17 campgrounds with availability this weekend
Harrodsburg, Indiana sits near several campgrounds within the Hoosier National Forest, with camping near Harrodsburg ranging from primitive tent sites to full-hookup RV locations and cabin rentals. Hardin Ridge Recreation Area provides multiple camping loops with varying levels of amenities, while nearby Charles C. Deam Wilderness offers more primitive options. Lake Monroe serves as a focal point for many of the region's campgrounds, with both federal and state-managed facilities providing water access. Mixed-use campgrounds like those at Yellowwood State Forest accommodate different camping preferences with designated areas for tents, RVs, and cabin stays.
The camping season generally runs year-round at some locations, though services may be limited during winter months. Most developed campgrounds in the Hoosier National Forest area provide drinking water and toilets, with shower facilities available at select locations like Hardin Ridge. Reservations are strongly recommended during summer weekends and holiday periods when sites fill quickly. Both walk-in tent sites and drive-in RV pads are available, with site sizes and privacy varying across the different camping loops. Larger RVs should verify site dimensions before booking, particularly at older campgrounds with narrower access roads. "Hardin Ridge is an excellent place to camp in any style you like. There are campsites from walk-ins to drive-ins to FCFS with or without electricity/water. Plenty of shade in a very quiet surrounding."
Lake Monroe access represents a major attraction for campers in the region, with swimming beaches and boat launches available at several locations. The Paynetown State Recreation Area and Hardin Ridge Recreation Area both provide direct lake access with designated swimming areas. Family campers tend to gravitate toward Yogi Bears at Lake Monroe, which features extensive water attractions and scheduled activities. For those seeking more solitude, the walk-in sites at Hardin Ridge offer greater privacy and natural surroundings. Several visitors noted the well-maintained facilities and helpful camp hosts. One camper mentioned that "sites are all wooded and private. A beautiful area any time of year. Hosts are friendly and frequently make the rounds." The campgrounds near Harrodsburg generally maintain clean facilities with regular trash service, though campers should verify specific amenities when making reservations.
"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."
Available this weekend
from $23 - $52 / 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."
Campground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $24 - $64 / night
"The ground is level and all grass with less bugs than sites directly off trail. We just have a simple backpacking tent set-up and we had a great campfire."
"Site is a wide open and well-groomed, with trails just a short walk (or ride) away. Toilets and covered picnic tables nearby."
"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."
from $20 - $43 / night
"A staple of our state here in Indiana. Unfortunately due to some storm damage, trails were rerouted or straight up inaccessible. Great places to find and set up camp."
"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."
"Great location and clean camp ground."
"I had to nearly lower my tongue to the ground to get it level. The splash park was fun, even for the teen kids, but the pool was tiny and shallow and disappointing."
"This is a beautiful State Park situated in the rolling hills of southern Indiana."
"I make multiple visits here every year, mainly for the mountain bike trails. There are almost 30 miles of trails inside the park with new trails every year for the past 3+ years."
from $43 / night
"The Peninsula Trail and Grub Ridge trails both have marked campsites that are very far apart and totally private. These are dispersed/primitive sites with a fire ring only. "
"this was a wonderful scenic hike meant for the beauty of indiana"
"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."
Campground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $225 / night
"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."
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).
ScoutMilitary base campground
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!
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!
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.
ScoutLove taking the kid to hardy lake. Smaller lake to fish on with a trolling motor canoe but big enough they allow gas motors. Have a few favorite sites for the camper.
Campgrounds near Harrodsburg, Indiana offer diverse terrain across Hoosier National Forest and Brown County. Most sites sit between 600-800 feet elevation, providing a mix of wooded ridges and lake access points. Water levels at Lake Monroe fluctuate seasonally, with late summer typically showing a 5-10 foot drawdown that affects beach and boat launch accessibility.
Hiking trails: Peninsula Trail provides designated backcountry sites with fire rings while allowing dispersed camping at least 100 feet from water. "There are multiple campsites with fire rings but you may also camp anywhere if you are at least 100 ft from the water. Campsite #18 has a great view and is large enough for at least 4 tents if you have a big group," notes one Peninsula Trail visitor.
