Indiana's Morgan-Monroe State Forest region offers diverse options for glamping in Smithville, Indiana, with an elevation that provides comfortable summer temperatures typically 5-10 degrees cooler than surrounding lowlands. The area features limestone terrain with natural sinkholes visible near many camping areas. Most glamping accommodations maintain seasonal operations from April through October, with limited winter availability.
What to do
Hiking trail exploration: Morgan-Monroe State Forest offers several trails ranging from short walks to challenging 10+ mile routes. The Tecumseh Trail stretches 40 miles, passing through multiple forests. A reviewer notes, "There are a lot of trails to hike, 2 of them are over 10 miles (lower gap and three lakes). The Tecumseh trail (40 miles) starts in Morgan Monroe State Forest passes through Yellowwood State Forest and ends in the Hoosier national Forest."
Fishing opportunities: Greene Sullivan State Forest provides exceptional fishing across 120 lakes. "This is a really interesting State Forest evolving from a reclamation project of donated land from various coal companies. Now encompassing nearly 9000 acres of woodlands and what it's best known for, some 120 lakes providing some of the best fishing in the state. The lakes are rich with bass, bluegill, crappy, redear and Airline Lake is even stocked annually with rainbow trout."
Disc golf course: Rockville Lake County Park offers an 18-hole disc golf course through wooded terrain. A camper shares, "Disc golf course is awesome, in the woods, up and down ravine. 18 holes plus practice basket. Hole 1 starts by primitive sites closer to beach. Ask for a disc golf map at gatehouse."
What campers like
Clean facilities: Bathroom cleanliness is consistently mentioned as a positive feature. One camper at Turkey Run State Park Campground noted, "The bathrooms were okay. They were older but seemed to be fairly well maintained." Another camper at Rockville Lake County Park stated, "The park staff were super friendly and very helpful. We really enjoyed our time there."
Site spacing and privacy: Many campers appreciate the well-spaced sites with adequate room between neighbors. A reviewer at Cagles Mill Lake mentioned it was "Nice quiet secluded lots of nature great atmosphere family friendly." Another camper at Greene Sullivan State Forest shared, "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. They did not disappoint. Heat was phenomenal."
Lakeside access: Multiple campgrounds feature lake access for boating and fishing. A visitor to Cecil M Harden Lake Raccoon State Recreation Area shared, "We really enjoyed our visit to Raccoon Lake. Plenty of places to hike, awesome beach, clean restrooms. No cell service but who needs it!"
What you should know
Limited cell coverage: Some campgrounds have poor cell phone reception. A camper at Shakamak State Park Campground reported, "One downside was we had Verizon as a cell phone carrier and only had one bar." At Raccoon Lake, another camper mentioned having no cell service at all.
Site levelness varies: Many campgrounds have uneven sites that require careful setup. A Turkey Run camper explained, "Our campsite was really nice. We had site 94, which was right next to the bathhouse. It had almost a whole extra campsite's worth of space next to it for my kids to run around. It also had a tree for shade and was nice and level."
Weather considerations: Late summer brings bugs, while spring can be wet. A camper at Shakamak State Park warned, "Very nice camping spot, but in August beware of the bugs!" At Turkey Run, a hiker observed, "We hiked Trail 3 with our dog, but we cut off early before the ladders using Trail 10. Our dog did pretty well in the section of Trail 3 before the ladders, and be prepared to get wet."
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Several campgrounds offer playgrounds near camping loops. A visitor at Hawthorn County Park noted, "The primitive camping spots are very spacious and there's plenty of trees for hammocks and a little privacy." At Rockville Lake County Park, a camper mentioned "3 playgrounds for kids."
Swimming options: Multiple locations offer swimming areas for children. At Shakamak State Park, a visitor shared, "The pool was only opened on the weekends in August which was disappointing but there was a large fishing dock and many boating opportunities." Another camper at Cecil M Harden Lake Raccoon State Recreation Area reported, "There was a beach which was nice and a building to get food. They have a basketball court, and a few trails."
Wildlife awareness: Raccoons are commonly reported at campgrounds. A camper at Turkey Run State Park warned, "As some other reviews stated, watch out for the raccoons. Those guys are not afraid of anything." At Cecil M Harden Lake Raccoon State Recreation Area, another camper advised, "Be prepared for the Raccoons and tons of fun! Beautiful lake with several nearby places to rent boat's!"
Tips from RVers
RV site selection: When choosing an RV site, look for level areas with appropriate hookups. At Rockville Lake County Park, a camper noted, "We stayed at site 30, a modern site with water, electric and sewer. Sharing of water and electric between two sites, so come prepared with extensions for water and electric."
Size limitations: Many campgrounds have restrictions for larger RVs. At Morgan-Monroe State Forest, a reviewer cautioned, "The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is, we are RV campers and there are only about 5 sites we could get in to. Our camper is about 25' and it was tight get in and out of the campground. If you have a small camper (15' or smaller) there would more sites."
Extension cord needs: Electrical hookups may be positioned inconveniently. A Shakamak State Park visitor advised, "Bring an extension cord if you're in a pull through. If you want your door facing the fire pit - the electric box is in an awkward place."
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