Best Campgrounds near Loogootee, IN

The Loogootee area of southern Indiana features several established campgrounds with varying amenities, primarily centered around lakes and forests. West Boggs Park serves as a central camping destination on West Boggs Lake, offering both modern and primitive sites with full hookups for RVs and tent camping areas. Other notable options include Martin State Forest with basic tent sites, Glendale State Fish and Wildlife Area on Dogwood Lake, and the military-restricted Crane MWR Campground. Most facilities provide electric hookups, drinking water, and fire rings, though amenities vary significantly between developed and more rustic locations.

Camping seasons vary across facilities, with many campgrounds operating from April through October. "Campground was nice and quiet, well maintained. Has paved level pads, some slightly sloped. Shaded and sunny areas," noted one camper about Glendale State Fish and Wildlife Area. Road access is generally suitable for most vehicles, with gravel being common at primitive sites. Several locations accommodate larger RVs, though Martin State Forest and more remote areas have size restrictions. Weather considerations include hot, humid summers and occasional storms. Reservations are recommended at popular lakefront locations, especially during summer weekends and holidays, as these tend to fill quickly.

Waterfront camping opportunities represent a major draw in the region, with fishing access at multiple lakes. West Boggs Park receives particularly high ratings for its lake activities, playground facilities, and themed events for families. "West 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," shared one visitor. Most campgrounds offer fire rings and picnic tables, with shower facilities available at the more developed sites. Primitive camping at Shirley Creek in the Hoosier National Forest provides a more secluded experience but comes with fewer amenities. Bathroom facilities vary considerably between locations, with some offering modern showers while others maintain basic vault toilets.

Best Camping Sites Near Loogootee, Indiana (120)

    1. West Boggs Park

    11 Reviews
    Loogootee, IN
    4 miles
    Website
    +1 (812) 295-3421

    "This is a beautiful campground right on the lake near Loogootee, Indiana. Lots of golf carts cruise the campground. That can be a little dangerous. So you need to watch your little ones closely."

    "West 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."

    2. Patoka Lake Campground

    36 Reviews
    Birdseye, IN
    23 miles
    Website
    +1 (812) 338-5589

    $12 - $32 / night

    "My Aunt loves their trips to Patoka Lake & I can relate as to why after this weekend. We went for a wedding at the marina & ended by a lovely cove."

    "Pick a site that has water near and you won’t have to unhook to fill your tanks. So many sites are in the shade all day and peaceful. Showers are spotless but fun on the push button system."

    3. Glendale State Fish and Wildlife Area

    5 Reviews
    Loogootee, IN
    11 miles
    Website
    +1 (812) 644-7711

    $16 - $23 / night

    "We stayed in the primitive are and we were tucked away back by the lake."

    "Great place for fishing in Dogwood Lake."

    4. Martin State Forest

    4 Reviews
    Shoals, IN
    10 miles
    Website
    +1 (812) 247-3491

    $13 / night

    "Generator okay but recommend use away from other campers."

    "This state forest is beautiful, filled with pines and a clear lake. It is a primative campground but is very nice. Has nice hiking trails and 7 miles of mountain bike trails."

    5. Montgomery Ruritan Park

    2 Reviews
    Loogootee, IN
    7 miles
    Website
    +1 (812) 486-3255

    $25 - $30 / night

    "This is a nice but old campground almost all sites are here year around fishing is good very quite if I can get another site next yr I'll come back"

    6. Spring Mill State Park Campground

    23 Reviews
    Mitchell, IN
    27 miles
    Website
    +1 (812) 849-3534

    $20 - $40 / night

    "Spring Mill State park is a little piece of history that is in the heart of southern Indiana. Here you will find a working frontier village."

    "Open space, close to facilities and water pump, Ground was mostly flat, slightly shady in the afternoon, and very peaceful."

