Dispersed camping at Mitchell Creek Road offers primitive tent campsites near French Lick, Indiana within Hoosier National Forest. Located about 30 minutes from French Lick, this area sits in the heavily forested hills of southern Indiana where elevations range from 400-900 feet. Weather can change rapidly with summer temperatures reaching 90°F and high humidity, while spring and fall bring frequent rain that affects dirt road conditions.
What to do
Explore Hoosier caves and trails: Berry Ridge Road dispersed camping provides access to nearby cave systems. According to a camper, "Beautiful secluded site that is pretty far off of the road, but not too far. There was no traffic or other people in site. I have lived in Indiana for ever and have made many trips this way, but I never knew sites like this existed."
Fish and kayak Monroe Lake: Charles C. Deam Wilderness offers multiple water activities. As one visitor noted, "I had the awesome experience to hammock camp on the Patton cave trail, along the creek that winds the length of that trail. It was a strenuous hike to pack in/out of, but was beautiful scenery. The cave is amazing, and if you're interested in backwoods camping, there are an abundance of spaces to do so."
Hunt for geodes and rocks: The streams around French Lick contain numerous geological specimens. A camper reported, "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."
What campers like
Natural isolation: Berry Ridge Road Dispersed Camping provides true backcountry solitude. A visitor stated, "Multiple campsites in the area, I've stayed at two both of which were away from others, clean, fairly flat and had plenty of dead wood around to burn. Some sites, at least one, could fit a pretty good sized camper. This is pack in pack out, no amenities camping for free."
Waterfront options: Old Mill Tent And Hammock Camping offers riverside sites. One camper noted, "Nice size site with fire ring and picnic table. Lots of trees- so great tree canopy and plenty of hammock. Nice size pieces of wood and large bundles. The end of a kayaking trip is there so the buses to pick up kayakers are in and out and gets pretty busy at the end of the day."
Clean facilities: Even rustic campgrounds can have well-maintained amenities. A reviewer at Hardin Ridge commented, "The area is maintained by seasonal residents and is in amazing shape. Bathrooms and showers are both incredibly clean. Staff are super friendly and helpful and always up for a chat if you are too."
What you should know
Road conditions vary widely: Some access roads to tent camping sites near French Lick become impassable after rain. One camper at Mitchell Creek Road Dispersed reported, "This is a bare bones location. There was evidence of a homemade fire pit and a small cleared area. No cell service at the site but there was a bar or two on the road just a few feet away. With a weboost there was att and tmobile service. Very quiet, only 2 vehicles passed by in the 36 hours I was there."
Campsite identification challenges: Many dispersed sites lack clear markings or designated areas. A camper noted, "Mitchell Creek Road in Hoosier National Forest, is just one small section of a road that runs along Mitchell Creek. On the west end, where the road turns right (north), there was a small drive to the right that went down towards the creek bed."
Wildlife encounters: The area has active wildlife, particularly at night. One camper at Berry Ridge mentioned, "Solo camped here with my dogs. First time I've ever been camping but this spot was really cool. Clean. Secluded and peaceful, though every night at around 5pm I would hear rustling in the leaves, I assumed it was a pack of cayotes and they would leave once I started banging on stuff and primally yelling."
Tips for camping with families
Scout camps welcome visitors: Ransburg Scout Reservation offers structured activities for kids. A visitor shared, "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. We have camped here in a cabin, and also tent camped."
Consider more developed alternatives: For families needing amenities, Happy Hollow Homestead provides better facilities. One family reported, "We stayed over the Memorial Day holiday with our kid and another couple. We were all impressed with the land and how spaced out the camp sites were. The kids loved the tire swing and tree web. We will definitely be coming back!"
Plan for hiking distances: Some campgrounds have spread-out facilities. A visitor noted, "Our Boy Scout troop enjoyed visiting this location. It was well maintained and the staff was helpful. The downside was that the aquatics area was hard to get to from our site because it was so far away. It is quite a large campground."
Tips from RVers
Size limitations for vehicles: Springs Valley Rec Area and nearby primitive sites have strict vehicle size constraints. A camper noted, "I did not see any pull offs that would accommodate an RV of any size, and nothing large enough to turn a trailer around. One pull off was nearly too small to turn around my small pick up truck."
Alternative parking options: Some areas offer parking for smaller conversion vans. A camper with a conversion van reported, "I have a promaster conversion and had no trouble making it to this site, however the road was gravel and steep at times."
Weather impacts accessibility: Spring rain makes many dispersed sites unusable for heavier vehicles. A camper stated, "A few of the pull offs I didn't explore because they were muddy or washed out after several days of rain."
