Best Campgrounds near Taswell, IN

Southern Indiana's rolling hills around Taswell provide a mix of developed campgrounds and primitive sites within the Hoosier National Forest region. Patoka Lake Campground offers year-round camping with full hookup sites for RVs, while Mitchell Creek Road Dispersed camping provides more secluded options for tent campers seeking a primitive experience. Sycamore Springs Park accommodates a variety of camping styles with sites for tents, RVs, and cabins. The landscape features lakes, forests, and scenic terrain typical of south-central Indiana's mixed hardwood ecosystem.

Access to campgrounds varies seasonally, with most developed sites open year-round but offering more amenities during summer months. Many campgrounds in the area feature electric hookups, drinking water, and sanitary facilities, though primitive sites like Mitchell Creek Road have no amenities. Roads to dispersed camping areas may become difficult after rain, particularly in spring. Reservations are recommended for developed campgrounds, especially during summer weekends and holidays when waterfront sites fill quickly. According to one visitor, "Mitchell Creek Road Dispersed is perfect for invisible boondocking in small vehicles, but not suitable for RVs of any size. The thick forest is beautiful with rock outcroppings along the road."

Waterfront camping receives consistently positive reviews, with Tipsaw Lake and Patoka Lake offering popular swimming beaches and boat access. Several campgrounds feature hiking trails connecting to the broader Hoosier National Forest trail system, including routes to scenic features like Hemlock Cliffs and Yellow Birch Ravine. Campers report seeing wildlife including deer and waterfowl, particularly at lakeside campgrounds. While some sites offer relative seclusion, others provide family-friendly amenities and organized activities. A camper noted that Tipsaw Lake has "beautiful rolling hills of southern Indiana not far from I-64, with a small lake that allows boats with electric motors only, perfect for kayaks." Cell service can be limited in more remote areas, particularly at dispersed sites within the national forest.

Best Camping Sites Near Taswell, Indiana (110)

    1. Patoka Lake Campground

    36 Reviews
    Birdseye, IN
    7 miles
    Website
    +1 (812) 338-5589

    $12 - $25 / night

    "My Aunt loves their trips to Patoka Lake & I can relate as to why after this weekend. We went for a wedding at the marina & ended by a lovely cove."

    "Pick a site that has water near and you won’t have to unhook to fill your tanks. So many sites are in the shade all day and peaceful. Showers are spotless but fun on the push button system."

    2. Sycamore Springs Park

    17 Reviews
    English, IN
    5 miles
    Website
    +1 (812) 338-3846

    "There is a fishing lake and a small river to fish in or wade and swim in. There is a miniature village for the kids along with 20 playgrounds in the campground."

    "We were right at the lake edge. The campsite had electric but no water, but the water was just across the road at a shelter."

    3. Indian-Celina Recreation Area

    20 Reviews
    Saint Croix, IN
    10 miles
    Website
    +1 (812) 843-4880

    $21 - $44 / night

    "This was a very quiet campsite in southern Indiana. We had a hard time finding dispered camping in the national Forest so we settled for this site."

    "Indian Lake is co-located with Celina Lake and two campground. Once you turn off of IN37 you just keep straight to get to Indian Lake."

    4. O'Bannon Woods State Park Campground

    20 Reviews
    Leavenworth, IN
    18 miles
    Website
    +1 (812) 738-8232

    $19 - $496 / night

    "There is also no sewer hookup at the site which I assumed was wrong, because I have never been to an Indiana state park with sewer hookup on site."

    "The campground is near the trail to the old abandoned bridge which is well worth the hike. The fire tower has a commanding view."

    5. Tipsaw Lake

    10 Reviews
    Leopold, IN
    14 miles
    Website
    +1 (812) 843-4891

    $21 - $70 / night

    "This was my first time camping in Indiana and it did not let me down!"

    "Located in the beautiful rolling hills of southern Indiana not far from I-64 (exit 79)."

    6. Newton Stewart State Rec Area - Patoka Lake

    4 Reviews
    Birdseye, IN
    7 miles
    Website
    +1 (812) 685-2464

    "This SRA is right on Patoka Lake, so there's plenty to do on the water - boating, fishing, floating cabins, beaches. There's also a disc golf course, archery range, and plenty of paved & dirt trails."

    "Beautiful campground and lake. Quiet and very well maintained facilities."

    7. Marengo Cave Campgrounds

    8 Reviews
    English, IN
    12 miles
    Website

    $27 / night

    "Camp store, cave tours, gift shop, and other pay activities are within steps of camping, but only open until 5:00. No security or staff at all after hours."

    "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."

    8. Mitchell Creek Road Dispersed

    6 Reviews
    Birdseye, IN
    6 miles

    "This is NOT a campground, but just roadside pull-offs on public land. There are no restrooms, fire rings, picnic tables, or other amenities."

    9. Youngs Creek Horse Camp

    8 Reviews
    Paoli, IN
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (812) 547-7051

    "We camp here every time we come to Indiana. We have camped there in a truck camper, and now we tent camp with our Jeep. The sites are large, and there are fire rings available."

    "Site accommodates both horse, drive in and walk-in camping. There’s a privy and water on site. Campsites have fire rings and picnic tables."

    10. Buzzard Roost Campground — Hoosier National Forest

    11 Reviews
    Leopold, IN
    16 miles
    +1 (812) 547-7051

    "It used to have a sweet little walk in spot down the bouldering trail that looked over the river. Now it is overgrown and you can't get back there."