    7. Shirley Creek Campground — Hoosier National Forest

    3 Reviews
    West Baden Springs, IN
    17 miles
    +1 (812) 275-5987

    "There is also a nice loop trail if you feel like hiking. Be aware that it’s a pretty long drive in with lots of hill and some areas that are strictly gravel."

    "Great trails that our kids (ages 2-9) loved. Only reason for 4 stars is no drinking water or fire pit."

    8. Crane MWR Campground

    1 Review
    Shoals, IN
    15 miles
    Website
    +1 (812) 854-1176

    "The campground is located by Lake Greenwood, so the MWR operates a marina where you can rent boats, kayaks, paddle boards and so on. They sell bait and ice."

    9. Sleeping Bear Retreat

    2 Reviews
    French Lick, IN
    18 miles
    Website

    $20 - $55 / night

    10. Prides Creek Co Park

    5 Reviews
    Winslow, IN
    23 miles
    Website
    +1 (812) 354-6798

    "It was somewhat easy to get to off the highway. There were some unfriendly signs saying it wasn’t the correct route- it was. The campground is situated on a golf course."

    "Ok fishing, disc golf, tennis court, beach for swimming friendly campers, they allow fires and golf carts ..9 hole golf course around the other half of the lake ..great family fun.. big minus park has"

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Recent Reviews near Loogootee, IN

689 Reviews of 120 Loogootee Campgrounds


  • Jon R.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 14, 2025

    Nighthawk Forest

    Nighthawk Forrest Sept 2024

    Great little campground with accessible trails and small pond. I had a primitive site with pad. Nestled in the trees gave off nice shade. They have showers and ice available (but didn’t know about the ice until I was checking out). About 15 minutes from Patoka Lake. I would recommend this campground if in the area.

  • TThe Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 4, 2025

    Hoosier National Forest Goldenrod Loop Campground

    Nice, small, remote campground

    Beautiful, heavily wooded, quiet campground. We are in a big rig but most people here are tent camping. Lake is small. Very peaceful, helpful attendant at gate checked in on us first day. We have electricity and water but no sewer hookups. Dump station available. If you just want to to get away and relax for a few days this is nice. But if you’re looking for lots of recreation opportunities you want to find a larger lake. There are a few trails but they are short.

  • jThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 16, 2025

    Mitchell Creek Road Dispersed

    Small pull off on the side of a gravel road.

    This is a bare bones location. There was evidence of a homemade fire pit and a small cleared area. No cell service at the site but there was a bar or two on the road just a few feet away. With a weboost there was att and tmobile service. Very quiet, only 2 vehicles passed by in the 36 hours I was there. 38.515995, -85.870726, 871 ft

  • SThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 9, 2025

    Taylor Ridge Campground — Brown County State Park

    Nice Trails & Big Campsites

    I had a great time camping here. The spots in Taylor ridge were mostly well-spaced and felt pretty private. The pit toilets were clean and the showers were nice. Busy campground but it was very quiet still. 262 was the biggest and most private site I saw when walking around. 260 is a pull through site.

  • Lisa M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 28, 2025

    Shakamak State Park Campground

    Great State Park

    Most of the spaces that had both water and electric were mostly in the sun. But all the other spaces had plenty of shade and trees around them. Our space was spot on level and nice area around each space to where you didn’t feel like you were camped on top of other people. The showers were adequate. Great hiking trails in the area. Very quiet. Although we were there on a weekday. One downside was we had Verizon as a cell phone carrier and only had one bar.

  • L
    Aug. 20, 2025

    Spring Mill State Park Campground

    Fun, sunny, clean.

    This was an amazing campground! There were amazing trails and a cave, as well as Pioneer Village which was so fascinating and well run. Our campsite wasn't far from the bathrooms and showers house which were pretty clean. We were near water as well. Our campsite was on a small hill so it was well distanced from all the other campers, which was nice and peaceful. 

         There was a sweet place where you could get ice cream down the road from Spring Mill called Dairy Bell. Spring Mill wasn't far from the town were there was a Walmart, Rural King, and several more stores. 

