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Best Tent Camping near Santa Claus, IN

382 Reviews

Tent camping opportunities around Santa Claus, Indiana include several options within Hoosier National Forest and surrounding recreation areas. Mitchell Creek Road Dispersed camping provides primitive tent sites with roadside pull-offs on public land, though amenities are extremely limited with no restrooms, fire rings, or picnic tables available. Happy Hollow Homestead offers more established tent sites with picnic tables and fire rings, while Springs Valley Recreation Area provides tent-only camping with toilet facilities accessible via hiking trails.

Access to tent sites varies significantly between locations. Mitchell Creek Road requires navigating narrow gravel roads with limited space for turning around vehicles, making it suitable only for small vehicles rather than larger setups. Some pullouts may become muddy or washed out after rain. Most dispersed sites lack drinking water sources, requiring campers to pack in all water needed for their stay. Sites are typically set on unimproved terrain, sometimes on rocky creek beds or forest floor with minimal preparation. A visitor noted, "The area was rather buggy, and to be honest a little sketchy, so we slept in our van."

The tent camping experience near Santa Claus offers varying levels of solitude and natural settings. The forested sites along Mitchell Creek provide thick forest cover with rock outcroppings to explore and extremely quiet surroundings with minimal vehicle traffic. Happy Hollow Homestead features more established camping with spacious sites set apart for privacy, composting toilets, and nearby water sources. One camper described their experience stating, "The forest is beautiful and we had no problems with ticks or mosquitoes while sleeping in our hammocks. The whole place felt safe and perfect for relaxation in the woods." Old Mill Tent camping provides shaded sites with tree canopy suitable for hammock camping alongside Blue River, though the area can become busy when kayakers finish their river trips at this location.

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Best Tent Sites Near Santa Claus, Indiana (7)

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Recent Tent Camping Photos near Santa Claus, IN

9 Photos of 7 Santa Claus Campgrounds

Tent Camping Reviews near Santa Claus, IN

382 Reviews of 7 Santa Claus Campgrounds

  • Shelly S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 18, 2017

    Lake Lincoln Campground — Lincoln State Park

    Uniquely interesting

    Lincoln State Park is right down the road from Santa Claus , Indiana and Holiday World. Needless to say it was a little busy, but not as bad as the Rudolph RV Park in town.

    The RV/camping area was well laid out and the sites were nestled in quite close to one another. That being said it was a smaller campground and surrounded by trees and lake on two sides,roadway on the other.

    Probably the main thing I didn't like about it. The day use area was a fence row away. Which while convienant to walk to, sorta cut down on the whole camping in the woods privacy thing.

    Direct access to the trail system/lake boardwalk and the cabin area was co-located on the same trail. The trail was sort of well marked, though there were a few trails leading off with no markers.

    The beach, boat rental and general use area was well maintained and had some cool old buildings in use. There is an amphitheater that has a good venue of events.

    The general use pit toilet was fragrant, old and in need of a good cleaning. There were newer facilities but seeing as it was right in the middle of the area you would think a little sprucing up would be in order.

    Very nice lake! CLEAR water, a lot of water activities going on.

    Directly across from the park is another park area with historical stuff if you like that kind of stuff.

  • Sofia A.
    Oct. 24, 2020

    Marengo Cave Campgrounds

    Near Caves

    I stayed on late October and I was the only one there, except for a family on the cabins. The spots are just near and walking distance from the caves and other attractions. They have two potable water spots (so no water on each spot), picnic tables, fire rings, grills and every spot faces the little river. restrooms and showers too. You can bring small pets inside the cave if you carry them all time. I have a small zuchon and carry her in a doggy backpack 🎒 she loved it!

  • Shelly S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 4, 2018

    Hoosier National Forest South Slope Loop Campground

    Glam ping in the woods

    South Slope Loop At Hoosier National Forest is located second campground in on your way to Celina lake. This is the RV friendly campground with electrical hookups for your toys. You give up some privacy and quiet to have your electric as the sites are closer together and of course your neighbor may not be as courteous with the noise said electronics create.

