Best Dispersed Camping near Hanover, IN

The southeastern Indiana landscape surrounding Hanover includes several dispersed camping options within an hour's drive, particularly in the Hoosier National Forest region. The Knobstone Trail, often called "The Little AT" by locals, offers backpacking campsites along its rugged path with continuous elevation changes. Berry Ridge Road provides multiple secluded dispersed camping areas with sites spaced far apart for privacy. Other options include Jackson Trailhead, which requires some searching to locate suitable spots, and Sundance Lake Dispersed Camping, which features a small pond with limited camping areas nearby. Most sites in this region are primitive with few amenities, making them suitable for tent camping or small vehicles rather than large RVs.

Gravel roads with occasional steep sections limit access to many camping areas, particularly after rain. According to camper Amber R., "The road was gravel and steep at times" when accessing Berry Ridge Road sites. Water availability varies seasonally, with Knobstone Trail hikers noting that "water can become scarce in summer/fall months." Ticks are prevalent in warmer months, with one hiker reporting "loads of them in April" along the Knobstone Trail. Most dispersed sites follow pack-in, pack-out principles with no trash service, drinking water, or toilet facilities. Sites are typically first-come, first-served, though some areas like the Knobstone Trail have designated camping zones that follow Leave No Trace principles.

Campers consistently praise the seclusion of sites in this region. Berry Ridge Road receives particularly high ratings for privacy, with one visitor noting "the sites are far enough apart that I truly felt like I had the woods all to myself." Wildlife encounters are common, with some campers reporting coyote activity at dusk. Weekend activity increases at some locations, particularly Sundance Lake, where a reviewer mentioned "the activity picked up with a lot of partying and hunting" and noted occasional patrols through the area. Most dispersed sites accommodate only small groups with parking for 2-3 vehicles. Visitors recommend scouting potential sites before driving in, as some camping spots are tucked back into trees and difficult to spot from access roads.

Best Dispersed Sites Near Hanover, Indiana (9)

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Recent Free Dispersed Camping Photos near Hanover, IN

12 Photos of 9 Hanover Campgrounds


Dispersed Camping Reviews near Hanover, IN

25 Reviews of 9 Hanover Campgrounds


  • Dave E.
    Aug. 16, 2017

    Knobstone Trail

    Best backpacking in Indiana!

    Most people, even Hoosiers don't realize the Knobstone Trail exists. It's often referred to The Little AT by those who know about it. It's no walk in the park. There are continuous ups and downs that will challenge your leg strength and footing at times. There are plenty of great places to camp along the trail. Water can become scarce in the summer/fall months, but if you walk far enough, you're likely to come by a stream of some sort. Be respectful of the leave no trace rules and if you see any dickheads out there on 4 wheelers, take their picture and report them.

  • Maris H.
    Oct. 29, 2020

    Knobstone Trail

    The KT earns its nickname 'little AT'

    The KT is rugged and has lots of elevation gains over short distances. Everywhere you hike there are lovely vistas and lots of fossils on the trail snd creek beds. You're never too far from water, although the quality may differ depending on the time of year.

    Watch out for ticks. My dogs and I got loads of them in April 2020 from Leota to Spurgeon Hollow. There are road crossings every 5 to 10 miles, so if you run out of something or need to bail you can. The KT asks that you respect leave no trace philosophy, and I felt most hikers did.

    There is occasional trail magic but don't depend on it if thru hiking. I have not stayed in any campgrounds near the trail, so I can't review those, but the trailheads all have adequate parking and signage, and I found topo maps online for free.

    Let someone know your itinerary, have a means for filtering water, and enjoy!

  • J
    Oct. 14, 2025

    Sundance Lake Dispersed Camping

    Disbursed camping at its Indiana best

    Free disbursed camping at its best in Indiana. Not another soul camped within earshot. Clean site. Gravel pad for vehicle. Green grass for tent. 14 day limit. No reservations needed or available. Just show up and camp if a site is open. This site was very well marked.

  • April S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 5, 2023

    Berry Ridge Road - Dispersed Camping

    This is dispersed at its best!

    Free camp ground. Very private. Decent sized space to park for 2-3 vehicles. Trails, plenty of dry wood, away from the roads, no running water or electricity, decent amount of spaces we came in at night and counted about 9 very far spread out camp sights. Good ground to pitch a tent to. There was other camp grounds bigger than the one we stayed at and had several people at them with a big bonfire going but what’s great is when we found our spot we couldn’t see their fire or even hear them! One thing to note is that some of the camp sites are tucked back into the trees a little and can be hard to spot. At night we thought one was open but there was actually someone there and just couldn’t see them from the road so we had to back out and go to the next site (sorry whoever that was lol). It is also a ways off the beaten path for through car camping but honestly if we were ever coming back through this way I would make the hour detour to stop here again!

  • jThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 20, 2025

    Sundance Lake Dispersed Camping

    Camping area

    National forest area with 3ish campsites one of which can accommodate a vehicle. Wooded so no solar or starlink. Small lake nearby with what looks like some trails.

