Best Campgrounds near Laurel, IN

Campgrounds near Laurel, Indiana include several state recreation areas and privately-operated facilities within a 20-mile radius. Brookville Lake serves as a focal point for outdoor recreation in the region, with Mounds and Quakertown State Recreation Areas offering established camping options. Most campgrounds provide a mix of tent and RV sites, while properties like Morgan's Outdoor Adventures and Whitewater Memorial State Park also feature cabin accommodations. Moccasin Meadow and Hidden Paradise Campground expand the camping options with family-friendly amenities in more rural settings near Greensburg and St. Paul.

The camping season for most properties extends from April through October, with a limited number of year-round facilities like Whitewater Memorial State Park and Brookville Lake campgrounds. Electric hookups are common throughout the area, though full-hookup sites with water and sewer connections are limited and require advance reservations. Many campgrounds provide basic amenities including shower facilities, drinking water, and sanitary dump stations. As one camper noted about Brookville Lake, "Very large park with a lot of amenities. Some spots are slanted quite a bit and are not good for 5th wheels."

Water-based recreation dominates the camping experience in the Laurel area, with Brookville Lake providing extensive opportunities for boating, fishing, and swimming. The lake features multiple no-wake zones and beach areas accessible from nearby campgrounds. Sites near water tend to book quickly during summer months. Campers frequently mention the spaciousness of sites at state recreation areas compared to private facilities. A visitor to Mounds State Recreation Area observed, "The camp sites are pretty far apart at least twice as far as in private campgrounds and so have ample room." Hiking trails are available but may be limited or seasonally overgrown. Franklin County Park offers a quieter alternative with fewer amenities but proximity to small towns and the lake.

Best Camping Sites Near Laurel, Indiana (102)

    1. Mounds State Recreation Area Campground — Brookville Lake

    20 Reviews
    Brookville, IN
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (765) 647-2657

    $23 - $30 / night

    "Mounds State Recreation Area located near Brookville Indiana is a beautiful location with camping for tents, trailers and motorhomes."

    "Pros: quiet, close to Brookville, lots of trails nearby, nice swimming beach Cons: hard to get a site next to the playground - it's kinda out of the way."

    2. Whitewater Memorial State Park Campground

    17 Reviews
    Liberty, IN
    14 miles
    Website
    +1 (765) 458-5565

    $16 - $23 / night

    "Whitewater Memorial State Park is located close to Liberty Indiana and is our favorite between the two major parks on Brookville Lake. It has water access to both Brookville and Whitewater lakes."

    "Conveniently located just South of Liberty, Indiana. Access to the Brookville Lake. Playground available. Beach area available. Easy to reserve through the In.gov website. Many things to do."

    3. Hueston Woods State Park Campground

    47 Reviews
    College Corner, OH
    24 miles
    Website
    +1 (513) 523-6347

    "The park is about 3000 acres with a beautiful sailing / fishing lake. There is a beautiful lodge and golf course, archery range, and plenty of hiking paths and equestrian paths."

    "This place is off the beaten path by a lot, but it's so serene and beautiful. The non-electric site was almost all real primitive campers. There were tons of trees nearby for privacy and hammocking."

    4. Thousand Trails Indian Lakes

    9 Reviews
    Batesville, IN
    14 miles
    Website
    +1 (888) 707-1477

    "Indian Lakes Campground is 10 minutes east of downtown Batesville, an hour to the east of Indianapolis and an hour to the west of Cincinnati."

    "There are several fishing ponds and a lake with a beach area. There are 2 pools, and a golf course. Laundry facilities are decent, and there are plenty of machines."

    5. Batesville KOA

    6 Reviews
    Batesville, IN
    16 miles
    Website
    +1 (812) 934-5693

    "Batesville KOA is located within the Indian Lakes Campground, 10 minutes east of downtown Batesville, an hour to the east of Indianapolis and an hour to the west of Cincinnati."

    "This was the first time I’ve stayed in a campground that was split with Thousand Trails. The sites for KOA had mature trees and were of decent size."

    6. Moccasin Meadow

    1 Review
    Batesville, IN
    10 miles
    +1 (765) 570-8542

    "This campground is just 12 miles west of Greensburg, IN off I-74, and sits just outside of Lake Santee. (You must have property at the lake to utilize the lake and beaches)."

    7. Hidden Paradise Campground

    16 Reviews
    Waldron, IN
    24 miles
    Website
    +1 (765) 525-6582

    "Staff is visible and seem to do a good job of maintaining order etc Road Noise: This campground is nicely nestled away from public roads. Through Traffic in campground: No issue."

