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Best Campgrounds near Franklin, IN

566 Reviews

The rolling hills surrounding Franklin, Indiana provide a mix of established campgrounds and recreational areas within a 30-mile radius. Johnson County Park in nearby Nineveh offers 58 sites with electric and water hookups on level gravel pads, making it a convenient stopover for RVers traveling along I-65. The Johnson County Fairgrounds in Franklin itself provides basic RV camping with full hookups, though reviews note the utility layout can be challenging with shared water connections between sites. For those seeking more natural settings, Brown County State Park, located about 25 miles south, features multiple campgrounds with electric sites nestled in the forested hills that are particularly scenic during autumn leaf season.

Camping availability varies significantly by season, with most area campgrounds operating from March through November. Brown County State Park maintains year-round camping with reduced winter services, including heated bathhouses during colder months. As one camper noted, "Large rigs must access the park through the West entrance due to a low clearance covered bridge at the North entrance." Summer weekends often reach capacity at popular destinations like Lake Monroe's recreation areas, where one reviewer observed it was "very noisy and busy on summer weekends. If you like a quieter experience, come Monday through Wednesday or wait until the off season." Cell service is generally reliable throughout the region, with most reviewers reporting adequate coverage for basic needs.

The camping experience near Franklin ranges from basic utility sites to more scenic natural settings. Johnson County Park receives consistent ratings for its accessibility and proximity to Camp Atterbury, though campers should be aware of occasional military exercises with "air traffic and the sounds of shells and artillery fire" from the nearby base. White River Campground earns praise for its riverside sites and amenities, with one visitor calling it "the best campground I've stayed in. Very clean, backs up to the river with great views and free hot showers." For primitive camping options, Yellowwood State Forest provides first-come, first-served sites with pit toilets and boat access on Yellowwood Lake, though reviewers caution that "most sites are small and unlevel and may challenge your maneuvering skills" for larger RVs.

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Best Camping Sites Near Franklin, Indiana (120)

    1. Johnson County Park

    8 Reviews
    Nineveh, IN
    8 miles
    Website
    +1 (812) 526-6809

    "The park is 622 acres that include two campgrounds, approximately 5 miles of hiking trails, equestrian school, 18 hole disc golf course, shelter houses, amphitheater, lakes, fishing and more."

    "We have camped here twice, we needed to be as close to Trafalgar Indiana as possible, not many camping options in the local area."

    2. Camp Atterbury Campground

    5 Reviews
    Nineveh, IN
    10 miles
    Website
    +1 (812) 526-1128

    3. Lake Haven Retreat

    7 Reviews
    Beech Grove, IN
    14 miles
    Website
    +1 (317) 783-5267

    "We attended a wedding at the Scottish Cathedral in the center of downtown Indy and from the campground, it was a nice drive into the city off the interstate that only took about 20 min."

    "Close to the city without being “in it”. We would stay here again."

    4. Indianapolis KOA

    21 Reviews
    Lawrence, IN
    23 miles
    Website
    +1 (317) 894-1397

    $60 - $80 / night

    "It’s very close to an interstate so it’s not exactly a picturesque setting. The pricing seems high for what it is. Walking distance to Mount Comfort RV Dealership."

    "Clean and friendly..easy access to the highway..a lot of transient sites..nice pool!"

    5. Taylor Ridge Campground — Brown County State Park

    31 Reviews
    Nashville, IN
    26 miles
    Website
    +1 (812) 988-6406

    $23 / night

    "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."

    6. Breaktime in Bargersville

    1 Review
    Waverly, IN
    9 miles
    Website
    +1 (313) 516-5462

    $75 - $150 / night

    7. Hidden Paradise Campground

    16 Reviews
    Waldron, IN
    23 miles
    Website
    +1 (765) 525-6582

    "Staff is visible and seem to do a good job of maintaining order etc Road Noise: This campground is nicely nestled away from public roads. Through Traffic in campground: No issue."

    "This little road is quite narrow, has some pretty tight turns with trees on both sides and in the night it’s hard to tell where the rear end of your camper is on the turns where there are trees close to"

    8. Buffalo Ridge Campground — Brown County State Park

    22 Reviews
    Nashville, IN
    26 miles
    Website
    +1 (812) 988-6406

    $23 / night

    "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."

    9. Johnson County Fairgrounds

    1 Review
    Franklin, IN
    2 miles
    Website
    +1 (317) 738-3247

    $30 / night

    10. Heflen Park

    3 Reviews
    Edinburgh, IN
    14 miles
    Website
    +1 (812) 526-4154
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Recent Camping Photos near Franklin, IN

145 Photos of 120 Franklin Campgrounds

Recent Reviews near Franklin, IN

566 Reviews of 120 Franklin Campgrounds

  • SThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 9, 2025

    Taylor Ridge Campground — Brown County State Park

    Nice Trails & Big Campsites

    I had a great time camping here. The spots in Taylor ridge were mostly well-spaced and felt pretty private. The pit toilets were clean and the showers were nice. Busy campground but it was very quiet still. 262 was the biggest and most private site I saw when walking around. 260 is a pull through site.