  • Jeremy F.The Dyrt PRO User
    Apr. 20, 2020

    Berry Ridge Road - Dispersed Camping

    Greatbdispersed sites.

    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

  • K
    Dec. 30, 2023

    Berry Ridge Road - Dispersed Camping

    Pretty Forest Spot

    Huge sinkhole that makes for a cool look. Dry area for tent, not big enough for a camper but cool for car camping!

  • j
    Aug. 9, 2021

    Berry Ridge Road - Dispersed Camping

    Berry ridge campground

    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 any snakes here either and the best part I haven’t seen any people!!!!! Haha camp spot is about 100ft off the main road with thick woods in between the road and the campsite even if someone drove by we wouldn’t see them no water or electric hookups plenty of wood lying around to use for a fire clean campsites all gravel roads

  • Brian S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 18, 2025

    Berry Ridge Road - Dispersed Camping

    Great spot

    This was a great place to car camp while driving across USA. The main spot was full but I found a great pull off spot a lil further. I came across at least 5 lil spots. There a nice trail meandering next to road.


Guide to Hanover

Dispersed camping near Hanover, Indiana primarily concentrates in the Hoosier National Forest region, where elevation changes range from 500 to 900 feet throughout the camping areas. Most dispersed camping sites in this area can be found along forest service roads that intersect with hiking trails through predominantly oak and hickory forests. Sites typically accommodate smaller camping setups with minimal vehicle parking capacity and require self-sufficiency as amenities are virtually non-existent.

What to do

Fishing opportunities: Horse Camp Road Dispersed sites offer reasonable access to nearby fishing areas where campers can fish for bass and bluegill. "Cool place" notes camper Shane B., who used this location as a base for fishing excursions.

Day hiking: The area surrounding Berry Ridge Road Dispersed Camping features several walking paths for day hikers looking to explore without committing to longer treks. According to Ozzie L., "There are a couple walking trails around, as well each site is fairly far apart. It's really quite only seen a handful of cars drive by and I've stayed here for 2 nights."

Wildlife observation: Early morning and dusk provide optimal wildlife viewing times near Sundance Lake Dispersed Camping. The small lake attracts various bird species and occasional deer. Julie notes the area includes "a small lake nearby with what looks like some trails."

What campers like

True isolation: Many campers appreciate the genuine solitude at BerryRidge Road Dispersed Camping sites, which are spaced well apart. David S. calls it "A hidden gem. Just a few sites along the road minimum traffic encountered."

Vehicle-accessible wilderness: Jackson Trailhead offers accessible wilderness camping without requiring significant hiking. According to loganx11, "there's parking after a decrepit gravel road and suitable for camping. There are campsites along the trail just have to find them."

Minimal light pollution: The remote location of many sites provides excellent stargazing opportunities when skies are clear. At Berry Ridge Road, Palynn F. notes, "I'm traveling from Chicago to Florida and I kind of love this spot. Easy to find, easy to park."

What you should know

Seasonal changes: Spring and fall bring significant temperature fluctuations that can impact camping comfort. Nights frequently drop 20-30 degrees below daytime temperatures, requiring adequate sleeping gear.

Limited cell service: Many sites have spotty or no cellular coverage. Ax H. noted about Berry Ridge Road: "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."

Wildlife encounters: Local wildlife includes coyotes and snakes. Reuben R. shared his experience camping at Berry Ridge: "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. Very spooky!"

Weekend crowds: Knobstone Trail becomes busier during weekends and holidays. Susan C. mentioned, "The sites are spacious, and there are a lot of nature things to do."

Tips for camping with families

Scout site options first: When camping with children, arrive early enough to explore available sites and choose one that meets safety needs. Brian S. advises about Berry Ridge Road: "This was a great place to car camp while driving across USA. The main spot was full but I found a great pull off spot a lil further. I came across at least 5 lil spots."

Bring all essentials: No services exist near most dispersed camping areas. James W. explains, "For those of you who don't understand disperse camping this is the perfect site for a tent to camp without anything but what you bring in and take out."

Plan for darkness: Sites become extremely dark after sunset, requiring multiple light sources. Samuel C. describes Berry Ridge Road as "The perfect dispersed site for my way through, quiet and peaceful. Good spot for tent camping, we enjoyed our stay."

Tips from RVers

Size limitations: Most dispersed sites accommodate only small campers or vans. At Horse Camp Rd Dispersed, space limitations require careful vehicle positioning, especially for anything larger than a small trailer.

Road conditions: Access roads deteriorate after rainfall, becoming challenging for even small RVs. Amber R. explains about Berry Ridge Road: "I have a promaster conversion and had no trouble making it to this site, however the road was gravel and steep at times."

Limited parking space: Most sites have room for only one vehicle. As Jeremy F. notes about Berry Ridge Road, "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."

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular dispersed campsite near Hanover, IN?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dispersed campground near Hanover, IN is Knobstone Trail with a 3.8-star rating from 4 reviews.

What is the best site to find dispersed camping near Hanover, IN?

TheDyrt.com has all 9 dispersed camping locations near Hanover, IN, with real photos and reviews from campers.