settings.
Tent sites throughout the region typically feature minimal improvements, with most offering fire rings but requiring campers to bring their own water. Oak Ridge Camping Area provides vault toilets and water spigots for tent campers, while dispersed locations like Berry Ridge Road are true pack-in, pack-out experiences with no facilities. According to one visitor, "This is dispersed camping at its best," highlighting the self-sufficient nature required at these locations. Most tent campgrounds in state forest areas use a self-registration system where campers select a site first, then pay at a central kiosk with exact change required.
The secluded nature of tent camping locations around Martinsville creates opportunities for peaceful forest experiences. Several campers reported seeing wildlife and enjoying substantial privacy between campsites. One camper noted that "each site is fairly far apart" at Berry Ridge Road, allowing for a quieter camping experience than more developed areas. Tent campers at Morgan-Monroe State Forest benefit from access to multiple hiking trails, including connections to the Tecumseh Trail system. Most tent sites in the region are shaded by mature forest canopy, providing natural cooling during summer months. Winter access is possible at many sites, though a sedan may struggle on forest roads after rain or snow events.
"When tent camping and want something quiet and a place with great trails, this is a good place to go. Even though it’s hot outside today, there’s lots of shade and a breeze."
"Site 13 has a little trail that goes down to a large flooded sinkhole behind the campsite. There were lots of tree frogs singing because of the proximity to water."
from $25 - $55 / night
"So much space, existing fire rings, there was wood left behind from previous campers so that was nice! We have a reactive pup and she is able to live her best life there!"
"Decent sized space to park for 2-3 vehicles."
"Being in a national forest dispersed camping is allowed if you follow leave no trace principals, but I stayed in a couple of the official sites."
"The sites are primitive with no amenities. Tent camping only although there are both hike in and drive up sites in the wilderness area. Great place to get away from it all."
"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."
"Free disbursed camping at its best in Indiana. Not another soul camped within earshot. Clean site. Gravel pad for vehicle. Green grass for tent. 14 day limit. No reservations needed or available."
"I chose this spot because we wanted to camp by water, but didn’t realize the camp sites are a 5-10 minute walk from the lake."
"There are campsites from walk-ins to drive-ins to FCFS with or without electricity/water. Plenty of shade in a very quiet surrounding. Access to Monroe lake as well as a small beach for swimming."
"Very nice drive during the day, hiking is fantastic!"
ScoutMark & Denise are great camp hosts they care about everyone and will help them if they need it. They do so much for the holidays and have some great times together around the campfires. Will miss them this winter but will be thinking of them during the Army Navy game. (A inside joke lol).
Guide⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 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!
GuideWe 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.
ScoutLittle loop pull off with a stone fire pit in the middle. Walking trail goes down to a swampy pond.
ScoutClean paved sites, rigs under 35 feet will fit. Water and electricity 50/30 (water is in the ground.
LegendWe 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!
LegendNice halfway point for our road trip to Door County. We stayed here the week after Labor Day. Not sure if park staff had enough time to clean the grounds after the busy holiday weekend… There was a disappointing amount of litter at our site. We had remove the various cans, plastic bottles and ice pack out of our fire ring and the surrounding wooded area was full of more of the same including a full trash bag of garbage. And speaking of full… the pit toilets…There’s a $15 out of state fee above the $25 p/night charge. There’s only one shower for the park so be prepared. The amount of gnats and mosquitoes had us running for cover. The staff we encountered here, we’re cordial and friendly.
GuideGreat 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.
Traveler50A service, no water or sewer at the site. Fill your fresh tank on the way in. There’s a dump station on the property, so emptying on the way out is easy.
Site is mostly level with partial shade. The approach is the one thing to watch: 293 isn’t angled off the road, so it’s a tighter back-in than most. We’re towing a 33’ Airstream Classic and made it first try with no issues, so bigger rigs can absolutely get in here. Just take it slow. Once parked, there’s plenty of room, and the spacing between sites is better than most state park campgrounds we’ve stayed in. Bathhouse is only a few sites down.
Cell signal ran about 2 bars. We’re on Starlink so it didn’t matter, but plan accordingly if you work from the road.
Park staff are the highlight. Stephanie checked us in and could not have been more accommodating. Friendly, quick, genuinely helpful.
Dispersed camping areas near Martinsville, Indiana provide ready access to the Hoosier National Forest's rugged woodlands. Located within an hour's drive from town, most primitive camping options sit between 600-750 feet elevation in dense second-growth forests dominated by oak, maple and hickory trees. Seasonal considerations matter greatly here, as spring brings muddy access roads while fall offers cooler temperatures and colorful foliage.
