Best Campgrounds near North Vernon, IN

Campgrounds near North Vernon, Indiana range from primitive tent sites to full-service RV parks with cabin options. Muscatatuck County Park and Muscatatuck Jennings County Park provide camping within city limits, while Clifty Falls State Park and Starve Hollow State Recreation Area offer more developed facilities within a 30-mile radius. The region includes both public and private camping areas, with several locations featuring lakeside access. Versailles State Park Campground, located approximately 20 miles northeast, provides tent camping, RV sites with electric hookups, and cabin accommodations.

Most campgrounds in the area maintain year-round operations, though amenities may be limited during winter months. Reservations are strongly recommended during summer weekends and holiday periods when sites fill quickly. Muscatatuck County Park features electric hookups, drinking water, and shower facilities, making it suitable for both tent and RV camping. The terrain throughout the region is characterized by rolling hills and forested areas, with many campgrounds situated near lakes or streams. Cell service varies significantly between locations, with better coverage near North Vernon proper and spotty reception in more remote areas. A camper wrote, "Muscatatuck is a beautiful State Park situated in the rolling hills of southern Indiana. The park offers year-around camping with reduced services in the winter months."

Waterfront camping receives consistently positive reviews, particularly at Hardy Lake State Recreation Area and Starve Hollow, where boating and fishing opportunities enhance the camping experience. Many campgrounds feature mixed-use sites accommodating both tent and RV campers, with dedicated areas for each. Shale Bluff Campground at Hardy Lake provides electric sites with 30-amp service and premium paved sites with 50-amp hookups. Visitors appreciate the well-maintained facilities and natural surroundings. A review noted, "This is a great State Park offering hiking, swimming, boating, skiing, camping, interpretive naturalist program and the only DNR property in the state of Indiana with a raptor rehabilitation program." Family-friendly amenities like playgrounds, swimming areas, and hiking trails are common features at the larger state parks, while county parks tend to offer more basic facilities in quieter settings.

Best Camping Sites Near North Vernon, Indiana (124)

    1. Clifty Falls State Park Campground

    46 Reviews
    Madison, IN
    21 miles
    Website
    +1 (812) 273-8885

    $16 - $25 / night

    "If you live outside of Indiana you have to pay a $9 entrance fee on top of the campground reservation fee, which makes for a pricey weekend trip for those on a budget."

    "No sewer or water hookup as you would expect at most Indiana State Parks. The sites are extremely spacious and plenty of sites with shade."

    2. Muscatatuck

    4 Reviews
    North Vernon, IN
    2 miles
    Website
    +1 (812) 346-2953

    "And a lot of trails"

    3. Shale Bluff Campground — Hardy Lake State Recreation Area

    16 Reviews
    Deputy, IN
    17 miles
    Website
    +1 (812) 794-3800

    $23 / night

    "This is a great State Park offering hiking, swimming, boating, skiing, camping, interpretive naturalist program and the only DNR property in the state of Indiana with a raptor rehabilitation program."

    "Boats are a big part of this lake. There are 4 boat launches on the lake! Lots of people were water skiing, tubing& playing in the water. There's also a beach, which looked clean."

    4. CERA Sports Corporation

    9 Reviews
    Columbus, IN
    14 miles
    Website
    +1 (812) 377-5849

    $60 - $999 / night

    "Close to a bigger town, lots of food places and shopping close by. Our family loves this place."

    "Also can’t forget the lakeside bar with live music every weekend!"

    5. Versailles State Park Campground

    21 Reviews
    Versailles, IN
    22 miles
    Website
    +1 (812) 689-6424

    $23 - $25 / night

    "Older Indiana State Park just West of Indiana / Ohio state line South of IH-74. Roads tight and only 1 dump station for 70+ sites (most site are water electric only)"

    "This is a great southern Indiana State Park with easy access from US 50."