    "This little road is quite narrow, has some pretty tight turns with trees on both sides and in the night it’s hard to tell where the rear end of your camper is on the turns where there are trees close to"

    9. Morgan’s Outdoor Adventures

    1 Review
    Brookville, IN
    11 miles
    Website
    +1 (765) 647-4904

    "Steps away from gorgeous river views. There is nothing like waking up and making breakfast while watching the river roll by! Sites are tight, but if you love waterfront this is great."

    10. Quakertown State Rec Area

    2 Reviews
    Brookville, IN
    13 miles
    Website

    "A shooting range nearby is a little annoying. There's a good amount of trees for shade coverage."

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Recent Reviews near Laurel, IN

519 Reviews of 102 Laurel Campgrounds


  • pThe Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 6, 2025

    Dayton KOA Holiday

    Very clean and shady

    The campsites are shaded and pretty level. I am using a pull through and it is long enough for my RV and 24’ trailer. There is a very nice cement slab with a nice fire pit and picnic table.

  • Bodean D.
    Sep. 29, 2025

    Kamp Modoc

    What would you expect from Camping?

    Do you have kids? They have it covered, from playground, to lake with inflatables, train rides, Holiday fun.

    Adults? I see Cornhole every weekend, Campfires, Holiday Events, Golf Cart Parades, DJ's or Live Bands on the weekend, Friendly Seasonal Folks always up for a good time.

    Ameneties? Bath Houses, Laundry, General Store, Small Grill and Pizza Oven. (Pizza is not half bad either).

    Amish make their presence felt on a few weekends throughout the season, from fresh Bakery Goods to a Healthy Sized Sausage Egg Biscuit. (You won't be disappointed)

    Food Trucks on a few weekends throughout the season.

  • M
    Sep. 25, 2025

    Glo Wood Campground

    Rip off

    Overall, this Campground rips people off. As a Traveling worker I despise places like this. I gave this Campground, a$200 deposit with the intent of Renting a site for a month from them. I was supposed to move onto site in approximately a week and a half and had to cancel as I found another campground that was closer to my job site. They had my deposit approximately two days to which they were supposedly receiving a huge amount of phone calls regarding the open site Turning people down left and right. When I asked for my deposit bank, they wanted to tell me it was nonrefundable because they are losing out on money by me canceling. I would be more understanding if they had the site open but the owner it was booked all the way until I was going to move onto site. I was never told my deposit was not refundable. As a traveler, I warn other monthly campers about this place as the Owners will rip you off no problem

  • Laura W.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 15, 2025

    Summit Lake State Park Campground

    Summit lake state park

    Its an ok park. The water is shared with your neighbor, so be sure to have a lo g hose. The showers were sketchy. I wouldn't use them personally. Wecsaw a couple of unattended fires smoldering in empty campsites. And we paid for an overnight reservation. Came in around 5pm. They charged us $7 for day use. I dont think you should have to pay for day use ANYWHERE that you've paid an overnight reservation. We are through travelers and its just plain irritating to me.

  • David C.
    Aug. 31, 2025

    Mystic Waters Campground

    Great campground for RVs and cabins

    This is a great campground for RVs and cabins, but unfortunately not for tents as the highway 69 is too noisy. Also there are not a lot of trees.

  • Lisa M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 29, 2025

    Summit Lake State Park Campground

    Peaceful park and great hiking trails

    Although we only spent one night here during the week, the campground seemed very peaceful and quiet, even though there were quite a few campers. Sites 1 through 74 seem to be a lot more level and larger, but they were in a sort of an open area with very little shade. The rest of the sites were fairly unlevel, but were in shaded areas. I would think a rig more than 31 or 32 feet long would have difficulty maneuvering around the curve at the end of the second loop. We are a 30ft. Fifth wheel and it was pretty tight for us. Lots of trees. The showers were your typical camp showers not great but not horrible. There was a large lake that one could enjoy fishing on. Also some great hiking trails in the area.

  • Beth B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 31, 2025

    Indian Springs Campground

    Nice campground, well cared for

    The spaces are gravel and level. The campground is mostly RV with a few private apartments/houseboat.

    Quiet, most all of the waterfront sites were taken. We took a chance on last minute reservations and there were plenty of pull through spots. Easy to setup.

    Checkin/out no problem. They have a code for gate entry.

    Bathhouse bathrooms are date but clean. A bit on small side, not very comfortable.

    There is not much common area for grass/waterside…kinda feel like your in someone’s spot/yard area.

