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Best Campgrounds near Patriot, IN

587 Reviews

Camping in the Patriot, Indiana vicinity encompasses a range of public and private sites along the Ohio River valley. Follow The River RV Resort in Florence offers full-service sites for tents, RVs, cabins, and glamping options, while Hartig Park & Wildlife Reserve provides more primitive camping with no hookups or facilities. Both Big Bone Lick State Historic Site in Kentucky and Clifty Falls State Park in Madison feature developed campgrounds with electric hookups within a 30-mile radius of Patriot. The region's campgrounds provide access to Ohio River recreation, wildlife viewing areas, and hiking trails.

Seasonal considerations affect campground availability, with Big Bone Lick State Historic Site operating from April through October, while other facilities like Follow The River RV Resort and Camp Shore Campground remain open year-round. Most developed campgrounds in the area require reservations, especially during summer weekends and holidays. Sites at established campgrounds typically include fire rings, picnic tables, and access to drinking water. Several campgrounds feature varying degrees of levelness that can affect setup. "The sites are roomy, but in a grass field between the trees—so not necessarily private. Most smaller rigs won't have a problem, and we saw several cars on the narrow and rough gravel road," noted one camper about the camping experience.

Visitors highlight the Ohio River access as a primary draw for camping in the region. Northern Kentucky RV Park and Camp Shore Campground both feature boat-in access points, allowing campers to combine watercraft exploration with overnight stays. Campers at Hartig Park consistently mention the quiet, secluded nature of the camping experience despite the primitive facilities. One reviewer described it as "an awesome quiet campground tucked away in northern KY along the Ohio River. There are 10-12 dispersed campsites with fire rings and picnic tables." Wildlife viewing opportunities exist throughout the region's campgrounds, with Big Bone Lick State Historic Site featuring a bison herd and nature museum. Proximity to historical sites, including General Butler State Resort Park and several small riverside communities, provides additional exploration options for campers visiting the Patriot area.

Best Camping Sites Near Patriot, Indiana (88)

    1. Big Bone Lick State Historic Site Campground

    45 Reviews
    Patriot, IN
    6 miles
    Website
    +1 (859) 384-3522

    $35 / night

    "we really enjoyed Big Bone. we went to their museum center on Saturday afternoon and walked the Bison trail to see the baby bison they had at the time. it was nice to have something different to do."

    "A well groomed and cared for campground surrounded by a museum, bison prairie, hiking trails & other outdoor activities."

    2. Follow The River RV Resort

    14 Reviews
    Warsaw, KY
    9 miles
    Website
    +1 (812) 427-3330

    "The store was super close by and there you are not too far from the nearest town. Super beautiful and spacious especially since you’re close to the river as well!"

    "Nice pull through close to the pool and bathrooms. Quiet during the week."

    3. Hartig Park & Wildlife Reserve

    5 Reviews
    Patriot, IN
    3 miles
    Website
    +1 (859) 904-9458

    "This is an awesome quiet campground tucked away in northern KY along the Ohio River. There are 10-12 dispersed campsites with fire rings and picnic tables."

    "The main road was nice to drive on, but the others were pretty rough. Had spots for hammocks, and the portopotty was well maintained. The spots were all pretty secluded. Great remote location!"

    4. Oak Creek Campground

    8 Reviews
    Union, KY
    11 miles
    Website
    +1 (859) 485-9131

    "We prefer site 18 which offers nice privacy and os next to a stream."

    5. Northern Kentucky RV Park

    7 Reviews
    Williamstown, KY
    14 miles
    Website
    +1 (859) 428-2000

    $40 - $80 / night

    "It was neat and orderly but right on I-75 and next to RR tracks . We pulled in right at dusk and left after we got up , so we didn’t have time to explore."

    "And there was a bit of noise from highway and passing trains, but they weren't a big deal to us."

    6. Camp Shore Campground

    3 Reviews
    Aurora, IN
    11 miles
    Website
    +1 (812) 438-2135

    "Friendly location and the grounds are supervised so quiet in the evenings."

