Best Tent Camping near French Lick, IN

Mitchell Creek Road Dispersed offers primitive tent camping options near French Lick, Indiana, providing a free but rugged backcountry experience. Located within Hoosier National Forest, this area features roadside pull-offs rather than designated campsites. Other tent camping options include Springs Valley Recreation Area, though overnight camping is currently closed, and Happy Hollow Homestead, which offers more established tent sites with amenities like picnic tables and fire rings.

Most primitive tent sites at Mitchell Creek Road Dispersed lack basic facilities with no restrooms, designated fire rings, or potable water sources. Campers should pack all necessary supplies and follow leave-no-trace principles. The dirt pull-offs accommodate small vehicles and tents but are not suitable for large setups. Several reviewers note the sites are difficult to identify, appearing as small clearings along a narrow gravel road. During wet conditions, some areas become muddy and potentially inaccessible. Cell service is unreliable throughout the area, making paper maps essential for navigation.

The tent camping experience in this region offers seclusion and natural surroundings. Mitchell Creek Road sites provide access to creek-side camping with opportunities to explore rock outcroppings and forest trails. Happy Hollow Homestead features more developed tent sites with wide spacing between campers and amenities like drinking water and toilets. The area's forests provide ample shade and hammock-hanging opportunities. According to one visitor at Mitchell Creek Road, "The thick forest was beautiful. There are rock outcroppings along this road, which follows Mitchell Creek and lots to explore on foot. While I was exploring and camping on this road, only two vehicles passed during the entire 16 hours. VERY quiet."

Best Tent Sites Near French Lick, Indiana (18)

    1. Springs Valley Rec Area

    1 Review
    French Lick, IN
    5 miles
    Website
    +1 (812) 547-7051

    "the campground is closed for overnight camping, but this is still a beautiful lake for hiking, fishing, and my favorite, kayaking. electric motors only, so nice and quiet."

    2. Happy Hollow Homestead

    5 Reviews
    English, IN
    18 miles
    Website

    $40 - $65 / night

    "He has firewood for purchase and will set up your fire for free with his propane torch, which was very helpful for us after a rainstorm."

    "We were nervous about bottoming in the dry creek bed on way to Walnut Grove area, but no problem. Great stay. 20' Ford Transit ModVan. One bar with cell booster."

    3. Newton-Stewart

    1 Review
    Birdseye, IN
    10 miles
    Website

    "Primitive. 45 spots."

    4. Mitchell Creek Road Dispersed

    6 Reviews
    Birdseye, IN
    17 miles

    "This is NOT a campground, but just roadside pull-offs on public land. There are no restrooms, fire rings, picnic tables, or other amenities."

    5. Woodland Hills Campground

    Be the first to review!
    French Lick, IN
    7 miles
    +1 (812) 936-9140

    6. Old Mill Tent And Hammock Camping

    3 Reviews
    English, IN
    22 miles
    Website
    +1 (812) 472-3140

    $20 / night

    "Sites are relatively close but you still have plenty of your own space. Each site comes with a fire pit and picnic table. Plenty of trees to hang up a hammock and empty space to pitch a tent."

    "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."

    7. Charles C. Deam Wilderness

    9 Reviews
    Heltonville, IN
    35 miles

    "Being in a national forest dispersed camping is allowed if you follow leave no trace principals, but I stayed in a couple of the official sites."

    "The sites are primitive with no amenities. Tent camping only although there are both hike in and drive up sites in the wilderness area. Great place to get away from it all."

    8. Berry Ridge Road - Dispersed Camping

    17 Reviews
    Freetown, IN
    43 miles
    Website
    +1 (812) 275-5987

    "Decent sized space to park for 2-3 vehicles."

    "If you are into boondocking at all defiantly check out berry ridge it’s just south of brown county Indiana beautiful country mostly hills tons of camp spots sometimes half mile or more apart haven’t seen"

    9. Ransburg Scout Reservation

    4 Reviews
    Harrodsburg, IN
    36 miles
    Website

    "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."

    "Our Boy Scout troop enjoyed visiting this location. It was well maintained and the staff was helpful."

    10. Pine Loop

    1 Review
    Harrodsburg, IN
    34 miles

    "There are campsites from walk-ins to drive-ins to FCFS with or without electricity/water. Plenty of shade in a very quiet surrounding. Access to Monroe lake as well as a small beach for swimming."