Hiking on wilderness trails: At Charles C. Deam Wilderness, hikers can explore extensive trail systems ranging from easy to moderate difficulty. One visitor noted, "The trails are well paved and marked, not too strenuous. So many beautiful trees and plants to see, plus lots of creeks to walk through."
Rock collecting opportunities: Creek beds throughout the region's campgrounds offer unique geological experiences. At Charles C. Deam Wilderness, a camper shared: "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. Truly magnificent to encounter."
Lake access for paddling: Some dispersed sites provide access to Monroe Lake for canoeing and kayaking. As one visitor to Hickory Ridge Primitive Dispersed Campsites mentioned, "Very nice drive during the day, hiking is fantastic!" The camp's proximity to water adds recreational options beyond hiking.
Wildlife observation: Quiet camping spots allow for wildlife viewing at dawn and dusk. One camper at Berry Ridge Road - Dispersed Camping reported hearing natural sounds: "Just trees knocking, bugs curling and frogs croaking." Wildlife sightings are common throughout the forested camping areas.
Privacy between sites: Many dispersed camping areas offer substantial space between campers. A Berry Ridge Road visitor noted, "Each site is fairly far apart," while another mentioned they "found a great pull off spot a lil further. I came across at least 5 lil spots."
Accessibility for standard vehicles: Several primitive sites can be reached without specialized equipment. According to one Sundance Lake Dispersed Camping visitor: "National forest area with 3ish campsites one of which can accommodate a vehicle. Wooded so no solar or starlink."
Natural fire materials: Many wilderness sites offer plentiful downed wood for campfires. A Berry Ridge Road camper mentioned that sites were "clean, fairly flat and had plenty of dead wood around to burn."
Night sky viewing: The secluded nature of these sites provides minimal light pollution. One visitor described their experience: "It's now 10:37 pm, I'm traveling from Chicago to Florida and I kind of love this spot. Easy to find, easy to park."
Road conditions vary seasonally: Forest access roads can become challenging after rain. One Hickory Ridge camper noted, "I pulled in at midnight in a sedan in the winter and i was able to safely find my way," but conditions worsen during wet seasons.
Water availability is limited: Most dispersed sites require bringing all water needs. At Oak Ridge Camping Area — Morgan-Monroe State Forest, a camper explained, "Mason Ridge Campground has vault toilets and drinking water available. There are outdoor sinks at the drinking water stations."
Self-registration process: State forest camping requires specific check-in procedures. As one Morgan-Monroe camper advised: "When you arrive set up at your site. Then you will need to go WITH EXACT CHANGE to the sign in at the main building... Make sure you take your tag to mark your site."
Seasonal activity fluctuations: Some areas become busier during hunting seasons. A Sundance Lake visitor reported, "On the weekends, the activity picked up with a lot of partying and hunting. There were a few pickups that patrolled through here regularly."
Playground access: For families seeking amenities beyond wilderness camping, Morgan-Monroe offers structured facilities. A visitor noted: "There is a playground at the entrance of Mason Ridge campground and a fire tower."
Educational opportunities: Some areas provide natural learning environments. At Ransburg Scout Reservation, visitors can enjoy "canoeing, row boats, sailboats, motor boats, and skiing. Lots of fun activities to do, and great hiking trails."
Scout-friendly locations: Organized youth groups have dedicated facilities in some areas. A Ransburg Scout Reservation visitor commented that "This camp has traditions rooted deep within and is a very beautiful place to be. Highly recommend. Great summer program!!!"
Weather preparation: Families should pack for variable conditions. One camper warned about timing: "The only negative was that we came after a lot of rain. So everything is permanently wet and mosquitos/ticks abounded."
Site limitations for larger vehicles: Most dispersed sites accommodate only smaller RVs or trailers. At Morgan-Monroe State Forest, an RVer explained, "There are only about 5 sites we could get in to. Our camper is about 25' and it was tight get in and out of the campground."
Generator restrictions: Many wilderness areas prohibit generators, requiring alternative power sources. One RVer noted, "Although there is no electric hookup we had a generator that we used sparklingly."
Limited dump facilities: RVers should plan for minimal services. A camper mentioned, "The dump station hose did not have a connection to allow me to flush the blackwater holding tank."
Finding level parking: RV campers should scout sites carefully for level ground. One visitor observed, "I was slightly disappointed by the site selections being mostly on a slant, but we did find one on the overfill site that suited our needs."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Martinsville, IN?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Martinsville, IN is Oak Ridge Camping Area — Morgan-Monroe State Forest with a 4.1-star rating from 9 reviews.
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TheDyrt.com has all 15 tent camping locations near Martinsville, IN, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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