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Best Tent Camping near Lawrence, IN

278 Reviews

Tent campgrounds near Lawrence, Indiana include several established options within an hour's drive. Oak Ridge Camping Area in Morgan-Monroe State Forest offers primitive tent sites with basic amenities in a secluded forest setting. Pine Lake Fishing & Camping Resort provides lakefront tent camping with seasonal availability, though reviews indicate fishing may be limited. Clovis Creek offers 20 tent sites with walk-in access options for those seeking a more remote experience.

Morgan-Monroe State Forest campgrounds feature gravel parking pads with picnic tables and fire rings at each site. Most tent sites have vault toilets and outdoor wash stations with drinking water available. A camper noted, "This campground is decent if you get one of the few good spots. Many sites are small and can only accommodate a tent." Self-registration is required at the park office with exact change. Firewood can be purchased during limited office hours, or campers may gather downed wood throughout the forest, though chainsaws are not permitted.

Areas farther from Indianapolis offer deeper seclusion and less noise for tent campers. The Oak Ridge area typically serves as an overflow camping area but remains a good option for tent camping with water and vault toilets. A visitor commented that it's "very off the beaten trail clearing that's the very minimum of a campsite. But because of this, not many people are there so it's super quiet and not busy!" Many sites are situated on sloped terrain, requiring careful selection for level tent placement. Morgan-Monroe State Forest also offers backwoods camping along trails like the Low Gap Trail, providing free and solitary sites for backcountry tent camping enthusiasts. The extensive trail network makes these tent campgrounds ideal for hikers, with multiple trails over 10 miles long and access to the 40-mile Tecumseh Trail.

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Best Tent Sites Near Lawrence, Indiana (4)

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Recent Tent Camping Photos near Lawrence, IN

4 Photos of 4 Lawrence Campgrounds

Tent Camping Reviews near Lawrence, IN

278 Reviews of 4 Lawrence Campgrounds

  • G
    Jun. 28, 2019

    Oak Ridge Camping Area — Morgan-Monroe State Forest

    Quiet, just right!

    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.

  • Michelle M.
    Nov. 16, 2020

    Mounds State Park Campground

    A nice park. Electric only.

    It’s a nice park for kids. Has a nice swimming pool. Easy trails. Nice playground. $5 firewood bundles. Mostly a weekender park. It is right next to a small craft airfield do it can get noisy at times and there is little wind protection.

  • Daisy C.
    Jun. 8, 2020

    Oak Ridge Camping Area — Morgan-Monroe State Forest

    Off the Beaten Path

    We stayed at site 13 at Morgan-Monroe State Forest, Mason Ridge Campground in June 2020. Site 13 has a little trail that goes down to a large flooded sinkhole behind the campsite. There were lots of tree frogs singing because of the proximity to water. Mason Ridge Campground has vault toilets and drinking water available. There are outdoor sinks at the drinking water stations. There is a dumpster in the campground for trash. Mason Ridge Campground is first come, first served, self-register and pay at the park office. Bring exact change. Firewood is available to purchase, but only when the park office is open, and hours are limited. It is also allowed for campers to gather downed wood throughout the forest for campfires. Chainsaws are not allowed, so bring a handsaw and spitting axe if you want to do this. Campsites are mostly good for tents, but several of the sites would be fine for small to medium sized travel trailers and RVs. Sites are primitive, with gravel parking pads. Campfire ring, grill grate, and picnic table are at all sites. There is a dump station. There are no electric sites. Oak Ridge Campground is a second campground loop in MMSF. It only has a handful of sites but feels very secluded. Most of these sites are suited for tents only, or little teardrop campers. Oak Ridge is only open as an“overflow” campground, so only bet on it being open during summer. There is also a group campground for scout troupes and other groups. When we camped here, there was a rowdy group of car campers that came to have a bonfire and drink all night two sites down from us. They would loud and obnoxious. I do not know if this type of thing is common occurrence at this property, or if we“lucked out” that night. The rest of the folks camping there were quiet. There were no hordes of flashlight children running amuck through the campground like you get at the state parks. There is a playground and fire tower right next to the Mason Ridge campground, but both were closed due to coronavirus. There are many trails in MMSF. Good hiking. 

    Pros: sinks, feeling of seclusion, quiet(other than the one group), usually availability unless you arrive really late, long hiking trails

    Cons: limited office hours for firewood purchase, obnoxious car campers

    In summary, this campground is for those who like to“rough it” a little bit.

