Cabin camping is an amazing way to experience Monroe Lake, while still enjoying a little rustic luxury. Finding a place to cabin camp in Indiana is easier than ever. From secluded to easy-to-reach, these Indiana cabin rentals are perfect for any adventurer.
Hardin Ridge is a 1,200-acre recreational complex located on the shores of Monroe Reservoir in Hooiser National Forest. The complex includes six shady campground loops, two picnic areas with shelters, and two rental cabins. The area offers something for everyone, with activities like camping, picnicking, boat launching, swimming, nature walks, and interpretive programs offered in a forested environment.
A 300-foot swimming beach on Lake Monroe offers a place for children to play and swimmers to sunbathe and enjoy the water. The beach offers a combination of sand and sun, with a shady grass-covered hillside above. There are no lifeguards on duty. No glass containers or pets are allowed in the beach area. The Hardin Ridge Trail is a 2-mile hiking and bicycle trail that runs from the day use area to the various campground loops. This trail roughly follows the main campground road and provides a safe surface for families to hike or bike, as well as a scenic overlook. Fishing is allowed anywhere along the lakeshore within the recreational complex, but several quiet inlets provide secluded fishing holes along the lake's banks. Popular catches include blue gill, striped bass, large mouth bass and crappie. On the Ted T. Turtle interpretive trail, visitors can travel 1.2 miles through a scenic hardwood forest, along a small creek and down to Lake Monroe and back. On the trail, visitors have the opportunity to learn about the history, geology, and wildlife common to southern Indiana. For visitors interested in boating, the lake has a 3-lane launch ramp that is open year-round. A 75 vehicle/trailer parking area is also available as well as a fully accessible loading dock provided at the boat ramp.
Monroe Reservoir spans 10,750-acres and is the largest lake in Indiana. There is an overlook on Hardin Ridge Road that is spectacular in any season and gives visitors a high vantage point of the lake, colorful marinas across the water and a vast expanse of forest. The entire area is forested with hardwoods and is well-shaded to give visitors the feel of being in the deep woods. In spring, the dogwoods and redbuds bring bright color to the forest and in fall, the foliage offers colors in vibrant hues of yellow, orange and red.
Special Places on the Hoosier National Forest Brooks Cabin Buffalo Trace Carnes Mill Site Clover Lick Barrens Hickory Ridge Lookout Tower Initial Point Lick Creek African American Settlement The Jacob Rickenbaugh Homestead Wesley Chapel Gulf
$50 - $55 / night
$20 - $45 / night
$25 - $40 / night
Your #1 Stop for Premier Camping in Indiana
Discover the ultimate RV and family fun destination in Indiana at Lake Monroe Village. Located in the picturesque rolling hills of southern Indiana and surrounded by the breathtaking views of Lake Monroe, our resort provides an unparalleled experience for those seeking to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life.
eXplore Brown County at Valley Branch Retreat is located in historic, scenic, southern Brown County, Indiana. Year-round adventure featuring: zip line canopy tours, paintball, off-road vehicle tours, arrow tag, mountain biking, hiking trails, camping, and cabins. Including the longest, fastest, and highest twin zip line in Indiana.
Stay in one of our rustic camping cabins, all with heat and AC. Our campground features primitive and full-hook-up sites. Rowboats and canoes are available to rent on our 4-acre fishing lake. Our Gallery Banquet Hall is available to celebrate your wedding, special occasion, corporate retreat, reunion, or social function.
We host many events here at eXplore Brown County, large groups are always welcome. Plan your next adventure with us today.
Free Wi-Fi is available at the Gallery on the porch.
Come eXplore with us today!
$15 - $40 / night
Guide
This is a great family campground with excellent amenities, clean sites and grounds, beautiful surroundings, multiple cabins, pavilions, and a welcoming host office. We would love to visit and stay again. Do not let the short rural entry drive deter you. Yes it's hilly and curvy but take it slow and careful I promise it's worth it. Free firewood is just a bonus. Get a shady spot and enjoy the stay.
