Best Cabin Camping near Spencer, IN

Cabins near Spencer, Indiana range from rustic to modern accommodations with varying amenities. Hickory Hills Camp Resort offers cabin rentals from April through October, while Cagles Mill Lake provides year-round options. Most cabins include electricity and basic furnishings, with some featuring air conditioning, heating units, and kitchenettes. Sleeping arrangements typically consist of bunk beds and double beds in separate rooms. "The cabins look cute. We peeked in one. Double bed with bunks in room. There's a loft for kids. A/C and heat but not bathroom. Bring a mattress or sleeping bags or you will sleep on wood," notes a review of Starve Hollow State Recreation Area.

Rustic cabins without bathrooms are common at state parks like Shakamak and Turkey Run, requiring guests to use nearby shower houses. KOA-style cabins at Brown County-Nashville KOA offer more amenities, including front porches with swings. Reservations are recommended, especially during summer months and weekends. Most cabins allow pets but require them to be leashed. A camper described the Brown County-Nashville KOA as having "three cabins also available" and noted the campground is "clean and quiet" with "friendly and helpful" owners.

Most cabin rentals provide beds without linens or mattresses, making air mattresses and sleeping bags essential items to pack. Basic cooking facilities vary by location—some offer only outdoor fire rings with grill grates while others include small tables and indoor cooking options. Firewood is typically available for purchase at park offices or camp stores. Water spigots are located throughout campgrounds, though not necessarily at each cabin site. Nearby towns like Bloomington (approximately 25 miles away) offer grocery stores and supplies for longer stays, though many campgrounds have small stores selling essentials like ice, bait, and limited food items.

Best Cabin Sites Near Spencer, Indiana (40)

    1. Cagles Mill Lake

    3 Reviews
    Cloverdale, IN
    10 miles
    Website

    $10 - $30 / night

    "Nice quiet secluded lots of nature great atmosphere family friendly"

    "This wonderful hidden gem is 14 miles away from McCormick's Creek State Park. It is a DNR state operated and has some pretty cool fishing. It was family-approved by my kin."

    2. Shakamak State Park Campground

    24 Reviews
    Jasonville, IN
    26 miles
    Website
    +1 (812) 665-2158

    $16 - $1200 / night

    "This is just a beautiful Indiana State Park located near the small community of Jasonville, Indiana which offers simple dining, grocery store, hardware store and fuel."

    "They have pull spaces for large motor homes with 50 Amp electric. They also have several nice shower houses and plenty of dumpsters for dumping trash."

    3. Hardin Ridge

    25 Reviews
    Heltonville, IN
    26 miles
    Website
    +1 (812) 837-9453

    $21 - $55 / night

    "This campground is nestled on a ridge above Indiana's Lake Monroe."

    "Electric and non electric sites are both reservable and walk up. Almost half and half. The hike in sites are all walk up."

    4. Hickory Hills Camp Resort

    1 Review
    Cloverdale, IN
    10 miles
    Website
    +1 (765) 795-6079

    "There’s two pools, a pickle ball court, a basketball half court, farm animals, golf cart trails, kayak/canoe/row boats, exploring creeks, fishing, a dog park, several playgrounds, Gaga ball, tether ball"

    5. Yellowwood State Forest

    15 Reviews
    Unionville, IN
    24 miles
    Website
    +1 (812) 988-7945

    $225 / night

    "Drive up, select your site, and then go to the park office to pay using a self-pay envelope. Bring exact change(cash). Current prices are listed on the Indiana DNR website."

    "Sites can hold 6 people total and come with a fire pit with a grill attachment which is awesome! There is one small picnic table per site as well. It's nice a quiet here."

    6. Fern Hills Club

    2 Reviews
    Clear Creek, IN
    16 miles
    Website

    "Couples and families usually welcome call befour your first visit

    rentals available

    pool could be better nice conversation pool

    seasonsl sites available if accepted"

    "There are 75 acres of trails to hike on or drive your golf cart on ."

    7. Yogi Bears at Lake Monroe

    6 Reviews
    Harrodsburg, IN
    22 miles
    Website
    +1 (812) 824-3322

    "I had to nearly lower my tongue to the ground to get it level.

    The splash park was fun, even for the teen kids, but the pool was tiny and shallow and disappointing."

    "Great Park! Great splash pad and pools lots to do for the kiddos! Great trails to hike, friendly staff!"