  • j
    May. 24, 2023

    Timberline Family Campground

    Potato Creek State Patk

    Specious sites a bit on the awkward side regarding lay-out. The vehicle separated the tent from the picnic table and fire ring. Less than ideal. I’m told that they’ve planted additional trees. They are relatively non existent at this point. Hence, a lack of privacy . Combined with awkward site layout we seemed to be right on top of our neighbors. No place to hang hammocks, tree swings or clothesline. Just sort of a open Praire. We were visiting by staff shortly after getting settled and told to put my highly trained border-jack on a leash even though she was at the time laying on my bed inside the tent which was zipped closed. The restrooms are kept up twice per day and are extremely clean and well cared for. The fishing was great! Lots of areas to explore even just to fish off shore or bridge. Everything was a good distended away from the campground so unfortunately my grandson could not bike alone to the lake to fish.

  • GThe Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 3, 2022

    Brown County-Nashville KOA

    Great forest area

    We called for reservations less than two weeks in advance, and they only had one site left. If coming from the north-west, try to arrive before dark as the road over the hills to this place is beautiful, but narrow and forested with some trees very close to the roadway. The entrance road to the campground is quite steep. We arrived after the office had closed, so they had left an envelope taped to the door with our name and a map to our site. We were in the full-hookup, back-in RV sites connected with the cabins but they are across the street so they’re not too connected if you don’t know who’s in the cabin nearest you. Most of the other rigs in this row seemed to be long-term. We were on the end opening onto trees and the gravel cul de sac. It’s beautiful.

    Pads are gravel and we did need to use several leveling blocks on our site, which made for a doosey of a bottom step into and out of our trailer. This end of the park is very quiet, with dark skies at night for stargazing and lovely field and forest sounds. Even though the office had closed a couple of hours before, the owner Bruce came by after we had set up to make sure we were in ok. Thoughtful!

    The “patio” pad for the picnic table is 12” concrete blocks. It was mostly level, but not near the edge near our tow vehicle. Tripped a few times; these blocks should be redone.

    We needed some trailer work while we were here, so asked the owner for recommendations. The manager Ed then came by after the guy had come to be sure we were pleased with the recommendation.

    Bathrooms were a short walk up the hill to the office. Pretty good, though they often needed supplies restocked.

    We would definitely stay here again. We stayed in site 9.

  • A
    Jul. 20, 2021

    White River Campground

    Quick getaway

    Nice 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

  • J
    Jul. 20, 2024

    Glo Wood Campground

    Simple but good

    Definitely a little dated. Picnic tables cracked plastic. My site was missing fire ring but many had them. Most sites really wet but gravel pads were close to level, needed to raise one side 1”.

  • D
    Sep. 12, 2021

    Oak Ridge Camping Area — Morgan-Monroe State Forest

    Hesitate to share our hidden gem

    My wife and were at site 15 from 09/02/21- 09/06/21 camping in a Winnebago Micro Minnie 2108 TB. This park is not for large rigs, but we had no trouble fitting into our small camper. This is a great place to camp and hike, although there is no electric hookup we had a generator that we used sparklingly. The only drawbacks were that the vault toilets are in pretty bad condition and the dump station hose did not have a connection to allow me to flush the blackwater holding tank.

  • Lee D.The Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 25, 2019

    Heritage Farm Alpaca Experience

    A truly wonderful experience!

    I learned of this place through the Dyrt (thank you!) and knew I wanted to stay here! There are several options available: tent camping (including a tree tent!), RV camping (two with electric hookups), and a 170-year-old log cabin. If you are RV camping, there are two very clean, private, and fully stocked "outhouses" (see photo below)

    We originally planned to camp in our van but with below-freezing temperatures and a forecasted snowstorm, we decided to take refuge in the log cabin. To call this a log cabin is a disservice; yes, it is made from logs(and is 170 years old) but I was expecting a tiny one-room cabin; instead it is a two-story cozy home that can sleep up to six people, all in one upstairs room (two full-size beds and two twin beds; would be great for families). It was cozy and warm, heated by a gas stove. The bathroom (with a shower) is accessed from just outside the back door but is heated. The kitchen is an outdoor grill and picnic table, but we did not use this. 

    Tim and Beth were very welcoming, as was Juno, their dog. We enjoyed helping to feed the Alpacas– they have over 50. The rooster crowed gustily at dawn (but dawn was after 7 am and we were already awake). Also on the farm is Stormy, the horse, chickens, and some barn cats. There is a shop that sells goods made from Alpaca wool and we made sure to visit before departing. 