    There is excellent tree cover and you do have some tree block between sites. A nice large newer showerhouse, water points, picnic tables and fire rings to finish off the homeyness.

    All of the hosts that i interacted with were very friendly and went out of their way to assist when they could. The local Ranger Station is located in Tell City and closed on the weekend.

    We spent our time hiking on the Interpretive Trail (1mi)near Celina Lake and Two Rivers Trail (15 mi) which encompasses both Celina and Indian Lake . You can disperse camp for $5 a night as long as you are 300 ft from the trail. And take your bug spray or you may be nothing but a dried out husk by the end of your visit, ticks are horrible right now!

    We spent time at the lake also. Very peaceful, electric motors only so no waves or tubers flying by. There is a small handicap accessible fishing pier adjacent the parking area. A nice area to visit.

  • Sam H.
    Apr. 2, 2023

    Saddle Lake Campground — Hoosier National Forest

    Average National Forest campground

    13 total sites, 2 of which are tent/primitive only and set 50ft or so back into the trees. No electric or water. A single vault toilet of average cleanliness, but was stocked with 6 partial rolls of tp. Tent pads are all flat and level, but parking pads are definitely not. It's all gravel roads including the "Saddle Lake Road" entrance all the way from Old State Road 37. There is a parking lot and boat ramp further down the hill at the lake, but state law does not permit swimming from the shore without a designated beach. $5/night fee paid by honor system drop box near camp entrance.

  • N
    Jul. 20, 2016

    Newton Stewart State Rec Area - Patoka Lake

    Good campground, bad weather :(

    Campsites had paved parking pads, picnic table, fire-ring, and electrical hookups. Restrooms and showers were clean. Lot's of open space and nothing really separating you and your neighbors. This SRA is right on Patoka Lake, so there's plenty to do on the water - boating, fishing, floating cabins, beaches. There's also a disc golf course, archery range, and plenty of paved & dirt trails. It also has a great nature center. Unfortunately our trip got cut short due to very high winds, but we will definitely be back!

  • Heather K.
    Jul. 29, 2019

    COE Rough River Lake Axtel Campground

    Enjoy a beach in the middle of KY!

    I suggest you make a reservation as this campground fills up quickly. Axtel is located on the shore of Rough River Lake and has over 150 camp sites. Almost every site has quick access and/or views of the lake. There is a designated swimming and beach area. There are several restrooms located throughout the campsite. They were clean and stocked with toilet paper and hand soap. There is an easily accessed dumpster area and dump station near the main entrance. WiFi is available however, there is a fee. There is a boat ramp, so you can bring your boat and/or other watercraft. Fishing is allowed as well. There are a lot of sites with electric and water, but some without either. There are sites for tent camping and RV's. Sites have fire pits and a post with a hook for hanging trash and/or lanterns. No alcohol is allowed. Dogs on a leash are allowed. While we were here, several of the sites along the lake were flooded (see pics). The beach had recently been closed due to flooding, but was open while we were there. If you dig down just a couple of inches on the beach, you'll find clay. My kids loved this and made a couple of clay pots (see pics). As with most campsites we visit, people here were friendly and courteous. There is not a market on site, however there was a Dollar General about 13 miles away. They had a lot of the groceries we needed. There were also several gas stations along the way there that had ice and firewood. This is a great place for families to enjoy a beach without leaving KY!

  • Tim E.
    Jul. 30, 2018

    Sun Outdoors Lake Rudolph

    Not for Little Kids

    We chose this campground due to its proximity to Holiday World and its family friendly atmosphere.