Show More
Showing results 1-10 of 18 campgrounds

2025 Detourist Giveaway

Presented byToyota Trucks

Review Campgrounds. Win Prizes.

Enter to Win


Tent Camping Reviews near French Lick, IN

645 Reviews of 18 French Lick Campgrounds


  • Jim L.
    Aug. 31, 2017

    Hardin Ridge

    Hospitable Woods Experience

    This campground is nestled on a ridge above Indiana's Lake Monroe. The wooded sites include a fire-ring, a pole for your lantern and generous flat graveled areas to pitch your tent, as well as a couple of picnic tables per site. There are pleanty of RV sites with electric hookup available as well. Each area of the campground has a knowlegeable courteous full time host, and ice is available at the main gate. Foraging for wood is allowed which is a definite bonus in this era of emerald ash-borer awareness and wood import restrictions. The plentiful raccoons seem almost tame, yet keep a safe distance from campers if you allow them to. There is a small beach to beat the summer heat, and nearby showerhouses (even in the non-electric sites) are kept clean with adequately warm water. There is a small interpretive hike with approximately 300 feet of elevation change situated near the ampitheater that can be completed in a couple of hours.

  • D
    Jul. 17, 2019

    Charles C. Deam Wilderness

    A couple nights on the sycamore trail

    Wonderful place. Excellent trail following a nice little stream along the one side. Being in a national forest dispersed camping is allowed if you follow leave no trace principals, but I stayed in a couple of the official sites. The official sites all had rock fire rings and bushcraft furniture.

    The one negative was I did have to pack out previous campers trash along with my own. Being close to the college there was evidence that less than mature campers may frequent the area. That being said once on trail I didn’t see another soul past a couple hundred feet of the trail head and only heard a pair of hikers on the trail pass my camp site as I ate my breakfast the one morning.

    A wonderful backpacking area!

  • Sofia A.
    Oct. 24, 2020

    Marengo Cave Campgrounds

    Near Caves

    I stayed on late October and I was the only one there, except for a family on the cabins. The spots are just near and walking distance from the caves and other attractions. They have two potable water spots (so no water on each spot), picnic tables, fire rings, grills and every spot faces the little river. restrooms and showers too. You can bring small pets inside the cave if you carry them all time. I have a small zuchon and carry her in a doggy backpack 🎒 she loved it!

  • Shelly S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 4, 2018

    Hoosier National Forest South Slope Loop Campground

    Glam ping in the woods

    South Slope Loop At Hoosier National Forest is located second campground in on your way to Celina lake. This is the RV friendly campground with electrical hookups for your toys. You give up some privacy and quiet to have your electric as the sites are closer together and of course your neighbor may not be as courteous with the noise said electronics create.

    There is excellent tree cover and you do have some tree block between sites. A nice large newer showerhouse, water points, picnic tables and fire rings to finish off the homeyness.

    All of the hosts that i interacted with were very friendly and went out of their way to assist when they could. The local Ranger Station is located in Tell City and closed on the weekend.

    We spent our time hiking on the Interpretive Trail (1mi)near Celina Lake and Two Rivers Trail (15 mi) which encompasses both Celina and Indian Lake . You can disperse camp for $5 a night as long as you are 300 ft from the trail. And take your bug spray or you may be nothing but a dried out husk by the end of your visit, ticks are horrible right now!

    We spent time at the lake also. Very peaceful, electric motors only so no waves or tubers flying by. There is a small handicap accessible fishing pier adjacent the parking area. A nice area to visit.

  • Daisy C.
    Jun. 5, 2020

    Yellowwood State Forest

    Quiet, Peaceful, and Primitive

    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). Current prices are listed on the Indiana DNR website. The park office does have firewood for sale, but only during open hours, which are limited. There is no camp store, no playgrounds, and no pool. Swimming is not allowed in Yellowwood lake. Each site has a fire ring with grill grate and picnic table. There are four campground loops and a horseman’s campground. Campgrounds have vault toilets and drinking water access. I do not know if water is turned on year-round. There are no modern restrooms. Sites are wooded and fairly level. All sites are primitive. We have only tent camped at Yellowwood, so I can’t say what size travel trailers would fit in the sites. Yellowwood road changes over to gravel once you enter the state forest. It is well maintained. You can also access the forest by Jackson Creek road, but you’re on gravel for longer, and I seem to remember it being a bit rougher. We have camped at Yellowwood several times between 2011-2018. The only time we have ever seen the campground busy is over big holiday weekends like Labor Day, Memorial Day, and 4th of July. Otherwise use is light. We have several times been one of two or three campers in the loop. Several trails are nearby in the state forest, including the Tecumseh Trail. Horse trails are also available. Yellowwood lake is adjacent to the campground and there is a boat ramp, but there are limitations on boating(motor size). Check with the DNR website. Camp here if you like quiet, peaceful camping. You won’t run into a bunch of loud partiers.