    There is a playground for young kids.

    About 30 minutes from downtown Cincinnati…easy to get to a game.

  • Amber
    Jul. 22, 2025

    Heflen Park

    Heflin Park

    Very Quiet. You can float down the river. There's a kids playground. Blu Canoes right next door. Fast food not far off. The bugs are a little overwhelming. They spray tomorrow so it may be different.

  • NThe Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 22, 2025

    Thousand Trails Indian Lakes

    Needs new management

    Terrible management. Pics are outdated and most everything is run down. Only one pool open during short hours. No gas station, no slide, nasty lake water & nobody takes the trash/dumpsters out. Completely inundated with annual spots being reserved by weekend warriors meaning minimal availability for people who want to be here during the week. There are SEVERAL dozen spots available and we were told if the spot we got didn’t work we could pick something else. At 8pm during dinner we were disturbed by a park ranger and forced to move to a spot half the size with no hookups. She literally brought us to an overflow area that our rig doesn’t fit in. She made us pack up our entire camp site to move so someone else could have the spot, even though there were MULTIPLE spots available. Had to be extremely persistent to get a FHU spot only to see dozens continue to be available for the rest of our 2 week stay.

    They also charge you $5 per package to pick up your own mail from the building and $10 for a key card to access the park. Management is certainly skimming off of customers here. Will travel further to another TT campground to avoid this place in the future.


Guide to Laurel

Camping near Laurel, Indiana, offers a variety of experiences for outdoor lovers. From serene parks to family-friendly campgrounds, there’s something for everyone in this beautiful region.

What to do

  • Hiking: Explore the scenic trails at Clifty Falls State Park Campground. One visitor mentioned, "The trails were really great! The wooded hiking trails helped keep us comfortable."
  • Fishing and Kayaking: At Summit Lake State Park Campground, you can enjoy fishing and kayaking. A camper shared, "There is a large (shallow) lake for fishing and kayaking."
  • Wildlife Watching: Big Bone Lick State Park Campground is known for its bison prairie and diverse wildlife. One reviewer noted, "A well-groomed campground surrounded by a museum, bison prairie, hiking trails & other outdoor activities."

What campers like

  • Clean Facilities: Campers appreciate the cleanliness at places like Winton Woods Campground. A visitor remarked, "The park is clean, neat, with lots of wooded sites!"
  • Friendly Staff: Many campers enjoy the helpfulness of the staff at Indianapolis KOA. One camper said, "They deliver firewood for $7 a bundle. Just kind and warm place."
  • Level Sites: Campers at Taylor Ridge Campground appreciate the spacious and level sites. A review mentioned, "Very quiet, shady paved sites in Taylor’s Ridge loop."

What you should know

  • Noise Levels: Some campgrounds can get noisy, especially on weekends. A camper at Hueston Woods State Park Campground complained, "Too much money to spend only to have to put up with no sleep because of loud music and drunks."
  • Site Selection: Not all sites are created equal. At Buffalo Ridge Campground, one camper warned, "Pay attention to your campsite for slope and camper accessibility."
  • Limited Amenities: Some campgrounds, like White River Campground, may have limited amenities. A visitor noted, "The place seems old and needed general maintenance."

Tips for camping with families

  • Plan for Activities: Choose campgrounds with plenty of activities. Big Bone Lick State Park Campground offers hiking trails and a museum, making it a great family spot. One reviewer said, "There are several vistas that overlook the rolling hills of southern Indiana."
  • Check for Kid-Friendly Features: Look for campgrounds with playgrounds or pools. At Indianapolis KOA, a camper mentioned, "The water park is so fun."
  • Be Prepared for Wildlife: Raccoons can be a nuisance, especially at campgrounds like Clifty Falls State Park Campground. One camper advised, "Put ALL your food away!"

Tips from RVers

  • Leveling Blocks: Many sites require leveling blocks. A camper 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."
  • Full Hookups: Look for campgrounds with full hookups for a more comfortable stay. White River Campground offers full hookup sites that are well-maintained.
  • Dump Station Access: Be aware of the dump station situation. A visitor at Clifty Falls State Park Campground mentioned, "The dump station is a cluster and was a tight fit for the campers."

Camping near Laurel, Indiana, provides a mix of adventure and relaxation. Whether you're hiking, fishing, or just enjoying nature, there's something for everyone in this lovely area.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular campground near Laurel, IN?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Laurel, IN is Mounds State Recreation Area Campground — Brookville Lake with a 4.2-star rating from 20 reviews.