    8. Cecil M Harden Lake Raccoon State Recreation Area

    32 Reviews
    Rockville, IN
    35 miles
    Website
    +1 (765) 344-1412

    $12 - $32 / night

    "Raccoon State Recreation Area | Cecil M Harden Lake is located in the heart of historic covered bridge country just 50 miles West of Indianapolis."

    "We stayed in site 93 in the lake view area. The campsite itself was large and clean. The bathrooms were clean and fairly close to the campsite."

    9. Turkey Run State Park Campground

    70 Reviews
    Marshall, IN
    47 miles
    Website
    +1 (765) 597-2635

    $20 - $25 / night

    "I have to say it is always nice to stay at a state park in the off season. There are a couple hundred sites in this park and we were one of about 12 occupants."

    "This campground was reasonably priced, had clean facilities and quite unusual and intesting hiking nearby. There are multiple trails and some quite challenging ones."

    10. Lake Monroe Village

    3 Reviews
    Harrodsburg, IN
    22 miles
    Website
    +1 (812) 287-6855

    "Super close to the lake and really nice facilities all around!"

    "Close to Lake Monroe. Nice pool. Great people."

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Cabin Reviews near Spencer, IN

357 Reviews of 40 Spencer Campgrounds


  • J
    Jun. 17, 2019

    Starve Hollow State Rec Area Campground

    Good variety

    Starve Hollow offers camping from full hookup, electric only (by the lake), tent camping, and cabins.  The lake has a swimming area (no lifeguards), playgrounds, and bathhouse.  The lake allows boats with electric trolling motor only. 

    We stayed in the full hookup section (camping facilities: electric, sewer, and water hookup as well as fire ring, picnic table, and parking spur at each site. Modern restrooms/showers(wheelchair accessible) are available nearby. 53 sites available, sites 222, 232, and 234 are wheelchair accessible).  The bathhouse was clean (even though it rained most of the weekend).  these sites are a good size and able to get any size Trailer or RV into these sites.  There is mostly grass on most of the sites in this area.

    The campground also offers electric only sites (camping facilities: electric hookup, fire ring, picnic table and parking spur at each site. Drinking water is available in area. Modern restrooms/showers(wheelchair accessible) are available nearby. Dumping station is available. There are 87 sites available. Sites 28, 44, 65, 75 and 90 are wheelchair accessible).  They have about 20 sites that back up right to the lake allowing fishing from your campsite.  Keep in mind that a lot of the electric only sites are very tight with a lot of trees in the area.  I can probably only get my 36 ft 5th wheel into a third of the sites, but there are many of sites that had shorter units on them.   

    Cabins:  Starve Hollow has 13 rent-a-camp cabins available March-Nov.(closed Dec.-Feb.)(NOTE: Local sales only during off season/winter months, contact property for details). Each cabin has a front porch with a swing, outside electric outlet and front porch light. Inside there are two small rooms each providing a ceiling fan with light, a heating/cooling unit and electrical outlets. The front room offers a small table with bench seats, corner shelf, chair, rocking chair, and a loft. The back room offers a bunk bed(single) and a double bed(NO LINENS or MATTRESS PROVIDED). Air mattress recommended.

    Fishing/Boating Starve-Hollow Lake has three boat ramps to choose from, one at the dam and two in the electric campground. Kayak, rowboat and canoe rental is available. A valid Indiana fishing license is required. Rowboat and canoe rental is available from mid April through October. Starve-Hollow Lake is a trolling motor only lake. For campers a fish cleaning station is available.

    Swimming A large beach is available for swimming from the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day. Restrooms, dressing facilities, showers, and food concessions are available to visitors. Wheelchair ramps allow access to beach and concession area.

    Picnicking There are picnic areas and picnic shelters that can be reserved. Both shelters can be accessed by wheelchair. The East shelter has an electrical outlet. Picnic tables and grills are located at the picnic sites. A wheelchair accessible playground, basketball goals, softball fields, horseshoe pits and a sand volleyball court are located on or near the swimming beach.

    Hiking Trails Starve Hollow has several hiking trails to explore that total approximately 11 miles.

  • Anna O.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 19, 2023

    Fowler County Park

    Beautiful lake

    This is our family favorite camp park in Terre Haute! Has great hiking trails, a covered bridge with historical log cabins for festivals. They have 1 cabin you can rent out. Bring your fishing gear, they stock the lake. There's and boat ramp and bank access to kayak. They have some pull through for your big riggs and some sand beds for your tent camping

  • J
    Oct. 19, 2018

    Starve Hollow State Rec Area Campground

    Great place! We will come back!

