Best Campgrounds near Gosport, IN

Campgrounds near Gosport, Indiana range from developed state recreation areas to more primitive forest sites, with most concentrated around nearby lakes and state forests. Lieber State Recreation Area, located at Cagles Mill Lake, provides electric hookups, showers, and reservable sites for both tent and RV camping. Other significant options include Morgan-Monroe State Forest with more rustic accommodations and Owen Putnam State Forest offering primitive camping experiences. Many campgrounds in the area feature water access, with several providing boat-in camping options at locations like Paynetown Campground on Lake Monroe and Yellowwood State Forest.

Seasonal considerations affect campground availability throughout the region, with most state park campgrounds open year-round but offering reduced services during winter months. Reservations are strongly recommended for developed campgrounds, especially during summer weekends and fall color season when Brown County State Park and surrounding areas experience peak visitation. Primitive camping areas in state forests typically operate on a first-come, first-served basis with self-registration. Campground roads vary in quality, with some areas like Taylor Ridge Campground presenting challenges for larger RVs due to narrow, winding access roads. A review noted that "Brown County State Park is Indiana's biggest and, in my opinion, most beautiful park. There are several vistas that overlook the rolling hills of southern Indiana that would rival any even the great Smoky Mountains."

Campers consistently highlight the wooded settings and lake access as primary draws to the region's mixed-use campgrounds. The area around Lake Monroe receives particular attention for fishing opportunities and water recreation, though several reviews mention increased crowding during summer months. State forest campgrounds like Yellowwood offer more secluded experiences with fewer amenities. According to one visitor, "Yellowwood State Forest, named for the environmentally unique Yellowwood tree, is 23,326 acres located 7 miles West of the artist community of Nashville, Indiana." Many campgrounds provide access to hiking trails, though the quality and length vary significantly by location. Proximity to the artistic community of Nashville, Indiana serves as an additional attraction for many campers, offering shopping and dining options as a complement to outdoor recreation. Noise levels vary considerably between developed campgrounds and more remote forest sites, with reviewers noting that holiday weekends can be particularly busy at popular locations.

Best Camping Sites Near Gosport, Indiana (115)

    1. Lieber State Recreation Area Campground

    22 Reviews
    Cloverdale, IN
    15 miles
    Website
    +1 (765) 276-0194

    $16 - $25 / night

    "Cagles Mill Lake borders the southwestern side of the area.

    We arrived to a very quiet campground with few campers."

    "Each campsite is spacious and has plenty of space away from your neighbors. There was plenty of shade even though our pad wasn't tucked back in the woods."

    2. Paynetown Campground

    29 Reviews
    Clear Creek, IN
    22 miles
    Website
    +1 (812) 837-9546

    $16 - $25 / night

    "It's a bittersweet type of situation."

    "This is one of the largest campgrounds in all of Indiana. It includes hundreds of campsites. This includes RV hookups, standard campsites, and primitive campsites."

    3. Oak Ridge Camping Area — Morgan-Monroe State Forest

    9 Reviews
    Martinsville, IN
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (765) 342-4026

    $25 - $55 / night

    "This is probably the best state forest in the state of Indiana. The property is well maintained. There is a new visitors center built a few years ago."

    "Site 13 has a little trail that goes down to a large flooded sinkhole behind the campsite. There were lots of tree frogs singing because of the proximity to water."

    4. Cagles Mill Lake

    3 Reviews
    Cloverdale, IN
    8 miles
    Website

    $10 - $30 / night

    "This wonderful hidden gem is 14 miles away from McCormick's Creek State Park. It is a DNR state operated and has some pretty cool fishing. It was family-approved by my kin."

    5. Yellowwood State Forest

    15 Reviews
    Unionville, IN
    21 miles
    Website
    +1 (812) 988-7945

    $225 / night

    "Peaceful little place but unfortunately it rained but we made the best of it, there’s some secluded spots where you can stay away from others or stay in the more general areas, nice lake to fish and we"

    "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."

    6. Taylor Ridge Campground — Brown County State Park

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

    $30 / 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."

