9 campgrounds with availability this weekend
Several RV campgrounds cluster around Nashville and Columbus within 30 miles of Franklin, Indiana. Brown County State Park offers three distinct camping areas—Buffalo Ridge, Taylor Ridge, and Raccoon Ridge—each providing electric hookups, water access, and sites accommodating various RV sizes. Buffalo Ridge features the most RV-friendly options with 50-amp service and relatively level gravel pads. "The site was very level and easy to back into," noted one camper about site 94 in Buffalo Ridge loop. Johnson County Park provides 58 sites with 30/50-amp electric and water hookups on level gravel pads, though recent reviews indicate tent camping is no longer permitted. S and H Campground in Greenfield offers 450 sites with full hookups including 50-amp service for larger rigs, while CERA Sports Corporation near Columbus provides big-rig friendly spaces with water, electric, and sewer connections.
Navigating to these campgrounds requires attention to local road conditions. Brown County State Park's entrance road features steep hills and forested, narrow access roads that can be challenging after dark. Some RV sites require significant leveling blocks, with one visitor noting, "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." Most campgrounds in the area offer dump stations, though placement and accessibility vary—Johnson County Park's dump station received comments about tight access for larger units. Cell service is generally reliable throughout the region, with most campgrounds reporting 3-4 bars on major carriers. Reservations are strongly recommended during fall foliage season when Brown County State Park experiences peak visitation, typically from late September through early November.
"The spots in Taylor ridge were mostly well-spaced and felt pretty private. The pit toilets were clean and the showers were nice."
"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 $23 - $50 / night
"This is a beautiful State Park situated in the rolling hills of southern Indiana."
"We have a 21’ RV/van and we just barely fit in the site - take their length limits seriously. This site only has 20 amp power, so make sure you have an adapter if you need 30/50 hookups."
from $50 / night
"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."
"Holiday Fourth of July 2022 weekend the start Park was special excitement in downtown Nashville, Indiana a short drive outside the State Park."
from $50 / night
"With over 1000 sites they offer a KOA section, year round leased sites, Thousand Trails sites and individual sites."
"It’s a very large campground with lots of amenities."
"Brown County has always been the jewel of Indiana State Parks for Trail Riders. The campground is large, with spaces to accommodate larger rigs."
"We often take our horses trail riding there for a week every couple of summers of just go down for weekend trips to go hiking."
from $17 - $43 / night
"Our family returns at least once a year for the scenery and biking. We generally use the Rally group campsite and invite our friends to join us. "
from $20 - $50 / night
"They are very laid back and allow their campers to enjoy their experience as they wish to enjoy it whether that is long term or short term."
"I would recommend this place as a 5 star camping option especially for any families Id just say of looking for peace and quiet DO NOT come on a holiday!"
"Gravel campsites in a very family friendly location! Stopped here on out way back to Illinois from Tennessee. Easy hookups, a lot of things to do for the family."
"Paddle boating, mini-golf, swimming pool, fishing lake, rental cabins and rental pop-ups. Campground sites are closer than I prefer but still doable. Of their 312 sites, 2/3 are full hookups!"
from $48 - $999 / night
"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."
"The only amenity not available is Sewage Hookup but they offer a dump instead. Very open wide spaced sites. Shade is hard to come by."
"Campground is peaceful and scenic. Water had a funny smell, however. But, would stay again for sure."
"This easy-access-from-the-highway RV park is really nice. The spots are accessible, the bathrooms are AMAZING (no…seriously), the little attractions are adorable and the host is terrific."
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!
Scoutwe arrived during a halloween kids party. the hostess was super nice. the women’s showers and wash rooms clean. the men’s shower was sport locker style.
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!
ScoutBeautiful, great amenities too. Right off highway to travel anywhere
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.
Franklin, Indiana offers diverse camping options within rolling hills terrain at elevations between 700-1000 feet. The region's humid continental climate features mild springs, warm summers with temperatures averaging 75-85°F, and colorful fall seasons when campground occupancy peaks. Many campgrounds maintain their facilities through varying terrain challenges with different ground conditions from forested ridges to open lakeside areas.
Hiking trails at varying difficulties: Brown County State Park provides numerous trails for hikers, with one camper at Taylor Ridge noting, "There's a trailhead that's walking distance from the campsite that leads down a beautiful trail to a lake." Another visitor mentioned, "The mountain bike trails are fantastic," with dedicated paths for all skill levels.
Water activities on multiple lakes: Thousand Trails Indian Lakes offers "several fishing ponds and a lake with a beach area" according to one reviewer. The property includes multiple water features with fishing opportunities throughout the grounds.
