81 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Hoosier National Forest's pet-friendly campsites surround the Leopold area, with Indian-Celina Lake Recreation Area and Tipsaw Lake allowing pets at all accommodation types. Dogwood Loop accommodates families with double sites that feature shared parking while maintaining privacy between neighboring campsites. Both North Face and South Slope loops permit leashed pets at their tent, RV, and cabin sites. Saddle Lake Campground provides more secluded options with 13 basic sites, including two walk-in sites that offer additional privacy for campers with dogs. Most campgrounds maintain standard pet policies requiring leashes and proper waste disposal, with no specific breed restrictions noted. Campers report the sites at Tipsaw Lake as clean, quiet, and excellent for families, with spacing between sites allowing pets room to settle comfortably.
The 5.9-mile Tipsaw Lake Trail offers pet owners a shaded hiking route through rolling terrain, though dogs are not permitted on the beach areas. Several campgrounds feature shoreline access where dogs can enjoy water play along boat ramps or designated areas away from swimming beaches. The trail system provides technical single-track paths with complete tree coverage, making it ideal for morning walks with pets. Seasonal considerations include heavy tick presence following rain periods, with multiple reviewers recommending liberal application of bug spray for both humans and pets. Wildlife sightings are common, with deer and turkey frequently passing through campsites. Hoosier National Forest's extensive network of trails includes the 24-mile Mogan Trail system, which is shared with horseback riders but welcomes leashed dogs for longer hiking excursions.
"This was a very quiet campsite in southern Indiana. We had a hard time finding dispered camping in the national Forest so we settled for this site."
"Indian Lake is co-located with Celina Lake and two campground. Once you turn off of IN37 you just keep straight to get to Indian Lake."
from $24 - $52 / night
Check Availability"This was my first time camping in Indiana and it did not let me down!"
"Located in the beautiful rolling hills of southern Indiana not far from I-64 (exit 79)."
from $24 - $80 / night
Check Availability"Saddle Lake Recreation Area and Campground is located of IN37 right outside Tell City, IN in Hoosier National Forest. "
"There are 8-10 spots available, all but one of which are drive-in."
from $5 / night
"It used to have a sweet little walk in spot down the bouldering trail that looked over the river. Now it is overgrown and you can't get back there."
"There actually wasn’t any camp grounds open when we got there but we were so exhausted from the drive and it was 4am so we parking at the trail head and got a 3 hour nap in."
"This is a great location near the lake, dog park and community center and has excellent internet access."
"Pets are allowed and the sites are gravel or concrete. Relax at the pool, enjoy mini golf, playing at the game room, mining for gems, or shooting some hoops."
from $45 - $101 / night
Check Availability"Only waterfill location was at the camp store. Shower house was open and warm water was available. Big DNR presence and staff was friendly and helpful. Quiet campground wasn’t many occupants."
"Patoka has always had a hype about it for years; big lake, tons of boats, and fishing. This was our first trip here. We stayed in the Fishermans Primitive Campground."
from $14 - $52 / night
Check Availability"We were right at the lake edge. The campsite had electric but no water, but the water was just across the road at a shelter."
"There is a fishing lake and a small river to fish in or wade and swim in. There is a miniature village for the kids along with 20 playgrounds in the campground."
"There is also no sewer hookup at the site which I assumed was wrong, because I have never been to an Indiana state park with sewer hookup on site."
"The campground is near the trail to the old abandoned bridge which is well worth the hike. The fire tower has a commanding view."
from $26 - $496 / night
Check Availability"South Slope Loop At Hoosier National Forest is located second campground in on your way to Celina lake. This is the RV friendly campground with electrical hookups for your toys."
"I wrongfully assumed the horses would be at Saddle Lake across IN37, but then I rolled into German Ridge. "
"We also found a bunch at the host at the Tipsaw Campground a short drive away. We were at site 19 and pitched 3 tents, and it was tight quarters but doable."
from $8 / night
GuideThere was lots to do at this KOA. There was corn hole, ladder ball, pool, walking trails, access to the river, cat fish pond, small dog park, and washers & dryers. You could bring your RV, travel trailer, tent camp, or rent a cabin. I’m sure I’m forgetting something. The spots were close together. The staff was very friendly and helpful. The park was clean and well maintained.
