Best Tent Camping near New Castle, IN

Tent campsites near New Castle, Indiana include several established campgrounds within driving distance. Quakertown State Recreation Area offers tent camping with fire rings at each site and clean bathrooms, while Pine Lake Fishing & Camping Resort provides lakefront tent sites year-round. Morgan's Outdoor Adventures features waterfront tent camping with scenic river views, making it popular for weekend getaways from Indianapolis.

Most tent campgrounds in the area provide basic amenities including fire rings and picnic tables, though table size and quality vary between locations. Quakertown's sites cost approximately $30 per night and include fire rings, though some campers note the picnic tables are small. Pine Lake offers lakefront access but limited fishing success according to visitor reports. Sites at Morgan's Outdoor Adventures feature drinking water, showers, and toilets, with pets allowed at most locations. Reservations are recommended, particularly for weekend camping during summer months.

The camping experience varies significantly between locations. Morgan's Outdoor Adventures provides waterfront sites with direct river access. A camper noted, "We loved the views of Morgan's. Steps away from gorgeous river views. There is nothing like waking up and making breakfast while watching the river roll by!" However, the same review mentioned sites are positioned close together. Quakertown State Recreation Area offers a quieter experience with good tree coverage for shade, though some visitors mention noise from a nearby shooting range. Pine Lake provides convenient access for families visiting Indianapolis attractions, with one reviewer describing it as "a laid back place to stay" that works well for shorter camping trips rather than extended stays.

Best Tent Sites Near New Castle, Indiana (4)

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Recent Tent Camping Photos near New Castle, IN

2 Photos of 4 New Castle Campgrounds


Tent Camping Reviews near New Castle, IN

324 Reviews of 4 New Castle Campgrounds


  • John M.
    Jul. 29, 2018

    Governor Bebb MetroPark Campground

    Roughing it by a creek and a pioneer village

    Basic car tent camping at several spots along a creek wIth picnic tables and fire rings (no hookups, portolet toilets, no showers.) There is a rustic scout cabin/group lodge reservable for scout, etc. groups. The park features a pioneer village with log cabins, including a blacksmith forge, etc. that have been moved to the site.

  • Dave V.
    Nov. 1, 2019

    Hueston Woods State Park Campground

    A Relaxing Shoulder Season, Weekday stay

    Hueston Woods State Park, Oh.

    http://parks.ohiodnr.gov/huestonwoods 

    Campground Overview: Hueston Woods State Park is very close to Miami University...in the Southwest area of Ohio. The direction we traveled from the south took us on numerous winding country lanes through farm country that actually meandered in and out of Indiana and Ohio.

    (Disclaimer: I am a tent camper, preferring backcountry sites of solitude and privacy...so take my reviews of campgrounds with a grain of salt). 

    The campground area is separated not only by roadway, but a short walk, ride or drive from the reservoir, docks, boat rental beach area and tiny nature center. 

    The Campground Office sits at the campground entrance and does offer quite a bit of camping items for its tiny size should you have forgotten anything. The cabins and lodge are on the opposite bank of the reservoir. The tent site area was sparsely occupied and the particular area was empty that I chose. 

    All campground sites are line of sight, no barriers or buffer between neighbors(something I do not enjoy)...the trees are mature and tall so offer no privacy. Noise/sound travels so when full, you’ll likely hear your neighbors conversations. 

    Unknowingly, it appeared every weekend in October has a big Halloween emphasis, so the upper campground was sold out. I was advised the lower non electric loop would also be sold out...which reinforced my gratefulness for midweek camping. 

    With the vast old growth forests, dried/dead branches for firewood was plentiful for a chilly night(38) fire. We evaded the impending rain for once and pressed on. Weekend campers experienced heavy storms as we left. 

    There are several hiking trails and biking trails. Streams were dried up at our visit. A cool restoration covered bridge was a short hop from the campground. The lodge has a restaurant, a gift shop, an outside pool and a nicely equipped activity room for older kids complete with numerous arcade games, pool table, and ping-pong table. There is also a token tiny exercise center-Key card entrance for lodge stayers. The A-frame lodge, though nostalgic, needs some TLC and updating(especially the exterior). 

    Traffic noise is noticeable, especially during quiet hours. While not excessive, it’s disruptive. 

    Deer sighting were plentiful as were chattering tree rats...ahem, squirrels, sorry. Woodpeckers stayed busy overhead. At dusk an overly friendly“masked trash panda” encroached seeking to share my delectable and perfectly toasted s’more...having to be chased off(unfortunately, it appeared he has been fed by campers to be that bold). Other small birds were plentiful as were migrating Canadian honkers. 

