2 campgrounds with availability next weekend
Hidden Paradise Campground houses some of the area's most popular glamping accommodations, perfectly situated along the Flat Rock River with scenic riverside sites. These glamping options feature comfortable beds, full hookups, clean facilities, and access to unique outdoor experiences in rural Indiana. "This is one of the best camping experiences I've had. Wonderful atmosphere and staff," notes a recent visitor, highlighting the appeal of this waterfront glamping destination. The campground's luxury accommodations are complemented by spacious sites with picnic tables, fire rings, and excellent water access for fishing and paddling. Indianapolis KOA, located about 25 miles from Shelbyville, offers additional upscale glamping units with modern amenities including heating and air conditioning, kitchenettes, and private outdoor spaces within easy driving distance of downtown attractions.
The sparkling quarry lake at Hidden Paradise serves as a focal point for glamping guests, featuring inflatable water play equipment, paddle boats, and swimming opportunities during warmer months. Glampers can also enjoy river kayaking, floating, and fishing directly from many sites. According to one camper, "They have many activities, but we were stopping just for the night. It was a campground I would definitely go back to." For glamping visitors seeking adventures beyond the campgrounds, the area provides convenient access to Indianapolis attractions just 20-30 minutes away. Seasonal considerations are important when planning luxury outdoor stays in this region, as many glamping accommodations operate from April through October, with Hidden Paradise's full amenities available primarily during summer months when water activities are most enjoyable.
"Campground Noise: There is fun noise , but nothing out of line."
"Our site had full hookup, flat ground so easy setup."
"The staff are always chipper cheery and eager to help. The general store is chock full of great gear including a variety of Life is Good clothing and pizza available for delivery."
"We had heard that check-in involved a tight turn near the office, but we had no issues navigating the turn with our 40’ fifth wheel and F450."
from $60 - $80 / night
"The main bathhouse is pretty clean, included laundry, and a great host and hostess (Mark and Denise). The only bad is the price hikes here."
"Level sites, electric and sewer at each site, clean facilities, camp ground clean. Was quite less the muffled sounds of the gun range for reserve troops training/qualifying."
"Staff is always welcoming and ready to assist. We look forward to returning next season."
"Clean, well maintained, knowledgeable and friendly staff."
from $16 - $37 / night
"Showers bathroom game room and general store. Nice owners they have church on Sunday. Hardly hear the humm of the hwy . Beautiful views of the surrounding farms . Fire pit and table."
"Lots are level and include a picnic table and fire pit, with nice space between sites. The campsite is immaculate and well appointed. There is a pretty pond, pool, and many activities for kids."
from $35 - $58 / night
"Bathrooms/showers are clean. Laundry on site. Small store and library where you can borrow books. Nice dog walk and small fenced dog area. Sites level and good for big rigs down to tents."
"Clean bathrooms and showers. Nice laundromat. Staff was very friendly. Was a little pricey but with water electric sewer and cable hookups and a laundromat. Definitely worth the price."
"With over 1000 sites they offer a KOA section, year round leased sites, Thousand Trails sites and individual sites."
"There are several fishing ponds and a lake with a beach area. There are 2 pools, and a golf course. Laundry facilities are decent, and there are plenty of machines."
"It’s clean and the staff was so friendly. Our floats on the lake while listening to DMB on the speakers was just a perfect way to spend the day."
"She helped with the reservation, she greeted us when we arrived, she even called to make sure we were doing ok driving it the first day."
ScoutMark & Denise are great camp hosts they care about everyone and will help them if they need it. They do so much for the holidays and have some great times together around the campfires. Will miss them this winter but will be thinking of them during the Army Navy game. (A inside joke lol).
Guide⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Our First RV Home Has Been Such a Blessing!
My husband and I absolutely loved our first few months here at Friends O' Mine Campgrounds & Cabins as first-time RV owners with our Class A RV.
We downsized from our 5-bedroom home in the Ozark Mountains of Missouri. We sold our home and I followed my Husband back here to Indiana after he received a wonderful career opportunity. My Husband is a Veteran, 🇺🇸 and after moving to Nashville, Indiana, we had immediately fallen in love with this small town - where we respected and admired the way Nashville reminds us of where we had just moved from in Missouri.
