Best Dispersed Camping near Martinsville, IN

Dispersed camping opportunities abound in the Hoosier National Forest near Martinsville, Indiana. Berry Ridge Road offers multiple primitive campsites spaced far apart, providing exceptional privacy and solitude. The Peninsula Trail and Grub Ridge trails feature marked campsites with fire rings only, situated in remote settings. Hickory Ridge and Horse Camp Road also provide free dispersed camping options. According to reviews, many sites at Berry Ridge are "very far spread out" with campsites sometimes "half mile or more apart," ensuring a truly secluded experience.

These primitive sites require self-sufficiency. No drinking water, electricity, or sanitary facilities exist at most locations. Pack in all necessary supplies and pack out all trash. Fire rings are present at established sites, and gathering dead wood from the surrounding forest is permitted. Several campers noted that Berry Ridge has "plenty of dry wood" available near the sites. The gravel roads accessing these areas can be steep and challenging in wet conditions. Standard vehicles can reach most sites, though a sedan may struggle on some routes.

The Deam Wilderness area contains some of Indiana's best backcountry camping opportunities. Peninsula Trail campsites offer good stargazing due to minimal light pollution, though some noise from vehicles on the main road may be audible at night. Campers should be aware of wildlife, including timber rattlesnakes in valley areas. Springs exist in some locations but require treatment. Lakeside campsites along Peninsula Trail provide scenic views, though boaters occasionally approach the shoreline during summer months. Winter camping is possible but requires additional preparation for potentially challenging road conditions.

Best Dispersed Sites Near Martinsville, Indiana (10)

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Recent Free Dispersed Camping Photos near Martinsville, IN

20 Photos of 10 Martinsville Campgrounds


Dispersed Camping Reviews near Martinsville, IN

29 Reviews of 10 Martinsville Campgrounds


  • J
    Oct. 14, 2025

    Sundance Lake Dispersed Camping

    Disbursed camping at its Indiana best

    Free disbursed camping at its best in Indiana. Not another soul camped within earshot. Clean site. Gravel pad for vehicle. Green grass for tent. 14 day limit. No reservations needed or available. Just show up and camp if a site is open. This site was very well marked.

  • Matt V.The Dyrt PRO User
    May. 9, 2024

    Peninsula Trail

    Awesome Place to BackCountry

    The Peninsula Trail and Grub Ridge trails both have marked campsites that are very far apart and totally private.  These are dispersed/primitive sites with a fire ring only.  Very remote feeling (except you CAN hear any loud cars/motorcycles at night from the main road over the lake). Light pollution is pretty low however, so good stargazing. 

    Trails are in good shape and the Penninsuala trail is pretty easy. Grub Ridge trail gets moderate the further west you take it.  CAmpsites 10,11,12,13 are very accessible with a short hike and are fantastic spots.   

    Lakeside spots are great also if you hike farther, but as others have said, drunk boaters tend to stop along the shore even though they are not supposed to. A few years ago boat access was limited to non-motoroized but not sure it is being enforced very well.  

    All the same, the Deam Wilderness area is Indianas best for backpacking and backcountry camping. 

    Down tower ridge road, to the east, just past the tower - turn right and the road there has lots of drive-in sites as well. These fill up fast on the weekends.

  • April S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 5, 2023

    Berry Ridge Road - Dispersed Camping

    This is dispersed at its best!

    Free camp ground. Very private. Decent sized space to park for 2-3 vehicles. Trails, plenty of dry wood, away from the roads, no running water or electricity, decent amount of spaces we came in at night and counted about 9 very far spread out camp sights. Good ground to pitch a tent to. There was other camp grounds bigger than the one we stayed at and had several people at them with a big bonfire going but what’s great is when we found our spot we couldn’t see their fire or even hear them! One thing to note is that some of the camp sites are tucked back into the trees a little and can be hard to spot. At night we thought one was open but there was actually someone there and just couldn’t see them from the road so we had to back out and go to the next site (sorry whoever that was lol). It is also a ways off the beaten path for through car camping but honestly if we were ever coming back through this way I would make the hour detour to stop here again!

  • jThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 20, 2025

    Sundance Lake Dispersed Camping

    Camping area

    National forest area with 3ish campsites one of which can accommodate a vehicle. Wooded so no solar or starlink. Small lake nearby with what looks like some trails.

  • Jeremy F.The Dyrt PRO User
    Apr. 20, 2020

    Berry Ridge Road - Dispersed Camping

    Greatbdispersed sites.

    Multiple campsites in the area, I've stayed at two both of which were away from others, clean, fairly flat and had plenty of dead wood around to burn. Some sites, at least one, could fit a pretty good sized camper. This is pack in pack out, no amenities camping for free

  • K
    Dec. 30, 2023

    Berry Ridge Road - Dispersed Camping

    Pretty Forest Spot

    Huge sinkhole that makes for a cool look. Dry area for tent, not big enough for a camper but cool for car camping!

  • j
    Aug. 9, 2021

    Berry Ridge Road - Dispersed Camping

    Berry ridge campground

    If you are into boondocking at all defiantly check out berry ridge it’s just south of brown county Indiana beautiful country mostly hills tons of camp spots sometimes half mile or more apart haven’t seen any snakes here either and the best part I haven’t seen any people!!!!! Haha camp spot is about 100ft off the main road with thick woods in between the road and the campsite even if someone drove by we wouldn’t see them no water or electric hookups plenty of wood lying around to use for a fire clean campsites all gravel roads

  • Brian S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 18, 2025

    Berry Ridge Road - Dispersed Camping

    Great spot

    This was a great place to car camp while driving across USA. The main spot was full but I found a great pull off spot a lil further. I came across at least 5 lil spots. There a nice trail meandering next to road.

