Top Dog Friendly Camping near New Pekin, IN

Are you planning a camping trip to New Pekin with your dog? We've got you covered. Finding a place to camp with your dog in Indiana has never been easier. Whether you're looking for a quiet location in the woods or a place near local attractions, The Dyrt makes it easy to find the perfect spot for you and your pup.

Best Dog-Friendly Sites Near New Pekin, IN (88)

Showing results 1-10 of 88 campgrounds

Recent Dog-Friendly Reviews In New Pekin

633 Reviews of 88 New Pekin Campgrounds


  • Camper-submitted photo from Louisville South KOA
    July 22, 2024

    Louisville South KOA

    Clean and fun. Nice location.

    My family visited Louisville South at the beginning of June for an extended family trip.

    Pros- Lots of activities for kids. Nice pool, great playground, bounce pad. Bike rental. Decent (not spectacular) hiking trails. The RV sites with patio were very nice, but could be bigger.

    Cons- some (not all) of the staff. One lady in particular was always rude, and didn’t like answering questions. There was a security light for the bounce pad that was on all night long, and thoroughly illuminated the adjacent tent sites. My brother’s family of 6 did not sleep well. This is something that is easily corrected by installing a shade over one edge of the light, but the staff didn’t seem to care.

  • Camper-submitted photo from Jackson Washington State Forest
    July 21, 2024

    Jackson Washington State Forest

    Great primitive campground

    Spacious sites. Beautiful forest. Quiet, but only 5 minutes small town with gas stations, grocery, etc. Not many amenities. Only pit toilets and water spigots. Firewood was not available during our visit. No reservations. First come first serve, but even on a "busy" Saturday in July less than 1/3 of the sites were full. Two "loops" one in a pine forest below the small lake and one at the lake/up the hill. Multiple playgrounds. Great trails to hike. Cool CCC construction. Highly recommend.

  • Camper-submitted photo from Clifty Falls State Park Campground
    July 16, 2024

    Clifty Falls State Park Campground

    Beautiful trails!

    The water was down a bit so the falls were not very large but the trails were really great! It was hot (July) and the wooded hiking trails helped keep us comfortable. On leash Dog friendly was a plus for us too. The only thing I wish there was were more areas to bike but the walking trails were super beautiful so it wasn’t a big disappointment at all. There is no dispersed camping and we didn’t stay overnight but we did go check out the campground area. It’s pretty large and there were loads of spots that would hold our 30ft bus and 17ft cargo trailer. Since we were just there for the day, however, we just parked at the pool as suggested by the gentleman at the gate. It is a huge flat area that gave us lots of solar power while we were out exploring.

  • Camper-submitted photo from Sycamore Springs Park
    July 15, 2024

    Sycamore Springs Park

    Great camping with enjoyable amenities

    This is a great family campground with excellent amenities, clean sites and grounds, beautiful surroundings, multiple cabins, pavilions, and a welcoming host office. We would love to visit and stay again. Do not let the short rural entry drive deter you. Yes it's hilly and curvy but take it slow and careful I promise it's worth it. Free firewood is just a bonus. Get a shady spot and enjoy the stay.

  • Camper-submitted photo from Sycamore Springs Park
    July 15, 2024

    Sycamore Springs Park

    Child’s paradise !

    We went up in June 2024. There are several spots that are in the shade, but some of them are permanent campers. There is a fishing lake and a small river to fish in or wade and swim in. There is a miniature village for the kids along with 20 playgrounds in the campground. Golf carts are available to rent, and I feel are a necessity to get around this large park. There are also large fields to play in. Didn’t use the bath house. The general store has ice and a few souvenirs. There is cell service (AT&T and Verizon) There is also free wood. They have really cool spiral steps that lead up to a walk bridge. They also have a donkey and goats to pet. Altogether a really nice and clean park. Will definitely go again.

  • Camper-submitted photo from O'Bannon Woods State Park Campground
    July 13, 2024

    O'Bannon Woods State Park Campground

    Decent campground, best on weekdays

    Had the typical state park experience. Bathrooms are decent, a little dated but oh well. The weekends in the middle middle of the season are typically busy. Plan your site well, many lack a level spot for tents and have a lot of slope near the pull off.

