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Best Tent Camping near Mount Vernon, IN

229 Reviews

Tent campgrounds around Mount Vernon, Indiana include both established and primitive options within a drivable distance. Lake Mauzy East in Kentucky offers spacious tent campsites with direct lake access, while Camp Cadiz Campground in Illinois provides quiet, remote tent camping with just eight sites available. These tent-only camping areas sit within the broader Shawnee National Forest region, providing access to natural attractions like Garden of the Gods.

Most tent campgrounds in this region feature basic amenities suitable for self-sufficient campers. Sites typically include fire rings and picnic tables, though hookups are absent, making them ideal for traditional tent camping experiences. Vault toilets are standard at most locations, with Camp Cadiz offering potable water from a spigot. Lake Mauzy East provides free camping with tent pads positioned right by the water. Seasonal considerations apply, with Tower Rock Campground open from May through mid-December and occasionally subject to closure during Ohio River flooding periods.

The tent camping experience near Mount Vernon emphasizes natural settings and quiet surroundings. Lake Mauzy East offers tent sites with stunning lake views and basic amenities including fire rings and picnic tables. Camp Cadiz provides wider open spaces suitable for multiple tents per site, with easy access to hiking on the River to River trail. Tower Rock Campground offers riverside tent sites with good spacing between campers. The region features dark night skies ideal for stargazing from tent sites. One camper noted, "This is a very cool little basic campground with two stone fireplaces and several other sites with shade. This is a campground you want to use if you like being off the beaten path out on your own."

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Best Tent Sites Near Mount Vernon, Indiana (4)

    1. Lake Mauzy East

    3 Reviews
    Morganfield, KY
    22 miles
    Website
    +1 (270) 389-3580

    "The tent pads are right by the water, offering stunning lake views. Each site comes equipped with a fire ring, picnic table, and access to toilets—everything you need for a comfortable stay."

    "Lake mauzy is very quiet. No hookups but if you want to boondocks this is a great place."

    2. Camp Cadiz Campground

    6 Reviews
    Karbers Ridge, IL
    31 miles
    Website

    "There was potable water from a spigot and lots of kindling around to get fires going. No showers. Over all a nice site. I would stay there again."

    "On a gravel road, in the back country like most everything else on this side of Illinois , fill your gas tank up and your food locker or you will be driving back out a ways to refill. "

    3. Saline County State Conservation Area

    2 Reviews
    Equality, IL
    32 miles
    Website
    +1 (618) 276-4405

    $8 / night

    "There is a dump station and potable water at the entrance to the campground. There are also some water spigots sprinkled throughout the campground."

    "This was a great campground with fantastic views of the lake.

    We also hiked Garden of the Gods and Burden Falls in the Shawnee National Forest. The hikes were great."

    4. Tower Rock Campground

    6 Reviews
    Cave-In-Rock, IL
    38 miles
    Website
    +1 (618) 658-2111

    "Campground is smaller but the sites are spread out well, most have fire ring with grill stand and table, firewood available to gather onsite when I was there, vault toilets, right on the river so may be"

    "There is a pit toilet, but no water. "

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Recent Tent Camping Photos near Mount Vernon, IN

5 Photos of 4 Mount Vernon Campgrounds

Tent Camping Reviews near Mount Vernon, IN

229 Reviews of 4 Mount Vernon Campgrounds

  • Annie C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 1, 2016

    Pharoah - Garden of the Gods Rec Area Campground

    Garden of the Gods

    Primative camping at its best. This is heavily used in the summer and early fall. Picnic tables and fire rings, vault toilets. Go in the off season and you will have plenty of privacy. Fairly level tent sites , some with nice trees for hammocks. Close to Little Grand Canyon, a really neat natural bridge, and Illinois wineries.

  • Richy R.
    Apr. 2, 2025

    Lake Mauzy East

    Harris-Dickerson WMA (Free) – A Hidden Gem on the Lake!

    This is an amazing spot for free camping! The tent pads are right by the water, offering stunning lake views. Each site comes equipped with a fire ring, picnic table, and access to toilets—everything you need for a comfortable stay. Despite its remote feel, Walmart is just a 12-minute drive away for any last-minute supplies. We would have loved to stay longer, but incoming storms cut our trip short. Highly recommended for anyone looking for a peaceful and scenic getaway! No electricity or showers!

  • Lane M.
    Jun. 6, 2019

    Pharoah - Garden of the Gods Rec Area Campground

    Great little spot!

    This camping spot is just down the road from Southern IL’s Garden Of the Gods. There were 12 camping areas. Plenty of room and trees for tents and hammocks. Also, there is a good amount of shade so if you tent in the right spot you don’t wake up roasting from the sun. The campsites have a lot of room so your neighbors don’t seem like they are on top of your site. The spots include a picnic table, hanging poles for trash or lantern, and a fire pit with movable built-in grill. The area is very wooded so unless the ground is wet you can find lots of firewood. There is a drinking water pump at the entrance of the campsite but it’s pretty chlorinated. There is no shower or running water and the toilets are pit style; but there are toilets. I don’t know if other sites had this but ours had 2 trails leading right out of the woods. Great for close to home hiking.

    P.S. Beware of tailless raccoon at site 12 that likes to steal Doritos.

  • M E.
    Oct. 17, 2021

    Pine Ridge

    Beautiful Area with large sites!

    This campground area is beautiful! We stayed here 3 nights. We arrived on a Thursday and there were plenty of open spots. Friday they open some of the other loops up for more people to stay and it did fill up for the weekend. 

