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Camping near Ellettsville, IN
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Camping near Ellettsville, Indiana ranges from fully-developed RV sites with 50-amp hookups to primitive tent camping and dispersed backcountry sites within a short drive. Brown County State Park, located about 25 miles southeast, offers two developed campgrounds with electric hookups and modern facilities. Lake Monroe, just 15 miles south, provides multiple campgrounds near Ellettsville including Paynetown Campground with both primitive and electric sites along the shoreline. Yellowwood State Forest and the Charles C. Deam Wilderness area offer more rustic experiences for those seeking a quieter setting. Camping styles range from fully-developed RV sites with 50-amp service to primitive tent camping, with several locations also offering cabin rentals for those who prefer more shelter.
Camping availability peaks from April through October, with many campgrounds operating year-round but with reduced services during winter months. Reservations are strongly recommended for developed campgrounds, especially during autumn when fall foliage attracts significant crowds to the region. The terrain varies from relatively flat, accessible sites at Paynetown to more challenging, hilly terrain at Brown County State Park. Cell service can be spotty in more remote areas, particularly in the Hoosier National Forest. Weather conditions change seasonally, with humid summers and occasional storms that can affect camping conditions. One visitor noted, "With COVID, it seems that everyone...and then more people are going camping. It's been very hard to find decent camping in Indiana that isn't packed in like sardines."
Several visitors mentioned lake views and water access as key highlights of camping in the region. Paynetown Campground on Lake Monroe receives positive reviews for its lakeside sites, though some campers note it can be noisy on summer weekends. Brown County State Park, while not offering water recreation within the park, compensates with extensive trail systems for hiking and mountain biking. Campers frequently mention the proximity to Nashville, Indiana, a popular tourist town with shopping and dining options. Yellowwood State Forest provides a more primitive experience with sites adjacent to a 133-acre lake. According to one visitor, "Yellowwood State Forest, named for the environmentally unique Yellowwood tree, offers 79 primitive class c sites in four campground areas adjacent to the lake." For backcountry enthusiasts, the Charles C. Deam Wilderness offers dispersed camping with more solitude and fewer amenities.
Best Campgrounds near Ellettsville (126)
1. Paynetown Campground
"It's a bittersweet type of situation."
"This is one of the largest campgrounds in all of Indiana. It includes hundreds of campsites. This includes RV hookups, standard campsites, and primitive campsites."
from $23 - $52 / 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. 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 Availability4. Yellowwood State Forest
"Peaceful little place but unfortunately it rained but we made the best of it, there’s some secluded spots where you can stay away from others or stay in the more general areas, nice lake to fish and we"
"Drive up, select your site, and then go to the park office to pay using a self-pay envelope. Bring exact change(cash). Current prices are listed on the Indiana DNR website."
from $225 / night
Check Availability5. 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."
6. Oak Ridge Camping Area — Morgan-Monroe State Forest
"This is probably the best state forest in the state of Indiana. The property is well maintained. There is a new visitors center built a few years ago."
"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
Check Availability7. 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 $50 / night
Check Availability8. Sky Smith
"Cagles Mill Lake borders the southwestern side of the area. We arrived to a very quiet campground with few campers."
"Each campsite is spacious and has plenty of space away from your neighbors. There was plenty of shade even though our pad wasn't tucked back in the woods."
from $23 - $42 / night
Check Availability9. Fern Hills Club
"There are 75 acres of trails to hike on or drive your golf cart on ."
10. 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."
Drive Time
- 6 min from Bloomington, IN
- 54 min from Indianapolis, IN
- 56 min from Columbus, IN
- 57 min from Terre Haute, IN
Recent Camping Photos near Ellettsville, IN
183 Photos of 126 Ellettsville Campgrounds • uploaded by The Dyrt campers
Mccormick's Creek State Park Campground
Oak Ridge Camping Area — Morgan-Monroe State ForestG
Paynetown Campground
Hoosiers On The Ridge
Yellowwood State Forest
Hoosier National Forest Pine Loop Campgroundt
Ransburg Scout Reservation
Peninsula Trail
Hoosier National Forest White Oak Loop Campground
Hardin Ridge
Blackwell Campground — Hoosier National Forest
Charles C. Deam Wilderness
Recent Reviews near Ellettsville, IN
633 Reviews of 126 Ellettsville 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 Ellettsville
Camping sites near Ellettsville, Indiana range from basic primitive spots to developed campgrounds with modern amenities. The region sits within the hills of south-central Indiana where elevations range from 600-900 feet, creating varied terrain for camping. Summer temperatures typically reach the mid-80s with high humidity, while spring and fall camping offers milder conditions in the 60-70°F range with less moisture in the air.
What to do
Fishing at Yellowwood Lake: The 133-acre lake at Yellowwood State Forest offers good fishing opportunities with boat rentals available. "We have also had lots of fun renting a rowboat, and being out on the water. A few times we have camped in groups and rented an area, and that was also a great time camping with friends," notes camper Margo B.
Mountain biking on purpose-built trails: Brown County State Park provides extensive mountain biking opportunities for all skill levels. "The mountain biking is excellent, with purpose built trails for beginner to expert (flow, berms, rollers, jumps...)," shares TMB about their stay at Buffalo Ridge Campground.
Gold panning with permit: A unique activity available at Yellowwood State Forest. "Believe it or not- gold panning is a thing here! You need a permit," reports Cynthia K., who explored the area's offerings.