    "There actually wasn’t any camp grounds open when we got there but we were so exhausted from the drive and it was 4am so we parking at the trail head and got a 3 hour nap in."

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Recent Reviews near Taswell, IN

574 Reviews of 110 Taswell Campgrounds


  • Jon R.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 14, 2025

    Nighthawk Forest

    Nighthawk Forrest Sept 2024

    Great little campground with accessible trails and small pond. I had a primitive site with pad. Nestled in the trees gave off nice shade. They have showers and ice available (but didn’t know about the ice until I was checking out). About 15 minutes from Patoka Lake. I would recommend this campground if in the area.

  • TThe Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 4, 2025

    Hoosier National Forest Goldenrod Loop Campground

    Nice, small, remote campground

    Beautiful, heavily wooded, quiet campground. We are in a big rig but most people here are tent camping. Lake is small. Very peaceful, helpful attendant at gate checked in on us first day. We have electricity and water but no sewer hookups. Dump station available. If you just want to to get away and relax for a few days this is nice. But if you’re looking for lots of recreation opportunities you want to find a larger lake. There are a few trails but they are short.

  • Kyle H.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 21, 2025

    Scottsburg/Raintree Lake KOA

    Great Campground

    Quick two night stay for us but although our first time here was short we will certainly be back. Campground is clean and very well maintained. Owners are very involved and run things very thoughtfully.

    They were able to accommodate our 44ft 5th wheel and navigating to the site was simple. Can’t wait to come back and visit.

  • jThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 16, 2025

    Mitchell Creek Road Dispersed

    Small pull off on the side of a gravel road.

    This is a bare bones location. There was evidence of a homemade fire pit and a small cleared area. No cell service at the site but there was a bar or two on the road just a few feet away. With a weboost there was att and tmobile service. Very quiet, only 2 vehicles passed by in the 36 hours I was there. 38.515995, -85.870726, 871 ft

  • Desert B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 5, 2025

    Knobstone Trail

    not accessible

    Maybe Google Maps took me to the wrong place (probably not).  I drove back and forth on the road several times looking for this place  The only thing I found was what I believe was the entrance with a cable across it.  There was no place to park otherwise.

  • L
    Aug. 20, 2025

    Spring Mill State Park Campground

    Fun, sunny, clean.

    This was an amazing campground! There were amazing trails and a cave, as well as Pioneer Village which was so fascinating and well run. Our campsite wasn't far from the bathrooms and showers house which were pretty clean. We were near water as well. Our campsite was on a small hill so it was well distanced from all the other campers, which was nice and peaceful. 

         There was a sweet place where you could get ice cream down the road from Spring Mill called Dairy Bell. Spring Mill wasn't far from the town were there was a Walmart, Rural King, and several more stores. 

    Very pretty and nice campground!

  • Becca M.
    Aug. 11, 2025

    Grand Trails RV Park

    Not for rv stsys

    This place could be nice but it is full of permanent trailer occupants, which is fine but .  It shouldn’t be advertised as a RV park.  There were 3 empty spaces, we chose  one and we couldn’t hook the sewer up because the pipe is too high off the ground.  They charged us 45.95 which is too high for the amenities offered.  The spaces are very close, no table, no place to set up a bbq.  We should have left but we were very tired.


Guide to Taswell

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."

Frequently Asked Questions

What information would visitors need about camping in Taswell?

Visitors need to know that Taswell offers diverse camping options within easy reach. Lake Lincoln Campground provides 150 electric sites with both 30 and 50 amp options, water hookups, clean shower houses, and dump stations. The park features swimming, fishing, boat rentals, hiking trails, and a fire tower. For more secluded experiences, Mitchell Creek Road Dispersed offers roadside pull-offs suitable for small self-contained vehicles but lacks amenities. Nearby attractions include Holiday World theme park in Santa Claus, Indiana. Weather can impact trail conditions, as some areas experience closures due to storm damage. The region features beautiful rolling hills, lakes, and forests typical of southern Indiana's landscape.

Is there a specific SEO strategy for pages about Taswell?

SEO for Taswell camping pages should highlight its strategic location in southern Indiana near popular outdoor destinations. Focus on keywords related to Hoosier National Forest activities, lake recreation, and proximity to attractions. Feature Tipsaw Lake prominently, as it's a highly-rated campground in the area with electric hookups and kayak-friendly waters. Include content about the rolling hills landscape, nearby access points from I-64 (exit 79), and seasonal considerations. Incorporate information about Charles C. Deam Wilderness for backpacking and dispersed camping opportunities. Target terms like 'Southern Indiana camping,' 'family-friendly campgrounds,' and 'electric hookup campsites' to attract relevant traffic.

What camping is available near Taswell, IN?

According to TheDyrt.com, Taswell, IN offers a wide range of camping options, with 110 campgrounds and RV parks near Taswell, IN and 9 free dispersed camping spots.

Which is the most popular campground near Taswell, IN?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Taswell, IN is Patoka Lake Campground with a 4.4-star rating from 36 reviews.

Where can I find free dispersed camping near Taswell, IN?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 9 free dispersed camping spots near Taswell, IN.

What parks are near Taswell, IN?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 21 parks near Taswell, IN that allow camping, notably Patoka Lake and Hoosier National Forest.