Southern Indiana's campgrounds around Taswell offer experiences ranging from primitive sites with no amenities to developed facilities with modern conveniences. The area sits at elevations between 500-700 feet with a humid continental climate featuring warm summers and mild winters. Fall camping is particularly popular when the hardwood forests display vibrant foliage colors, though summer remains the peak season with temperatures typically ranging from 75-90°F.
What to do
Kayaking at local lakes: Tipsaw Lake is particularly suited for small watercraft. As one camper noted, "Tipsaw Lake looked awesome! Next visit I'm packing the kayak," and another mentioned the lake "allows boats with electric motors only (nice for kayaks)."
Hiking through canyons: The Hoosier National Forest trails include some surprisingly rugged terrain. A visitor recommended "Hemlock Cliffs which was a beautiful hike in the woods to a cool canyon with sandstone rock formations. We all enjoyed this rugged hike of more than a mile amongst the rock outcroppings, overhangs, cliffs, rock shelters and ravines along the shady stream."
Cave exploration: Marengo Cave Campgrounds offers unique underground activities. A reviewer mentioned, "I was really surprised that in my 30 years of living in Indiana, I had never been to Marengo Cave. It's both great for kids and adults...there are two different parts to explore. The dripslide caverns and the crystal palace cavern."
Nature center programs: Several parks offer educational activities. At O'Bannon Woods, "The nature center is a delightful feature, offering a serene escape into the beauty of the surrounding area," and another visitor mentioned, "great nature center with ranger tours."
What campers like
Freshwater wildlife viewing: Some lakes offer unusual wildlife spotting opportunities. At Indian-Celina Recreation Area, "During mid August, Celina lake has freshwater Jellyfish that you can catch."
Abundant playground options: Sycamore Springs Park stands out for family-friendly facilities. As one camper enthusiastically reported, "Playgrounds everywhere...We were able to go 'creeking' do trail walking, bike riding. Just a super neat little place. They even have a little village set up houses to play in!"
Free firewood availability: Some campgrounds offer cost-saving amenities. At Sycamore Springs, "Free firewood is provided," and another visitor confirmed, "There is even free firewood!"
Secluded creek camping: For those seeking solitude, Mitchell Creek Road Dispersed camping offers primitive options. A camper noted, "This is NOT a campground, but just roadside pull-offs on public land...if you are camping in a self-contained SMALL vehicle, this is quiet, secluded, and beautiful."
What you should know
Limited cell service: Connectivity varies significantly throughout the area. At Patoka Lake Campground, "Cell service was poor. (T-Mobile 0-1 bar LTE, AT&T 1-2 bars LTE, but NO internet service when things get busy Thursday to Sunday afternoon)."
Seasonal facilities: Many campgrounds reduce services in off-season. A visitor to Patoka Lake noted, "We camped the first full week of April. Only waterfill location was at the camp store. Shower house was open and warm water was available."
Road conditions: Access to dispersed sites can be challenging. At Mitchell Creek Road, "After 5 min of driving on the very skinny gravel road I saw what it looked like spots but I am not sure really."
Wildlife encounters: Be prepared for animal visitors. One camper at Patoka Lake shared, "We did have a skunk visit us one evening but we didn't have any issues we just kept the dog inside," while another warned, "MAKE SURE TO PUT AWAY ALL OF YOUR FOOD!!! Even scraps and Yes even DOG FOOD. We had raccoon visitors both nights."
Tips for camping with families
Look for multiple play areas: O'Bannon Woods State Park Campground offers diverse recreation options. A visitor mentioned, "O'Bannon woods has just about everything in one little nook, from fishing swimming and kayaking on blue River, a beach at the park. Swimming, horse trails and lodging, electric campgrounds, you name it."
Consider visiting beaches: Water recreation is popular with children. At Sycamore Springs Park, families enjoy "swimming in the creek, fishing, campfires, s'mores" and benefit from "tons of playgrounds too spread throughout the campground."
Pack creek-friendly shoes: Many sites feature water play opportunities. One parent advised, "We were able to go 'creeking' do trail walking, bike riding" at Sycamore Springs.
Check for organized activities: Some campgrounds host special events. At O'Bannon Woods, "During our visit over fall break, the Halloween festivities and trick-or-treating added an extra layer of fun to our experience."
Tips from RVers
Campsite selection matters: At Buzzard Roost Campground, "The site has 5 camp sites that are pull off spurs with a decent parking space. One could probably fit a small pickup and trailer...I found site 1 and 2 had the most privacy as one could use their vehicle to block some view."
Know your rig limitations: Not all sites accommodate larger vehicles. For Mitchell Creek Road, a visitor warned, "I did not see any pull offs that would accommodate an RV of any size, and nothing large enough to turn a trailer around."
Check hookup details: Facilities vary between parks. At O'Bannon Woods, "50,30,20 amp service in one box. There was no water at the site though. Throughout the campground are potable water spigots that you can hook up to and add water to your tank."
Monitor dump station timing: High-use periods may require planning. At Patoka Lake, "4 dump stations at exit but still lines due to sheer number of sites but things moved quickly."
