Glamping and camping options surrounding Tennyson, Indiana offer diverse outdoor experiences in southern Indiana's rolling hills. The area features a mix of state parks, county parks, and private campgrounds within a 30-mile radius. Summer temperatures typically range from 65°F-90°F, while spring and fall camping seasons offer more moderate conditions with occasional rainfall.
What to do
Fishing at multiple lakes: Scales Lake Park provides fishing opportunities with private fishing decks available at select sites. According to a camper, "Two lakes within the recreation area to fish and boat in. During mid August, Celine lake has freshwater Jellyfish that you can catch."
Hiking trails: Hoosier National Forest North Face Loop Campground offers access to several trails of varying difficulty. As one visitor noted, "We hiked extensively and though this is definitely not mountainous terrain it will give you a work out. A lot of cool rock formations and wild life to be seen."
Swimming and water activities: Vastwood Co Park offers lake swimming just south of the Indiana border. A recent visitor shared, "Park features playground, paved biking and walking trails, disc golf, plenty of shade, lake with boat dock (non-motorized boats only), bath house, and dump station."
Theme park access: Proximity to Holiday World makes camping near Tennyson ideal for families seeking both outdoor and theme park experiences. One camper at Sun Outdoors Lake Rudolph mentioned, "Wow, Lake Rudolph Campground is huge! So huge in fact that we only ever saw 1/2 of it... The location of the campground is perfect if you're visiting for Holiday World / Splashin' Safari."
What campers like
Spacious sites: Many campgrounds in the area offer well-spaced sites. A visitor to Indian-Celina Recreation Area noted, "This was a very quiet campsite in southern Indiana... Gravel platform for pitching a tent. Clean bathrooms with flush toilets and sinks which were nice."
Seasonal events: Fall camping is especially popular for Halloween-themed weekends. As one camper described, "We went to Lake Rudolph for their Halloweekends and it is a one of a kind experience. They have so many activities for the kids such as hayrides, a DJ, pumpkin carving, and so many other things throughout the day!"
Natural setting: The region offers a mix of wooded and lakeside glamping options. A visitor to Harmonie State Park Campground shared, "Harmonie State Park is a nice campground. It has 200 sites, electric only, 5 bath houses and 2 pit toilets... Most campsites are big and spacious, with several loops that allow campers to face one another."
Clean facilities: Many campers highlight well-maintained bathhouses. According to one visitor, "The bathhouses were relatively dirty, but had free showers and plenty of stalls... The location of the campground is perfect if you're visiting for Holiday World / Splashin' Safari."
What you should know
Reservation timing: Popular glamping sites near Tennyson fill quickly during peak season. A visitor to Miles Landing Campground noted, "The owner just reopened this campground 2 years ago, put a lot of work into it. Overall great place, roughly 3 miles off the interstate."
Seasonal pests: Ticks can be problematic in wooded areas. One camper warned, "I thought LBL, Ky was bad, the tick's here seem like the Infantry, swarming the objective from all side's. Bring your bug stuff!"
Campsite privacy varies: Some glamping options offer more seclusion than others. A visitor to Scales Lake Park noted, "We've camped there as a large group and as a family several times. There's a beach for swimming and a shower house. The RV sites are kinda cramped. We prefer the primitive sites on the other side of the lake."
Cell service limitations: Reception can be spotty in some areas. A camper mentioned, "It is located back in the hills, far off the highway. Very little cell phone signal. Very relaxing and enjoyable."
Tips for camping with families
Choose sites near amenities: For families with young children, proximity to restrooms and playgrounds matters. A visitor to O'Bannon Woods State Park Campground shared, "We stayed in 220. It was nice to be right by the playground and bathrooms (which is what we wanted)."
Consider alternative accommodations: Rental options exist for those without camping equipment. One camper noted, "Lake Rudolph is a fun park to visit, you can rent rvs if you don't have your own camper. They also have golf cart rental if you want to cruise around the park."
Explore educational opportunities: Nature centers provide learning experiences for children. A visitor shared, "My kids enjoyed the nature center, pioneer village, and one of the easy trails."
Plan for water activities: Swimming areas and splash pads are popular with children during summer months. A camper mentioned, "Pool was very nice with a splash pad and two water slides (42" height requirement) and a small concession stand."
Tips from RVers
Site selection considerations: Not all sites are equally suited for larger rigs. One RVer at Sun Outdoors Lake Rudolph shared, "Our spot was great and didn't require much leveling. We did get a deluxe spot. However we only got the spot because at the others were sold out. Many of the other spots were on hills and right on top of each other."
Hookup availability: Full hookups aren't universal at all campgrounds. A camper noted, "No full hookups but there is a dump station."
Layout challenges: Some campgrounds have unusual layouts that can complicate arrival and departure. A visitor explained, "We had 3 RVs in our group and we camped in one of the 'wagon wheels'. It was a very cool experience. I'm not sure how you could get in or out if all the spots were reserved."
Accessibility for larger rigs: Roadways and site access vary by campground. An RVer mentioned, "The streets in the town are extremely narrow, making it hard to get into the park."