    6. Muscatatuck Jennings County Park

    2 Reviews
    North Vernon, IN
    2 miles
    Website
    +1 (812) 346-2953

    7. Weary Traveler

    2 Reviews
    Seymour, IN
    12 miles
    Website

    "No nonsense stopping point after a long day's drive. All sights are pull-through 90 ft. long. Level gravel pads, I didn't even unhook. Full hookup, water, power, sewer."

    8. Starve Hollow State Rec Area Campground

    25 Reviews
    Vallonia, IN
    28 miles
    Website
    +1 (812) 358-3464

    $23 - $52 / night

    "There are lakeside camping lots. Also there are larger full hookup lots away from the lake"

    "Starve Hollow State Recreation Area is 280 acres that are adjacent to Jackson-Washington State Forest (18,000 acres)."

    9. Columbus Woods-N-Waters Kampground

    7 Reviews
    Columbus, IN
    19 miles
    Website
    +1 (812) 342-1619

    $30 - $98 / night

    "Close to the interstate and shopping. It is close to the interstate and at times when there is high traffic you can here the traffic."

    "Convenient location. Clean restrooms & showers. Had a shady spot for our overnight tent stay. Quiet. Friendly staff."

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Recent Reviews near North Vernon, IN

712 Reviews of 124 North Vernon Campgrounds


  • J
    Oct. 14, 2025

    Sundance Lake Dispersed Camping

    Disbursed camping at its Indiana best

    Free disbursed camping at its best in Indiana. Not another soul camped within earshot. Clean site. Gravel pad for vehicle. Green grass for tent. 14 day limit. No reservations needed or available. Just show up and camp if a site is open. This site was very well marked.

  • Dave C.
    Oct. 9, 2025

    Follow The River RV Resort

    Don't ask for a refund if you can't park there!

    The manager at this RV park assaulted me and snatched my iPhone out of my hand! Are you kidding me?? The video was edited(shortened) because these review sites won't allow anything more than 30 seconds. BUT what was said by both of us beforehand and afterwards doesn't matter. The fact is she's supposed to be the professional and she not only called me a"d*ck" and an"a**hole", but she proceeded to violently take my phone out of my hand and refused to give it back. I ultimately talked her into giving it back but WHO DOES THIS? She later actually punched me in the face. Yeah! Right in the face. But unfortunately, the video started and when she got on me, I guess I accidentally hit the stop button I was so scared. What was I scared of? Because, in the professions I've had, you learn that people are capable of anything. I didn't know if she was armed. I know I wasn't. I called 911 and am going to pursue the prosecution of her for assaulting a person over 60 yrs old, which is a felony. These types of animals do not need to be on our streets much less managing a nice RV park. This all came about because the sewer pipe on my motorhome is only 5" off the ground when parked. The lot she gave me has a sewer inlet pipe that sits over a foot off the ground meaning the feces would have to flow uphill to work. When I pointed this out, this manager said,"that's your problem, you'll have to figure it out". When I asked for a refund, she said no way and started in on my calling me vulger names(she did this several times). What professional person dealing with the public does this? She also refused to move me to another site saying she doesn't have any, but anyone can look around and see the park is not even half full- so, that's a lie. Annndddd, there's more! But I'll be posting every day on this site(and many others), so I’ll address more tomorrow and in the coming days and weeks.

  • SkywaystoHighways.com Y.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 29, 2025

    Bill Monroe Memorial Music Park & Campground

    Festival Fun!

    We stayed here for the 1st Annual HikerFest and had a blast! 106 of our little Hikers took up the majority of the park. The full-timers that stay here for the season were very kind and cordial; freely giving of advice on local attractions to see and things to do during our stay. The museum was really interesting! They gave a great tour with lots of stories about country legends. The bath house was clean and tidy. The showers were ok. Porta-potties throughout the campground, not so much… Campsites are close together and without privacy, some more level than others. Try to grab a spot near the trees for a bit of shade. Great music. Awesome weekend!

  • Kyle H.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 21, 2025

    Scottsburg/Raintree Lake KOA

    Great Campground

    Quick two night stay for us but although our first time here was short we will certainly be back. Campground is clean and very well maintained. Owners are very involved and run things very thoughtfully.

