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$25 - $55 / night
Primitive camping is available for a fee; campers must register for camping at the forest office. Mason Ridge Campground, located behind the fire tower north of the forest office, has vault toilets and seasonal drinking water available. There is a picnic table and grill located on each of the campground's 19 sites. On busy weekends, overflow camping is available at Oak Ridge Campground. Oak Ridge has 10 sites and the same facilities as Mason Ridge.
Scout Ridge Youth Tent Campground is available for scouts or other groups. The six sites in Scout Ridge Campground are larger than regular campground sites and there are several picnic tables and grills available. Scout Ridge Nature Preserve is located in this area.
Backcountry camping is available. All campers must register with State Forest Office via person, email at morgansf@dnr.IN.gov, at the kiosk, or phone (765-792-4654). Please note the phone is not recommended because the office is closed in evenings and on Sundays. Users must indicate the general region of planned camping. During periods of high fire danger the area may be closed by the property manager. Camping groups are restricted to either family units or groups not exceeding six persons. No campsite may be established within ¼ mile of access points into the area. Use of the area is restricted to a maximum of three nights by any individual. Morgan-Monroe State Forest has a carry-in, carry-out trash policy, i.e., what you carry in you must carry out. Additionally, the backcountry area is restricted to only minimal-impact camping/hiking in order to preserve the natural state of Morgan-Monroe State Forest.
Oak Ridge campground is closed Jan. 1 through March 31.
Scout Ridge campground is closed Jan. 1 through March 31. Special requests can be made during this period through the forest office.
Marson Ridge campground is open year-round.
Water is shut off at all campgrounds and shelters Oct. 31 and turned on in March as weather permits. A year-round hydrant is located southeast of the main office.
Small campfires are allowed while backcountry camping, but the DNR recommends using a portable backpacking stove for cooking instead of a campfire. A portable stove will cook your meal long before a fire is ready. Another advantage is that it helps prevent fire-blackened rocks in areas where people camp. If using a campfire, make sure a campfire is allowed during the time of your trip. Different properties may have different rules regarding campfires. Even properties that generally allow campfires may ban them on a temporary basis because of dry conditions. Use only small dead and downed wood where permitted. Do not break or cut tree limbs or trees, even dead ones. Dead trees provide habitat for many birds and animals. Do not stockpile wood. While this was once considered a friendly gesture in remote areas, today it is one more way of reducing the spirit of solitude and independence that people seek when backcountry camping. Any campfire in a backcountry area should be in a pit 12 inches or less in diameter, and a 3-foot diameter area should be cleared to mineral soil around the fire. Before leaving an area where a campfire was built, mix ashes with the soil (100% extinguished), fill the pit, and cover the cleared area with the humus layer that was originally removed.
Draper Cabin
Draper Cabin is a primitive, wooden-floored log cabin that takes visitors 100 years back in time to the days before electricity, vehicles and modern plumbing. Reservations for the cabin are accepted from the first weekend in April to the weekend before Thanksgiving. The cabin may be rented on a day by day basis, depending on weather conditions, during the winter. Click here for rental information and a picture of the cabin .
Cherry Lake Lodge
Nestled deep in Morgan-Monroe State Forest you’ll find the solitude you seek, while still having a comfortable bed in which to sleep, hot and cold running water, indoor restroom and shower, and full kitchen facilities. This recently renovated lodge is everything you’d expect in a woodland retreat at a very affordable rental rate. It’s a place where the whole family can explore the woods all day, and relax to a warm fire at night. Click here for rental information and rates.
Traveler
Fantastic place to camp. Full hookup sites, and tent camp sites on sugar creek. The creek is loaded with small mouth bass, some large mouth, gar, bluegill, and carp. The campground offers tubing excursions, but I advise booking that in advance, as they sell out of spots often. Love going there at least once every year.
Traveler
They used to have awesome tent camping sites, but they stopped allowing tent camping. RV/camper's are the only thing they allow now.
Scout
Tent camping & hiking
Legend
Lieber State Recreation Area, Cloverdale, IN is west down I70 from Indianapolis, 2 miles down RT243. Cagles Mill Lake borders the southwestern side of the area.
We arrived to a very quiet campground with few campers. Our site was next to the showerhouse, in the trees and had an attached grass trail out the back. All of the campsites boasted two picnic tables and some were very spacious. The sites were electric only and there were water sites positioned strategically throughout the campground.
The showerhouse was older but maintained. There were also pit toilets throughout the campground( not much to say about typical pit toilets....)
