Camping cabins near Smithville, Indiana sit within the rolling hills of southern Indiana at elevations between 500-800 feet. The region experiences four distinct seasons with humid summers and cold winters. Many cabin areas include access to lakes for fishing and recreation, with water temperatures reaching the high 70s during peak summer months.
What to do
Fishing opportunities: Three lakes at Shakamak State Park span approximately 400 acres and are known for excellent fishing. "This is a fishing park. Boating with electric motors, so a quiet lake. Fishing was fair according to my fishing guy," notes one visitor. The campground has a dedicated fishing pier for campers.
Hiking trails: Seven marked trails at Shakamak provide varying difficulty levels, though seasonal conditions affect accessibility. "There's 7 hiking trails. All are nice walks in the woods. All were muddy in sections. There's an old coal mine on Trail 2. Blocked off for safety," reports one camper.
Water recreation: Cecil M Harden Lake offers swimming and boating options. A camper mentions, "I loved this camp ground, there was a beach which was nice and a building to get food. They have a basketball court, and a few trails." Some locations allow electric motors only, preserving quiet lake conditions.
Winter activities: Several parks remain open year-round with reduced services. Winter camping requires additional preparation as water systems may be winterized. Greene Sullivan State Forest maintains year-round cabins that receive positive reviews for cold-weather stays: "We originally planned to tent camp the first weekend in October but with 30 degree temps and children, we decided to check out the cabins at Greene Sullivan. Heat was phenomenal."
What campers like
Clean facilities: Turkey Run State Park receives consistent praise for maintenance. "The bathrooms were okay. They were older but seemed to be fairly well maintained," one visitor reports. Another camper at a different location specifically noted, "The bathrooms/showers are KOA clean. Also unheard of in an Indiana State Park. I couldn't even find a spider web."
Lake access: Many campsites offer direct water access, though terrain varies. "We had a site by the lake, but there was no lake view and there was a steep incline to get down to the water," notes one Shakamak visitor. Water activities remain a primary attraction despite occasional access challenges.
Level sites: Finding flat sites can be challenging in some locations but not others. A Shakamak visitor observed, "The sites are all flat—ALL FLAT! No inclined sites at all! Unheard of in an Indiana State Park."
Wildlife viewing: Raccoons frequently visit campgrounds after dark. One camper at Turkey Run mentions, "Watch out for the raccoons. Those guys are not afraid of anything." Wildlife sightings add to the camping experience but require proper food storage.
What you should know
Seasonal operation: Fowler County Park operates from May 1 to October 15 annually. Most cabin rentals require advance reservations, particularly during summer months. One visitor notes: "Primitive and camper sites available first come, first serve. $12 primitive tent sites on water."
Site variations: Campsite quality varies significantly within the same park. "Most of the spaces that had both water and electric were mostly in the sun. But all the other spaces had plenty of shade and trees around them," explains a Turkey Run camper. Site levelness remains inconsistent at many locations.
Bathroom facilities: Availability ranges from modern facilities to vault toilets. "Vault toilets were well maintained," reports one Greene Sullivan visitor, while another location received this note: "The bathrooms were super clean and the showers were hot with good water pressure."
Cellular service: Coverage varies widely by location and carrier. "One downside was we had Verizon as a cell phone carrier and only had one bar," reports a Shakamak visitor. Plan accordingly for limited connectivity at most locations.
Tips for camping with families
Activity planning: Sullivan County Park offers family-focused programming. "Many weekends they have live music and/or activities for the family. Local officers patrol the area during busy weekends and the park is staffed at the gatehouse 24/7 where ice and firewood is sold," a visitor shares. Check park calendars for scheduled events.
Beach access: Several parks feature swimming beaches with varying amenities. "There is a large pool too with a nature center that has limited hours. Today, the Nature Center had a snake demonstration at 2 pm," reports a Shakamak visitor. Some locations have designated swimming hours, typically 12-6 pm.
Playground facilities: Multiple campgrounds feature playgrounds for children. A Sullivan County visitor notes: "Playgrounds, basketball court, and plenty of open space for other activities. They also have boat rentals now!" Playground equipment quality and maintenance varies by location.
Educational opportunities: Nature centers operate seasonally with limited hours. "The Nature Center was inexplicably closed 'for the season'. Disappointing!" notes one Shakamak visitor. Call ahead to confirm hours before promising children these activities.
Tips from RVers
Hookup variations: Hardin Ridge offers multiple hookup options. "There are many electric, some electric/water, and a few full hook up. Water spigots are heavily spread throughout each loop," explains a long-time visitor. Extension cords may be necessary at some sites due to utility placement.
Site leveling: Many campgrounds feature uneven terrain requiring significant leveling. "Our site was clean and well equipped with a fire ring and picnic table. The site is very uneven. It definitely sloops to the back corner. It's was difficult to level our camper but we got it in the end," reports a Turkey Run visitor.
Generator restrictions: Some campgrounds limit generator use or prohibit them entirely. "Some of the loops do not allow generators and or have restricted hours of usage," notes a Hardin Ridge camper. Check specific loop rules before making reservations if generator use is important.
Reservation systems: Most parks use a combination of reservable and first-come sites. "You can reserve sites, or some are first come first served," explains a Hardin Ridge visitor. For larger rigs, reservations are strongly recommended during peak season.
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