We stayed at Grand Wood Suites for six months, after paying for a hotel, all while continuously paying for our two large storage units, as well as our mortgage payment and then rent for most of the beginning of this year; so, we decided to downsize to save money to buy land sooner, instead of continuing to rent. 🏕️ We already loved camping - we started with a pop-up camper on the 🔝 of our Jeep and camped dozens of times, then traded up to a pop-up camper. So we used what we had in savings, bought our Class A RV, donated our pop-up camper, and came to Friends O' Mine - and it was the best decision!
From day one, the other campers have been so friendly, as are the nice employees and amazing owners. They truly make you feel like family. They set up weekly entertainment that brings the whole campground together around the campfire - there is a huge fire in the middle with six porch swings attached to a massive gazebo and veranda surrounding it. It's incredibly cozy and just inviting you to join in.
We've enjoyed live musical singers entertaining us around the campfire all evening, and we were invited to watch a documentary about a local racecar driver in their indoor recreational room, right next to the indoor laundry facilities.
There is also a subterranean pool that my Husband and I enjoyed swimming in almost every day during our first month here - it was very relaxing and refreshing!
One of our favorite parts has been our peaceful, nighttime walks around the large, well-stocked catch-and-release pond. My Husband and I hold hands together and walk around it at sunset almost every evening. It's so serene and calming to hear the sounds of the water and feel the beautiful Autumn breeze.
This has been a very relaxing, enjoyable, and heartwarming experience for us. If you are looking for a clean, friendly, peaceful, and welcoming place to stay - whether for a weekend or for a season - we cannot recommend Friends O' Mine Campgrounds & Cabins enough. We are so grateful we found it!
Scoutwe arrived during a halloween kids party. the hostess was super nice. the women’s showers and wash rooms clean. the men’s shower was sport locker style.
ScoutBeautiful, great amenities too. Right off highway to travel anywhere
GuideGreat place to stay. Full hook ups, about 90 percent level sites. 33 RV sites and 3 or 4 primitive camp sites. The main bathhouse is pretty clean, included laundry, and a great host and hostess (Mark and Denise). The only bad is the price hikes here. One would think MWR would throw money towards some things...like a dog park, some leveling, lights at the kids playground, and MWR sponsored and paid for holiday parties/outings for vets, retirees, and all the active here on base. But nope, just collecting revenue without any beanies. Anyway, the host keeps it grounded.
GuideBack in site, along the river, has full hooks! Wonderful bike, walking, you could even see horses on the path! Well taken care of campground, owned by the county. Lots of shade trees, clean bathrooms, playground.
GuideWe made last minute reservations, for tent camping, the staff was so nice. She even brought fire wood to us after they closed the store. They have all amenities. The shower were nice and clean (the water was a bit smelly). The sight comes with outlets and water faucets. There’s a lake right near the sight that u can go into, but that causes a lot of flies to come.
ScoutTent camping is great, and there are lots of camper lots that are big rig friendly, with all of the hookups. Shower house and restroom are very clean. They have a laundry mat as well. Staff is super friendly and very helpful.
GuideWe traveled from Tennessee for a concert in Indianapolis (about a 40-minute drive) and absolutely loved this campground! The sites are paved, level, and offer plenty of yard space, with many located right along the river.
It’s right at the entrance to a scenic walking trail, and they even offer electric bike rentals to explore the area. The campground store is one of the nicest we’ve seen, and the bathrooms are clean and well maintained. There’s also a new, modern playground.
Wi-Fi is available, and we had solid cell service with 3 bars on US Cellular and T-Mobile. If we lived closer, we’d definitely be back!
Winter season is over middle of April, and we were here April 3rd. Water was turned off at the sites, but they had a spot to fill up your holding tank.
Full hook-ups!
Glamping options near Shelbyville, Indiana extend beyond the popular riverside accommodations. The area sits at approximately 800 feet above sea level in central Indiana, with mixed hardwood forests and farmland creating distinct seasonal camping experiences. Summer temperatures average 75-85°F while spring and fall can fluctuate widely, requiring campers to prepare for rapid weather changes.
Kayaking and floating: River activities near Shelbyville extend beyond the quarry lake. At White River Campground, the river provides easy access for water recreation. "White river campground is not a huge place, but it is always clean and very friendly staff. It's a great place to just go and relax and enjoy nature," reports Anthony C. The campground features a boat launch directly on the river.