    There are full hook-up sites and electric. Regular electric sites on the water are beautiful but not sure we could park our 41 ft fifth wheel on a water site. Trails are rugged at times and you can access them through campground. We are here in the fall but the beach looks like a good size. Boat rentals. Cabins look cute. We peeked in one. Double bed with bunks in room. Theres a loft for kids. A/C and heat but not bathroom. Bring a mattress or sleeping bags or you will sleep on wood. I recommend the water cabins. Playgrounds are sprinkled throughout. DNR dont patrol a lot. Quiet campground.

  • Jim L.
    Aug. 31, 2017

    Hardin Ridge

    Hospitable Woods Experience

    This campground is nestled on a ridge above Indiana's Lake Monroe. The wooded sites include a fire-ring, a pole for your lantern and generous flat graveled areas to pitch your tent, as well as a couple of picnic tables per site. There are pleanty of RV sites with electric hookup available as well. Each area of the campground has a knowlegeable courteous full time host, and ice is available at the main gate. Foraging for wood is allowed which is a definite bonus in this era of emerald ash-borer awareness and wood import restrictions. The plentiful raccoons seem almost tame, yet keep a safe distance from campers if you allow them to. There is a small beach to beat the summer heat, and nearby showerhouses (even in the non-electric sites) are kept clean with adequately warm water. There is a small interpretive hike with approximately 300 feet of elevation change situated near the ampitheater that can be completed in a couple of hours.

  • Jennifer T.
    Jul. 31, 2018

    Fowler County Park

    Wonderful Family Campgrounds

    Shaded campground sites at lake's edge on east side of park, 53 electrical hookups including 1 pull-thru, 14 primitive/tent sites. Fire ring and picnic table at each site. Water hydrants nearby. Modern shower houses with rest rooms. Handicapped accessible. Dump station. Pets are welcome but must be kept on leash. Must provide own firewood. Firewood must be purchased from within state. Fishing from campsite. In park, swimming beach (Memorial Day-weekend before school opens in fall), boat ramp, trails, playgrounds, horseshoe pits, pioneer village.

    Campground open May 1 - October 15. Park open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. No reservations. Must check-in between 8 a.m. and 10 p.m. Night guard on duty. Electrical sites - $20 a night, weekly rate - $120, 2 weeks rate - $200. Primitive sites - $12 a night, weekly rate - $60, 2 weeks rate - $100. Price includes Indiana Sales Tax.

    From I-70, go south on U.S. 41 for 7.2 miles. Turn left onto Oregon Church Road and go .8 mile east to park entrance on left. After entering park, turn right to go to campground.

    Personal Thoughts and Experience: We had a wonderful time. We absolutely loved the pioneer village. it is a must go especially when they are having pioneer days in the fall. There is a mountain bike park close to the campground that is a premier facility. Beginner to advance trails with a practice course. Amazing! My husband competes in the Dyno series and loves to train at the facility then camp at Fowler Park!

  • CampgroundKaren ..
    Oct. 3, 2023

    Brown County-Nashville KOA

    Well kept

    Well kept campground. Cleanest campground bathrooms I have ever seen. Friendly staff. Our site was directly beside a tiny cabin and could have been a little bigger but that’s what you get often times with RV sites. Unfortunately, witnessed one of the staff members abusing their dog.

  • Terri D.The Dyrt PRO User
    May. 10, 2017

    Turkey Run State Park Campground

    Nice Big Sites

    I have to say it is always nice to stay at a state park in the off season. There are a couple hundred sites in this park and we were one of about 12 occupants. Even if this park had been full, the sites offer nice space. Sites vary from full shade to wide open out in the sun. Bathrooms are clean, but they are pretty spread out. Most sites offer electricity, but no water or sewer hook-up for RV. Water spigots are pretty spread out too. Each site has a picnic table and fire ring. I didn't see any camp hosts that sold firewood when office is closed. Park is located right across the street from the local high school, I thought this was sort of odd.

    We were just passing through for a nights stay, but it looked like there were some nice trails for hiking. The children playgrounds looked nice as well.

  • Jack M.
    Nov. 16, 2019

    Crane MWR Campground

    Decent campground

    Located on a Navy Base, so only open to active duty, retired military, DoD civilians and their families. Must have ID card to get on base.

    The base is very large in area and wooded. Watch out for wildlife, especially deer and pay attention to speed limits. Don’t mind the occasional explosions and distant machine gun fire ; they test ordnance there. But no worries, it isn’t loud at the campground.