    They were able to accommodate our 44ft 5th wheel and navigating to the site was simple. Can’t wait to come back and visit.

  • jThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 20, 2025

    Sundance Lake Dispersed Camping

    Camping area

    National forest area with 3ish campsites one of which can accommodate a vehicle. Wooded so no solar or starlink. Small lake nearby with what looks like some trails.

  • SThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 9, 2025

    Taylor Ridge Campground — Brown County State Park

    Nice Trails & Big Campsites

    I had a great time camping here. The spots in Taylor ridge were mostly well-spaced and felt pretty private. The pit toilets were clean and the showers were nice. Busy campground but it was very quiet still. 262 was the biggest and most private site I saw when walking around. 260 is a pull through site.

  • Patrick T.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 8, 2025

    Hones Pointe Campground

    Amazing camp site

    Wonderful campsite. They put a lot of time and thought into this property. It’s truly incredible.

  • DThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 6, 2025

    Charlestown State Park Campground

    Charlestown

    Very clean and friendly state park. Quick stop over but would definitely stay again if in the area. Would like to do some of the trails there

  • DThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 6, 2025

    Charlestown State Park Campground

    Charlestown

    Quick stop over. Would definitely return if in the area. Would have like to have had more time to do some of the trails. Very clean, friendly. Be aware of an additional $9 feet at the gate besides the camp fee.


Guide to North Vernon

Camping near North Vernon, Indiana includes facilities within a 30-mile radius across rolling terrain. Winter operations continue at most sites, though with reduced services and varying cellular coverage. Muscatatuck County Park features 8 full hookup pull-through spots while other campgrounds in the region offer electric, primitive, and cabin options for stays throughout the year.

What to do

Mountain biking and rock climbing: Muscatatuck Jennings County Park offers popular terrain for these activities. "Nice quite county park. 8 full hookup pull through spots. Nice new playground in the park. Rock climbing and mountain biking are popular here," notes Jason W.

Wildlife viewing: Muscatatuck provides natural habitat for various animals. "It's so peaceful and a lot of wildlife. When there's not a lot of people you can see a couple of deer and if your lucky a fox. And a lot of trails," writes Julie S.

Raptor rehabilitation viewing: Hardy Lake State Recreation Area maintains a unique conservation program. "This is the only DNR property in the state of Indiana with a raptor rehabilitation program," explains Stephen & Theresa B.

Pool activities: Columbus accommodations include water recreation options. "The pool area is super nice with a waterslide, diving boards and a unique rock climbing wall in the deep end," reports tricia B. about CERA Sports Corporation.

What campers like

Quiet primitive camping: For secluded sites near North Vernon, certain areas provide basic accommodations. "Awesome tent camping area. I was able to find a great spot to really kick back and chill," says Ralph R. about Muscatatuck Park.

Overnight convenience: Travelers passing through appreciate quick access options. "No nonsense stopping point after a long day's drive. All sights are pull-through 90 ft. long. Level gravel pads, I didn't even unhook," notes Al K. about Weary Traveler.

Lakefront access: Starve Hollow State Recreation Area provides water-adjacent sites. "We stayed in site 21 which was right on the lake. All the lake front spots seem to have a good amount lakefront footage. We probably had at least 40 feet," shares Martin M.

Car camping accessibility: Parks near North Vernon work well for family vehicles. "We spent all Saturday in the neighboring towns, enjoying the beautiful fall scenery, and were happily surprised with just how gorgeous and large this park was," writes Jennifer K. about Muscatatuck Park.

What you should know

Limited bathroom facilities: Some parks have minimal facilities for the number of campers. "Men's bathhouse. 1stall. 1urinal. I shower for 16 primitive sites and rv's. Not in good condition either," notes keith about Muscatatuck Jennings County Park.

Campsite leveling challenges: Clifty Falls State Park Campground has uneven terrain at certain sites. "Site 22 was so sloped our red levelers barely made it work. Sore needed gravel, it was mostly sticky dirt that got tracked into our travel trailer immediately after sweeping," reports Beverly J.

