Cabins near Hoosier National Forest range from basic shelters to fully furnished accommodations with modern amenities. The forest spans 203,000 acres across nine counties in south-central Indiana with elevations between 360 and 1,010 feet. Winter cabin rentals provide shelter from temperatures that regularly drop below freezing, while summer cabins offer respite from the region's humid 80-90°F days.
What to do
**Cave exploration at Marengo Cave: The campground at Marengo Cave Campgrounds offers immediate access to underground tours. "I was really surprised that in my 30 years of living in Indiana, I had never been to Marengo Cave. It's both great for kids and adults. The people are super friendly and there are two different parts to explore. The dripslide caverns and the crystal palace cavern," notes a visitor.
Waterfront activities at Lake Monroe: The 10,750-acre lake adjacent to Hardin Ridge provides swimming, fishing, and boating options. "This campground has nice hiking trails and it's own boat ramp with a dock. We went fishing down by the ramp and caught a mess of bluegill which we fried up back at the campsite," shares one camper.
Hiking the Knobstone Trail: Access Indiana's longest hiking path from Delaney Creek Park. "Its at the start to a Fifty mile trail (Knobstone Trail) or you can do the Delaney Loop in about 6 hours (7.5 miles and 2000 ft elevation change) a good challenge for all ages," writes one visitor. The trail is well-marked with maps available at the entrance gate.
What campers like
Privacy and space: Cabins at Spring Mill State Park Campground offer seclusion within reach of attractions. "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... Our campsite was on a small hill so it was well distanced from all the other campers, which was nice and peaceful," shares one camper.
Family-friendly amenities: Sycamore Springs Park offers extensive recreation opportunities. "Playgrounds everywhere. Nice big sites with full hookups in the newer section. Price is very nominal for the amenities in my opinion. We were able to go 'creeking' do trail walking, bike riding. Just a super neat little place. They even have a little village set up houses to play in! There is even free firewood!"
Access to water recreation: Lake and creek access enhance cabin stays. "Sites for rvs are concrete and you will need to level some on all of them. They have electric and water. Reasonable prices. Our only complaint is you can't get near the water to fish anywhere by the lake due to the weeds," reports a visitor to Delaney Creek Park.
What you should know
Seasonal limitations: Some facilities close during off-seasons. "We stayed a few nights at this campground in October. The campground is made for smaller sizes but we were able to negotiate the main ring road with our 37' travel trailer... Wished the beach, paddle boats, and petting zoo was open. Still had a great time," notes a visitor to Buffalo Trace Park.
Reservation systems vary: Not all cabins require advance booking. "The only spots you can reserve are non electric which is what we got and still had a nice time in our pop up camper..The camp ground does have electric sites but it's first come first serve!!!" explains a Hardin Ridge camper.
Infrastructure conditions: Water and electric hookups may require additional equipment. "The electric and water hookups are not in standard locations for RV hookups. Make sure you bring an extension for your electric hookup, otherwise you might not be able to reach the post. Same for water hookup," advises a Delaney Creek Park visitor.
Tips for camping with families
Multiple playgrounds: Look for campgrounds with numerous play areas. "So much to do with the kids, from swimming in the creek, fishing, campfires, s'mores, fresh black topped roads, and such friendly staff. Clean bathrooms and showers, and beautiful places to visit also. Tons of playgrounds too spread throughout the campground," raves a Sycamore Springs Park visitor.
Educational opportunities: Several cabins provide access to historical sites. "They have a cave tour also on offer in which you ride thru the cave system in a boat. Yes there are even lifevests for customer to wear! There is even an amazing pioneer village to explore where an original corn mill stands and you can buy freshly ground corm mill!" explains a Spring Mill State Park camper.
Wildlife viewing: Quieter campgrounds offer better wildlife sightings. "wake early to see the sun rise over the lake," recommends a visitor to Starve Hollow State Rec Area Campground, where morning hours bring geese, waterfowl, and occasional deer to the shoreline.
Tips from RVers
Site leveling requirements: Prepare for sloped sites. "Make sure you have plenty of leveling blocks. We used all of ours and was not level," warns a Buffalo Trace Park visitor with a 37' trailer.
Hookup challenges: Check hookup locations before selecting a site. "Most sites are gravel pull throughs and have 50amp. 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," notes a visitor to Yogi Bears at Lake Monroe.
Access limitations: Some roads and sites restrict larger vehicles. "The site we where at was heavily sloped, the only flat part was where they put the fire pit at. When we looked at the other site most of the shaded sites that had some privacy where also heavily sloped," reports a Spring Mill State Park visitor, adding that roads were narrow and challenging to navigate.