    Housekeeping notes: In the larger non-electric loop newer restrooms existed...modern bathrooms and showers were clean and stocked with TP. No paper towels offered, only electric hand dryers. Bathroom stalls, like the showers, utilized shower curtains rather than lockable doors. In my tent area...antiquated wood shed pit latrines...that truly needed razed. 

    I did not have time to walk any trails, but talked with mountain bikers that spoke favorably. There were several marked trails near the reservoir area. 

    Final Thoughts: It was a nice choice for a stop-over as I drifted north. However, I would not want to stay when it’s busy or on the weekends. The reservoir beach and watercraft fishing appears a big draw...and I wish I had brought both my bicycle and canoe.

  • S
    Jun. 1, 2023

    Hueston Woods State Park Campground

    Nice but hard to get good sites on weekends !

    Limited level campground with full and electric hookups (does have WiFi). Best areas are A (full hookups and B (electric hookups) with concrete pads, some with slight slopes. First sites #s on A side do have larger slopes! C through E are electric only but are hilly grass pads. Other areas are back in the woods with no WiFi connections and primitive bathrooms/ outhouses (no showers) But park has great recreational activities. Book early for weekends which are almost non existent during the summer for A and B areas! Also only one dump station in B area.

  • Michelle M.
    Nov. 16, 2020

    Mounds State Park Campground

    A nice park. Electric only.

    It’s a nice park for kids. Has a nice swimming pool. Easy trails. Nice playground. $5 firewood bundles. Mostly a weekender park. It is right next to a small craft airfield do it can get noisy at times and there is little wind protection.

  • j
    May. 24, 2023

    Timberline Family Campground

    Potato Creek State Patk

    Specious sites a bit on the awkward side regarding lay-out. The vehicle separated the tent from the picnic table and fire ring. Less than ideal. I’m told that they’ve planted additional trees. They are relatively non existent at this point. Hence, a lack of privacy . Combined with awkward site layout we seemed to be right on top of our neighbors. No place to hang hammocks, tree swings or clothesline. Just sort of a open Praire. We were visiting by staff shortly after getting settled and told to put my highly trained border-jack on a leash even though she was at the time laying on my bed inside the tent which was zipped closed. The restrooms are kept up twice per day and are extremely clean and well cared for. The fishing was great! Lots of areas to explore even just to fish off shore or bridge. Everything was a good distended away from the campground so unfortunately my grandson could not bike alone to the lake to fish.

  • Brandie B.
    May. 6, 2020

    Thousand Trails Indian Lakes

    Large property with lots of green space

    Indian Lakes Campground is 10 minutes east of downtown Batesville, an hour to the east of Indianapolis and an hour to the west of Cincinnati. With over 1000 sites they offer a KOA section, year round leased sites, Thousand Trails sites and individual sites. We’re a married couple in our forties traveling with two dogs and a cat in our 37 foot motorhome and members of Thousand Trails. We arrived on April 3rd, the day prior to Indiana Covid-19 stay at home restrictions. The property owners were gracious enough to allow us to extend our stay beyond the normal 14 day limit for our personal safety. We were assigned a 50 amp site with water and sewer in loop 4B. This is an open loop with very few trees for shade. Immediately across from our site is a large field about the length of a football field. We can see the lake in the distance past the recreation and pool areas. During our stay we did not access the restroom, laundry, recreation or store areas as we were practicing social distancing. We plan to make many return trips to this campground in the future. Because we were the first to stay in our site since the campground closed for the winter season we had a little site maintenance/pickup to perform but nothing too out of the norm. The noise from the highway can only be heard about once a week. On weekends there’s an increase in golf-cart users and most neighbors are respectful during quiet hours.

  • A
    Jul. 20, 2021

    White River Campground

    Quick getaway

    Nice camp ground along the white river with several sites along the waterway. Clean, well maintained, knowledgeable and friendly staff. Paved road with level concrete sites, could be a little more spacious, but all n all laid out nicely with aluminum picnic tables, and fire ring, 50 and 30 amp hook ups along with H20, and several full hook ups. Tent camping also available. Well stocked camp store. The facilities up front by the office are very clean and have showers with hot water. They could use a bench in the shower stall for your clothing and a space To get dressed discreetly. The facility at the end of the campground dosent have showers and are adequate but not quite as nice. Campground is in a good location close to many amenities

  • J
    Jul. 20, 2024

    Glo Wood Campground

    Simple but good

    Definitely a little dated. Picnic tables cracked plastic. My site was missing fire ring but many had them. Most sites really wet but gravel pads were close to level, needed to raise one side 1”.