Outdoor sports facilities: CERA Sports Corporation provides extensive recreational options beyond standard camping. "Paddle boating, mini-golf, swimming pool, fishing lake" are available, and the campground connects to a larger sports complex with additional activities.
Explore nearby towns: The proximity to Nashville allows for shopping excursions. One camper at Taylor Ridge mentioned, "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." This provides an option for days when outdoor activities aren't ideal.
Spacious campsites at certain loops: Taylor Ridge Campground offers more privacy than other areas according to reviewers. "The sites around us were spacious and had a lot of mature trees," noted one camper, while another stated, "We stayed in Taylor which was dubbed 'wooded' and the one I would most suggest. The others were pretty cleared out and too close together."
Clean facilities: Multiple campgrounds maintain good hygiene standards. A visitor to Taylor Ridge mentioned, "Very clean bathrooms and shower houses," and another at Cloverdale RV Park specifically praised, "the bathrooms are AMAZING (no...seriously)."
Swimming pool features: Ceraland received consistent praise for its aquatic facilities. "Pool area is super nice with a waterslide, diving boards and a unique rock climbing wall in the deep end," according to one review. Another mentioned, "Our grandkids love the pool with the slide and rock wall."
Access to equestrian trails: Horsemen's Campground provides specialized facilities for those traveling with horses. "There are a lot of fun hills and trails that you can ride for hours which we love to do," mentioned one horse owner. The dedicated campground includes "spaces to accommodate larger rigs" and most sites offer electric hookups.
Site leveling requirements: Many campsites across the region require leveling equipment. At Taylor Ridge, "some sites were fairly sloped as well" according to one visitor, while another noted their site had "a slight slope and overall I would book it again."
Seasonal factors: Fall represents peak visitation with accompanying crowds. "If looking for peace and quiet DO NOT come on a holiday," warned one camper at S and H Campground. Weather conditions also impact the camping experience, with some lower-lying areas prone to flooding.
Road conditions within parks: Several campgrounds feature challenging internal roads. Buffalo Ridge Campground has "variable site options for all sizes of vehicles and modes of camping" but visitors should note "camping is on a ridge or plateau with trails and roads descending from campground levels." Another camper warned about entrance options: "The north entrance is through a covered bridge with a 9 foot clearance and 3 ton limit!"
Specific campground sections: Most larger parks have distinct camping areas with different characteristics. At Taylor Ridge, "I had a great time camping here. The spots in Taylor ridge were mostly well-spaced and felt pretty private," while "262 was the biggest and most private site I saw when walking around."
Free or included activities: Several campgrounds offer activities without additional fees. At S and H Campground, "Miniature golf was free" noted one reviewer, though "The family fun area does cost extra." Families should check which amenities require additional payment.
Playground availability: S and H Campground features "Several playgrounds" according to reviewers, making it convenient for families with children who need play spaces. One visitor noted they have "a little section full of carnival like rides" that appeals to younger campers.
Nature center experiences: Brown County State Park offers educational opportunities for children. "The nature center is really fun with animals and a bee hive that the children really enjoyed," reported one family. Another mentioned attending "a Raptor show that was put on at the nature center where we got to look at some interesting raptors."
Family-friendly spacing: Select campgrounds with adequate space between sites when camping with children. One visitor to Brown County State Park observed, "Driving through the campground it looks like there are some sites pretty close together but ours wasn't too bad. I would say pay particular attention to the size of the site you're booking as some were pretty small."
Access limitations: Larger RVs face specific challenges at certain campgrounds. For Brown County State Park, one RVer advised, "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.'"
Site selection strategy: For RV parks near Franklin, Indiana, choosing the right section matters. At S and H Campground, one RVer suggested, "If you have a big rig or large TT don't go to that side. Ask for on the hill and backed up to the fun park."
Seasonal considerations: Weather impacts RV camping significantly. One reviewer noted their experience with heavy rain: "Our site was 70% flooded. Fortunately we have two entrance doors." At Cloverdale RV Park, visitors should know "Water had a funny smell" according to one camper, though they still rated their experience highly.
Electric service reliability: RVers should monitor power needs during peak usage times. At S and H Campground, "When everyone started turning on their AC, my surge protector kept kicking due to voltage swings," reported one visitor during a holiday weekend.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular RV campsite near Franklin, IN?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular RV campground near Franklin, IN is Taylor Ridge Campground — Brown County State Park with a 4.5-star rating from 31 reviews.
What is the best site to find RV camping near Franklin, IN?
TheDyrt.com has all 89 RV camping locations near Franklin, IN, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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