Camping spots near Hoosier National Forest range from full-service RV campgrounds to secluded tent sites set in southern Indiana's rolling hills. During peak fall foliage season (mid-October to early November), temperatures typically range from 40-65°F, with camping areas sitting at elevations between 600-800 feet above sea level. Most campgrounds in the region remain open from April through November with limited winter facilities.
What to do
Mountain biking trails: Brown County State Park offers nearly 30 miles of dedicated mountain bike trails ranging from beginner to expert difficulty. "The mountain biking is excellent, with purpose built trails for beginner to expert (flow, berms, rollers, jumps...)," notes one visitor to Buffalo Ridge Campground.
Halloween festivities: Special seasonal events run throughout October at many campgrounds. "We went to Lake Rudolph for their Halloweekends and it is a one of a kind experience. They have so many activities for the kids such as hayrides, a DJ, pumpkin carving, and so many other things throughout the day!" reports a camper at Sun Outdoors Lake Rudolph.
Horse trail riding: Dedicated equestrian trails and facilities are available at certain campgrounds. "It is Beautiful! I have only been twice and we took our hours to trail ride! There are a lot of fun hills and trails that you can ride for hours which we love to do," shares a visitor about the trail system at Horsemen's Campground.
Fishing opportunities: Several campgrounds offer stocked fishing ponds with multiple species. "The fishing pond has a ton of fish in it. We caught crappie, bluegill, and a few smaller bass - but there are definitely some larger bass in there," explains a camper about the fishing at Sun Outdoors Lake Rudolph.
What campers like
Personal bathrooms: Some facilities feature individual bathroom units rather than communal spaces. "The bathrooms near 119K were personal bathrooms with a shower, toilet, and sink. So much better than a community bathroom," reports a recent visitor to Sun Outdoors Lake Rudolph.
Wooded campsites: Taylor Ridge Campground offers more tree coverage than other nearby options. "There are 3 separate campgrounds in the park Buffalo Ridge, Raccoon, and Taylor Ridge. 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," explains one camper.
Proximity to attractions: Several campgrounds offer easy access to theme parks and shopping. "The location of the campground is perfect if you're visiting for Holiday World / Splashin' Safari," notes one visitor about Sun Outdoors Lake Rudolph, while another adds, "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."
Group camping options: Rally Group Campground provides larger spaces for multi-family gatherings. "We generally use the Rally group campsite and invite our friends to join us. This site is great due to the extra room for tents and proximity to the mountain bike trails," shares a regular visitor.
What you should know
Uneven terrain: Many sites require careful leveling, especially for larger RVs. "Some sites were fairly sloped as well. This site was a slight slope and overall I would book it again," notes a visitor to Raccoon Ridge Campground.
Varying bathroom facilities: Quality of facilities differs throughout the region. "Pit toilets at the back of the loop were probably the cleanest pits I've ever used. Bonus that there are dedicated mens/womens pits. The shower house at the top of the loop was dated but completely adequate with hot water," reports a Raccoon Ridge camper.
Low clearance entrance: Some campground entrances have height restrictions. "The north entrance is through a covered bridge with a 9 foot clearance and 3 ton limit! Otherwise, use the easily accessible west entrance, just a few miles 'around the corner,'" warns a visitor to Buffalo Ridge Campground.
Seasonal flooding: Some areas experience drainage issues after heavy rains. "The campground is notorious for flooding in heavy rains. We have had as much as 4 in of water draining through our campsite," cautions a Horsemen's Campground visitor.
Tips for camping with families
Holiday World proximity: Staying at certain rv parks near Hoosier National Forest provides easy access to theme parks. "Lake Rudolph is a fun park to visit, you can rent rvs if you don't have your own camper. They also have golf cart rental if you want to cruise around the park. Holiday world is also down the road," shares a Sun Outdoors Lake Rudolph visitor.
Nature center activities: Educational programs run regularly at some parks. "We visited the nature center which was nothing spectacular but still something nice to do," notes a Raccoon Ridge camper, while another visitor mentioned, "We also went to a Raptor show that was put on at the nature center where we got to look at some interesting raptors."
Multi-day itineraries: Plan for varying activities across different days. "The park has so many activities. We visited the nature center, also hiked on 3 of the trails and went up the fire tower. It's nice to have a bike to explore since the park is so big," recommends a Raccoon Ridge visitor.
Tips from RVers
Site selection priorities: At Grand Trails RV Park, space can be limited. "This is a small place where all the RV's are right next to each other... No picnic tables, no fire rings, no grills (no space). Also it was full," warns a visitor about the more compact rv parks near Hoosier National Forest.
Deluxe site benefits: Some campgrounds offer premium spots with better access. "Our spot was great and didn't require much leveling. We did get a deluxe spot. However we only got the spot because the others were sold out. Many of the other spots were on hills and right on top of each other," notes a Sun Outdoors Lake Rudolph visitor.
Park navigation challenges: Larger vehicles may face accessibility issues in some sections. "The roads are not marked very well and it took a bit to find our site which needed level blocks and is just wide enough for the RV. Nice to have water supply within 10 feet," reports a visitor to Taylor Ridge Campground.