  • Joshua E.
    Jun. 16, 2018

    Richmond KOA

    Amazing people, not real scenic

    This KOA was everything you expect with a KOA. Filled with happy travelers and workers who want to help you out in any way they can. The town Richmond is very under rated, offering up all kinds of shops, craft beer, and coffee shops. There is also a large amish store nearby that has all kinds of items. The actual campground has great facilities and lots of activities to do for kids all while keeping a safe distance to their sites.


Guide to New Castle

Tent camping near New Castle, Indiana offers several established campgrounds within a 30-40 mile radius. The region features rolling landscapes with elevation changes of 200-400 feet above sea level and summer temperatures averaging 75-85°F during peak camping season. Fall brings vibrant foliage colors from mid-October through early November when overnight temperatures drop to the 40s, requiring campers to pack additional layers.

What to do

Fishing opportunities: Pine Lake Fishing & Camping Resort provides lakefront access for anglers, though some visitors report mixed results. "The lake is fabulous, but there didn't seem to be too many fish available for catching!! Pretty place and fun for a laid back place to stay," notes camper Debbie S.

Weekend relaxation: Quakertown State Rec Area offers a peaceful setting for unwinding near New Castle. "Very nice place to stay and spend the weekend relaxing," according to Kimberly A., who gave the campground a 5-star rating.

River viewing: Tent sites at riverside campgrounds provide natural entertainment throughout the day with changing light conditions and wildlife sightings. Sites at Clovis Creek accommodate tent campers with 20 designated camping areas, many within easy walking distance of water access points.

What campers like

Waterfront access: Morgan's Outdoor Adventures provides direct river views that campers consistently praise. Lerin P. writes, "We loved the views of Morgan's. Steps away from gorgeous river views. There is nothing like waking up and making breakfast while watching the river roll by!"

Shade coverage: Quakertown campsites feature good tree canopy for summer camping comfort. Melissa W. notes there's "a good amount of trees for shade coverage" which helps maintain comfortable temperatures during hot summer days.

Museum proximity: Clovis Creek serves as a convenient base for educational day trips. Pine Lake's location receives praise from visitors planning museum visits. One camper mentioned, "This was really convenient and close to Indy, where we took the grandkids to the children's museum."

What you should know

Site pricing: Tent camping costs vary across the New Castle area, with basic sites at Quakertown running approximately $30 per night. Melissa W. states, "All sites have fire rings. Some of the picnic tables are small. Nice clean bathrooms. Site was a little pricey at $30."

Nearby noise: Some campgrounds experience noise from surrounding recreational facilities. Quakertown campers report hearing "a shooting range nearby is a little annoying" according to visitor reviews.

Site spacing: Several campgrounds position sites in close proximity, which affects privacy levels. At Morgan's Outdoor Adventures, while the waterfront views earn high praise, Lerin P. notes, "Sites are tight, but if you love waterfront this is great."

Tips for camping with families

Short trip planning: When tent camping with children near New Castle, consider Pine Lake for shorter stays rather than extended camping. A reviewer suggests, "I wouldn't recommend it for long term," making it better suited for weekend family getaways.

Museum day trips: Plan a camping trip that includes educational excursions to nearby museums. One Pine Lake camper shared, "This was really convenient and close to Indy, where we took the grandkids to the children's museum," highlighting how camping can pair with cultural activities.

Campground amenities: When selecting family campsites, prioritize locations with essential facilities. Morgan's Outdoor Adventures provides drinking water, firewood availability, trash disposal, and toilet facilities, making it well-suited for families needing basic conveniences without full hookups.

Tips from RVers

Big rig access: Quakertown State Rec Area accommodates larger recreational vehicles with big-rig friendly sites, though tent campers still make up a significant portion of visitors. The campground also offers a sanitary dump station for RVs requiring waste disposal.

Seasonal availability: Several campgrounds near New Castle offer year-round accessibility. Pine Lake Fishing & Camping Resort maintains open status throughout all seasons, allowing for winter camping when many other facilities close.

Hookup limitations: Most tent-focused campgrounds near New Castle provide minimal RV amenities. While sites might accommodate smaller campers, they typically lack electrical hookups, sewer connections, or dedicated water hookups, making them better suited for self-contained units or tent camping.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near New Castle, IN?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near New Castle, IN is Pine Lake Fishing & Camping Resort with a 3-star rating from 2 reviews.

What is the best site to find tent camping near New Castle, IN?

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