    The campground is located by Lake Greenwood, so the MWR operates a marina where you can rent boats, kayaks, paddle boards and so on. They sell bait and ice. There’s a nice boat dock if you need to launch your own boat and plenty of dock space to tie your boat up. You can fish or waterski on the lake; it’s that big.

    The campground is not real large. It’s all gravel, but full RV hookups. The electric, water and sewer services are reliable, but no Wi-Fi and unless you have Verizon, no cell service (but they are supposed to have a new AT&T tower up soon). They have nice cabins and a separate tent site area, where there’s a small beach for swimming. Pets are welcome. They have a little shack with firewood; $5 a wheelbarrow load. Every site has a fire ring and a picnic table. The shower house is a bit dated, but clean. There’s dumpsters close by. Very pretty location.

    They do have daily, weekly, monthly and seasonal rates.

    There’s a base exchange and commissary on base, but the closest town is about 20 minutes away, a small town called Odon, but you can find whatever you need there. Bloomington is about 50 miles away. The tiny village of Crane is outside the gate. There’s a bar and a pizza place and that’s about it.

    RV’s and trailers must use the Crane gate, located off I69 exit 87, then south on US231 a couple miles. You’ll see the signs. Call ahead for reservations; they do fill up most weekends and you’ll need them to explain the check-in procedure once you get on base.

  • Mary S.
    Sep. 8, 2018

    Mccormick's Creek State Park Campground

    Beautiful state park but sites are too close/visible to each other

    There is just one thing that keeps me from rating this a 5 star campground. It's the sites!  So....4 stars...but read on for my thoughts on the sites.

    What's up with these sites?

    • If you want to be be able to see what your neighbors are eating and hear their conversations, you'll love the electric sites (1 through 189).

    • If you like to feel like you're alone in the woods, you won't like most of the electric sites. 

    • There is a partial solution. Sites 190-202 have no electricity, but most are fairly private/secluded. Sites 203-222 are additional primitive sites on a loop but they are not at all private; you can see lots of neighboring sites. There's a lot of shade, but you could probably set up solar panels if you require electricity.

    • If you want privacy in the electric section (1-189), I don't have a great recommendation other than you should stay on the outside of the loops. Then you'll only have people beside you rather than beside and across from you.

    Good luck! Stay one night when there aren't many people and scope out sites for your next stay. If you're from the area, this could be a park worth returning to over and over if you are able to stay on a site you enjoy.

    I've included a map of sites 1-189 and photos that show some sites I like and sites I don't like. In my opinion, a site is not one for me if I can see 3 other picnic tables while sitting at the table at my site. If you camp with other families, this would be good because you can make your own 'group' site.

    Something you need to know: Indiana state parks have a $7 entry fee but you'll only pay it once (unlike some states that make you pay every day). It's supposed to be $9 for non-residents, but we were only charged $7. The hang tag for your vehicle will get you in the main entrance for the rest of your stay.

    If you come without a reservation: The registration attendant assigned a site to us but maybe you can choose one. Since it was the day after Labor Day and the park was sparsely populated, there was no one near us. Privacy was not an issue for our stay, but we wouldn't have enjoyed our site on a busy weekend...although there were many sites we would have liked even less.

    The basics: picnic tables, fire rings, dump station, potable water, flush toilets and sinks in the bathrooms, separate shower facility. There are vault toilets closer to sites 190-222. Sites 1-189 have electricity.

    Activities: Nearby swimming pool and playground. There are almost 11 miles of hiking trails. The longest one is 2 miles, but you can combine some trails and wander in the woods for quite a while. You can also wade in McCormick's Creek; the water was low in early September. You can stay busy in this park for quite a while. And if you want to go to Bloomington, it's only about 25 minutes away


Guide to Spencer

Cabin camping near Spencer, Indiana offers rustic lodging options within driving distance of forested terrain and Lake Monroe. Average rainfall in the area exceeds 45 inches annually, creating lush landscapes ideal for outdoor exploration. Water temperatures at nearby lakes vary from 40°F in winter to 80°F during peak summer months, affecting swimming, fishing, and boat rental availability.

What to do

Fishing opportunities: At Cagles Mill Lake, visitors can access "pretty cool fishing" that's "family-approved," according to Tiffany T. The lake features distinct fishing zones with varying depths suitable for different species.

