Top Free Dispersed Camping near Hoosier National Forest

Searching for the perfect place to dispersed camp near Hoosier National Forest? Here you'll find a diverse selection of places to camp, including remote dispersed camping to boondocking, and everything in-between. From secluded to easily reachable, we offer dispersed campsites near Hoosier National Forest just for you.

Best Dispersed Sites Near Hoosier National Forest, IN (12)

Showing results 1-10 of 12 campgrounds

Recent Dispersed Reviews In Hoosier National Forest

30 Reviews of 12 Hoosier National Forest Campgrounds


  • AThe Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Berry Ridge Road - Dispersed Camping
    Jul. 3, 2024

    Berry Ridge Road - Dispersed Camping

    Secluded in the woods

    Beautiful secluded site that is pretty far off of the road, but not too far. There was no traffic or other people in site. I have a promaster conversion and had no trouble making it to this site, however the road was gravel and steep at times. I have lived in Indiana for ever and have made many trips this way, but I never knew sites like this existed.

  • james W.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Berry Ridge Road - Dispersed Camping
    Jun. 6, 2024

    Berry Ridge Road - Dispersed Camping

    Real dispersed camping

    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 understand what dispersed camping is and then there won't be any complaints about can't get a camper in or whatever I always see the complaints this is dispersed camping at its best

  • Matt V.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Peninsula Trail
    May. 9, 2024

    Peninsula Trail

    Awesome Place to BackCountry

    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.  Very remote feeling (except you CAN hear any loud cars/motorcycles at night from the main road over the lake). Light pollution is pretty low however, so good stargazing. 

    Trails are in good shape and the Penninsuala trail is pretty easy. Grub Ridge trail gets moderate the further west you take it.  CAmpsites 10,11,12,13 are very accessible with a short hike and are fantastic spots.   

    Lakeside spots are great also if you hike farther, but as others have said, drunk boaters tend to stop along the shore even though they are not supposed to. A few years ago boat access was limited to non-motoroized but not sure it is being enforced very well.  

    All the same, the Deam Wilderness area is Indianas best for backpacking and backcountry camping. 

    Down tower ridge road, to the east, just past the tower - turn right and the road there has lots of drive-in sites as well. These fill up fast on the weekends.

  • SThe Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Mitchell Creek Road Dispersed
    Apr. 7, 2024

    Mitchell Creek Road Dispersed

    It’s a very spartan spot

    Spot has a creek and is flat enough for a tent mostly just a single person spot no toilets. Road south coming in was destroyed some time ago have to w yer from east or west road.

  • J
    Camper-submitted photo from Hickory Ridge
    Mar. 26, 2024

    Hickory Ridge

    Secluded with view

    Good spot to get some quiet time to learn/hone skills or for some good quality time with the family while being plugged into nature and unplugged from their electronics

  • Reuben R.
    Camper-submitted photo from Berry Ridge Road - Dispersed Camping
    Dec. 7, 2023

    Berry Ridge Road - Dispersed Camping

    Great!

    Solo camped here with my dogs. First time I’ve ever been camping but this spot was really cool. Clean. Secluded and peaceful, though 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! Awesome spot, though albeit I don’t have anything to compare it to. But I’m glad I found it!

  • April S.
    Camper-submitted photo from Berry Ridge Road - Dispersed Camping
    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!

  • Jaymi A.
    Camper-submitted photo from Mitchell Creek Road Dispersed
    Jul. 5, 2023

    Mitchell Creek Road Dispersed

    Perfect for Invisible Boondocking

    This is NOT a campground, but just roadside pull-offs on public land. There are no restrooms, fire rings, picnic tables, or other amenities. However, if you are camping in a self-contained SMALL vehicle, this is quiet, secluded, and beautiful. I did not see any pull offs that would accommodate an RV of any size, and nothing large enough to turn a trailer around.One pull off was nearly too small to turn around my small pick up truck. But the thick forest was beautiful. There are rock outcroppings along this road, which follows Mitchell Creek and lots to explore on foot. While I was exploring and camping on this road, only two vehicles passed during the entire 16 hours. VERY quiet. Have a paper map handy, as there is no cell signal and GPS was spotty. The place I camped had a small graveyard behind it, so if you’re superstitious, this may not be for you. There was also a big white building that was all locked up surrounded by open meadow that a larger vehicle might be able to park behind. A circular “drive” was mown around the building. A few of the pull offs I didn’t explore because they were muddy or washed out after several days of rain. I would camp here again for the quiet and it’s proximity to Hemlock Cliffs and Yellow Birch Ravine.