    Staying here was truly special and we hope to return to camp in one of the RV spots or the tree tent in the future.

Guide to Lawrence

Morgan-Monroe State Forest provides several tent camping areas within an hour of Lawrence, Indiana. The Mason Ridge Campground contains about 20 sites, while a second area called Oak Ridge offers additional sites in a more secluded setting. For tent campers seeking isolation, primitive backcountry campsites can be found along several trails. Seasonal availability varies, with overflow campgrounds typically open during summer months and primitive sites available year-round.

What to do

Hiking extensive trail networks: Morgan-Monroe State Forest features multiple trails over 10 miles long, including the Three Lakes Trail. Ron H. notes, "There are a lot of trails to hike, 2 of them are over 10 miles. The Tecumseh trail (40 miles) starts in Morgan Monroe State Forest passes through Yellowwood State Forest and ends in the Hoosier national Forest."

Fishing in forest lakes: Pine Lake Fishing & Camping Resort provides a convenient option for anglers. Debbie S. observed, "The lake is fabulous, but there didn't seem to be too many fish available for catching!! Pretty place and fun for a laid back place to stay."

Nature observation at sinkhole areas: Some campsites at Morgan-Monroe offer unique geological features. Daisy C. shared, "Site 13 has a little trail that goes down to a large flooded sinkhole behind the campsite. There were lots of tree frogs singing because of the proximity to water."

What campers like

Quiet weekday camping: The best tent camping near Lawrence, Indiana often means visiting on less busy days. Rob R. noted about Morgan-Monroe, "Even with beautiful weather and the opening of squirrel season, it was relatively light with other campers."

Self-registration process: Oak Ridge Camping Area — Morgan-Monroe State Forest utilizes a simple self-registration system. According to Rob R., "When you arrive set up at your site. Then you will need to go WITH EXACT CHANGE to the sign in at the main building. It's easy, there is a little box on the side of the firewood shed."

Proximity to Indianapolis: Many campers appreciate the convenient location for weekend getaways. Sars C. commented, "This is the best camping within an hour on Indianapolis and if your looking for free and solitary sites try the backwoods camping area for the low gap trail theres a parking lot there."

What you should know

Limited RV access: Many campgrounds near Lawrence have site restrictions for larger vehicles. Don N. advised, "My wife and were at site 15 camping in a Winnebago Micro Minnie 2108 TB. This park is not for large rigs, but we had no trouble fitting into our small camper."

Uneven terrain challenges: Clovis Creek and other area campgrounds feature sloped sites requiring careful selection. Rickie F. mentioned, "I was slightly disappointed by the site selections being mostly on a slant, but we did find one on the overfill site that suited our needs and we ended up loving it."

Water and bathroom locations: Facilities vary between campgrounds. Daisy C. reported, "Mason Ridge Campground has vault toilets and drinking water available. There are outdoor sinks at the drinking water stations. There is a dumpster in the campground for trash."

Tips for camping with families

Playground access: Some tent campgrounds near Lawrence include recreational facilities. Ginger T. noted, "There's a playground at the entrance of Mason Ridge campground and a fire tower."

Educational opportunities: Riddle Point Park on Lake Lemon provides nature exploration for children. Daisy C. recommended, "Recommend the tree trail" for educational walks with children.

Weekend noise considerations: Families should be prepared for varying noise levels depending on timing. Daisy C. observed, "There were no hordes of flashlight children running amuck through the campground like you get at the state parks," suggesting a quieter experience than some other locations.

Tips from RVers

Generator limitations: Campers with RVs should note power restrictions. Don N. explained, "This is a great place to camp and hike, although there is no electric hookup we had a generator that we used sparklingly."

Dump station challenges: Facilities may have limitations for RV waste disposal. Don N. cautioned, "The dump station hose did not have a connection to allow me to flush the blackwater holding tank."

Size restrictions: Ron H. advised about camping at Morgan-Monroe, "We are RV campers and there are only about 5 sites we could get in to. Our camper is about 25' and it was tight get in and out of the campground. If you have a small camper (15' or smaller) there would more sites."

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Lawrence, IN?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Lawrence, IN is Pine Lake Fishing & Camping Resort with a 3-star rating from 2 reviews.

What is the best site to find tent camping near Lawrence, IN?

TheDyrt.com has all 4 tent camping locations near Lawrence, IN, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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