Hiking the Tecumseh Trail: Access this 43-mile trail from Morgan-Monroe State Forest. "The Tecumseh trail (40 miles) starts in Morgan Monroe State Forest passes through Yellowwood State Forest and ends in the Hoosier National Forest," explains Ron H. who camped at Morgan-Monroe State Forest.
What campers like
Secluded camping options: Many campers appreciate the privacy available at certain campgrounds. "This campground is decent if you get one of the few good spots. Many sites are small and can only accommodate a tent. Has water and vault toilets. This campground typically remains available as an overflow camping area but is still a good spot," states Joe B. about Morgan-Monroe State Forest.
Lake access and water activities: Lake Monroe provides popular shoreline camping with water recreation. "This lake is huge and alot of fun. There are beaches everywhere besides the designated one so it's easy to swim with your dogs or find private spots," says Rebecca J. who stayed at Paynetown Campground.
Free camping opportunities: Some locations offer no-cost camping options. "Can't believe this place was free. It was nearly empty (although it was the end of November). The hiking was fantastic and the few people camping there were very well dispersed and all respectful," shares Kelly G. about her experience at Blackwell Campground.
Quiet weekday camping: Many campgrounds near Ellettsville remain relatively empty during weekdays. "I stayed for one night in a non electric site on a trip. The campground was ok. The bathrooms were clean-ish but I couldn't get the showers to be not cold. The site was nice and level. Not many people there on a weeknight," reports Moriah C. about her stay at Lieber State Recreation Area.
What you should know
Reservation status varies widely: Some campgrounds require planning while others are first-come, first-served. "Yellowwood 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. Bring exact change(cash)," advises Daisy C.
Limited cell service: Communication can be difficult at some locations. "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," mentions Shirley M. about Lieber State Recreation Area.
Park entrance restrictions: Some parks have vehicle limitations. "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,'" warns TMB about access to Buffalo Ridge Campground.
Off-season availability: Camping options change seasonally. "The park offers year around camping with reduced services in the winter months (they do have a heated bath house in the off season)," notes Stephen & Theresa B. about Buffalo Ridge Campground.
Tips for camping with families
Child-friendly water options: Several campgrounds offer swimming opportunities for families. "This is our go to campground. We have stayed at several others in the area and by far Paynetown has the most to offer for families to have a great camping trip," shares Johnathan H.
Halloween camping events: Special seasonal activities enhance family camping experiences. "We love going to this park several times a year. We especially like camping in the fall for their Goblins weekend," says Timothy B. about Lieber State Recreation Area.
Educational wildlife programs: Nature centers provide learning opportunities for children. "The nature center is really fun with animals and a bee hive that the children really enjoyed! There are a lot of diverse hiking trails for all," mentions Jessie W. about Taylor Ridge Campground.
Family bike-friendly terrain: Flat areas provide safe cycling for children. "Very flat and ideal for bike riding. Also very family friendly!" notes Leah S. about Hardin Ridge.
Tips from RVers
Site leveling challenges: Many camping areas near Ellettsville have uneven terrain. "Had a back in gravel site that was difficult to back into and sloped back. I had to nearly lower my tongue to the ground to get it level," reports Joe M. about his stay at Yogi Bears at Lake Monroe.
Size limitations: Larger RVs may struggle at some campgrounds. "The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is, we are RV campers and 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," explains Ron H. about Morgan-Monroe State Forest.
Dump station access: Waste disposal facilities vary between locations. "The only drawbacks were that the vault toilets are in pretty bad condition and the dump station hose did not have a connection to allow me to flush the blackwater holding tank," notes Don N. about his experience at Morgan-Monroe State Forest.
Electric hookup distribution: Access to power varies by loop. "There are 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
What amenities are available at Ellettsville area campgrounds?
What amenities are available at Ellettsville area campgrounds?
Lieber State Recreation Area Campground offers sites with attached gravel pads, showerhouses, and borders Cagles Mill Lake, providing water recreation opportunities. Yellowwood State Forest features 79 primitive campsites in a beautiful setting known for fall color displays and scenic vistas. Many campgrounds in the area provide basic amenities like water fill stations, electric hookups, and clean restrooms. Brown County State Park campgrounds offer additional facilities including a seasonal outdoor pool, hiking trails, mountain biking trails, and proximity to the Abe Martin Lodge with dining options. Most state park campgrounds provide electric-only sites with central water fill stations throughout the grounds.
What are the best campgrounds near Ellettsville, Indiana?
What are the best campgrounds near Ellettsville, Indiana?
The Ellettsville area offers excellent camping options within a short drive. Brown County State Park stands out with multiple campgrounds in the rolling hills of southern Indiana, featuring scenic mountain views and over 250 sites. For a wilderness experience, Charles C. Deam Wilderness provides dispersed camping options with beautiful hidden sites. Other notable options include Paynetown Campground at Lake Monroe, Hardin Ridge, and Oak Ridge Camping Area in Morgan-Monroe State Forest. Most campgrounds are within 30-45 minutes of Ellettsville, making them ideal for weekend getaways or longer stays.
When is the best time of year to camp near Ellettsville?
When is the best time of year to camp near Ellettsville?
Fall is the premier camping season near Ellettsville when the southern Indiana hills display spectacular foliage colors, especially at Taylor Ridge Campground and surrounding areas. Spring offers comfortable temperatures and blooming wildflowers. Summer provides full access to all amenities including the outdoor pool at Raccoon Ridge Campground in Brown County State Park, though it can get crowded, particularly on holiday weekends. Some campgrounds offer year-round camping with reduced services in winter months, including heated bathhouses in select locations. Mid-week camping, especially in spring and fall, provides a quieter experience with lower occupancy rates.
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