  • David C.
    Aug. 31, 2025

    Mystic Waters Campground

    Great campground for RVs and cabins

    This is a great campground for RVs and cabins, but unfortunately not for tents as the highway 69 is too noisy. Also there are not a lot of trees.

  • Brian O.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 13, 2025

    Raccoon Ridge Campground — Brown County State Park

    the non-RV loop of the three camp areas (I think)

    Our third Indiana state park. Still impressed, they have all been friendly, well maintained with good, spread out sites and good signage everywhere (even the trails). All the rest rooms are spotlessly clean.
    We were there mid-week, so very few of the 480 (!) sites were occupied, except in Buffalo Ridge, the primary RV loop. There are three loops, Buffalo ridge (RV), Raccoon Ridge which is tent sites around the outside, with electric inside the loop. Which would be suitable for RVs. Many of the tent sites are split-level, meaning the fire pit and tent area is down a hill from where you park your car. We have a mini pop-up, and had no problem parking both it and car on the pad, and, these sites have two picnic tables, upper and lower. Check the photos when you reserve!
    We drove through Taylor ridge loop, and it's your best choice for getting away from it all. 
    The camp store is stocked with the basics, but has more souvenirs than food or camp needs. That's okay, as some of their goods are better quality than many other places.
    The park has a classic old CCC lodge (though you enter through the modern addition) so if you don't want to cook, eat at the restaurant (open till 8:PM), great food, generous portions. 
    The park also features an Olympic size pool (capacity 2,000). You cannot walk there from the campground unless you are very hardy and very determined. 
    You may think of Indiana as flat farmland, but this park is VERY hilly, with many scenic overlooks. It has two man-made lakes. Unsure about boating options on the larger one. 
    Another big feature are equestrian trails and a horse campground, see someone else's review for that.
    Nearby is the town of Nashville, which is full of art and craft galleries as well as multiple fudge shops, hand-made soaps, etc... Touristy but quaint. Was surprisingly crowded when we passed through on a Friday morning.   
    We are planning to go back to take advantage of all we missed in the area. Oh, I should point out that there are many private campgrounds nearby, it's a very popular  area.

  • hThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 4, 2025

    Brown County-Nashville KOA

    KOA Brown County

    Very nice campground, full hookup up, helpful staff. Small pool with limited hours. Camp store. Very close to Brown County State Park and Nashville, IN. Lots of mature trees.

  • Ax H.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 4, 2025

    Berry Ridge Road - Dispersed Camping

    Free camping

    Bunch of little spots along this road to pull into. Set up with rent and vehicle. Just trees knocking, bugs curling and frogs croaking. Did see a rattlesnake dead on the road. No toilet but good reception

  • Amber
    Jul. 22, 2025

    Heflen Park

    Heflin Park

    Very Quiet. You can float down the river. There's a kids playground. Blu Canoes right next door. Fast food not far off. The bugs are a little overwhelming. They spray tomorrow so it may be different.

  • NThe Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 22, 2025

    Thousand Trails Indian Lakes

    Needs new management

    Terrible management. Pics are outdated and most everything is run down. Only one pool open during short hours. No gas station, no slide, nasty lake water & nobody takes the trash/dumpsters out. Completely inundated with annual spots being reserved by weekend warriors meaning minimal availability for people who want to be here during the week. There are SEVERAL dozen spots available and we were told if the spot we got didn’t work we could pick something else. At 8pm during dinner we were disturbed by a park ranger and forced to move to a spot half the size with no hookups. She literally brought us to an overflow area that our rig doesn’t fit in. She made us pack up our entire camp site to move so someone else could have the spot, even though there were MULTIPLE spots available. Had to be extremely persistent to get a FHU spot only to see dozens continue to be available for the rest of our 2 week stay.

    They also charge you $5 per package to pick up your own mail from the building and $10 for a key card to access the park. Management is certainly skimming off of customers here. Will travel further to another TT campground to avoid this place in the future.

  • G
    Jul. 20, 2025

    CERA Sports Corporation

    Seasonal camper

    We stay here from April to November and love it. Plenty for the kids to do. And fun activities for the adults as well. Also can’t forget the lakeside bar with live music every weekend!

Guide to Franklin

Franklin, Indiana camping options feature a mix of county parks, state recreation areas, and military-affiliated campgrounds within a 30-mile radius. The area sits at an elevation of approximately 800 feet in the central Indiana plains, with terrain that gradually transitions to more hills and forests to the south. The camping season typically runs April through October, with many campgrounds closing water services during winter months.

What to do

Paddle the river: Heflen Park provides camping spots near water access. "You can float down the river. There's a kids playground. Blu Canoes right next door," notes reviewer Amber from Heflen Park.

