Taylor Ridge Campground near Morgantown, Indiana sits at approximately 750 feet elevation in the rolling hills of Brown County. The campground is part of a region known for its remarkable fall colors when the maple, oak, and yellowwood trees transform in October. Winter camping options remain available in several locations when temperatures typically range from 20-40°F during December through February.
What to do
Hiking through forested trails: At Taylor Ridge Campground, multiple trails offer varied difficulty levels. "The park is gigantic! It takes a long time to get from the entrance of the park to the actual campground, but the drive is beautiful," notes Jessie W. The trailhead near the campsite leads "down a beautiful trail to a lake."
Mountain biking on purpose-built trails: Buffalo Ridge Campground offers excellent mountain biking trails for all skill levels. "The mountainbike trails are fantastic, with purpose built trails for beginner to expert (flow, berms, rollers, jumps...)," reports TMB. Michael S. agrees: "The mountain bike trails are fantastic."
Fishing and kayaking: The three lakes at Morgan-Monroe State Forest provide places for fishing and water activities. "Three small lakes are on the property for fishing and kayaking," notes Ron H. The Three Lakes area makes for an enjoyable water outing, with trails connecting the lakes for combined hiking and water activities.
What campers like
Secluded camping sites: Many campers appreciate the privacy at Yellowwood State Forest. "Very beautiful yet primitive campground. All the campgrounds are numbered and have their own names. Think there are 80 sites in total," writes Sammii D., who adds it's a "nice quiet place to escape the crazy. Very dog friendly too!"
Clean facilities: Paynetown Campground maintains well-kept bathrooms and showers. "Bathrooms and showers are nice," says Karla H. Another camper, Katie M., was "most impressed with how clean the facilities was. There was someone cleaning the showers and bathrooms every few hours, everything was always fully stocked."
Free dispersed camping: For those seeking pet-friendly camping near Morgantown without fees, Berry Ridge Road offers primitive 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," reports Jeremy F. Another camper adds it has "beautiful secluded site that is pretty far off of the road, but not too far."
What you should know
Campsite selection matters: When booking at Brown County State Park, pay attention to site features. "Pay particular attention to the size of the site you're booking as some were pretty small. Also, some sites were fairly sloped as well," advises Amanda D. about Taylor Ridge Campground.
Limited RV access in some areas: Oak Ridge Camping Area has restrictions for larger vehicles. "We are RV campers and there are only about 5 sites we could get in to. Our camper is about 25' and it was tight get in and out of the campground," explains Ron H. The main campground has around 20 sites but only some accommodate RVs.
Seasonal considerations: Most campgrounds in the area have limited services during winter. "There are several potable water stations and pit toilets throughout the campgrounds and one dump station," notes Stephen & Theresa B. about Yellowwood State Forest. Some campgrounds close entirely from November through April.
Tips for camping with families
Look for activity centers: Paynetown Campground offers organized activities. "The activity center has programs all the time and there is always something going on there," says Jamie B. "This is the campground we visit the most. There is always something to do. The beach, the trails, the geocaches on the trails, kayak and boat rentals, the activity center."
Plan for nearby attractions: When staying at Raccoon Ridge Campground, consider visiting Nashville, Indiana. "Nashville is right there with lots of artsy shops and restaurants in rustic buildings," writes Cathy T. "The town has souvenirs shops in the old 50's style look, dining, groceries, etc," adds Ron B.
Choose family-friendly sites: Some campgrounds specifically accommodate children better than others. "There is a playground at the entrance of Mason Ridge campground and a fire tower," mentions Ginger T. Taylor Ridge is noted as "wooded" with more separation between sites compared to other loops.
Tips from RVers
Access limitations: For RVs at Brown County State Park, be aware of entrance restrictions. "The north entrance is through a covered bridge with a 9 foot clearance and 3 ton limit! Otherwise, use the easily accessible west entrance, just a few miles 'around the corner,'" explains TMB from Buffalo Ridge Campground.
Site leveling requirements: Many campsites require leveling equipment. "We did need to use several leveling blocks on our site, which made for a doosey of a bottom step into and out of our trailer," reports GP from Brown County-Nashville KOA. "Sites are level and good for big rigs down to tents," notes Cherie B.
Dump station concerns: Check facilities before arrival if traveling with an RV. "The dump station hose did not have a connection to allow me to flush the blackwater holding tank," reports Don N. about Morgan-Monroe State Forest. Some campgrounds like Bill Monroe Memorial Music Park provide electric hookups but limited sewer connections.
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