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Best Dog-Friendly Camping near Shelbyville, IN

538 Reviews

Indianapolis KOA's designated dog park provides a spacious area for pets to exercise off-leash, making it a popular choice for pet owners camping near Shelbyville, Indiana. Most campgrounds in the area enforce standard leash policies when pets are outside designated exercise areas. Hidden Paradise Campground, S and H Campground, and Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park all welcome pets with varying amenities. The pup-friendly atmosphere extends to Lake Haven Retreat, where campers appreciate the well-maintained dog park that allows dogs some freedom to roam off-leash. Tent sites, RV spots with full hookups, and select cabins accommodate campers traveling with pets. Campgrounds typically require proof of current vaccinations and responsible waste cleanup.

Trails surrounding Johnson County Park and Camp Atterbury offer pet-friendly hiking opportunities with scenic views. Many campers with dogs prefer sites near White River Campground for its combination of water access and pet-friendly policies. The area experiences seasonal temperature variations requiring extra consideration for pets, particularly during summer months when shaded sites become premium for dog owners. Most campgrounds provide water stations throughout the grounds, though bringing portable water bowls is recommended for hiking and outdoor activities. Nearby Liberty has essential pet supplies and veterinary services within a short drive. Campers report that early morning walks around Indianapolis KOA's perimeter provide quiet exercise time before the campground becomes busy with day activities.

Map showing campgrounds near Shelbyville, IndianaExplore the Map

Best Dog-Friendly Sites Near Shelbyville, Indiana (90)

    1. Hidden Paradise Campground

    16 Reviews
    Waldron, IN
    12 miles
    Website
    +1 (765) 525-6582

    "Staff is visible and seem to do a good job of maintaining order etc Road Noise: This campground is nicely nestled away from public roads. Through Traffic in campground: No issue."

    "This little road is quite narrow, has some pretty tight turns with trees on both sides and in the night it’s hard to tell where the rear end of your camper is on the turns where there are trees close to"

    2. Indianapolis KOA

    21 Reviews
    Lawrence, IN
    20 miles
    Website
    +1 (317) 894-1397

    $60 - $80 / night

    "The pup loved the dog park."

    "(Not really an adult's pool, but that's ok by me) They loved petting and feeding the horses. Campsites were large. We even had an ice cream and watched a movie in the activities hall."

    3. S and H Campground

    12 Reviews
    Greenfield, IN
    18 miles
    Website
    +1 (317) 326-3208

    "Nobody cleans up after their dogs. All in all very grateful for a place to call home for a couple of months."

    "Perfect distance from speedway."

    4. Johnson County Park

    8 Reviews
    Nineveh, IN
    18 miles
    Website
    +1 (812) 526-6809

    "The park is 622 acres that include two campgrounds, approximately 5 miles of hiking trails, equestrian school, 18 hole disc golf course, shelter houses, amphitheater, lakes, fishing and more."

    "We have camped here twice, we needed to be as close to Trafalgar Indiana as possible, not many camping options in the local area."

    5. Camp Atterbury Campground

    5 Reviews
    Nineveh, IN
    19 miles
    Website
    +1 (812) 526-1128

    "No issues with me or my Service Dog."

    6. CERA Sports Corporation

    9 Reviews
    Columbus, IN
    27 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!"

    7. Heflen Park

    3 Reviews
    Edinburgh, IN
    20 miles
    Website
    +1 (812) 526-4154

    8. Lake Haven Retreat

    7 Reviews
    Beech Grove, IN
    24 miles
    Website
    +1 (317) 783-5267

    "Campsites also don't have fire rings but there are a bunch of communal ones around the lake. Plus free communal firewood. The laundry and bathhouse is really stellar too. Clean and open 24/7."

    "Lots of full timers with little dogs that bark non stop. We have large dogs that would get riled up by the small dogs barking. Clearly no one cared about barking though."

