Floyds Knobs sits in southern Indiana at approximately 850 feet above sea level, offering cooler summer temperatures than surrounding lowland areas. The camping options near Floyds Knobs include state parks, private campgrounds, and recreation areas that provide yurt accommodations and canvas structures throughout the Ohio River Valley. Winter camping remains available at several locations, though facilities may operate with reduced services during colder months.
What to do
Hiking the Knobstone Trail: Delaney Creek Park connects to Indiana's longest footpath with challenging elevation changes. According to one camper, "Its at the start to a Fifty mile trail (Knobstone Trail) or you can do the Delaney Loop in about 6 hours (7.5 miles and 2000 ft elevation change) a good challenge for all ages."
Cave exploration: Marengo Cave Campgrounds offers on-site national landmark cave tours. A visitor noted, "I was really surprised that in my 30 years of living in Indiana, I had never been to Marengo Cave. It's both great for kids and adults... There are extra activities for the kids such as mining and a nice gift shop for any rock lover out there."
Wildlife viewing: The forested campgrounds throughout the area support diverse bird populations. One camper at Delaney Creek Park shared, "Down in the hills and hollers, is this beautiful campground and park. This place is beautiful and breathtaking... The Knobstone trail is accessible here."
What campers like
Privacy between sites: Charlestown State Park Campground offers well-separated camping areas. A reviewer wrote, "The campground is very large and very well kept. All the sites are pretty much the same with good spacing between them. Most are electric only but we got one of the handful of full hookup sites."
Lake access: Starve Hollow State Rec Area Campground features waterfront campsites popular with anglers and paddlers. A visitor mentioned, "We stayed in site 21 which was right on the lake. All the lake front spots seem to have a good amount lakefront footage. We probably had at least 40 feet."
Forest atmosphere: O'Bannon Woods State Park Campground provides a heavily wooded camping experience with extensive trails. A camper commented, "O'Bannon woods has just about everything in one little nook, from fishing swimming and kayaking on blue River, a beach at the park... Its clean and laid back."
What you should know
Seasonal pricing variations: Entry fees at state parks often come as a surprise. One camper at Charlestown State Park noted, "Be aware of an additional $9 feet at the gate besides the camp fee."
Limited yurt availability: Yurt camping near Floyds Knobs, Indiana requires advance planning. The specialized yurt structures at Otter Creek Park Campground and other locations book quickly during peak season.
Weather preparedness: Thunderstorms can develop quickly in the Ohio River Valley, particularly during summer months. A reviewer at Jefferson Memorial Forest noted, "The seclusion here and the closeness to nature is a grand slam! Due to fall, the sites seem much closer than they are due to the thinning foliage."
Noise factors: Some campgrounds experience consistent noise from nearby transportation routes. One camper warned, "This is a great little well-kept campground. Unfortunately it's in the departure path of Louisville's airport, so be prepared for once-a-minute takeoffs... UPS releases about 100 planes from around 3-5am."
Tips for camping with families
Multiple playgrounds: Starve Hollow offers numerous play areas throughout the park. A visitor reported, "The beach area was huge and there were a lot of playgrounds. Overall there was nothing bad to report."
Swimming options: Louisville South KOA provides recreational facilities for children despite close-set campsites. A camper mentioned, "This is a hidden little gem in the bustle of Louisville... Our son loved the jump pillow, I gave it a try and my knee has been reminding me all day that I'm too old for that!!"
Beginner-friendly fishing: Many area lakes stock fish regularly for consistent catches. At Delaney Park, "Nice cabins good fishing and lots of boats to rent or bring your own. Camp how you like, from Primitive to Glam-ping."
Educational opportunities: Several parks offer nature centers with ranger programs. One O'Bannon Woods visitor noted, "nice state park. several shaded sites w electric and water hookups. clean restrooms. great nature center w ranger tours."
Tips from RVers
Site leveling challenges: Delaney Creek Park requires preparation for uneven terrain. A reviewer advised, "Sites for rvs are concrete and you will need to level some on all of them. They have electric and water. Reasonable prices."
Hookup placement: Standard RV equipment may need extensions at some campgrounds. One RVer at Delaney Creek Park warned, "The electric and water hookups are not in standard locations for RV hookups. Make sure you bring an extension for your electric hookup, otherwise you might not be able to reach the post."
Tree clearance: Many campgrounds feature mature forest canopy that may limit access for larger rigs. A camper at Starve Hollow noted, "Keep in mind that a lot of the electric only sites are very tight with a lot of trees in the area. I can probably only get my 36 ft 5th wheel into a third of the sites."
Entry road conditions: Some parks have steep access roads requiring careful navigation. One visitor to Delaney Creek Park warned, "Also, the decent into this park is steep and the road is narrow. I think there is one section that is close to 8%, however it's short."