  • E
    Apr. 27, 2022

    Peninsula Trail

    Awesome!

    Went there with my kids and wife, we had a really great time. Primitive camping at its finest. Long walk to the water so make sure you bring plenty of drinking water. Springs available in the valleys but watch for timber rattlesnakes. Definitely would make this a must to visit.


Guide to Martinsville

Dispersed camping options in Hoosier National Forest near Martinsville, Indiana range from roadside sites to backcountry locations. The forest contains approximately 203,000 acres of public land with elevations varying between 400-800 feet. Primitive camping near Martinsville occurs primarily on gravel forest roads that wind through mixed hardwood forests with seasonal creeks and occasional ridge views.

What to do

Hiking trails access: Peninsula Trail features multiple numbered campsites alongside hiking opportunities. Camper Aspen B. notes, "On the peninsula trail, there are multiple campsites with fire rings but you may also camp anywhere if you are at least 100 ft from the water. Campsite #18 has a great view and is large enough for at least 4 tents if you have a big group."

Stargazing opportunities: The remote nature of these camping areas creates excellent dark sky viewing. According to Matt V., "Light pollution is pretty low however, so good stargazing" at Peninsula Trail.

Seasonal wildlife observation: Forest areas contain diverse wildlife that varies by season. Visitor Jimmy H. experienced the winter conditions, reporting, "I pulled in at midnight in a sedan in the winter and i was able to safely find my way. Very nice drive during the day, hiking is fantastic!" at Hickory Ridge Primitive Dispersed Campsites.

What campers like

Seclusion and privacy: The dispersed sites in this area provide exceptional isolation from neighboring campers. Amber R. describes Berry Ridge Road - Dispersed Camping as a "Beautiful secluded site that is pretty far off of the road, but not too far. There was no traffic or other people in site."

Ease of access for overnight stops: The area serves as a convenient waypoint for travelers. Brian S. reports, "This was a great place to car camp while driving across USA. The main spot was full but I found a great pull off spot a lil further. I came across at least 5 lil spots."

Multiple site options: The forest roads contain numerous potential camping locations within short distances. David S. calls BerryRidge Road Dispersed Camping "A hidden gem. Just a few sites along the road minimum traffic encountered."

What you should know

Limited facilities: The dispersed camping experience requires complete self-sufficiency. Jeremy F. explains, "This is pack in pack out, no amenities camping for free."

Fire management requirements: Established fire rings exist at many sites, and deadwood collection is permitted. James W. advises visitors to "understand what dispersed camping is and then there won't be any complaints about can't get a camper in or whatever."

Terrain challenges: The gravel forest roads can present access difficulties. Steven G. observed at Sundance Lake Dispersed Camping, "I wouldn't be trying to pull a travel trailer back into here unless it was very small."

Natural hazards awareness: Campers should prepare for wildlife encounters. Elliot F. warns, "Springs available in the valleys but watch for timber rattlesnakes."

Tips for camping with families

Skill-building location: The remote settings provide excellent opportunities for outdoor education. Jase G. describes Hickory Ridge as a "Good spot to get some quiet time to learn/hone skills or for some good quality time with the family while being plugged into nature and unplugged from their electronics."

Water access planning: Lake sites offer recreational opportunities but require preparation. Steve D. mentions, "LOVE this trail. Just challenging enough to make it worth it. Campsites have great fire pits. Only downside is the drunk boat people that show up in the summer."

Safety considerations: First-time visitors may experience initial uncertainty about the remote setting. Palynn F. shares, "This is my first time camping solo. I was definitely nervous at first and almost debated getting back on the road before sundown. But it's now 10:37 pm, I'm traveling from Chicago to Florida and I kind of love this spot."

Tips from RVers

Vehicle size limitations: Most dispersed sites accommodate smaller vehicles only. Julie notes that Sundance Lake area has "3ish campsites one of which can accommodate a vehicle. Wooded so no solar or starlink."

Road condition assessment: Forest service roads vary in quality and accessibility. Amber R. reports, "I have a promaster conversion and had no trouble making it to this site, however the road was gravel and steep at times."

Campsite selection strategy: Arriving early improves chances of securing suitable sites. Matt V. observes about Peninsula Trail, "Down tower ridge road, to the east, just past the tower - turn right and the road there has lots of drive-in sites as well. These fill up fast on the weekends."

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Martinsville dispersed camping located?

Martinsville dispersed camping is located in the Hoosier National Forest in southern Indiana. The primary dispersed camping areas include Peninsula Trail, which features marked campsites along hiking trails with a remote feel, though you may hear some road noise from across the lake. There are multiple sites throughout this region, with many camping opportunities spread across the forest surrounding Martinsville, offering secluded natural settings for primitive camping experiences.

What are the rules for dispersed camping in Martinsville?

Dispersed camping in Martinsville follows standard primitive camping rules. At Berry Ridge Road - Dispersed Camping, you must pack in and pack out all trash, as there are no trash services or amenities. Campsites typically have only fire rings. Keep sites clean and maintain distance from water sources. These are primitive sites with no running water or electricity. Campfires are permitted in established fire rings only. Some sites have restrictions on vehicle size, with certain areas better suited for tent camping or small vehicles rather than large RVs or campers.

Is there free dispersed camping available in Martinsville?

Yes, free dispersed camping is available in the Martinsville area. Sundance Lake Dispersed Camping offers free camping spots near a quiet lake in Hoosier National Forest, though it may get busier on weekends. Similarly, Hickory Ridge Primitive Dispersed Campsites provides free camping opportunities. These areas offer private, spread-out sites with natural surroundings. The sites are typically first-come, first-served with no reservation system or fees required for overnight stays.