    9. Woods Campground

    4 Reviews
    Greenfield, IN
    19 miles
    +1 (765) 565-6718

    "Wood’s Campground is located in Carthage,IN right off of Carthage Pike. Located 41 miles east of Indianapolis.

    I called to see if I needed to make reservations, and you do not."

    10. Taylor Ridge Campground — Brown County State Park

    31 Reviews
    Nashville, IN
    37 miles
    Website
    +1 (812) 988-6406

    $30 / night

    "We have visited Nashville Indiana several times but this is our first time camping nearby. My wife loves to visit Nashville and all the little shops they offer."

    "It was backed up to the edge of the woods which made for a lovely view. Driving through the campground it looks like there are some sites pretty close together but ours wasn’t too bad."

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Recent Dog-Friendly Camping Photos near Shelbyville, IN

52 Photos of 90 Shelbyville Campgrounds

Dog-Friendly Camping Reviews near Shelbyville, IN

538 Reviews of 90 Shelbyville Campgrounds

  • Brady R.
    Oct. 27, 2020

    Paynetown Campground

    Lake Views - Good for Covid

    With COVID, it seems that everyone...and then more people are going camping. It's a bittersweet type of situation. Nevertheless, it's been very hard to find decent camping in Indiana that isn't packed in like sardines, while also trying to escape the city and get into nature - not around more people.

    Luckily, a friend and I came here last October and this place was great. We got a non electric site and were in the middle of the sites. We had a great lake view and were very happy with our setup. It was a pull-through site, although not all are like that. We were able to set up in no time. 

    We had lots of space, away from our neighbors. The campstore had wood and random items that you might need should you forget. We were just steps away from the lake and enjoyed walking down there every morning. There aren't the best hiking trails around, so you'll need to drive to the nearby Brown County or National Forest to hike on trails that are actually worth the time. 

    I will add that the setup is a bit odd for non-electric. You basically had to pull up to the gatehouse, get your reservation info, then do a U-turn and go back out past the campstore in order to get to your campground. Very odd setup to say the least.

  • Lesley E.
    Nov. 20, 2021

    Indianapolis KOA

    Great campground

    We stayed here on our way to Maine and loved the campground so much we chose to stay again on our way back. Everything was clean and well maintained, staff was very friendly and helpful. The pup loved the dog park.

  • Sammii D.
    Jul. 27, 2019

    Lake Haven Retreat

    Mighty fine campground for a city

    This place is pretty awesome. It's doesn't have any of the typical summer amenities like a pool but the ones it does have are in tip top shape. Campsites also don't have fire rings but there are a bunch of communal ones around the lake. Plus free communal firewood. The laundry and bathhouse is really stellar too. Clean and open 24/7. Plenty of washers and dryers. There are easy back-ins and pull-thrus. Think some of the pull-thrus are for group camping too the way it's set up. Dog park, free cable (like 60 channels!) and internet (haven't tested strength yet)! I dig it!

  • E
    Oct. 17, 2023

    Thousand Trails Indian Lakes

    Large Campground

    This was my first time visiting. It’s a very large campground with lots of amenities. I’ve noticed a lot of bad reviews on other platforms about potholes and mud, and although some of that is true, it seems to be mostly on the KOA side. The only major potholes I have encountered are upon entering and exiting near the ranger station. The lot is gravel and very large for my small rig which was cool. It was nice and level, so I didn’t have to do much. I have great service here with my T-Mobile 5g internet as well as my starlink. 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. I would definitely recommend.

    Update: The only negative things I encountered while staying at this campground were the loud golf carts with their music blasting until late at night on the weekends. It seems like the same person would just cruise up and down the roads all evening. The other thing that wasn’t really an issue for me (due to being off season) were the limited amount of washers/dryers for the size of the campground. I can’t imagine what it’s like during peak season.