  • Camper-submitted photo from Blackwell Campground — Hoosier National Forest
    July 12, 2024

    Blackwell Campground — Hoosier National Forest

    Spacious Camping

    We really liked the set up of this campsite. The fire rings were spread apart amidst a green hill. There was some shade available around the edges. Plenty of room to spread out from your neighbors; it wasn’t too busy when we were there (a Thursday). Camp accesses two trailheads directly. There were two bathrooms, a place for garbage, and potable water. Screech owls and active birds made it an exciting evening.

  • Camper-submitted photo from Sycamore Springs Park
    July 7, 2024

    Sycamore Springs Park

    Bad campground

    The bathrooms are dirty, showers are full of hair, the toilets are dirty, staff can be rude, not a lot to do besides walk/drive around, not a very fun park if u was to bring ur kids to it, there’s not much to see. I wouldn’t waste ur take time comming here and instead go to a better park that’s much better

  • Camper-submitted photo from Tipsaw Lake
    July 7, 2024

    Tipsaw Lake

    Great Camp Spot for Families

    Besides picking the only weekend where the camp had plumbing issues… my 4 year old daughter and I loved this place. This was my first time camping in Indiana and it did not let me down! The rangers were very nice and was pleased to answer any of my questions, the lake and bathrooms were clean and the place was nice and quiet. I’ll be back again.

  • Camper-submitted photo from Berry Ridge Road - Dispersed Camping
    July 3, 2024

    Berry Ridge Road - Dispersed Camping

    Secluded in the woods

    Beautiful secluded site that is pretty far off of the road, but not too far. There was no traffic or other people in site. I have a promaster conversion and had no trouble making it to this site, however the road was gravel and steep at times. I have lived in Indiana for ever and have made many trips this way, but I never knew sites like this existed.

  • Camper-submitted photo from Taylor Ridge Campground — Brown County State Park
    June 28, 2024

    Taylor Ridge Campground — Brown County State Park

    Meh

     First off- Brown County is a lovely park. This review is only for the campground. 

    The only time we ever camped here was in 2003 when we had 3 kids & a popup. New to the park I thought the Racoon Ridge Loop looked good & picked site 121. Bad mistake! We stayed 3 nights & every night we had a weird thing happen. The worst was the bat that found it's way into the popup one night. None of it was in any way Brown County's fault, but we never went back. 

    We were staying at Paynetown recently & decided to visit Brown County & the campground. The mirror tag helped with this. We visited on a Saturday morning in late June. The whole campground was full & it was jumpin'!

     We skipped Buffalo Ridge. Raccoon Ridge is the smallest loop. Close sites. Our former site 121 has a pit toilet right next to it now. There's several sites along the main road, also very close to each other & right on the road.

     I thought that Taylor Ridge was the best loop based on my memories from 2003. It's really a long warren of close sites, some with terrible inclines.

     I was able to write down a few sites I thought would work- Sites with no one close by: 193/194/266. 

    265 was the only pull thru I saw, but there may be others. 

    End of loop: 317/318 

    Ridge view from your site: 310/311/312/313/314 

    Random sites that looked ok: 179/188/215/223/225/242/259/260/265/277/280/287/422- these sites are just what I eyeballed while the husband was cruising down the main road. 

    We decided we were never going to camp here again. The sites are too close together. There's too many people crammed in a small space. If you go be aware that summer weekends & leaf peeper season will be very busy. The middle of the week or shoulder season would probably be your best bet for a more relaxing experience.

  • Camper-submitted photo from Hardin Ridge
    June 25, 2024

    Hardin Ridge

    National Forest

     We did a drive through to check out the campground. It was $8 for day use, self pay.

    This is a beautiful campground. There's 4 loops with 30 & 50 amp. 2 loops with no electric.

     Well spaced all tucked into the trees on a ridge. Also some carry in sites.

     If we tented camped still I'd be in heaven! 

    You can reserve sites, or some are first come first served.

    Shower/restroom with pit toilets scattered around. 

    3 trails. A beach, picnic areas& a boat launch. 

    This seems less popular than Paynetown, but a lot quieter!!

  • Camper-submitted photo from Paynetown Campground
    June 25, 2024

    Paynetown Campground

    Crazy busy on a summer weekend

     This is a SRA on the shores of Lake Monroe by Bloomington Indiana. This is a boating/fishing park. We went on a hot weekend the 4rth weekend in June & it was completely full. 

    There's only 3 short trails. The longest is 1.25 miles. Not a hiking park. 