There were primitive sites in the adjacent campground that did not have much tree cover but appeared to be good size sites to set up in.
Scout
Stayed two nights, tent camping. It was a great time meeting new people and exploring the surrounding area.
Scout
So many great tent sites. Wooded. Row boats, kayaks.
Ranger
The perfect dispersed site for my way through, quiet and peaceful. Good spot for tent camping , we enjoyed our stay.
Scout
Restroom & shower facilities are clean
Flat-steep Grades for tent camping and camper camping.
Many hiking trails
Boat rental.
Swim area
Scout
Not a lot of tent-camping options, but we found a nice open area not far from the showers. Quiet campground in September. I would do this again...
ScoutThe Rules sheet that is included in some of the pictures indicates that no tent camping is allowed. Someone should update the icons on the page for this site.
Ranger
Best place for camping, fishing, and relaxing. Pool onsite, rec room, firepits, showers, campstore, ect.
You can get tent site or pull through sites.
ScoutNot many sites for "tent" camping. This place used to be so nice, but now it is over priced and over run with campers. You should just get a hotel. There is a crazy long waiting list for no reason.
Traveler
Passing through east to west and tent camping....large site comfortable for 2 tents. Nice property and friendly staff, but average to below average KOA from this camper's perspective. Convenient location just off I70 is the draw here, with road noise in the background. Bathrooms/showers need improvement. Nice pool and small general store onsite.
GuideWe have tent camped in Yellowwood several times and have always enjoyed our stay.
We have also had lots of fun renting a rowboat, and being out on the water. A few times we have camped in groups and rented an area, and that was also a great time camping with friends.
Traveler
I am tent camper and stayed at tent primitive section right by the creek. They have RV section, electric tent sites and primitive and those do not mix - no tents at rv section and vice versa. I camp weekdays so I had all section to myself for three days. You can carry your chair right to the creek and hang out in the shade. There are few trails looping around for the walks. Most of tent sites got shade. Rv sites all seem to be level, although kind of close together. Nice and clean bathrooms and shower facility. I have not tried renting canoe because they were closed for a season, due to low water level in the creek. There are a lot of nice places around to visit Turkey Run and Shades state parks are not far as well as numerous covered bridges to explore. Campground stays quiet at night - haven’t seen partying or noise. They also have few cute cabins for rent right by the creek. Will definitely be back and would recommend this place to anyone.
Scout
Great place to hike!! Trails are well maintained and lake is beautiful no matter when you go. Campground leaves a bit to be desired since the tent sites are a tad small but the rest of the park is so fantastic that we didn't spend a lot time time around there anyway.
Scout
The staff was great, all the amenities were fantastic. This campsite would be great if you were staying in an RV, camper, or one of the cabins, but the tent sites are terrible. They are right next to the highway, and they are all very exposed, and have little protection from mosquitoes.
GuideThis campground is great! The creek is awesome for catching tadpoles and minnows. And definitely take time to float or kayak down the river. The pond is stocked with GIANT fish (catch and release only) and definitely go for a hike over at Turkey Run. Our site (4) was a good location for us, although we tent camped in 25 before and you can't beat those views
Guide
I stayed here in June and it was a pretty nice place. Several spots for tent camping, but several electric hookups were not functional. Bathrooms were not impeccable, but they were fairly updated. The only real problem we encountered was the dirt road through the site was difficult to navigate, even though it hadn’t rained for a few days. Just a lot of wear and tear. But super friendly campground, and will definitely return!
GuideVery nice place! Hiking, fishing, kayaking, and horse riding trails. It is located just a few minutes from Brown County State park and Nashville In. There is a few RV sites (9 or 10) mostly tent camping sites. There is water available and outhouses, there is a dump station for RVs. I would have given 5 stars, but need some more sites for RVs (some of the sites are not real level). There is NO reservation.
ScoutCalled up there last minute on Fourth of July weekend (early morning, Friday) 2020 to check if they had any last minute openings for tent camping & the lady who answered the phone was EXTREMELY rude from the very beginning. She said “for tent? You do realize it’s a holiday weekend, no we don’t have any openings” laughed and hung up on us. Like who acts like that. I’ve only heard bad things about this place growing up in Kokomo but it was a last minute thing. Won’t ever call again.
