Camping options near Salem, Indiana range from lakeside sites to forest settings in the hilly terrain of southern Indiana. Many campgrounds sit at elevations between 500-900 feet above sea level, with summer temperatures often reaching the upper 80s and high humidity levels. The region's limestone geology creates unique hiking opportunities with challenging elevation changes, particularly along established trail systems.
What to Do
Lake activities at Hardy Lake: Shale Bluff Campground at Hardy Lake offers multiple boat ramps for water access. "Kayaking was smooth. We enjoyed this camp," notes one visitor, while another mentions the "huge beach area that is open for swimming. There are four boat launches, fishing piers, fish cleaning stations."
Hiking the state forest: Clark State Forest provides access to multiple hiking trails for nature enthusiasts with dogs. "Nice and cheap," reports a camper, making it an economical option for outdoor adventures. The forest's extensive trail system connects to nearby recreation areas.
Historical exploration: The Spring Mill State Park area includes unique historical features. One camper reports, "They had a Smokey the Bear program for the kids and some really fun activities at the nature center while we were there," and another recommends "visit the pioneer village."
What Campers Like
Quiet wooded settings: Starve Hollow State Rec Area earns praise for its natural surroundings. "This is a great campground. It deserves the 5 I gave it. We stayed in site 21 which was right on the lake. All the lake front spots seem to have a good amount lakefront footage," says one visitor.
Multiple accommodation options: Camp Raintree Lake provides various lodging choices. A recent visitor notes, "They added a new saltwater pool, deluxe cabins, deluxe camping sites. All sites have 50/30 AMP. Most with lake views or select a site right nearest the lake."
Trail connections: Many campers appreciate easy trail access from campgrounds. 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. Disc golf is the big activity at this park. Awesome walking path and a petting zoo."
What You Should Know
Site conditions vary: Campgrounds in the Salem area can have challenging terrain. At Buffalo Trace Park, "Make sure you have plenty of leveling blocks. We used all of ours and was not level."
Peak season considerations: Most campgrounds in the region get busy during summer weekends. "We stayed during the week, not very crowded," notes one Spring Mill visitor, suggesting midweek stays for more privacy.
Limited amenities at some locations: Jackson Trailhead offers very basic dispersed camping. "There's parking after a decrepit gravel road and suitable for camping. There are campsites along the trail just have to find them," warns a visitor, making it best for experienced campers.
Tips for Camping with Families
Kid-friendly water features: Many families appreciate the swimming options at local campgrounds. At Shale Bluff Campground, "There is a beach, boat ramps, and many hiking trails. They offer activities on the weekends, especially for kids."
Educational opportunities: Several parks offer learning experiences for children. One camper at Charlestown State Park noted, "Rose Island is very cool- Haunting but sublime. The paved trail to see Rose Island is about 1/2 mile long hill that is very steep in parts."
Wildlife viewing: Local campgrounds offer opportunities to see native animals. Hardy Lake features "the only DNR property in the state of Indiana with a raptor rehabilitation program," according to a visitor, who recommends asking "if breakfast with the raptors will be happening if you are going to be there on a Saturday morning."
Tips from RVers
Hookup locations: At Delaney Creek Park, "The electric and water hookups are not in standard locations for RV hookups. Make sure you bring an extension for your electric hookup, otherwise you might not be able to reach the post. Same for water hookup."
Cell service and connectivity: Many pet-friendly campgrounds near Salem offer decent connectivity. At Camp Raintree Lake, "This campground offers, high-speed Wi-Fi that actually works! The new owners upgraded last year and it's fabulous!"
Site selection for larger rigs: For those with larger RVs, choose sites carefully. At Delaney Creek Park, "Sites for RVs are concrete and you will need to level some on all of them," while at Starve Hollow State Recreation Area, "They have both vault toilets and flush toilets in the shower buildings. All the campsites I saw were pretty level."