    There's a visitor center off State Road 446. This is NOT a nature center! Just a place to pick up some information. 

    The marina & boat launch get the most use. There's also a beach. 

    There's a large Class B campground closer to the marina. There's some pit toilets & one flush toilet building. No showers. No electricity.

     There's a large dump station. 

    The electric campground has 227 sites. 3 are handicap accessible. There's also 27 pull throughs. Many have lake access due to camper made trails to the lake.

    We had site 137 which was a good site due to the fact we had no one on the left. There was a woods view.

    Many of these sites have a bad incline & people were putting their rigs sideways on the site close to the road. Our site was no exception, but we were able to make it work. This site also had afternoon sun.

     Restrooms/showers were state park clean. I was impressed with the hard working staff trying their best to give us a clean bathroom!

     The best sites in the campground are 171/172& 153/154. These have a lot of sun, but a stellar view of the lake. 

    132-137 have a trail to the lake. Very bad inclines though. 

    120-124 have trails to the lake & are in the woods. 

    103 is a large site& fairly even with lots of shade. 

    The sites from 180-227 are asphalt with concrete pads. The rest of the campground is gravel. 

    There's 4 carry in campsites for tents that looked very nice. Campsites in the E area have access to a sandy peninsula that was very popular for swimmers. 

    This is known in Indiana as a party park. There's some truth to that. It's VERY noisy & busy on a summer weekend. If you like a quieter experience come Monday through Wed. or wait until the off season.

  • Camper-submitted photo from Berry Ridge Road - Dispersed Camping
    June 6, 2024

    Berry Ridge Road - Dispersed Camping

    Real dispersed camping

    For those of you who don't understand disperse camping this is the perfect site for a tent to camp without anything but what you bring in and take out understand what dispersed camping is and then there won't be any complaints about can't get a camper in or whatever I always see the complaints this is dispersed camping at its best

  • Camper-submitted photo from Youngs Creek Horse Camp
    June 3, 2024

    Youngs Creek Horse Camp

    Beautiful

    The chorus frog do roar through the night. 100% worth it, make sure to bring bug spray, and travel carefully up the roads. Lots of wildlife, and kind people.

  • Camper-submitted photo from Madison City Park
    May 21, 2024

    Madison City Park

    Peaceful

    The check-in was very easy and the camp host met us at our vehicle and gave us all the information about our site. He and his wife had put together a package of literature about the town and places to eat, etc. which was very nice and helpful. They were very accommodating!

  • Camper-submitted photo from Scottsburg/Raintree Lake KOA
    May 14, 2024

    Scottsburg/Raintree Lake KOA

    Repeat Visit

    This was a repeat visit. Just as perfect as the first time. Lake was beautiful and staff are always so helpful. They even have an on-site RV Tech that works for them who helped us fix our hot water heater. Very professional young man. We also enjoyed live music at the pavilion, and PIZZA from their new café, it was fabulous. They even have Boba tea.

  • Camper-submitted photo from Peninsula Trail
    May 9, 2024

    Peninsula Trail

    Awesome Place to BackCountry

    The Peninsula Trail and Grub Ridge trails both have marked campsites that are very far apart and totally private.  These are dispersed/primitive sites with a fire ring only.  Very remote feeling (except you CAN hear any loud cars/motorcycles at night from the main road over the lake). Light pollution is pretty low however, so good stargazing. 

    Trails are in good shape and the Penninsuala trail is pretty easy. Grub Ridge trail gets moderate the further west you take it.  CAmpsites 10,11,12,13 are very accessible with a short hike and are fantastic spots.   

    Lakeside spots are great also if you hike farther, but as others have said, drunk boaters tend to stop along the shore even though they are not supposed to. A few years ago boat access was limited to non-motoroized but not sure it is being enforced very well.  

    All the same, the Deam Wilderness area is Indianas best for backpacking and backcountry camping. 

    Down tower ridge road, to the east, just past the tower - turn right and the road there has lots of drive-in sites as well. These fill up fast on the weekends.