  • Angie B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Berry Ridge Road - Dispersed Camping
    Jul. 2, 2023

    Berry Ridge Road - Dispersed Camping

    Peaceful and Secluded

    If you are looking for solitude and peace in the forest, you will find it here! I went to the 2nd or 3rd site past the coordinates provided. It was very clean, flat, and had a nice fire pit. The sites are far enough apart that I truly felt like I had the woods all to myself! It stormed all night...that was a little scary, but the misty trees in the morning were magnificent!

  • O
    Camper-submitted photo from Berry Ridge Road - Dispersed Camping
    Jun. 17, 2023

    Berry Ridge Road - Dispersed Camping

    It's pretty nice

    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, would highly recommend.

  • loganx11
    Camper-submitted photo from Jackson Trailhead
    Feb. 1, 2023

    Jackson Trailhead

    good spot just gotta find it!

    there’s parking after a decrepit gravel road and suitable for camping. there are campsites along the trail just have to find them

  • E
    Camper-submitted photo from Peninsula Trail
    Apr. 27, 2022

    Peninsula Trail

    Awesome!

    Went there with my kids and wife, we had a really great time. Primitive camping at its finest. Long walk to the water so make sure you bring plenty of drinking water. Springs available in the valleys but watch for timber rattlesnakes. Definitely would make this a must to visit.

  • j
    Camper-submitted photo from Berry Ridge Road - Dispersed Camping
    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

  • Joe D.
    Camper-submitted photo from Berry Ridge Road - Dispersed Camping
    Jun. 1, 2021

    Berry Ridge Road - Dispersed Camping

    Beautiful

    The coordinates take you to one of the first campsites but if you keep going down the road you'll find many more. I suggest parking on the road and walking in to the campsite to see if it will fit your needs before driving in.

  • Steve D.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Peninsula Trail
    May. 28, 2021

    Peninsula Trail

    Multiple trips here a year

    LOVE this trail. Just challenging enough to make it worth it. Campsites I’ve great fire pits. Only downside is the drunk boat people that show up in the summer.

  • P
    Camper-submitted photo from Mitchell Creek Road Dispersed
    May. 7, 2021

    Mitchell Creek Road Dispersed

    There is no camp ground

    There are just a couple of sites along the road. One is at the trail crossing for horses, hikers, and bikers. Its basically a make your own campsite. Ok place if you like to really rough it.

  • A
    Camper-submitted photo from Peninsula Trail
    Apr. 27, 2021

    Peninsula Trail

    Relaxing Campsites on the Lake

    On the peninsula trail, 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.

  • Osiel M.
    Camper-submitted photo from Peninsula Trail
    Apr. 13, 2021

    Peninsula Trail

    Awesome place FREE

    It was an awesome backpacking journey for starters, little bit rough because of the horse riding track but awesome if you love to walk and see nature. Recommend this for sure!!!

  • Maris H.
    Camper-submitted photo from Knobstone Trail
    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!

  • Sofia A.
    Camper-submitted photo from Mitchell Creek Road Dispersed
    Oct. 23, 2020

    Mitchell Creek Road Dispersed

    Nice but nope

    It took me 20 from route 64 to find this place. If you are solo female traveler don’t even waste your time. After 5 min of driving on the very skinny gravel road y saw what it look like spots but Iam not sure really. 10 min later I got to the coordinates and there was nothing, not seven an opening just more road. Y just keep driving till I got back to 64 and found a Cracker Barrel 17 miles away.

  • Tommy S.
    Camper-submitted photo from Mitchell Creek Road Dispersed
    Jul. 12, 2020

    Mitchell Creek Road Dispersed

    Limited dispersed sites

    Mitchell Creek Road in Hoosier National Forest, is just one small section of a road that runs along Mitchell Creek. On the west end, where the road turns right (north), there was a small drive to the right that went down towards the creek bed. There was a small fire ring here, and another fire ring around the back, both set up on the rocks of the dry riverbed. These didn't seem like great camping areas, let alone a "campsite". Towards the middle this road, just east of an intersection for a road to the south, there was a campsite creek side, and a little farther, a campsite on the hillside. The hillside spot was taken, so we took that last spot. Lookout for turtles on the road, we spotted and removed 4 of them.