Hiking trails: Explore miles of woodland paths in the area. According to a visitor at Whitewater Memorial State Park Campground, "Beautiful park, with lots of hiking trails although it is sad to see the amount of litter all along the trails we hiked (7 miles worth)." The park connects to both Brookville and Whitewater lakes for extended adventures.
Family water play: Beyond riverside glamping, seasonal water activities include splash pads. At Indianapolis KOA, "The splash pad/water park was fun, but was not a pool. It only goes to 3 feet so if you want to swim this is not for you. The water was cold but my kiddos finally got in and had fun on the slides," notes Megan T. Many water facilities operate from late May through early September, weather permitting.
Spacious sites with privacy: While some glamping accommodations emphasize luxury, other campgrounds focus on space. "The sites are spacious, the water, sewer, and electric are good. All sites are paved, grounds are great to walk, campground people are nice," shares Kristen S. about White River Campground. Most sites include fire rings and picnic tables regardless of accommodation type.
Clean facilities: Facility quality varies across campgrounds. A standout for cleanliness is Brown County-Nashville KOA, where one reviewer noted, "Well kept campground. Cleanest campground bathrooms I have ever seen. Friendly staff." This location offers both standard camping and upscale accommodations about 60 miles from Shelbyville.
Fishing opportunities: Several locations provide fishing access without requiring waterfront glamping sites. As Kimberly A. describes Thousand Trails Indian Lakes: "We love going camping here. We go at least 3 times a summer because of how peaceful it is." The property features multiple fishing ponds beyond its main lake.
Reservation timing: During peak summer months, glamping accommodations fill quickly. "We called for reservations less than two weeks in advance, and they only had one site left," reports one reviewer at Brown County-Nashville KOA. For luxury stays, particularly those with water access, reservations 3-6 months in advance are recommended during June-August.
Noise considerations: Some campgrounds experience periodic noise issues. At Camp Atterbury Campground, a guest mentions: "If you don't mind fireing guns 24/7 it's a great little place." The military installation nearby conducts periodic training exercises, which may affect those seeking a silent retreat.
Site selection importance: Campgrounds often have varying quality across different sections. Douglas T. from Hidden Paradise Campground advises: "There were several roads leading in different directions and it was hard to tell which one was the 'main' road had there been directionals showing which road went to which sites would have been helpful." Requesting maps before arrival can help identify preferred locations.
Playground access: Many campgrounds near Shelbyville offer child-friendly facilities beyond water features. At Cornerstone Campground, "Beautiful campground. Great for all kinds of camping from primitive to full hook up. Tons of stuff for kids to do," according to Trevor N. Most playgrounds are centrally located near shower houses or camp stores.
Off-site adventures: When planning luxury camping trips, consider nearby attractions. Tom O. notes about Indianapolis KOA: "Used this campground as a home base to visit downtown Indy. 20 minutes to downtown attractions." Most glamping locations are within 30-45 minutes of additional family activities.
Weather planning: Indiana's climate can change quickly, affecting outdoor activities. "We had four 90-degree days so the big plus was the pool. Although dated it was large, clean and refreshing," shares one KOA visitor. Most swimming facilities and water attractions operate from Memorial Day through Labor Day, with limited hours in May and September.
Leveling requirements: RV sites at area campgrounds vary in preparation quality. At Indianapolis KOA, "Pads are gravel and we did need to use several leveling blocks on our site, which made for a doosey of a bottom step into and out of our trailer." Bringing additional leveling equipment is advised even at premium glamping sites.
Off-season availability: For those seeking luxury accommodations with fewer crowds, consider non-summer visits. According to Emerson F. at Thousand Trails Indian Lakes, "Because it's off season, there isn't a lot going on, but I'm ok with that. I also appreciated the dog park that was well maintained to give my pup some freedom to roam off leash." Many glamping facilities offer reduced rates from April-May and September-October.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular glamping campsite near Shelbyville, IN?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular glamping campground near Shelbyville, IN is Hidden Paradise Campground with a 4.4-star rating from 15 reviews.
What is the best site to find glamping camping near Shelbyville, IN?
TheDyrt.com has all 25 glamping camping locations near Shelbyville, IN, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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