Best Tent Camping near Mount Vernon, IN
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."