Campgrounds near New Harmony, Indiana offer pet-friendly options throughout southern Indiana and neighboring Illinois. The area sits at the intersection of the Wabash and Ohio Rivers, with elevations ranging from 375-500 feet above sea level. Summer temperatures typically reach 85-90°F, while spring and fall bring milder 60-75°F days, creating ideal camping conditions from April through October.
What to do
Hiking with pets: Beall Woods State Park Campground has accessible trails for dog walking. As Frank H. notes, it's a "nice campground in rural southern Illinois. Pit toilets, water, picnic tables. On a big lake stocked with trout." The trails are "well defined" according to Rc C., making them ideal for pet-friendly exploration.
Water recreation: Harmonie State Park Campground offers access to the Wabash River. Barbie G. reports, "Harmonie State Park looks like a great place for a family vacation. In addition to the campground with at least 2 playgrounds, there are trails, picnic areas and a boat ramp." The river access point allows for kayaking and fishing.
Seasonal swimming: Burdette Park features a large pool complex open seasonally. Shelly S. shares, "HUGE swimming pool/water park with slides and several other outdoor activities," making it a popular summer destination when temperatures reach the high 80s.
What campers like
Spacious campsites: Vanderburgh 4H Campground provides ample space between sites. Eric R. calls it "a nice little park with all of the basics and no frills. The sites are level. The connections are easy to access. The bathhouses are clean and well maintained."
Free firewood: Burrell Park & Campground offers complimentary firewood with site rental. Sandy T. appreciated that "our site was full hookup, very spacious, and they provide free firewood. The campground was paved so nice for walking, hilly but nice."
Dog-friendly trails: The hiking paths at Garden of the Gods Recreation Area welcome pets and provide excellent exercise opportunities. Dena P. notes the area is "beautiful" with "functional clean porta potties. Fire pits, tables and water (not at the campsite but available at the entrance)."
What you should know
Limited shopping: When bringing pets to the New Harmony area, pack all necessary supplies. As Sandra&Dunn observed at Burrell Park, it's a "busy spot with a lot of full timers there," and "you have to leave the campground and go a couple of miles down the road for any needed item."
Size restrictions: Some campgrounds have limitations on RV length. At Murphy Park, Shiner T. warns, "Don't even try it with anything larger than a 20 ft travel trailer. Super convenient. 110v. 15amp electrical. Shared water. Gravel somewhat level pads."
Wildlife awareness: Keep pets secured, especially after dark. Barbie G. reports at Harmonie State Park: "Our only problem was 1 or more raccoons kept coming into our site. We shooed them away but they kept coming back. I'm sure they were just looking for food."
Tips for camping with families
Halloween events: Plan a fall visit to experience special festivities. Nichole M. says about Harmonie State Park: "We stayed the weekend before Halloween. They had a trunk or treat in the pool parking lot and although there weren't a ton of vehicles, it was definitely enough for the kids to have fun trick or treating."
Multiple playgrounds: Grayville KOA offers numerous recreation options for children. JASON L. calls it "a fairly new KOA with so many enjoyable amenities, family fun, food, ice cream, mini golf, full hookups and shady spots if you ask for one."
Nature education: Families benefit from interpretive programming at certain parks. Olivia S. mentions that Harmonie State Park "has a nature center in the middle of the campground that is open Thursday-Sunday in the summer. There are 3 playgrounds throughout the campground."
Tips from RVers
Site selection: At Hilltop Campground, Steve D. notes they "have just redone this camp ground with new concrete pads, new bathhouse, and new electrical. It's very peaceful." These improvements make it easier for RVs to level and connect.
Utility placement: Check hookup locations before selecting a site. Linette G. found at Harmonie State Park a "problem finding our site number in the dark, as they are facing the wrong way from driving direction."
Loop configuration: Joe D. appreciates Vanderburgh 4H Campground's layout: "Was looking for a quiet area, and not some drive-through campsite, this fit the bill. Great groundskeepers, good trail for dogs, nice view of the pond from the main RV area, has decent showers and laundry room."
Legend