Guide
White River Campground is a county owned park within 15 minutes small town Indiana (Cicero) complete with a small town grocery and dollar general. Within 20 minutes or Walmart and Grocery stores. Campground is divided up into A-B-C sections. A is accessible. B is full hookup with sewer and C is water/elec only and tent camping. Park next door is great for hiking, has walk bridge over river to trails, horse backing riding, high ropes course. Campground is on the white river, offers boat launching. Bathrooms are decent. Playground is newly remodeled. Laundry onsite, wood for sale, and some wifi. We found the wifi only reaches in sections A-B even though it’s advertised as reaching the entire camp. Camp office and IT support were no help.
Traveler
The campground itself was decent but it was very noisy the holiday weekend I stayed. People were chopping wood at 4:30am one night. Late night partying and music followed up with early rising children riding bikes and talking loudly. All sites are very close to the main road. The tent site I had wasn’t very level. There is a lot to do here though and would be a great place to bring groups of kids and teens. They have zip lines, paintball, bike trails,etc
GuideFull hook-up or water and electric sites, sites are level. Tent sites available. This place has zip-lining, paintball, arrow tag, ATVs, off-road tours, mountain biking, hiking, cabins. It's near Nashville, IN's quaint shops, music venues, Stoney Lonesome, Gnaw Bone, and, of course, beautiful Brown County State Park.
(Four stars because we stayed there during a wedding and the music and traffic from the wedding was a bit intrusive; also, because when we arrived at our campsite we had to ask management to remove a squatter, so the site was not clean).
Traveler
I’ve camped here several times and have always enjoyed it. When tent camping and want something quiet and a place with great trails, this is a good place to go. Even though it’s hot outside today, there’s lots of shade and a breeze. At this campground, there are two areas of pit toilets, and a big outdoor sink. Fire wood and maps can be obtained just up the road at the new Morgan Monroe headquarters. A self pay station is set up there. You select your site, set up, then go pay. Each site has a picnic table, fire ring and plenty of room for tenting with most sites big enough for a trailer. There’s a playground at the entrance of Mason Ridge campground and a fire tower.
GuideNice camp ground along the white river with several sites along the waterway. Clean, well maintained, knowledgeable and friendly staff. Paved road with level concrete sites, could be a little more spacious, but all n all laid out nicely with aluminum picnic tables, and fire ring, 50 and 30 amp hook ups along with H20, and several full hook ups. Tent camping also available. Well stocked camp store. The facilities up front by the office are very clean and have showers with hot water. They could use a bench in the shower stall for your clothing and a space To get dressed discreetly. The facility at the end of the campground dosent have showers and are adequate but not quite as nice. Campground is in a good location close to many amenities
LegendYellowwood State Forest, named for the environmentally unique Yellowwood tree, is 23, 326 acres located 7 miles West of the artist community of Nashville, Indiana. Nestled in the rolling hills of southern Indiana famous for it's fall leaf color displays and gorgeous vistas. Yellowwood offers 79 primitive class c sites in four campground areas adjacent to the 133 acre Yellowwood Lake; Red Pine, White-Oak Hickory, Redbud and Black Gum;$13 per night. There are several potable water stations and pit toilets throughout the campgrounds and one dump station located in Red Bud. The Red Bud area also has a small camp store(not open during our visit, so not sure of their offerings). We did note some ADA accessible sites. Horse camping is also available in 12 class c sites in the Horseman Camp with miles of horse trails. Several picnic areas and shelters in the area; one beautiful location overlooking the lake with stunning brown county stone fireplaces. This park is perfect for tent camping or smaller units; we would not recommend for larger units as most sites are small and unlevel and may challenge your maneuvering skills! The park has 5 hiking trails ranging from easy to rugged and access to the Tecumesh Trail(43 miles) originally proposed to span from Florida to Canada. The park office facility offers boat(lake is known for good fishing) and kayak rental, ice and firewood. If you need facilities to accommodate your larger rig or feel a need for more amenities; Brown County State Park is just a few miles to the East...but don't pass up planning at least a day trip to enjoy this incredibly beautiful State Forest property. 772 Yellowwood Lake Rd, Nashville, IN 47448 GPS- 39.183995,-86.337878
Tent camping near Indianapolis, Indiana offers a variety of scenic spots where nature lovers can unwind and enjoy the great outdoors. From serene lakes to lush forests, there are plenty of options for a memorable camping experience.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Indianapolis, IN?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Indianapolis, IN is Oak Ridge Morgan-Monroe State Forest with a 4.3-star rating from 8 reviews.
What is the best site to find tent camping near Indianapolis, IN?
TheDyrt.com has all 7 tent camping locations near Indianapolis, IN, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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