    You can get some cell service but only in choice areas (at the front by the water spigot and some of the roads leading down to the lake. We were not able to get any cell service (Verizon, AT&T, or T Mobile) in the electric loop. 

    This area is a primitive area and is not really set up for RVs. Don't get me wrong... RVs can definitely fit in most of the camping spots but only 1 loop has electricity, there is no sanitary dump station, and the water spigot does not have a way to hook up a hose to fill your tank. If you dump your tanks and fill with fresh water before coming you should be good. 

    It does have vault toilets... no showers. The toilets were very clean for vault toilets. 

    The lake area is beautiful with a swimming area, fishing pier, and pavilion to eat or sit under for shade. It looks like they really keep the area cleaned up!

    Another little note that we learned is that the park rangers can help you move sites... or even campgrounds if your site is not working for you so you don't loose out on money like we did. This only applies to other Shawnee campgrounds of course but there are quite a few to choose from!

  • Shelly S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 21, 2019

    Harmonie State Park Campground

    Lotsa trees

    Ranger Review: Primus at Harmonie State Park

    I recently visited Harmonie State Park near New Harmony, In. https://indianastateparks.reserveamerica.com/campgroundDetails.do?contractCode=IN&parkId=570048 Just a heads up when camping in Indiana there is a fee to visit the State Parks. I always carry cash for that , laundry and in some states bathroom use. So, the number one thing that stuck out to me about this campground was the shade. For the most part it’s level (floodplain...I saw no standing water) And all the sites are nicely shaded (we are talking full growth) and good size. The sites are electric only, no water, no sewer. There are centrally located water hydrants and a dump station on the way out of the campground. The campground wasn’t very full when we visited, but there is a plethora of activities to enjoy. An Olympic size pool which back in the day my kids woulda loved. Hiking paths (very wide), one right by the campground and a connector trail to the mountain bike trail area. There’s also a bike section on the paved roads. You could spend a comfortable week here and not be bored.

    Product Review: As a Dyrt Ranger I get to occasionally try out outdoor products while camping and this trip I brought along some Primus “kitchen gear” https://primus.us/ . Primus is known for its camping stoves , the kitchen accessories are pretty sweet too. I have the Trailsporks , a long spoon , a spatula for grilling , campfire plates and a campfire knife. These are very sturdy made accessories and pack in my kit without taking up a lot of space. There are a lot of options on the site to fit your packing needs too, from family fireside to fastpacking . I’m building my fireside kitchen kit .

  • Abby M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Apr. 7, 2021

    Pharoah - Garden of the Gods Rec Area Campground

    Nice little campground

    I arrived on Friday around 2:30pm hoping to get a spot but unfortunately, all spots were already taken (about 10-12). The vault toilet looked decently clean and all sites had a nice fire ring, picnic table and hanging hooks. Some sites were closer together than others but would work for a night or two to enjoy the beauty around! Little picnic area just around the corner and about .5 from several awesome hikes!

  • Ashley D.
    Feb. 24, 2020

    Pike State Forest

    Very primitive

    The park is very primitive with no electricity. There is running water but you have to walk quite a ways to get to it if you arent camping by it. There are no shower houses and the bathrooms are just a glorified porta potty. Aside from lacking amenities it is a very quiet and pretty place to camp.

  • J
    Sep. 1, 2022

    Tower Rock Campground

    Clean, quiet, and great river views!

    Campground is smaller but the sites are spread out well, most have fire ring with grill stand and table, firewood available to gather onsite when I was there, vault toilets, right on the river so may be closed during flood seasons. Will be staying here again!

  • Steve C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 30, 2020

    Pharoah - Garden of the Gods Rec Area Campground

    Basic campsite in a great location

    Basic car camping campsites with a picnic table, fire ring and a food pole at each site. The sites were clean the night I was there but the water seems to have been already turned off for the season (late October). There are vault style outhouses and an honor system check in box $15/night. The best part of this campsite is it’s a 5-10 minute walk to main trail/recreation area as well as the various other trails in the area.

Guide to Mount Vernon

Tent camping near Mount Vernon, Indiana offers a chance to immerse yourself in nature while enjoying various amenities and activities. With several well-reviewed campgrounds in the area, you'll find the perfect spot to set up your tent and unwind.

Tent campers should check out Lake Mauzy East

  • This campground is known for its stunning natural beauty and peaceful atmosphere, making it a favorite among nature lovers. You can explore the serene surroundings while enjoying the company of birds and butterflies.
  • Lake Mauzy East features picnic tables and toilets, ensuring a comfortable camping experience without the need for reservations.
  • Pets are allowed, so you can bring your furry friends along to enjoy the great outdoors together.

Some prices for tent camping range from $0 to $20

  • At the highly rated Lake Mauzy East, camping is free, making it an excellent choice for budget-conscious campers.
  • The Hamilton County State Fish and Wildlife Area offers tent camping with electric hookups for a nominal fee, providing added convenience for your stay.
  • For a unique experience, consider Camp Cadiz Campground, where you can enjoy rustic camping in a quiet setting, perfect for those looking to escape the hustle and bustle.

Tent campers appreciate these amenities

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Mount Vernon, IN?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Mount Vernon, IN is Lake Mauzy East with a 4.7-star rating from 3 reviews.

What is the best site to find tent camping near Mount Vernon, IN?

TheDyrt.com has all 4 tent camping locations near Mount Vernon, IN, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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