Boat rentals: Explore Lake Monroe via rentals at several locations. "We live a couple of hours away from the lake but find it's worth the drive for a day of boating. If you don't have a boat they offer pontoons, canoes and kayaks for rent," shares a reviewer at Paynetown Campground.
Gold panning: Yellowwood State Forest offers permitted gold panning activities. While not plentiful, the search provides a unique outdoor experience. Permits must be obtained before panning.
Mountain biking: Brown County State Park maintains 30+ miles of purpose-built trails for all skill levels. "The mountain bike trails are fantastic, something for every skill level," writes one camper about Buffalo Ridge Campground.
Lake access: Multiple campsites provide direct water access. "This campground is on the south side of Monroe lake and has beach access. I tent camped solo and everything went great!" explains a visitor at Hardin Ridge.
Secluded campsites: Some locations offer substantial privacy between sites. "Sites are wooded and private. The only issue we had was having to drive everywhere because the campground is so vast," notes a Hardin Ridge reviewer.
Geological features: The area contains numerous geodes and interesting rock formations. "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," writes a camper at Charles C. Deam Wilderness.
Free camping options: Several locations provide no-cost camping. "Can't believe this place was free. It was nearly empty (although it was the end of November). The hiking was fantastic and the few people camping there were very well dispersed and all respectful," reports a visitor to Blackwell Campground.
Campground accessibility: Several areas have challenging access roads. "Light pollution is pretty low however, so good stargazing. Trails are in good shape and the Peninsula trail is pretty easy. Grub Ridge trail gets moderate the further west you take it," explains a Yellowwood State Forest camper.
Reservations vs. first-come sites: Campgrounds operate under different systems. "All these sites are first come, first serve. No reservations," notes a Yellowwood visitor. Meanwhile, Hardin Ridge offers both reservable and walk-up sites.
Limited facilities at wilderness areas: Some locations have minimal amenities. "This area is so beautiful! We visited during mid-April, perfect for morels. The trails are well paved and marked, not too strenuous. Come Friday you'll be fighting for a spot or face an $80 fine for parking on the roadway."
Seasonal considerations: Water access points change seasonally. "The park is in close proximity to the artist village of Nashville, shopping, good dining and groceries. Autumn is the heavy tourist season with the changing of the leaves."
Kid-friendly amenities: Some campgrounds specifically cater to children. "We came here in 2017 with a group of friends and camped in the primitive camping area. It was an awesome set up and we had a great time. We went around Halloween time so the kids participated in a costume contest, pumpkin decorating contest, and trick or treat," shares a visitor at Yogi Bears at Lake Monroe.
Educational opportunities: Seek out nature programs offered by park staff. "The nature center is really fun with animals and a bee hive that the children really enjoyed!"
Activity centers: Some locations have dedicated spaces for children's programs. "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 and there is always something going on there."
Beach access considerations: Not all lake access points have proper swimming areas. "This lake is huge and alot of fun. There are beaches everywhere besides the designated one so it's easy to swim with your dogs or find private spots."
Site leveling: Many campsites require significant leveling equipment. "I had to nearly lower my tongue to the ground to get it level," notes one RVer at Taylor Ridge Campground.
Access road limitations: Large rigs face challenges at some locations. "Large rigs must access the park through the West entrance due to a low clearance covered bridge at the North entrance."
Utility placement issues: RVers report utility hookups positioned inconveniently at some locations. "My site as well as all the other pull throughs close by should have had services setup on the opposite side. Whereas power and water were reasonably placed, the sewer was setup in a manner that waste water had to flow uphill."
Size restrictions: Many sites have limitations. "This campsite was small so if you have a large tent be prepared for it to take up most of your site. The area was beautiful and had ample trees. We would have been better off splitting into two camp sites due to the size."
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Harrodsburg, IN?
According to TheDyrt.com, Harrodsburg, IN offers a wide range of camping options, with 130 campgrounds and RV parks near Harrodsburg, IN and 13 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Harrodsburg, IN?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Harrodsburg, IN is Paynetown Campground with a 4.6-star rating from 29 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Harrodsburg, IN?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 13 free dispersed camping spots near Harrodsburg, IN.
What parks are near Harrodsburg, IN?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 14 parks near Harrodsburg, IN that allow camping, notably Monroe Lake and Hoosier National Forest.
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