Brown County State Park dominates the camping landscape near Hartsville, Indiana with three distinct campground loops. The park's terrain features steep hills and valleys with elevation changes that can challenge larger RVs on narrow roads. Most RV sites near Hartsville are within a 30-40 minute drive, offering both private and public camping options across terrain that ranges from riverfront locations to forested ridges.
What to do
Fishing opportunities: Indian Lakes RV Campground provides multiple fishing spots for campers. "The lake is awesome. We love going camping here. We go at least 3 times a summer because of how peaceful it is," notes a regular visitor. The campground maintains several fishing ponds plus a larger lake with beach area.
Mountain biking trails: Taylor Ridge Campground serves as an excellent base for mountain bikers. A camper explains: "The mountain bike trails are fantastic, something for every skill level. Nashville is just down the road and has a lot of small shops to go through and a micro brew/distillery that has good beer and food." The park maintains nearly 30 miles of purpose-built bike trails ranging from beginner to expert difficulty.
Swimming options: The Olympic-size pool at Brown County State Park accommodates up to 2,000 swimmers. One camper notes: "There are 2 pools, and a golf course. Laundry facilities are decent, and there are plenty of machines." Some private campgrounds also offer water recreation with paddle boats available for rental on small lakes.
What campers like
Wooded privacy: Campers consistently prefer Taylor Ridge for its tree coverage. "We stayed in Taylor which was dubbed 'wooded' and the one I would most suggest. The others were pretty cleared out and too close together," advises one reviewer. The mature trees provide shade and natural screening between sites.
Convenient access to Nashville: Buffalo Ridge Campground offers proximity to local attractions. "Nashville is only a 5 minute drive from the campgrounds, and it's a blast going to all of the different shops and restaurants located in town," a camper shares. This historic arts community features unique shopping, dining and craft breweries within minutes of most area campgrounds.
Large camping facilities: The scale of camping options impresses visitors. "The Campground is Hugh with lots of sites to chose from!!!" remarks one camper about Brown County State Park's hundreds of sites. Another notes that Indian Lakes has "over 1000 sites they offer a KOA section, year round leased sites, Thousand Trails sites and individual sites."
What you should know
Site conditions vary significantly: Be prepared for uneven terrain at many campgrounds. "Some sites were pretty small. Also, some sites were fairly sloped as well," cautions a visitor to Taylor Ridge. Another camper advises to "pay particular attention to the size of the site you're booking as some were pretty small."
Road quality concerns: Raccoon Ridge Campground and other facilities sometimes struggle with road maintenance. "My one negative is the condition of the roads throughout the campground. The owners seem to be slacking off on maintenance and therefore, there's a lot of mud and potholes," reports a visitor. This is particularly relevant during rainy periods.
Reservation planning: Advance booking is essential for popular campgrounds. A camper notes: "This campground is busy all season so book a long time in advance." This becomes even more critical during fall foliage season when area campgrounds reach capacity weeks in advance.
Tips for camping with families
Activity planning: CERA Sports Corporation offers extensive recreation options. "We spent a week there and the kids never got bored. Everyone had a blast," shares a family camper. Another notes specific amenities: "Our grandkids love the pool with the slide and rock wall, the mini golf, the paddle boats and the amazing playground."
Nature center visits: Brown County's educational facilities appeal to children. A visitor reports: "We also went to a Raptor show that was put on at the nature center where we got to look at some interesting raptors." Programs typically run throughout summer and on weekends in spring and fall.
Campsite selection for children: Look for level sites with space for play. "The site we stayed in was lovely. It was backed up to the edge of the woods which made for a lovely view," explains a parent who camped at Taylor Ridge. Sites away from main roads offer safer environments for families with young children.
Tips from RVers
Accessibility considerations: Swiss Haven RV Resort offers river access but limited larger sites. "They have reserved a number of great sites, even some on the river front, for nightly RVers(and have plans to expand that number)," explains a visitor, though noting many spaces are occupied by seasonal campers.
Site dimensions and amenities: Big rig owners should verify measurements before booking. "Sites are a mix of tree covered and open with most being relatively level providing a picnic table and fire pit," reports a camper. Another notes: "The sites from 180-227 are asphalt with concrete pads. The rest of the campground is gravel."
Utility connections: Electric amperage varies between campgrounds. One visitor to Indian Lakes reports finding "a 50 amp site with water and sewer in loop 4B," while another camper at a different campground mentioned being disappointed with "30amp with water no sewer at 50$ a night."
