Camping options near New Albany, Indiana range from full-service RV parks to primitive backcountry sites across southern Indiana and northern Kentucky. The region sits along the Ohio River Valley with elevations from 400-900 feet and receives around 45 inches of precipitation annually. Trail systems throughout the area provide hiking access to limestone outcroppings and hardwood forests typical of this transitional zone between the Interior Low Plateaus and Bluegrass regions.
What to do
Hiking trails: Charlestown State Park offers multiple trail options with varying difficulty. "I love this place, we visit all the time to hike/walk the trails. Very beautiful!!" notes Elizabeth S. The park features the Rose Island Trail with historical elements and Trail 6 with waterfalls.
Water recreation: Deam Lake State Recreation Area Campground provides swimming, fishing, and non-motorized boating. "The lake looked very nice and is electric motor only. It will be nice to head back with the kayaks. You may need a permit for all boats, so check before you go," advises Tom J. The lake has a designated swimming area and boat rentals available during summer months.
Nature education: O'Bannon Woods State Park Campground maintains a nature center with ranger-led programs. "We had a wonderful time and plan on returning many times to hike all the trails," mentions Stacey S., while another camper notes the "nature center was basic but well prepared with critters and educational items."
Disc golf: Buffalo Trace Park offers disc golf as its primary activity. "Disc golf is the big activity at this park. Awesome walking path and a petting zoo," reports Kelsie E. The course winds around the lake, providing scenic views during play.
What campers like
Secluded sites: Many campgrounds near New Albany offer sites with good separation and natural surroundings. At Buffalo Trace Park, "The sites are well-spaced and there's a beautiful lake where you can kayak, canoe, fish, let your dog swim, etc." according to Kelsie E.
Clean facilities: Several campgrounds maintain high cleanliness standards. At Deam Lake, one camper praised "the best bathrooms I have ever seen. Not a single bug and they even had antibacterial hand soap at every sink." Shower houses and restrooms at many locations are regularly maintained, though quality varies by season.
Camping cabins: Multiple parks offer cabin rentals as alternatives to tent or RV camping. At Deam Lake State Recreation Area Campground, "We stayed last night in the Cardinal Cabin. Tons of privacy and the best bathrooms I have ever seen," reports Angela F. Buffalo Trace Park also provides cabin options with lakeside views.
Historic features: Charlestown State Park includes remnants of an abandoned amusement park. "Rose Island is very cool - haunting but sublime," notes Greg S., while another camper described, "Enjoyed rose island trail lots of cool history to learn."
What you should know
Site selection: Some campgrounds have significant variation in site quality and amenities. At Louisville North Campground, "We got a spot by the tree line where the trains are. They really aren't that bad and those are the best spots on the property; everyone else seems exposed," reports Justin T.
Seasonal considerations: Water access and facility availability change seasonally. One camper at Deam Lake noted, "Being the first weekend in April, the water wasn't turned on so there were no modern restrooms/shower houses available." Most campgrounds reduce services during winter months.
Noise factors: Train noise and airport traffic impact several campgrounds. Louisville North Campground has trains running throughout the night, while Jefferson Memorial Forest Campground sits under flight paths. "For a hour or two in the morning and in the afternoon huge jets fly right over the campgrounds. Really throws me outta my mood," one camper shared.
Tick precautions: Wooded areas have significant tick populations, especially in spring and early summer. On the Knobstone Trail, "My dogs and I got loads of them in April 2020 from Leota to Spurgeon Hollow," reports Maris H. Pack repellent and conduct regular tick checks.
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Several campgrounds feature play equipment for children. At O'Bannon Woods, "My kids enjoyed the nature center, pioneer village, and one of the easy trails," mentions one visitor, though they note "the playground was pretty basic but well maintained."
Swimming options: Buffalo Trace Park and O'Bannon Woods both offer swimming facilities. One camper noted O'Bannon's "pool was very nice with a splash pad and two water slides (42" height requirement) and a small concession stand," though visitors "have to pay entry to the pool whether you're swimming or not."
Biking opportunities: Several campgrounds have paved roads suitable for children's bikes. At Charlestown State Park, visitors enjoy "nice flat paved loops and sites that are good for biking," while at O'Bannon Woods "everything except the nature center was reachable via bikes."
Weekend crowds: Many locations become busy during peak season weekends. Plan accordingly, especially at Deam Lake where "we went on a weekend in July and it was pretty busy, as to be expected." Weekday visits typically offer quieter experiences and better site selection.
Tips from RVers
Site dimensions: Several campgrounds have challenges for larger RVs. At Buffalo Trace Park, one RV camper advised, "The campground is made for smaller sizes but we were able to negotiate the main ring road with our 37' travel trailer." They also recommend bringing "plenty of leveling blocks. We used all of ours and was not level."
Utility connections: Water and electric hookup locations vary significantly. At O'Bannon Woods, "There was no water at the site though. Throughout the campground are potable water spigots that you can hook up to and add water to your tank," explains Derek J.
Campsite selection tips: Some RV sites are significantly better than others. "The spot that we had reserved was in an area we could not get into but we went to the gatehouse and they gave us another spot that was on the main ring road," shared one camper at Buffalo Trace Park. Calling ahead about specific site dimensions can prevent arrival issues.