  • Camper-submitted photo from German Ridge Campground — Hoosier National Forest
    April 24, 2024

    German Ridge Campground — Hoosier National Forest

    Nice primitive self-serve campground with 20 spots

    We stayed here on a guys trip in April 2024.  It was easy to find, had a self-serve pay tube, and since it's a primitive campground they had no electricity, showers or flush toilets (but they did have decent pit toilets).  It rained quite a bit the few days prior to us arriving so some of the fire pits at the sites had standing water.  You cannot make reservations so plan accordingly, but when we arrived Friday afternoon we were the only people there.   There is no camp host and they do not provide firewood onsite.  We had a hard time finding any in Tell City but finally got some at Tractor Supply.  We also found a bunch at the host at the Tipsaw Campground a short drive away. We were at site 19 and pitched 3 tents, and it was tight quarters but doable. The trails were very nice, but the rain that occurred prior to our arrival made for several soft spots and some "fun" creek crossings. We also encountered several ticks, so plan accordingly. Generally I would not hesitate to go back here.

  • Camper-submitted photo from Hardin Ridge
    April 14, 2024

    Hardin Ridge

    Hoosier National Forest

    This place is deluxe. Sites are spacious. Good space between campsites. Restrooms are clean. Well maintained facility

    Staff are very friendly and helpful



Guide to New Pekin

Camping near New Pekin, Indiana, offers a variety of experiences for outdoor lovers. From scenic parks to family-friendly campgrounds, there’s something for everyone.

What to do

  • Hiking and Exploring: Check out the trails at Charlestown State Park Campground. One visitor said, “Great hiking opportunities and cool exploration of historic Rose Island Theme Park.”
  • Water Activities: At Starve Hollow State Rec Area, you can rent canoes and enjoy the lake. A camper mentioned, “We had a great time, renting a canoe and keeping it on our site until we returned it.”
  • Cave Tours: Don’t miss the chance to visit Marengo Cave Campgrounds. One reviewer noted, “A great stop to stay and check out the caves!”

What campers like

  • Clean Facilities: Campers appreciate the cleanliness at places like Charlestown State Park Campground. A visitor shared, “Clean and quiet. Very nice park. Clean restrooms and showers.”
  • Friendly Staff: Many enjoy the welcoming atmosphere at Starve Hollow State Rec Area. One camper said, “Very friendly staff. Clean facilities. Quite the hidden gem.”
  • Secluded Sites: Campers love the privacy at Deam Lake State Rec Area. A review mentioned, “Many relatively secluded sites. Bath houses clean.”

What you should know

  • Limited Amenities: Some campgrounds, like Youngs Creek Horse Camp, have basic facilities. A camper noted, “The only downside... was an access road to adjacent to the camping area that is well used through the evening.”
  • Seasonal Changes: Be aware that some campgrounds may have limited access during off-peak seasons. One visitor at Buffalo Trace Park mentioned, “The beach was closed that entire time we camped.”
  • Wildlife: Expect to see plenty of wildlife, especially at Happy Hollow Homestead. A camper shared, “Lots of wildlife, and kind people.”

Tips for camping with families

  • Playgrounds and Activities: Look for campgrounds with playgrounds, like Charlestown State Park Campground. A parent mentioned, “My children loved all the playgrounds around the state park.”
  • Family-Friendly Amenities: Choose places like Scottsburg/Raintree Lake KOA that offer activities. One visitor said, “They added a new saltwater pool, deluxe cabins, deluxe camping sites.”
  • Safety and Cleanliness: Families appreciate clean facilities. A camper at Marengo Cave Campgrounds noted, “The bath house was heated, extremely clean with flush toilets, and continual hot water.”

Tips from RVers

  • Space for Big Rigs: Campgrounds like Starve Hollow State Rec Area are big rig friendly. One RV owner said, “Full hook up sites that are well spread out so you are not on top of each other.”
  • Electric Hookups: Make sure to check for electric hookups at places like Deam Lake State Rec Area. A visitor mentioned, “They have electric and water (frost-free) still on.”
  • Leveling Blocks: Bring leveling blocks, especially for sites that may not be perfectly flat. A camper at Buffalo Trace Park advised, “Make sure you have plenty of leveling blocks.”

Camping around New Pekin, Indiana, has its perks and quirks. Whether you're looking for a family getaway or a peaceful retreat, there's a spot waiting for you.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near New Pekin, IN?

    According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near New Pekin, IN is Charlestown State Park Campground with a 4.4-star rating from 33 reviews.

  • What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near New Pekin, IN?

    TheDyrt.com has all 88 dog-friendly camping locations near New Pekin, IN, with real photos and reviews from campers.