    7. Hickory Hills Camp Resort

    1 Review
    Cloverdale, IN
    8 miles
    Website
    +1 (765) 795-6079

    "There’s two pools, a pickle ball court, a basketball half court, farm animals, golf cart trails, kayak/canoe/row boats, exploring creeks, fishing, a dog park, several playgrounds, Gaga ball, tether ball"

    8. Owen Putnam State Forest

    2 Reviews
    Spencer, IN
    10 miles
    Website
    +1 (812) 829-2462

    "One is a separate horse camp, it was fun to see so many horses on the trails and talk to the riders. They do some forestry work but it wasn’t loud."

    9. Hardin Ridge

    25 Reviews
    Heltonville, IN
    27 miles
    Website
    +1 (812) 837-9453

    $21 - $55 / night

    "This campground is nestled on a ridge above Indiana's Lake Monroe."

    "Hardin Ridge is a fantastic place to camp, and is very close to lake Monroe. But it's also quite a ways away from any stores in case you forget anything."

    10. Rattlesnake

    2 Reviews
    Poland, IN
    10 miles
    Website
    +1 (812) 829-2462
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Recent Reviews near Gosport, IN

699 Reviews of 115 Gosport 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.

  • Lisa M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 28, 2025

    Shakamak State Park Campground

    Great State Park

    Most of the spaces that had both water and electric were mostly in the sun. But all the other spaces had plenty of shade and trees around them. Our space was spot on level and nice area around each space to where you didn’t feel like you were camped on top of other people. The showers were adequate. Great hiking trails in the area. Very quiet. Although we were there on a weekday. One downside was we had Verizon as a cell phone carrier and only had one bar.

  • L
    Aug. 20, 2025

    Spring Mill State Park Campground

    Fun, sunny, clean.

    This was an amazing campground! There were amazing trails and a cave, as well as Pioneer Village which was so fascinating and well run. Our campsite wasn't far from the bathrooms and showers house which were pretty clean. We were near water as well. Our campsite was on a small hill so it was well distanced from all the other campers, which was nice and peaceful. 

         There was a sweet place where you could get ice cream down the road from Spring Mill called Dairy Bell. Spring Mill wasn't far from the town were there was a Walmart, Rural King, and several more stores. 

    Very pretty and nice campground!

  • L
    Aug. 20, 2025

    Shakamak State Park Campground

    Clean, pretty, quiet, spacey.

    We had a nice site that was evenly spaced from the other campsites by trees and was nice and close to water, the bathrooms, and the shower houses, which were very clean! The camp store was nice and the paddle boats were fun! The pool was only opened on the weekends in August which was disappointing but there was a large fishing dock and many boating opportunities. Very nice camping spot, but in August beware of the bugs!

  • L
    Aug. 20, 2025

    Shades State Park Campground

    It was very clean, nicely spaced, and shaded.

    Very nice campground! It was close by Turkey Run State Park, which had amazing trails, that are pictured below. (We definitely recommend Trail 3!) The campground itself was very nice and clean, as well as shaded and pretty. We were camping in August, so it wasn't very busy and we got peace. There were many fun things to do in Turkey Run, although the pool was closed in August. There was also a fun little ice cream place and store in downtown Marshall! 

      Great place overall!

  • 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


Guide to Gosport

Camping options near Gosport, Indiana concentrate in southern Indiana's rolling hills, with elevations ranging from 500 to 800 feet above sea level. Most sites sit within a 30-mile radius of Gosport across forested terrain with limestone creeks. Water levels at several campgrounds fluctuate seasonally, particularly at Cagles Mill Lake where summer drawdowns can affect boat access.

What to do

Fishing at Hardin Ridge: Located on Monroe Lake's south side, this campground provides dedicated fishing areas with a boat ramp and dock. "We went fishing down by the ramp and caught a mess of bluegill which we fried up back at the campsite," reports one visitor to Hardin Ridge.

Seasonal activities: Lieber State Recreation Area transforms during fall with organized Halloween events. "We love going to this park several times a year. We especially like camping in the fall for their Goblins weekend," notes a camper at Lieber State Recreation Area Campground. Another visitor confirms it's a "Great place to celebrate Halloween on goblins weekend."