  • Sam H.
    Apr. 2, 2023

    Saddle Lake Campground — Hoosier National Forest

    Average National Forest campground

    13 total sites, 2 of which are tent/primitive only and set 50ft or so back into the trees. No electric or water. A single vault toilet of average cleanliness, but was stocked with 6 partial rolls of tp. Tent pads are all flat and level, but parking pads are definitely not. It's all gravel roads including the "Saddle Lake Road" entrance all the way from Old State Road 37. There is a parking lot and boat ramp further down the hill at the lake, but state law does not permit swimming from the shore without a designated beach. $5/night fee paid by honor system drop box near camp entrance.

  • N
    Jul. 20, 2016

    Newton Stewart State Rec Area - Patoka Lake

    Good campground, bad weather :(

    Campsites had paved parking pads, picnic table, fire-ring, and electrical hookups. Restrooms and showers were clean. Lot's of open space and nothing really separating you and your neighbors. This SRA is right on Patoka Lake, so there's plenty to do on the water - boating, fishing, floating cabins, beaches. There's also a disc golf course, archery range, and plenty of paved & dirt trails. It also has a great nature center. Unfortunately our trip got cut short due to very high winds, but we will definitely be back!

  • Tim E.
    Jul. 30, 2018

    Sun Outdoors Lake Rudolph

    Not for Little Kids

    We chose this campground due to its proximity to Holiday World and its family friendly atmosphere.

    The Bad: We took our 5 and 3 year old daughters for their first camp out with the plan to do Holiday World the next day. This place has golf carts zipping all over all hours of the day and night. Apparently it is the thing to do to decorate golf carts with bright lights, blairing music, and megaphones. They even has a golf cart parade that went from 8:30-10:40pm and included thrown candy that ran about 30 feet from our tent! There was no privacy between sites, constant noise, and trash all over the ground! As an advocate for leave no trace camping, I was completely disgusted with the amount of trash on the ground at our camp site.

    The Good (there was some): The shuttle to Holiday World was great, the staff were friendly, they have a great mini golf course that the girls loved, a top notch playground, and scheduled kuds activities (many are free). they also have a pool and water slides, but i cant comment on those as we did not try them.

    At the end of the day, we had a great trip. but if i were to stay here again it would have to be a more secluded camp site without the constant buzz of golf carts. And I sure hope the amount of trash we saw was a fluke.

  • V
    Jun. 20, 2021

    Saddle Lake Campground — Hoosier National Forest

    Straightforward little campsite

    There are 8-10 spots available, all but one of which are drive-in. I think a smaller RV or third-wheel could get into the first and last spots, otherwise, all the spots looked suitable for tent or hammock camping. 

    We had enough Verizon coverage to get emails and make calls but not enough to have worked on for a longer stay. The campsite is near Saddle Lake and it is walkable at a stretch but there is no swimming allowed there. Based on the other visitors, fishing is the main draw here. The sites were somewhat divided by trees and undergrowth but you will see or hear other campers and the occasional truck flying up the nearby gravel road at 2 am. Site #11 is more private and not visible from the drive in, it is on the right as you pull in going toward the lake.

    Collecting firewood is not permitted here. Bring whatever you need out, I did not see anywhere to get ice or firewood between the campsite and I-64.

    The vault toilet was adequately clean. 

    Dry camping (no water). 

    All drive-in sites had a fire pit and picnic table. 

    We had a hook for trash and whatnot. Be advised that bears are only very rarely seen in Indiana but the racoons are ruthless and highly organized.

    I wrote about my visit here: Saddle Lake camping un-fails


Guide to French Lick

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."

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near French Lick, IN?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near French Lick, IN is Springs Valley Rec Area with a 4-star rating from 1 review.

What is the best site to find tent camping near French Lick, IN?

TheDyrt.com has all 18 tent camping locations near French Lick, IN, with real photos and reviews from campers.