    "It was a great weekend all around and we enjoyed our stay."

    7. Away at Green Hill

    1 Review
    Union, KY
    8 miles
    +1 (859) 322-9085

    $35 - $120 / night

    "What a wonderful experience, Teri and Mike have a beautiful area tucked away in Northern KY. Plenty of space between campsites! We stayed at Henry's Holler. It's a 4x4 only site."

    8. General Butler State Resort Park

    12 Reviews
    Carrollton, KY
    21 miles
    Website
    +1 (502) 732-4826

    $35 - $45 / night

    "Great little park located just far enough away to get away but close enough to town to run and get something if you forgot it. Campground is pretty compact but stays pretty quiet."

    "Hiked the Butler Lake Trail with dogs this was a fun trail We tried to hike the Woodland Trail- unfortunately it had just rained for the few days before that and it was too sloppy for us and our dogs General"

    9. Beyonder Getaway Rising Sun

    1 Review
    Aurora, IN
    10 miles
    Website
    +1 (812) 438-4500

    $45 - $58 / night

    10. Clifty Falls State Park Campground

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

    $20 - $35 / 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."

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Recent Camping Photos near Patriot, IN

127 Photos of 88 Patriot Campgrounds

Recent Reviews near Patriot, IN

587 Reviews of 88 Patriot Campgrounds

  • Chasity S.
    Mar. 20, 2026

    The Landing at Bear Creek RV Park

    Worst management! I’m afraid to even still be here!

    The lady at Bear Creek started out in June 2025 a quiet place with friendly management and their friendly family entire family that all live at one end of the park so no one else can have their spaces a family that causes nothing but gossip and drama that is the reason why I stopped going to throw in dinners and events. The campground itself is a mess management let potholes go all winter long to the point that it was so bad people were complaining. I myself complained, and they acted like they were doing us a favor by getting some gravel and trying to half ass fill the holes the porta potties were out of commission all summer last summer and so far are still out of commission. The splash pad is a joke. The pavilion is just a place with some picnic tables and they have allowed DJ or live band on Friday or Saturday nights where they can all get drunk and act. Accordingly we asked for the owners number to voice our complaints to the people that own the landing at Bear Creek, but management refuses to give the owners information and we had to go other routes to get that information since then they have been harassing us taunting us. They called the police and tried to kick us out without our campers without my therapy cats without our pets without our belongings without our homes we sold our four bedroom house and bought two big campers and this is where we live full-time we will be leaving in April 2026. It is now March 2026 the middle of March and the harassment hasn’t stopped. They have told people things about us that are not true. They’ve been returning our mail just a laundry list of things that are not only illegal, but scary that two people could be that unhinged that they would act this way toward anybody, especially people like myself who have never had a complaint. I never really leave my camper because I have a small business that I run never caused any problems never caused a disturbance and I’ve been here since June 2025 once they found out that we were moving and that we wanted to talk to the owners to follow voice our complaints. It’s been nothing but police and harassment and it’s to the point where I’m afraid to even stay here. I’m afraid they’re going to harm my cats or myself. I’ve never seen two people more unhinged and crazy and spiteful and vengeful as I have the managers that are currently managing the landing at Bear Creek. I’ve never had this much interaction with police officers over managers of a property harassing so badly, knowing that I have mental health issues and using those mental health issues as a threat against me, I do not recommend people come. They stay for maybe a month or two and leave because they realize how awful this place is the gossip the drama there’s been drugs. There’s been a guy that had a knife and was trying to stab all his neighbors, and they found cocaine in his camper. There have been numerous incidents. Someone passed away out here in a strange fashion. This place is a wasteland. It is a routing negative energy and management is childish petty and the most spiteful, crazy, insane unhinged people I have ever seen in my entire life, the way that they have been behaving with their children in their truck driving up to my camper, harassing me outside of my camper, returning my mail just all this craziness. I can’t believe it. I can’t even put together in words to leave this post right now I’m so sorry this is the worst place I’ve ever seen and neither of the worst type of people I’ve ever met in my entire life. Please do not stay here for your own safety. If you’re trying to reach the owners to file a complaint about management the first picture shows you how to do so because management will not give you the owners information.