    Very pretty and nice campground!

  • L
    Aug. 20, 2025

    Shakamak State Park Campground

    Clean, pretty, quiet, spacey.

    We had a nice site that was evenly spaced from the other campsites by trees and was nice and close to water, the bathrooms, and the shower houses, which were very clean! The camp store was nice and the paddle boats were fun! The pool was only opened on the weekends in August which was disappointing but there was a large fishing dock and many boating opportunities. Very nice camping spot, but in August beware of the bugs!

  • Brian O.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 13, 2025

    Raccoon Ridge Campground — Brown County State Park

    the non-RV loop of the three camp areas (I think)

    Our third Indiana state park. Still impressed, they have all been friendly, well maintained with good, spread out sites and good signage everywhere (even the trails). All the rest rooms are spotlessly clean.
    We were there mid-week, so very few of the 480 (!) sites were occupied, except in Buffalo Ridge, the primary RV loop. There are three loops, Buffalo ridge (RV), Raccoon Ridge which is tent sites around the outside, with electric inside the loop. Which would be suitable for RVs. Many of the tent sites are split-level, meaning the fire pit and tent area is down a hill from where you park your car. We have a mini pop-up, and had no problem parking both it and car on the pad, and, these sites have two picnic tables, upper and lower. Check the photos when you reserve!
    We drove through Taylor ridge loop, and it's your best choice for getting away from it all. 
    The camp store is stocked with the basics, but has more souvenirs than food or camp needs. That's okay, as some of their goods are better quality than many other places.
    The park has a classic old CCC lodge (though you enter through the modern addition) so if you don't want to cook, eat at the restaurant (open till 8:PM), great food, generous portions. 
    The park also features an Olympic size pool (capacity 2,000). You cannot walk there from the campground unless you are very hardy and very determined. 
    You may think of Indiana as flat farmland, but this park is VERY hilly, with many scenic overlooks. It has two man-made lakes. Unsure about boating options on the larger one. 
    Another big feature are equestrian trails and a horse campground, see someone else's review for that.
    Nearby is the town of Nashville, which is full of art and craft galleries as well as multiple fudge shops, hand-made soaps, etc... Touristy but quaint. Was surprisingly crowded when we passed through on a Friday morning.   
    We are planning to go back to take advantage of all we missed in the area. Oh, I should point out that there are many private campgrounds nearby, it's a very popular  area.


Guide to Loogootee

Camping options near Loogootee, Indiana center primarily around water activities with additional forest-based recreation. Elevations range from 480 to 650 feet above sea level, creating gentle slopes around water bodies rather than challenging terrain. Summer temperatures typically reach 85-90°F with humidity levels above 70%, while spring and fall offer milder camping conditions with temperatures between 55-75°F.

What to do

Disc golf courses: Prides Creek County Park features a top-rated course for all skill levels. "A beautiful park. plenty space to explore, frisbee golf, regular golf, swimming area in the lake. I suggest you bring a kayak to explore the gorgeous lake," notes one visitor to Prides Creek Co Park.

Boat tours through cave systems: Spring Mill State Park offers unique underground boat experiences. "This campround is kept clean. There is a cave tour also on offer in which you ride thru the cave system in a boat. Yes there are even lifevests for customer to wear!" explains a reviewer at Spring Mill State Park Campground.

Historic pioneer village exploration: Several sites showcase early settlement history. According to a camper, Spring Mill has "an amazing pioneer village to explore where an original corn mill stands and you can buy freshly ground corm mill!"

Nature center programs: Educational activities for all ages occur regularly. "They had a Smokey the Bear program for the kids and some really fun activities at the nature center while we were there," reports a family that visited Spring Mill State Park Campground.

What campers like

Lakefront camping access: Many campers appreciate waterside sites. At West Boggs Park, "We prefer a small section of the park called Milligan's Point. There are only 10 spots, you're right on the water, and has full hook ups," shares one frequent visitor.