Mountain biking: Brown County State Park offers extensive trail systems for cyclists. "The mountain biking is excellent, with purpose built trails for beginner to expert (flow, berms, rollers, jumps...)," writes a reviewer at Buffalo Ridge Campground. The park features nearly 30 miles of dedicated mountain bike trails.

Shop in Nashville: The small town of Nashville, just minutes from Brown County State Park, offers numerous boutiques and restaurants. "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," says Chris W. from Taylor Ridge Campground.

What campers like

Military history: Johnson County Park occupies former military training grounds. "The Park came about because the Property was Part of huge Military Camp developed for WWII. There were 10 Army Divisions that trained here over the years," explains reviewer Nomon K. from Johnson County Park.

Swimming options: Hidden Paradise Campground features unique water recreation. "They have a quarry you can swim or paddle boat in. It has a slide and a trampoline. No lifeguard on duty, so be careful," cautions Allyson R. from Hidden Paradise Campground.

Wildlife viewing: Brown County State Park's nature center offers educational programs. "We also went to a Raptor show that was put on at the nature center where we got to look at some interesting raptors," shares Rachel W. of Buffalo Ridge Campground.

What you should know

Reservation requirements: Most campgrounds require advance booking during peak season. "For reservations call 812-526-6809 or register at the park office," advises Stephen & Theresa B. of Johnson County Park regarding their reservation system.

Military activity: Campgrounds near Camp Atterbury may experience noise from training. "If you don't mind gunfire 24/7 this is the best place ever," notes Jeff G. from Camp Atterbury Campground.

Tent camping limitations: Some parks have eliminated tent sites entirely. "They used to have awesome tent camping sites, but they stopped allowing tent camping. RV/camper's are the only thing they allow now," warns Chris W. about Johnson County Park.

Tips for camping with families

Water recreation: Hidden Paradise offers multiple swimming options for children. "What is the best of the best for all in the family? A quarry full to swim with an aqua playground, with use of free life preservers, a creek to kayak or float and a clean campground!" explains Kimberly W.

Group accommodations: Consider cabin options for mixed camping groups. "The campground also has fabulous cabins at a reasonable price. Our friends without campers join us in the cabins. All together there were 50+ in our party this year & a good time was had by all!" shares Angela H. of Hidden Paradise Campground.

Indoor alternatives: Abe Martin Lodge provides indoor activities during inclement weather. "Abe Martin Lodge with a year around indoor pool, lakes, naturalist service, nature center and horse camping/trails," notes reviewer Stephen & Theresa B. describing Taylor Ridge Campground facilities.

Tips from RVers

Access restrictions: Large RVs must use specific park entrances. "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,'" advises TMB of Buffalo Ridge Campground.

Utility challenges: Johnson County Fairgrounds has unusual hookup arrangements. "The CG has poor site and utility placement with multiple sites sharing water. The sites back up to each other and the utilities are down the middle," warns MickandKarla W. from Johnson County Fairgrounds.

Hose length: Bring extra water hose for some campgrounds. "Be sure to have plenty of water hose(we needed 50') to reach a spigot," advises MickandKarla W. about Johnson County Fairgrounds.

Frequently Asked Questions

What campgrounds are available near Franklin, Indiana?

Franklin, Indiana has several quality campgrounds within a reasonable driving distance. Johnson County Park offers convenient camping options closest to Franklin. Just a short drive away, Hidden Paradise Campground near St. Paul provides both water access and various site types including hike-in and drive-in options. Other nearby options include Camp Atterbury Campground near Edinburgh, White River Campground with river access, and Breaktime in Bargersville. Most campgrounds in the area offer basic amenities like water and toilets, with several providing reservable sites. The Franklin region serves as a good home base for exploring central Indiana's outdoor recreation areas while remaining close to urban conveniences.

What state parks with camping facilities can I find near Franklin?

Brown County State Park is one of the premier state parks near Franklin, offering three campgrounds: Buffalo Ridge, Raccoon Ridge, and Taylor Ridge. As Indiana's largest state park, it features hiking trails, mountain biking paths, two small lakes, and a seasonal outdoor pool. The park is particularly stunning during fall with its vibrant leaf displays. Lieber State Recreation Area is another excellent option west of Franklin via I-70, situated alongside Cagles Mill Lake. Additional options include Yellowwood State Forest with its 79 primitive campsites and Charles C. Deam Wilderness for more rustic camping experiences. Most state parks in the area offer electric sites, water fill stations, and clean bathhouses.

Are there any full-time camping options available in the Franklin area?

For those seeking longer-term or full-time camping near Franklin, Lake Haven Retreat near Indianapolis offers extended-stay options with amenities suitable for longer residency including full hookups and big-rig friendly sites. Indianapolis KOA near Greenfield also accommodates longer stays with comprehensive facilities. While most state parks and public campgrounds in the area have stay limits (typically 14 days), private campgrounds often offer monthly rates and seasonal packages. For those considering full-time camping, it's advisable to contact campgrounds directly about extended-stay policies, winter availability, and mail service options as these details aren't always published online.

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