    The area was rather buggy, and to be honest a little sketchy, so we slept in our van. Only two cars drove by, each time kicking up a big cloud of white dust which covered most of the foliage by the road. It hadn't rained in a while. We went briefly down to the creek, but it was very buggy and not very nice to hike. At night, we heard some loud mysterious crashing in some nearby trees, and what was possibly a large band of coyotes in the distance. Can't imagine I'd ever come back to this area, but it's there as an option for sure!

  • Jeremy F.
    Camper-submitted photo from Berry Ridge Road - Dispersed Camping
    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



Guide to Hoosier National Forest

Camping near Hoosier National Forest, Indiana, offers a mix of beautiful landscapes and fun activities for everyone. Whether you're looking for a peaceful retreat or an adventure-filled getaway, this area has something to offer.

What to do:

  • Hiking: Explore the many trails in the area. Campers have enjoyed the well-marked paths and scenic views. One visitor mentioned, "The trails had pretty good signage, but the Lake Vista Trail had downed trees every 50 feet."
  • Fishing and Boating: Many campgrounds, like Starve Hollow State Rec Area, provide access to lakes for fishing and boating. A reviewer noted, "Starve Hollow Lake SRA has full hookups at half the campground and electric water access on the other half."
  • Wildlife Watching: The area is home to various wildlife. A camper at Blackwell Campground shared, "Screech owls and active birds made it an exciting evening."

What campers like:

  • Spacious Campsites: Campers appreciate the roomy sites at places like Hardin Ridge. One visitor said, "Beautiful spacious sites. Spread out with plenty of room between sites."
  • Clean Facilities: Many campgrounds are noted for their cleanliness. A camper at Paynetown Campground remarked, "Restrooms/showers were state park clean. I was impressed with the hard-working staff trying their best to give us a clean bathroom!"
  • Friendly Staff: Campers often mention the helpfulness of the staff. A visitor at Indian-Celina Recreation Area said, "Quiet. Friendly helpful staff."

What you should know:

  • No Water Hookups: Some campgrounds, like Patoka Lake Campground, do not have water hookups. A reviewer advised, "It's worth noting that there are no water hookups, so remember to fill your tank before arriving at your site."
  • Busy on Weekends: Many campgrounds can get crowded, especially during summer weekends. A camper at Paynetown Campground noted, "This is known in Indiana as a party park. It's VERY noisy & busy on a summer weekend."
  • Limited Shade: Some sites may lack shade, which can be a concern during hot weather. A visitor at Taylor Ridge Campground mentioned, "The sites are too close together. There's too many people crammed in a small space."

Tips for camping with families:

  • Choose the Right Campsite: Look for sites that offer space and safety for kids. A camper at Buffalo Ridge Campground suggested, "Pay attention to your campsite for slope and camper accessibility."
  • Plan Activities: Keep kids entertained with hiking and fishing. One family enjoyed the "lots of hiking trails" at Spring Mill State Park Campground.
  • Be Cautious of Wildlife: Remind kids to keep food secured to avoid raccoon visitors. A camper at Fishermans Primitive Campground warned, "MAKE SURE TO PUT AWAY ALL OF YOUR FOOD!!! Even scraps and Yes even DOG FOOD."

Tips from RVers:

  • Check Site Levels: Some sites may not be level, so it's good to check before setting up. A visitor at Taylor Ridge Campground noted, "The roads are not marked very well and it took a bit to find our site which needed level blocks."
  • Electric Hookups: Many campgrounds offer electric hookups, but not all. A camper at Hardin Ridge mentioned, "There are 4 loops with 30 & 50 amp. 2 loops with no electric."
  • Plan for Crowds: If you prefer a quieter experience, consider camping during the week. A camper at Deam Lake State Rec Area said, "Super crowded on the weekends but not too bad during the week."

Camping near Hoosier National Forest, Indiana, has its perks and quirks. With the right planning, you can enjoy a fantastic outdoor experience!

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Which is the most popular dispersed campsite near Hoosier National Forest?

    According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dispersed campground near Hoosier National Forest is Peninsula Trail with a 5-star rating from 7 reviews.

  • What is the best site to find dispersed camping near Hoosier National Forest?

    TheDyrt.com has all 12 dispersed camping locations near Hoosier National Forest, with real photos and reviews from campers.