Hiking trails: The trail system at Hardin Ridge provides multiple difficulty levels for hikers. "There are 3 trails. A beach, picnic areas & a boat launch," notes Cynthia K. The surrounding Hoosier National Forest contains additional unmarked paths for more advanced hikers.

Water recreation: Lake Monroe offers various water activities accessible from multiple points. "The lake has a beautiful fishing pier just for campers," reports Cynthia K. about Shakamak State Park. During summer months, water levels can fluctuate by several feet depending on rainfall patterns.

Gold panning: Yellowwood State Forest permits gold panning with proper permits. "Gold panning is a thing here! You need a permit," explains Cynthia K. This activity typically yields small flakes rather than nuggets and requires specialized equipment.

What campers like

Privacy levels: Yellowwood State Forest offers secluded camping experiences. "Yellowwood State Forest campground does not accept reservations. It is first come, first served," explains Daisy C., adding that "use is light. We have several times been one of two or three campers in the loop."

Family-friendly atmosphere: The campgrounds maintain quiet hours and family-oriented environments. "Nice quiet secluded lots of nature great atmosphere family friendly," Kate M. shares about Cagles Mill Lake. Most campgrounds enforce noise restrictions after 10 PM.

Clean facilities: Campground maintenance receives positive reviews. "The bathrooms/showers are KOA clean. Also unheard of in an Indiana State Park. I couldn't even find a spider web," states Cynthia K. about Shakamak State Park Campground.

Well-spaced sites: Campsite layout allows for adequate separation at most locations. "The sites are all flat—ALL FLAT!!! No inclined sites at all! Unheard of in an Indiana State Park," Cynthia K. reports about Shakamak. Site dimensions vary between 25-40 feet in length.

What you should know

Seasonal considerations: Many cabin facilities operate on limited schedules. According to Stephen & Theresa B., Yellowwood State Forest has a small camp store that was "not open during our visit, so not sure of their offerings." Water access may be limited during winter months.

Wildlife awareness: Local wildlife regularly interacts with campsites. "We had several nighttime visits from a couple large raccoon families, but it became a game for the kids as they watched for them," DevinandKalah H. mentions about Shakamak State Park.

Site selection strategies: Terrain varies significantly between campgrounds. "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," Lisa M. explains about Shakamak State Park Campground.

Cell service limitations: Connectivity varies widely across the region. "One downside was we had Verizon as a cell phone carrier and only had one bar," Lisa M. notes about Shakamak State Park Campground. Prepare for limited or no connectivity at most sites.

Tips for camping with families

Water activities for children: Turkey Run State Park Campground offers water-based recreation options. "Sugar Creek runs through the park for fishing and canoeing. The suspension footbridge across Sugar Creek is cool. Sugar Creek is also great for floating with inner tubes, canoes, or kayaks," shares Joel R.

Playground access: Multiple campgrounds feature dedicated play areas. "There's many boat launches & picnic areas. Cabins for rent. Boats for rent," Cynthia K. notes about Shakamak State Park. Most playgrounds are designed for children ages 5-12.

Educational opportunities: Nature programming enhances family experiences. "Yesterday was planned a kayak trip by the DNR there," Ginger T. explains about Shakamak State Park. Programs typically run on weekends during peak season from Memorial Day through Labor Day.

Budget-friendly cabin options: Cabin rentals vary in price and amenities. Hardin Ridge offers basic cabin accommodations. Christine C. shares, "This campground is on the south side of Monroe lake and has beach access. I tent camped solo and everything went great!" Some cabins require minimum 2-night stays during peak season.

Tips from RVers

Site leveling challenges: Hickory Hills Camp Resort provides level sites suitable for larger rigs. "The sites were large and they're still expanding and adding more sites," mentions Stephanie C. Several campgrounds require significant leveling equipment for RVs over 30 feet.

Electric hookup placement: Utility connections can be awkwardly positioned. "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," advises Cynthia K. about Shakamak State Park Campground. Power cables of 25-50 feet are recommended.

Water access considerations: Many sites lack direct water hookups. "They have pull spaces for large motor homes with 50 Amp electric. They also have several nice shower houses and plenty of dumpsters for dumping trash," Josh S. explains about Turkey Run State Park Campground.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular cabin campsite near Spencer, IN?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular cabin campground near Spencer, IN is Cagles Mill Lake with a 5-star rating from 3 reviews.

What is the best site to find cabin camping near Spencer, IN?

TheDyrt.com has all 40 cabin camping locations near Spencer, IN, with real photos and reviews from campers.