R
Randy D.
Scout
Scoutgrandpas farm campground richmond indiana
Cons
There is a road running right by the campground with dump truck’s all day driving by. After 5pm they stop
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 ReviewsBrookville, IN13 milesWebsite+1 (765) 647-2657$26 - $33 / 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 ReviewsLiberty, IN14 milesWebsite+1 (765) 458-5565$16 - $26 / 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 ReviewsCollege Corner, OH23 milesWebsite+1 (513) 523-6347$31 / night
"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 ReviewsBatesville, IN14 milesWebsite+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
7 ReviewsBatesville, IN16 milesWebsite+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 ReviewBatesville, IN10 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. Quakertown State Recreation Area Campground — Brookville Lake
2 ReviewsLiberty, IN12 milesWebsite+1 (765) 647-26578. Morgan’s Outdoor Adventures
1 ReviewBrookville, IN11 milesWebsite+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."
9. Quakertown State Rec Area
2 ReviewsBrookville, IN13 milesWebsite"A shooting range nearby is a little annoying. There's a good amount of trees for shade coverage."
10. Franklin County Park
1 ReviewBrookville, IN11 milesWebsite+1 (765) 647-4422"Close to a small town. And not to far from the Brookville lake. Cheap nightly rates."
Recent Camping Photos near Laurel, IN
109 Photos of 102 Laurel Campgrounds
Brian K.
Serenity Now
Lerin P.
Morgan’s Outdoor Adventures
Don N.
Quakertown State Recreation Area Campground — Brookville Lake
Joe B.
Mounds State Recreation Area Campground — Brookville Lake
Desiree R.
Sugar Maple Grove Campground
Gerard E.
Whitewater Memorial State Park Campground
Sallie M.
Batesville KOA
Lerin P.
Camp Cottonwood
Bryce W.
Governor Bebb MetroPark Campground
Lisa C.
Hueston Woods State Park Campground
Roger W.
Hidden Paradise Campground
GKL P.
Gkl Campground
Recent Reviews near Laurel, IN
523 Reviews of 102 Laurel Campgrounds
MickandKarla W.
LegendIndianapolis KOA
Super Deluxe Sites are Worth It
The Indianapolis KOA was easy to find just off I-70. We had heard that check-in involved a tight turn near the office, but we had no issues navigating the turn with our 40’ fifth wheel and F450. Check-in was quick and easy, and we proceeded to deluxe Paw Pen Site D55, a pull-through with full hookups. We’ve stayed at KOAs with Paw Pens before, but this location had the largest fenced dog area we’ve seen to date, which was a nice surprise. Cell coverage was solid with 3 bars on both Verizon and T-Mobile. The campground has a lot of mature trees, so satellite service could be challenging depending on site location. For this overnight stay, we used our T-Mobile Home Internet and saw 35.4 Mbps download speeds instead of deploying Starlink. Campground Wi-Fi was available but slow at 3.89 Mbps download. The laundry room was clean and well maintained, with large washers and dryers. There was signage noting that the well water may stain white clothing, but we washed some white items without any issues. Take a few minutes to read the campground rules—they’re surprisingly hilarious and worth the laugh. Overall, this was a great overnight stop and one of the better KOA stays we’ve had.
- MMichael M.Scout
Glo Wood Campground
Easy layover
This place is under new management. New owners are great. Good spot for a layover, or place to stay if at a concert or something else in the area. It's just far enough off the beaten path, but close enough to everything.
Dwaynes W.ScoutBatesville KOA
THE WORST KOA I'VE EVER STAYED AT
Bathrooms = -5 Showers = -100 Staff = 5 Campsites = 2. Could they make the sites any smaller? Camper next to you is right on top of you. Landscaping = 4 - just not kept up well at all. Dog Park = one, and it's a loooooooooooong ways away. I travel full-time. Stay at KOA's all the time. This is, by far, THE WORST KOA I have been to and, no matter what, I won't be back. Seriously bad. There's even a $10 charge if you leave the KOA and then try to return . What? I have to pay to get back to my things? It looks nice with the ponds... but truth be told, THE WORST KOA EVER - it's a dump compared to what is expected from a KOA. Uhg.
- pphyllis E.Scout
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.ScoutKamp 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.