RangerWe went up in June 2024. There are several spots that are in the shade, but some of them are permanent campers. 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. Golf carts are available to rent, and I feel are a necessity to get around this large park. There are also large fields to play in. Didn’t use the bath house. The general store has ice and a few souvenirs. There is cell service (AT&T and Verizon) There is also free wood. They have really cool spiral steps that lead up to a walk bridge. They also have a donkey and goats to pet. Altogether a really nice and clean park. Will definitely go again.
Scout
Stayed two nights, tent camping. It was a great time meeting new people and exploring the surrounding area.
Traveler
We were so fortunate to have found The Retreat at Hickory Hills and stay there for a month! There’s two pools, a pickle ball court, a basketball half court, farm animals, golf cart trails, kayak/canoe/row boats, exploring creeks, fishing, a dog park, several playgrounds, Gaga ball, tether ball, volleyball, frisbee golf and several weekend activities for everyone. Saturday mornings were our favorite where we could get biscuits and gravy, coffee and the kids had craft time. It’s definitely worth bringing mountain bikes or renting their golf carts to explore their golf cart trails! We went out on these several times and it never got old! Staff and campers were welcoming and friendly. We still haven’t stopped talking about how CLEAN they keep everything. The sites were large and they’re still expanding and adding more sites. There’s a seasonal campers area and an overnight or monthly area. We stayed in the overnight/monthly area. It was peaceful and relaxing throughout the week and lively during the weekend. It was a wonderful balance!! We’ll definitely be back.
ScoutThe bathrooms are dirty, showers are full of hair, the toilets are dirty, staff can be rude, not a lot to do besides walk/drive around, not a very fun park if u was to bring ur kids to it, there’s not much to see. I wouldn’t waste ur take time comming here and instead go to a better park that’s much better
Guide
We have been coming here every year since 2016. Most of the sites are shady. Our favorite site is 72. It is close to a water hookup if you need to top off your fresh water tank, shady, and not too close to other sites. They added a new shower house close by in 2022 or 2023.
Scout
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Legend
We did a drive through to check out the campground. It was $8 for day use, self pay.
This is a beautiful campground. There's 4 loops with 30 & 50 amp. 2 loops with no electric.
Well spaced all tucked into the trees on a ridge. Also some carry in sites.
If we tented camped still I'd be in heaven!
You can reserve sites, or some are first come first served.
Shower/restroom with pit toilets scattered around.
3 trails. A beach, picnic areas& a boat launch.
This seems less popular than Paynetown, but a lot quieter!!
Guide
This was my first time at a campsite, so I don't have other sites to compare to. Overall, my experience was great. Clean area with lots of amenities. They stack free firewood at your campsite to burn. I'm military, so the gunfire, canon fire, and helicopters didn't bother me at all. Those things don't happen all the time though.
Traveler
nice camping here,but they have small area ,i see racoon,cath meow lol but they attack
Scout
This was a repeat visit. Just as perfect as the first time. Lake was beautiful and staff are always so helpful. They even have an on-site RV Tech that works for them who helped us fix our hot water heater. Very professional young man. We also enjoyed live music at the pavilion, and PIZZA from their new café, it was fabulous. They even have Boba tea.
TravelerThis place is deluxe. Sites are spacious. Good space between campsites. Restrooms are clean. Well maintained facility
Staff are very friendly and helpful
TravelerIn January we found a couple of available sites at Spring Mill when trying to plan where we'd go for the eclipse, so we took them and then started looking at what the park had to offer. We started to really look forward to the park as much as the eclipse. The park lived up to expectations. We were able to do a lot of hiking. Our dog was welcome in most areas of the park (pioneer village being the only significant exception). They were planning for a ton of folks to be there for the eclipse, but the numbers were lower than expected. We had the perfect spot for viewing it right across the lane from our campsite, so it didn't really matter how many people came into the park for it.