  • MThe Dyrt PRO User
    Jan. 29, 2026

    Kincaid Lake State Park Campground

    Beautiful Park, Not Big Rig Friendly

    Excellent park for small to mid campers. Main road driving in is VERY narrow and curvy. Can be very difficult to pass oncoming traffic in various areas on road as there is nowhere to merge when meeting oncoming traffic. We have a 38’ pull behind and I will not take it here. Simply not safe as there is not enough room to maneuver at all for a camper that size. Beautiful park for small campers and tents!

  • Dwaynes W.
    Oct. 25, 2025

    Batesville KOA

    THE WORST KOA I'VE EVER STAYED AT

    Bathrooms = -5 Showers = -100 Staff = 5 Campsites = 2. Could they make the sites any smaller? Camper next to you is right on top of you. Landscaping = 4 - just not kept up well at all. Dog Park = one, and it's a loooooooooooong ways away. I travel full-time. Stay at KOA's all the time. This is, by far, THE WORST KOA I have been to and, no matter what, I won't be back. Seriously bad. There's even a $10 charge if you leave the KOA and then try to return . What? I have to pay to get back to my things? It looks nice with the ponds... but truth be told, THE WORST KOA EVER - it's a dump compared to what is expected from a KOA. Uhg.

  • 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.

  • AThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 8, 2025

    Elkhorn Creek RV Park

    Wonderful place to stay with easy access to the Bourbon Trail and Frankfort

    We stayed for several days so that we could visit distilleries on the Bourbon Trail. Frankfort is almost close enough to bicycle to. Lexington is less than an hour away. It was a great base for visiting many interesting places.

    Elkhorn Creek RV Park was fantastic. The sites were clean and everything worked. The staff was super friendly. We stayed in a creekside site so we had a little bit of scenery. It is a pretty urban place, not a state park, so we didn't expect it to be as pretty as it turned out to be.

    The pool was plenty warm. The bathroom was clean. The classic rock singer who came in and sang in the pavilion on Saturday night was fun.

  • 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.

  • Amanda W.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 7, 2025

    Elkhorn Campground

    Quiet & friendly

    I stayed here for 2 weeks while visiting family in the area. Very safe & quiet campground with very friendly staff.

  • Kara S.
    Sep. 6, 2025

    Stonelick State Park Campground

    Big sites but can be loud and crowded

    Nice big sites, fairly level. We camped at site 35 and it was very slopey, our levelers only helped a little. First night the shower house STUNK but then the next day it smelled fine while our closest bathrooms were out of order. The trail to the lake was right next to the sit and that was lovely.

  • Evan C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 18, 2025

    Jim Terrell Park

    Looks Good!

    8/13/2025

    NOTE: I did NOT stay here. I was going to, but decided to drive a little farther than I had initially planned. I did want to check it out though because there aren't many reviews. 

    This looks like a solid option to tent for a night though. The town looks very nice and quiet, and the park seems well-kempt. If the sites are on the river, just know there's a restaurant on the opposite bank that might be a source of noise/light at night, and the park itself is kind of close to the road. I'm not exactly sure where one would tent, but there did seem to be some flat space behind a rafting/kayaking shack to the left as you pull in.

Guide to Patriot

Camping near Patriot, Indiana provides access to the Ohio River valley's diverse landscapes, where elevation changes from 485 feet along the river to over 800 feet on surrounding ridges. Winter temperatures typically range from 20-40°F, while summer camping season brings temperatures between 65-85°F with moderate humidity. Most campgrounds in this region remain accessible year-round despite seasonal weather variations.

What to do

Wildlife viewing at Big Bone Lick State Historic Site: Located approximately 25 miles from Patriot, visitors can observe the resident bison herd. "Great Attraction, you can walk the trails and even get the excitement of seeing REAL LIVE BISON. Pretty sweet experience!" notes camper Zoe S. The park also offers educational opportunities: "The museum and gift shop have a lot of educational stuff which would be excellent for a home schooling trip," according to Shelly S.