- MMike K.Scout
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.
GuideSummit 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.Scout
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.
Guide to Laurel
Camping spots near Laurel, Indiana feature a mix of water-based recreation and woodland environments at elevations ranging from 850 to 950 feet above sea level. The region experiences four distinct seasons with summer highs averaging in the mid-80s and winter lows typically reaching the low 20s. Most campgrounds in the area sit on formerly glaciated land, creating both hilly terrain and flatter camping areas within the same vicinity.
What to do
Water recreation at Brookville Lake: Multiple no-wake zones for paddling and fishing areas along this 5,260-acre reservoir. "This is a clean and well maintained camp ground. If you are looking to get close to the lake life this is a great spot for it. You will find many campers are here to enjoy the lake with their watercraft or at the big sandy beach for swimming and paddle boarding," notes a visitor to Mounds State Recreation Area.
Horseback riding trails: Designated equestrian areas with starting points directly from horse campgrounds. "I came here and stayed in my tent (family had their horse trailer with camper) for a night during the chilly nights of October. I wish all campsites were like these - very, very spread out," says a camper at Whitewater Memorial State Park.
Mountain biking: Technical single track trails with creek crossings and switchbacks available seasonally. As one visitor describes, "I descended over 1,000 feet in the first 4 miles. There was a lot of climbing, technical single track, switchbacks, rocky creek crossings and some roots. The trees keep it cool even in 80 degree weather."
What campers like
Spacious waterfront sites: Many campsites offer 20-30 yard widths with direct river access. A camper at Morgan's Outdoor Adventures shares, "We loved the views of Morgan's. Steps away from gorgeous river views. There is nothing like waking up and making breakfast while watching the river roll by!"
Off-season tranquility: Camping during April-May or September-October offers fewer crowds and cooler temperatures. "Stopped here for one night on our way to Michigan. Drove around looking at all the sites, wrote down numbers of sites we'd like to stay at (near bathrooms). Decided to come back for 12 days after our trip. Many sites to choose from."
Private swimming areas: Beyond the main beaches, several campgrounds offer secluded water access points. "This is a great place to swim, very quiet. There are plenty of places for picnics and a nice campground," mentions a visitor to Hueston Woods State Park.
What you should know
Site topography challenges: Many campgrounds feature sloped sites requiring leveling equipment. "The camp sites are black topped but narrow and short. More problematic is that most have slopes. A few too steep to level a trailer."
Weekend noise levels: Expect increased activity on weekends with potential noise from golf carts and music. "The only negative things I encountered while staying at this campground were the loud golf carts with their music blasting until late at night on the weekends. It seems like the same person would just cruise up and down the roads all evening," reports a camper at Indian Lakes RV Campground.
Limited full hookup availability: Reserve full hookup sites 3-6 months in advance, especially for summer weekends. "Very cute town of Brookville for shopping and or rafting on the nearby river. Campground very clean w/ lots of bath/shower locations. Lots of electric site - only negative was there were very few full hook up sites so need to reserve those early."
Tips for camping with families
Beach alternatives: Multiple no-wake coves offer safer swimming than main beach areas. "Lots of fun for the family, huge lake for boating."
Playground proximity: Some campgrounds have playgrounds positioned away from camping loops. "Cons: hard to get a site next to the playground - it's kinda out of the way."
Wildlife education: Watch for raccoons and use camping as teaching opportunity about respecting wildlife. "Watch out for the raccoons they are pretty aggressive and were all over our campsite. Clearly they are used to getting handouts, so keep your foodstuffs in you vehicle or well secured," advises a visitor to Hidden Paradise Campground.
Tips from RVers
Maneuvering constraints: Many campground roads have tight 90-degree turns with limited backing space. "Oddly the roads were one way but all of the sites were at 90 degrees from the narrow road making it difficult to back in."
Site width variations: Check site dimensions before booking for larger rigs over 35 feet. "Pretty level, plenty of room for our 43' fifth wheel. We didn't swim but the beach looked nice. We did fish a little."
Site drainage considerations: Avoid booking during rainy periods in low-lying areas. "Loved our site - lots of trees for hanging a hammock and very roomy! Wouldn't book during rain though - I think it would be super muddy."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular campground near Laurel, IN?
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.
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