    The Bad: We took our 5 and 3 year old daughters for their first camp out with the plan to do Holiday World the next day. This place has golf carts zipping all over all hours of the day and night. Apparently it is the thing to do to decorate golf carts with bright lights, blairing music, and megaphones. They even has a golf cart parade that went from 8:30-10:40pm and included thrown candy that ran about 30 feet from our tent! There was no privacy between sites, constant noise, and trash all over the ground! As an advocate for leave no trace camping, I was completely disgusted with the amount of trash on the ground at our camp site.

    The Good (there was some): The shuttle to Holiday World was great, the staff were friendly, they have a great mini golf course that the girls loved, a top notch playground, and scheduled kuds activities (many are free). they also have a pool and water slides, but i cant comment on those as we did not try them.

    At the end of the day, we had a great trip. but if i were to stay here again it would have to be a more secluded camp site without the constant buzz of golf carts. And I sure hope the amount of trash we saw was a fluke.

  • Sarah R.
    Jan. 20, 2021

    Saddle Lake Campground — Hoosier National Forest

    Primitive Paradise

    This is a centrally located primitive campground that my siblings and I use often for weekend expeditions. The long winding gravel road takes you away from the highway and deposits you in a serene location that is perfect no matter which season you visit. Each site offers ample space for multiple vehicles and occupants; each site also has a picnic table, double lantern hook, and a nice iron fire ring with a swiveling grate. We have spent many weekends here and have never had any issues with any of the other patrons. Each site is $5 a night, they use the honor system, and they have a pit vault bathroom that is usually in pretty clean condition.

  • V
    Jun. 20, 2021

    Saddle Lake Campground — Hoosier National Forest

    Straightforward little campsite

    There are 8-10 spots available, all but one of which are drive-in. I think a smaller RV or third-wheel could get into the first and last spots, otherwise, all the spots looked suitable for tent or hammock camping. 

    We had enough Verizon coverage to get emails and make calls but not enough to have worked on for a longer stay. The campsite is near Saddle Lake and it is walkable at a stretch but there is no swimming allowed there. Based on the other visitors, fishing is the main draw here. The sites were somewhat divided by trees and undergrowth but you will see or hear other campers and the occasional truck flying up the nearby gravel road at 2 am. Site #11 is more private and not visible from the drive in, it is on the right as you pull in going toward the lake.

    Collecting firewood is not permitted here. Bring whatever you need out, I did not see anywhere to get ice or firewood between the campsite and I-64.

    The vault toilet was adequately clean. 

    Dry camping (no water). 

    All drive-in sites had a fire pit and picnic table. 

    We had a hook for trash and whatnot. Be advised that bears are only very rarely seen in Indiana but the racoons are ruthless and highly organized.

    I wrote about my visit here: Saddle Lake camping un-fails

Guide to Santa Claus

Tent camping near Santa Claus, Indiana, offers a blend of natural beauty and outdoor adventure, perfect for those looking to escape into the wilderness.

Tent campers appreciate these amenities

Some prices for tent camping range from $0 to $25

  • Camping at Mitchell Creek Road Dispersed is free, making it an excellent option for budget-conscious campers seeking solitude.
  • Old Mill Tent And Hammock Camping offers affordable rates with amenities like firewood and picnic tables, perfect for a comfortable stay.
  • For a more structured experience, Newton-Stewart provides tent camping with basic facilities, typically at a low cost.

Local attractions to explore

  • Campers at Gobbler's Run Campground — Lincoln State Park can hike through scenic trails and enjoy fishing in the lake, making it a great spot for outdoor activities.
  • Springs Valley Rec Area is perfect for kayaking and fishing, offering a beautiful lake setting for water enthusiasts.
  • Nature lovers will appreciate the proximity of Happy Hollow Homestead to local attractions like Marengo Cave and the Indiana Shoe Tree, providing plenty of exploration opportunities.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Santa Claus, IN?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Santa Claus, IN is Mitchell Creek Road Dispersed with a 2.7-star rating from 6 reviews.

What is the best site to find tent camping near Santa Claus, IN?

TheDyrt.com has all 7 tent camping locations near Santa Claus, IN, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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