ScoutBesides picking the only weekend where the camp had plumbing issues… my 4 year old daughter and I loved this place. This was my first time camping in Indiana and it did not let me down! The rangers were very nice and was pleased to answer any of my questions, the lake and bathrooms were clean and the place was nice and quiet. I’ll be back again.
ScoutThis is a great location near the lake, dog park and community center and has excellent internet access.
GuideThe staff are super helpful. The site we had was for a 38’ RV. Full hookups, dog park, lots of places to walk, even trails. We had a great stay here and will most likely come back next time we’re near Louisville.
GuideThe sites are well-spaced and there’s a beautiful lake where you can kayak, canoe, fish, let your dog swim, etc. Disc golf is the big activity at this park. Awesome walking path and a petting zoo. The park is exceptionally clean. Sites on the lake view side are noisy due to traffic on the highway.
LegendWe received an information email the day before prior to arrival with general info and wifi password plus how to pre check in. The morning of arrival, we received another email with specific instructions to not trust GPS and follow their instructions. Our Trip Wizard and Waze GPS instructions actually brought us right to the campground (CG). Since we had pre checked in, we were instructed in the directions email to go directly to deluxe pull-through site 78, where our welcome package would be in the electrical box. The site was plenty long enough for our 40’ toy hauler and F450. Not sure why this is a deluxe site as its gravel with a picnic table and portable fire pit? The utilities were more towards the front of the pad with no issues reaching the connections. It was a nice touch to see a small cement circle pad on the sewer connection. This is a new CG, so amenities like the laundry and gift shop were not opened yet. Water pressure was good. We got 4 bars on Verizon and 3 bars 5G on T-Mobile. We used our T-Mobile Internet versus Starlink. It would not have been an issue to use satellite as there are no mature trees in the campground. They have one large(about 1/4 acre) fenced dog area. The dog park slopes down a hill and connects with a fence that goes around the property. Do not throw small balls down the hill as they can go through the fence and there’s no way to recover the ball due to no openings/gates near by to get to the back of the dog park. There’s also a smaller fenced dog area near the front of the CG. Great customer service before and during our stay.
GuideWest Boggs lake is near the heart of Indiana's Amish country. It has a great lake that has good fishing and the ability to put your boat out. Pets are welcome. They have sites for all forms of camping. We tent camped and had electric and water at site. Great place to ride you bike and visit others.
GuideRest stops leading up to this RV spot were under construction. This was a last minute decision. It was late and I didn’t want to drive in the dark anymore. The price is HIGH. With discounts for goodsam and loves connect it was $50/night for 30 amp. The dog park at this loves is very nice and the spaces are okay. But it’s loud all night because it’s a truck stop. I like the idea of this for loves but the price needs to reflect it. $25/night. No one is staying longer than that and it’s a better deal.
TravelerThis was our first time camping and I must say I absolutely loved our site. We were on a primitive site number 109. Though the ground was a little rocky the lake views were spectacular. There was a porto potty in walking distance. When we first arrived it was pretty clean but after the weekend it was really bad and ran out of toilet paper. But the bathroom facilities by the slide were great you just had to drive to it from the primitive sites. Water slide was a blast and loved the petting zoo, also the volleyball court was a fun addition too. Though a little close to the road. All in all we will definitely be staying there again.
Hoosier National Forest camping near Leopold, Indiana sits within a region of rolling hills, limestone formations, and dense hardwood forests. Most campsites in this area range from 500-700 feet in elevation, with summer temperatures typically reaching 85-90°F during peak season. Fall campers should prepare for temperature swings of up to 30 degrees between day and night, especially in October when nighttime lows can drop into the 40s.