  • Michael L.
    Jun. 21, 2021

    Muncie RV Resort

    Solid choice -- Near Mounds state park, city of Anderson, and I-69

    I stayed with full hookups, but no cable (don't need it, so don't know if it's available) and we weren't close enough to connect to the WIFI (only close enough to occasionally see 1 bar pop up).

    Friendly folks, catch and release fishing pond, and a pond with beach for swimming. Good size playground, jump pad, and off-leash"dog park" available as well.

    On AT&T, I typically had 2 bars and no problem streaming music or browsing Facebook. My fellow travelers, on Sprint, said they had poor reception. I'm guessing 1 bar.

    Worth noting that my wife said the water pressure in the shower house was fairly low. (I shower in the camper, so can't comment.) Water pressure was fine at our site, though. Also worth noting that many of the back-in sites can be pull-through if you get there when it's not busy.

  • T
    Mar. 4, 2023

    Whitewater Memorial State Park Campground

    Great for Tent Camping

    Short hike to the lake. Great beach area and shower facilities. Pet friendly, horse trails, camp store. Liberty is a short drive and has all essentials plus J’s Dairy Inn 🤤

  • Rebecca J.
    May. 16, 2018

    Paynetown Campground

    Busy college town campground with ample room and huge lake area

    This campground is busy as it's close to a college, but it has ample room to provide for everyone. Lots of water access near campsites so you can swim with pets in areas that aren' the designated beach. There is also the convenience of a camp store for firewood and forgotten items. Primitive spots are awesome and interspersed with the electric so bathrooms are close as well as showers.

  • t
    May. 18, 2018

    Whitewater Memorial State Park Campground

    ok campground

    Nice sites. Diverse group of campers. Anything from people with full size house refrigerators in bed of pickup truck to people with their pet rabbits

  • Brandie B.
    May. 6, 2020

    Thousand Trails Indian Lakes

    Large property with lots of green space

    Indian Lakes Campground is 10 minutes east of downtown Batesville, an hour to the east of Indianapolis and an hour to the west of Cincinnati. With over 1000 sites they offer a KOA section, year round leased sites, Thousand Trails sites and individual sites. We’re a married couple in our forties traveling with two dogs and a cat in our 37 foot motorhome and members of Thousand Trails. We arrived on April 3rd, the day prior to Indiana Covid-19 stay at home restrictions. The property owners were gracious enough to allow us to extend our stay beyond the normal 14 day limit for our personal safety. We were assigned a 50 amp site with water and sewer in loop 4B. This is an open loop with very few trees for shade. Immediately across from our site is a large field about the length of a football field. We can see the lake in the distance past the recreation and pool areas. During our stay we did not access the restroom, laundry, recreation or store areas as we were practicing social distancing. We plan to make many return trips to this campground in the future. Because we were the first to stay in our site since the campground closed for the winter season we had a little site maintenance/pickup to perform but nothing too out of the norm. The noise from the highway can only be heard about once a week. On weekends there’s an increase in golf-cart users and most neighbors are respectful during quiet hours.

Guide to Shelbyville

If you're looking for a great spot to camp with your furry friends near Shelbyville, Indiana, there are several welcoming options that cater to pet owners. Enjoy the outdoors while ensuring your pets have a fantastic time too.

Pet owners like spacious sites and amenities for their furry friends

  • The Indianapolis KOA offers a variety of sites, including tent, RV, and cabin options, making it easy for pet owners to find the perfect fit.
  • At Hidden Paradise Campground, pets are allowed, and the campground features large, easy-to-navigate sites that accommodate big rigs.
  • S and H Campground provides a friendly atmosphere with amenities like electric hookups and a market, ensuring a comfortable stay for both you and your pets.

Dog-friendly activities while camping near Shelbyville

Tips for camping with dogs near Shelbyville

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Shelbyville, IN?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Shelbyville, IN is Hidden Paradise Campground with a 4.4-star rating from 16 reviews.

What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Shelbyville, IN?

TheDyrt.com has all 90 dog-friendly camping locations near Shelbyville, IN, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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