Cell service limitations: Some locations have connectivity issues. "Zero cellular or wifi service so that could be good or bad. The Inn does have WiFi if you have to have it but seems to be more for guests than general park population," explains Kyle about Clifty Falls.

Wildlife precautions: Active wildlife requires proper food storage. "Just be sure if tent camping to hide your trash as wildlife is very brave to get up close and personal with your things," advises Kyle J.

Tips for camping with families

Non-electric loop benefits: Versailles State Park Campground offers primitive camping with amenities. "My daughter and I stayed in the NON-electric loop, site 122 on this most recent trip. This site was very well shaded but did not have a lot of grassy areas. This loop has a really nice shower house and restroom facility centrally located in the loop," shares Jeff W.

Beach access considerations: Starve Hollow provides swimming areas with specific seasons. "A large beach is available for swimming from the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day. Restrooms, dressing facilities, showers, and food concessions are available to visitors," notes James L.

Year-round family activities: CERA Sports Corporation maintains facilities through different seasons. "We are full timers and have spent the last three summers here to be near family. We love the beautiful peaceful lake, our grandkids love the pool with the slide and rock wall, the mini golf, the paddle boats and the amazing playground," writes Daina C.

Playground options: Parks include dedicated children's areas. "Family-friendly amenities like wheelchair accessible playground, basketball goals, softball fields, horseshoe pits and a sand volleyball court are located on or near the swimming beach," James L. mentions about Starve Hollow.

Tips from RVers

Site selection importance: Carefully research sites before booking. "Some sites are not level at all. So be sure to read up on the site you want before you book it," advises Burns G. about Versailles State Park.

Road access challenges: Access routes to campgrounds may present difficulties. "We turned off CR 58 on S 300 W with our Class A and found a narrow road that was wide enough for our Class A and another small car. The berm is non-existant to the west," cautions Charlie M. about Columbus Woods-N-Waters.

Electric options: Starve Hollow provides different hookup configurations. "Starve Hollow offers camping from full hookup, electric only (by the lake), tent camping, and cabins," James L. explains.

Dump station timing: Plan for potential waiting periods. "There is only one dump station for the three campgrounds so there can be quite the line when trying to get out of there on a Sunday afternoon," warns Jessie W. about Versailles State Park.

Frequently Asked Questions

What campgrounds are available in North Vernon, Indiana?

North Vernon offers several nearby camping options for outdoor enthusiasts. Muscatatuck Jennings County Park is the closest option to North Vernon, featuring reservable sites with water access and toilet facilities that accommodate both tent campers and RVs. Another local option is Muscatatuck, which provides drive-in and hike-in access with basic amenities including water and toilets. For those willing to travel a short distance, other options include Clifty Falls State Park, Hardy Lake State Recreation Area, and Brown County State Park, all within reasonable driving distance from North Vernon and offering more extensive facilities.

What facilities are available at North Vernon City Park?

North Vernon City Park offers various recreational facilities for visitors including playgrounds, picnic areas with tables and shelters, and walking paths. While not specifically designed for camping, the park provides day-use amenities for local recreation. For actual camping near North Vernon, consider Clifty Falls State Park Campground, which is about 20 miles away and offers camping facilities including shower houses and electric sites, though visitors should note the terrain can be uneven. Alternatively, Hardy Lake State Recreation Area provides water-based recreation opportunities along with camping facilities a reasonable drive from North Vernon.

What recreational activities are offered by North Vernon Parks and Recreation?

North Vernon Parks and Recreation offers a variety of outdoor activities including hiking trails, sports fields, playground facilities, and community events throughout the year. While specific programming details for North Vernon aren't provided in the reviews, nearby state parks offer additional recreational opportunities. Brown County State Park features nearly 30 miles of mountain biking trails, hiking opportunities with scenic vistas, and a seasonal outdoor pool. Similarly, Yellowwood State Forest provides 23,326 acres of recreational land with hiking trails showcasing southern Indiana's rolling hills and famous fall foliage, all within a reasonable drive from North Vernon.