The only possible negative was that our site wasn't very level for our pop up. We had our leveler with us, so it didn't matter. My wife and I decided that the eclipse was simply the cherry on top of a very good sundae. We loved the park and will likely return again.
Scout
I have never had a bad stay. I absolutely love camping here. The scenery is beautiful and I love how small the campground is.
ScoutThis campground  offers, high-speed Wi-Fi that actually works!  the new owners upgraded last year and it’s fabulous !
ScoutThis campground became a KOA in late fall 2022. Since the new owners took over they have made wonderful improvements. Added a new saltwater pool, deluxe cabins, deluxe camping sites. All sites have 50/30 AMP. Most with lake views or select a site right nearest the lake. They added a New Cafe with pizza, coffees and Boba tea. Super clean park & restrooms
Scout
New owners are great! The whole staff was friendly and helpful. Minutes from state park and downtown. Big rig friendly sites, Tmobile worked perfectly, facilities clean and weekend activities made the stay enjoyable for our kids.
Guide
Electric sites near the lake with several water front sites. Full hook up sites that are well spread out so you are not on top of each other. Very friendly staff. Clean facilities. Quite the hidden gem.
Guide
Well kept campground. Cleanest campground bathrooms I have ever seen. Friendly staff. Our site was directly beside a tiny cabin and could have been a little bigger but that’s what you get often times with RV sites. Unfortunately, witnessed one of the staff members abusing their dog.
Scout
Very well kept, pleasant people. Nice location.
Scout
Nice get away , owners are nice and helpful. Nice camp store and a pool..
TravelerDecided to try a new campground and glad we did! Staff was very friendly, and overall a cute, quiet, and nice campground! Beach was muddy and shallow, but the lake was beautiful! Bathrooms were decent nothing great nothing bad, bugs weren’t as bad as I expected. We had a great time, renting a canoe and keeping it on our site until we returned it. Highly recommend getting a site on the water! Would definitely return.
ScoutWe booked this location as a one night stop on our way to our destination, but it turned out to be way more than that. The owner, their staff, and fellow campers embraced us as part of the family. Their fire pit fellowship is second to none. It’s places like this that inspire us to continue camping.
Scout
Nice quiet secluded lots of nature great atmosphere family friendly
ScoutI grew up in nearby Bloomington, Indiana, and my family were actually the very first campers at Hardin Ridge in 1966. We unwittingly set up camp the weekend before the campground opened, and we saw a picture of our travel trailer on the front page of the Bloomington Herald-Telephone with a caption "Somebody jumped the gun at the new Hardin Ridge Campground!"
This is a great place to set up camp for a week or two. In summer there is a nice sandy beach on the shore of Lake Monroe (it was free last time I went) with a simple shower house. The six camping loops have several vault toilets, and most have shower houses with flush toilets. While the campgrounds are fully open April 15 to October 15, you can camp year round if you are set up to dry camp. The very first camp loop (Holland Ridge) is often open all year, and no fees are charged when the water is off.
This campground was the destination for many a summer camping trip when I was a child, and for many more when my own kids were little. It's also not far from the Hoosier National Forest, with a horsemen's camp and trails, and a little further east a dozen or so dispersed camp sites.
Scout
We stayed over the Memorial Day holiday with our kid and another couple. We were all impressed with the land and how spaced out the camp sites were. The kids loved the tire swing and tree web. We will definitely be coming back!
Guide
The campground is small and intimate. We had sites 8-9 and they were perfect. Lots of activities and of course the cave. Staff was great. No cell service
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular cabin campsite near Monroe Lake?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular cabin campground near Monroe Lake is Hardin Ridge with a 4.5-star rating from 25 reviews.
What is the best site to find cabin camping near Monroe Lake?
TheDyrt.com has all 36 cabin camping locations near Monroe Lake, with real photos and reviews from campers.