Hiking at Clifty Falls State Park: With multiple trails of varying difficulty, hikers can explore the park's unique geological features. "The best hike, in my opinion, was Trail 6 to 5, then down to 2, and back up to 5, finishing on Trail 4 at Hoffman Falls. Lots to see on that hike and not very crowded," recommends camper Kaley A. The park features several waterfalls accessible via interconnected trails.

Fishing at Northern Kentucky RV Park: The park offers a pond for fishing without leaving the campground. "We also had time to fish the large pond," reports Joe F. The grounds are well-maintained with newly developed recreational areas, including "a nice playground" according to reviewers.

What campers like

Secluded camping at Hartig Park & Wildlife Reserve: Campers appreciate the privacy and peaceful environment. "Great free camping. This property was great. Gravel roads and grass trails to the campsites. Evenings were quiet," says Lucas G. Another camper notes the site layout: "The sites are all pretty secluded," making this an ideal option for those seeking solitude.

Year-round accessibility at Follow The River RV Resort: Campers value the well-maintained grounds and consistent accessibility. "Very friendly staff. The bathrooms having regular working toilets and showers. The bathrooms are very nice. There is a pool, volleyball courts and a dog park," mentions Jessica G. The concrete pads provide stable setups regardless of weather conditions.

Educational opportunities at Big Bone Lick: Beyond camping, visitors appreciate the historical and natural exhibits. "There is a museum and playground located on the property. You will also find a lake and a field with bison. The pool is tiny. There is also miniature golf available," says Suzy M., highlighting the family-friendly amenities that complement the camping experience.

What you should know

Site levelness varies widely: Many campgrounds in the region have uneven sites that require preparation. At Clifty Falls State Park, one camper reported: "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."

Seasonal facility limitations: During cooler months, some amenities may be unavailable or limited. At Clifty Falls, "Bathrooms aren't heated in the cooler months" according to Kyle, who also noted "Zero cellular or wifi service so that could be good or bad."

Wildlife management concerns: At Away at Green Hill, visitors should be prepared for primitive camping conditions. "Note: there is no electric or water. Also pack out what you pack in," advises Bryan J. The remoteness attracts wildlife, making proper food storage essential.

Tips for camping with families

Educational activities: Big Bone Lick State Historic Site offers hands-on learning opportunities. "We love the orienteering course," shares Lynn G., adding that "This is not a destination for serious hiking, but is perfect for families. Nice for a quick stop on a road trip just to see the exhibits or for a weekend of simple camping."

Recreation options for different ages: General Butler State Resort Park provides diverse activities for family members. "The lodge lets campers use the pool 4-7 pm for free which is nice," notes Liz S., making it cost-effective for families with children.

Accessibility considerations for kids: At Camp Shore Campground, families appreciate the organized activities. "They were having their Christmas in July celebration. Great time for kids and adults. Very friendly locals," reports Kelly, highlighting the campground's family programming.

Tips from RVers

Utility challenges: Some RV sites have infrastructure limitations. At Northern Kentucky RV Park, RVers should be aware of train and highway noise: "The freeway traffic is very loud 24 hours and the train comes at least 2 times per night (2am and 5am Sunday night anyway) blowing its horn," warns Cari W.

Site selection considerations: Follow The River RV Resort offers concrete pads that RVers appreciate. "It is a VERY NICE campground! Mostly level concrete pads, nice picnic table & fire ring," notes Alan B., who also mentions the importance of bringing personal internet solutions: "We bring our own wifi (T-Mobile was fine)."

Accessibility for larger rigs: Some of the best places to camp near Patriot, Indiana have size restrictions. At Hartig Park, one camper advises: "Most smaller rigs won't have a problem, and we saw several cars on the narrow and rough gravel road." Reviewers recommend calling ahead to confirm site dimensions before arrival.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular campground near Patriot, IN?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Patriot, IN is Big Bone Lick State Historic Site Campground with a 4.2-star rating from 45 reviews.

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