Water recreation: Yellowwood State Forest offers rowboat and kayak rentals for lake activities. A visitor notes, "We have also had lots of fun renting a rowboat, and being out on the water. A few times we have camped in groups and rented an area, and that was also a great time camping with friends."

What campers like

Lake access: Paynetown Campground draws families with its beach and rentals. "This lake is huge and a lot of fun. There are beaches everywhere besides the designated one so it's easy to swim with your dogs or find private spots," explains one visitor to Paynetown Campground.

Pool amenities: Some campgrounds offer swimming pools as alternatives to lake swimming. At Lieber Recreation Area, one camper advises, "The lake has absolutely no shade, so bring an umbrella. The pool was excellent! Skip the lake and enjoy the pool."

Shaded sites: Morgan-Monroe State Forest provides heavily wooded camping areas. A visitor to Oak Ridge Camping Area notes, "When tent camping and want something quiet and a place with great trails, this is a good place to go. Even though it's hot outside today, there's lots of shade and a breeze."

What you should know

Campsite size limitations: Some sites throughout the region have specific size constraints. At Taylor Ridge, a visitor advises, "I would say pay particular attention to the size of the site you're booking as some were pretty small. Also, some sites were fairly sloped as well."

Limited amenities at primitive sites: Owen-Putnam State Forest provides basic camping with minimal infrastructure. According to a camper at Owen Putnam State Forest, "Simple but beautiful wooded park with some nice bluffs and trees galore. The campgrounds (there are 3) do not take reservations. They are very basic but I think they all have water."

Reservation systems vary: Different reservation policies apply across the region's campgrounds. For Hardin Ridge, a visitor clarifies: "Electric and non-electric sites are both reservable and walk up. Almost half and half. The hike in sites are all walk up. As you look at their maps, if making a reservation, each site on the left of the road are NOT reservable."

Tips for camping with families

Activity centers: Several campgrounds provide structured programs for children. At Paynetown, a regular visitor shares, "This is the campground we visit the most. There is always something to do. The beach, the trails, the geocaches on the trails, kayak and boat rentals, the activity center. The activity center has programs all the time."

Playground access: Multiple campgrounds feature playground equipment for children. A visitor to Taylor Ridge Campground notes, "The nature center is really fun with animals and a bee hive that the children really enjoyed! There are a lot of diverse hiking trails for all."

Family-friendly environments: Some campgrounds maintain strict noise policies beneficial for family camping. At Hardin Ridge, a camper explains: "While the campground is not a rest home by any means, it is not a party place such as Allens Creek or Paynetown campgrounds that share the same lake (Monroe)."

Tips from RVers

Site leveling challenges: Prepare for uneven terrain at several campgrounds. At Morgan-Monroe State Forest, a visitor cautions: "My wife and were at site 15... camping in a Winnebago Micro Minnie 2108 TB. This park is not for large rigs, but we had no trouble fitting into our small camper."

RV sizing restrictions: Several campgrounds limit RV access due to narrow roads. According to a Morgan-Monroe visitor, "The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is, we are RV campers and there are only about 5 sites we could get in to. Our camper is about 25' and it was tight get in and out of the campground."

Hookup availability: Specific sites offer necessary amenities for RVs. At Hickory Hills Camp Resort near Spencer, an extended-stay camper shared, "The sites were large and they're still expanding and adding more sites. There's a seasonal campers area and an overnight or monthly area."

Frequently Asked Questions

What camping is available near Gosport, IN?

According to TheDyrt.com, Gosport, IN offers a wide range of camping options, with 115 campgrounds and RV parks near Gosport, IN and 10 free dispersed camping spots.

Which is the most popular campground near Gosport, IN?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Gosport, IN is Lieber State Recreation Area Campground with a 4-star rating from 22 reviews.

Where can I find free dispersed camping near Gosport, IN?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 10 free dispersed camping spots near Gosport, IN.

What parks are near Gosport, IN?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 11 parks near Gosport, IN that allow camping, notably Monroe Lake and Cecil M. Harden Lake.