Creek exploration: 2.5 miles of shoreline access at Sycamore Springs Park offers shallow water play areas perfect for dogs. "The dogs had fun here playing in the water along the ramp, not much shore to speak of," notes one Saddle Lake visitor, while another camper mentions you can "splash in the creeks" throughout the grounds.
Technical trails: Moderate difficulty hikes throughout Buzzard Roost Campground provide cliff-top views. "There's a nice trail that overlooks the river and has a cleared vantage point with a bench," reports a camper. The area's rugged terrain requires proper footwear as "a rugged trail down the river bank, not well maintained but passable" connects to water access points.
Kayaking: Electric-motor-only lakes create peaceful paddling environments. "Next visit I'm packing the kayak because Tipsaw Lake looked awesome!" shares one visitor, while another notes, "The lake was a bit small but there's hardly a lot of people around so I think it would be great for kayaking."
Fishing opportunities: Year-round access at most area lakes with designated piers. A Saddle Lake Campground camper explains, "Based on the other visitors, fishing is the main draw here," while another mentions, "We have spent many weekends here and have never had any issues with any of the other patrons."
Secluded sites: Private camping options especially at Saddle Lake's walk-in sites. "Each site offers ample space for multiple vehicles and occupants; each site also has a picnic table, double lantern hook, and a nice iron fire ring with a swiveling grate," notes a regular visitor. Another camper adds, "Most sites were larger than normal."
Quiet environment: Distance from highways creates peaceful camping conditions. At Hoosier National Forest North Face Loop Campground, "This is no loud party hub with people blowing by on their golf carts and playing music until 2 in the morning," explains one reviewer. Another camper shares, "We got that in #7 camp in north loop. We felt like we own the place!"
Bug preparedness: Heavy tick activity throughout spring and summer requires vigilance. "I thought LBL, KY was bad, the tick's here seem like the Infantry, swarming the objective from all side's. Bring your bug stuff!" warns a North Face Loop camper. Another visitor observes, "Tick were REALLY bad. Maybe the season, maybe the area, not sure."
Limited cell service: Spotty connectivity at most dog friendly campgrounds near Leopold. At Buzzard Roost, "One bar with AT&T, was able to get online when the neighbors left (but not while they were home) - so a booster or better would be advised," reports a recent camper.
Water availability: Plan ahead for filling tanks as not all sites have direct hookups. "You need to fill your tank before arriving at your site," notes a Patoka Lake visitor, while another mentions, "Throughout the campground are potable water spigots that you can hook up to and add water to your tank."
Multiple playgrounds: Kid-friendly options at Sycamore Springs Park cater to various age groups. "Playgrounds everywhere. Nice big sites with full hookups in the newer section," shares one visitor. Another adds, "We were able to go 'creeking' do trail walking, bike riding. Just a super neat little place."
Nearby attractions: Holiday World theme park provides additional entertainment within driving distance. One camper at Lake Rudolph notes that "the park is very clean and we looked out with good neighbors," while mentioning that "golf carts are available to rent and they have golf cart light parades."
Beach alternatives: Dog-accessible water areas provide cooling options when dogs aren't allowed on beaches. "The playground at the lake is perfect for Littles. The beach had a lot of debris washed up, however we were there in late winter," explains a camper at O'Bannon Woods, suggesting off-season visits may offer more flexibility for dog access.
Site selection strategy: Check loops for best fit as campground sections vary significantly. At O'Bannon Woods State Park Campground, "The sites have an asphalt pad that are mostly level. 50,30,20 amp service in one box," explains a recent visitor. For larger rigs, "We stayed in site 7 and friends on site 9. Boat launch and nice swim area kept the weekend kids busy."
Dump station timing: Plan for potential waits at busier campgrounds, especially on Sundays. "4 dump stations at exit but still lines due to shear number of sites but things moved quickly," notes a Patoka Lake camper, highlighting the need to factor this into departure schedules.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Leopold, IN?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Leopold, IN is Indian-Celina Recreation Area with a 4.4-star rating from 20 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Leopold, IN?
TheDyrt.com has all 81 dog-friendly camping locations near Leopold, IN, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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