Seasonal themed events: Holiday weekends feature special activities. "Boggs is great for Families. They have great activities such as outdoor movies, scavenger hunts, and more... Their holiday/theme weekends are fun for all ages," explains a regular at West Boggs Park.

Trail systems for mixed use: Hiking and golf cart trails provide exploration options. One camper notes, "They are golf cart friendly with many well-maintained trails. Many spots are well shaded and there is a great section of lakefront spots as well."

Dark sky stargazing: Minimal light pollution creates impressive night views at several campgrounds. At Sleeping Bear Retreat, "It is so dark at night that you can see the stars! Biggest lots too, you can fit like 10 tents and still have space to move!!"

What you should know

Primitive camping availability: Options exist for those seeking basic experiences. At Martin State Forest, "Campground is very basic with clean level sites. Tent, car and van camping friendly, but smaller RV (less than 30 ft trailer or camper) would also do okay."

Varied bathroom facilities: Quality ranges significantly between locations. "The restroom and shower buildings need updating. The outside brick or masonry needs. Painted interior looks rusty and old and just need some upkeep," reports one camper about West Boggs Park.

Cellular coverage limitations: Service varies by provider and location. For military personnel visiting Crane MWR Campground, "no Wi-Fi and unless you have Verizon, no cell service (but they are supposed to have a new AT&T tower up soon)."

Site leveling challenges: Some campgrounds feature uneven terrain. "We spent a week at spring mill state park. The site we where at was heavily sloped, the only flat part was where they put the fire pit at."

Tips for camping with families

Paddleboat rentals: Affordable water recreation options for children. "We were able to rent a paddle boat for $8/hr and saw tons of turtles!" shares a family who visited Spring Mill State Park.

Unique accommodation options: Try alternatives to standard camping. "All you need to bring is a blanket and food this place has the rest," says a visitor who stayed in the teepees at Sleeping Bear Retreat.

Cave exploration for kids: Natural features provide educational adventures. "We also went for a hike to see Donaldson cave and the kids absolutely loved it! It was beautiful, and the highlight of the trip," notes a family who camped at Spring Mill.

Golf cart safety awareness: Monitor children around campground transportation. "Lots of golf carts cruise the campground. That can be a little dangerous. So you need to watch your little ones closely," advises a camper from West Boggs Park.

Tips from RVers

Big rig limitations: Size restrictions apply at several campgrounds. "If you are wanting sewer, this park is very limited for 45' Motorhomes. The available sites with sewer are all back in that are not very level and many are tight for Big Rigs including large trailers," cautions an RVer at West Boggs Park.

Seasonal water availability: Plan for limited utilities during colder months. At Patoka Lake Campground, "Only waterfill location was at the camp store. Shower house was open and warm water was available," according to a spring visitor.

Wildlife precautions: Secure food to prevent unwanted animal interactions. "MAKE SURE TO PUT AWAY ALL OF YOUR FOOD!!! Even scraps and Yes even DOG FOOD. We had raccoon visitors both nights," warns a camper at Patoka Lake Campground.

Dump station timing: Plan for potential wait times during peak checkout periods. "4 dump stations at exit but still lines due to shear number of sites but things moved quickly," notes a visitor to Patoka Lake.

Frequently Asked Questions

What camping is available near Loogootee, IN?

According to TheDyrt.com, Loogootee, IN offers a wide range of camping options, with 120 campgrounds and RV parks near Loogootee, IN and 10 free dispersed camping spots.

Which is the most popular campground near Loogootee, IN?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Loogootee, IN is West Boggs Park with a 4.4-star rating from 11 reviews.

Where can I find free dispersed camping near Loogootee, IN?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 10 free dispersed camping spots near Loogootee, IN.

What parks are near Loogootee, IN?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 16 parks near Loogootee, IN that allow camping, notably Patoka Lake and Hoosier National Forest.