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Tent Camping near Unionville, IN

14 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.

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    SUMMARY PRESENTED BYT-Mobile

    Tent camping near Unionville, Indiana provides access to several forested areas with established and primitive sites. The region is anchored by Morgan-Monroe State Forest, Charles C. Deam Wilderness, and Berry Ridge Road dispersed camping areas. Riddle Point Park on Lake Lemon, located directly in Unionville, offers tent camping with lake access. Hickory Ridge Primitive Dispersed Campsites in the Hoosier National Forest provide secluded tent-only options for those seeking a more remote experience. Pine Loop and Sundance Lake also feature tent campsites within reasonable driving distance of Unionville.

    Most tent campgrounds in the area feature basic amenities with varying levels of development. Oak Ridge Camping Area in Morgan-Monroe State Forest provides vault toilets, outdoor sinks, and drinking water stations, with each site equipped with a fire ring and picnic table. Self-registration is required with exact change at the park office. Charles C. Deam Wilderness offers more primitive tent camping with official sites featuring rock fire rings. Berry Ridge Road dispersed camping is entirely primitive with no running water or facilities, requiring campers to pack in all supplies and pack out all waste. During spring and early summer, ticks and mosquitoes can be prevalent, especially after rainfall. Fire regulations vary by location, with some areas allowing collection of downed wood.

    The backcountry tent camping experience around Unionville features notable solitude and natural features. According to reviews, Berry Ridge Road dispersed sites are "very private" with campsites "sometimes half mile or more apart," making it ideal for those seeking isolation. One camper noted, "When we found our spot we couldn't see their fire or even hear them." Charles C. Deam Wilderness offers excellent opportunities for hammock camping along creek beds, with one visitor reporting "an abundance of spaces to set up a hammock" and "never encountered so many geodes in my life" while exploring the creek beds. Walk-in tent sites at several locations provide a buffer from road noise and other campers, with many featuring thick forest cover for shade and natural screening.

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    Best Tent Campgrounds near Unionville (14)

      1. Oak Ridge Camping Area — Morgan-Monroe State Forest

      4.1(9)7mi from UnionvilleTents

      "When tent camping and want something quiet and a place with great trails, this is a good place to go. Even though it’s hot outside today, there’s lots of shade and a breeze."

      "Site 13 has a little trail that goes down to a large flooded sinkhole behind the campsite. There were lots of tree frogs singing because of the proximity to water."

      from $25 - $55 / night

      Check Availability

      2. Berry Ridge Road - Dispersed Camping

      4.8(18)16mi from UnionvilleTents

      "So much space, existing fire rings, there was wood left behind from previous campers so that was nice! We have a reactive pup and she is able to live her best life there!"

      "Decent sized space to park for 2-3 vehicles."

      3. Charles C. Deam Wilderness

      4.6(9)15mi from UnionvilleTents

      "Being in a national forest dispersed camping is allowed if you follow leave no trace principals, but I stayed in a couple of the official sites."

      "The sites are primitive with no amenities. Tent camping only although there are both hike in and drive up sites in the wilderness area. Great place to get away from it all."

      4. Ransburg Scout Reservation

      4.8(4)13mi from UnionvilleTents, Cabins, Glamping

      "Located on Monroe lake, they have canoeing, row boats, sailboats, motor boats, and skiing.
      Lots of fun activities to do, and great hiking trails. Their mess hall is top notch."

      "Our Boy Scout troop enjoyed visiting this location. It was well maintained and the staff was helpful."

      5. Pine Loop

      5.0(1)14mi from UnionvilleTents

      "There are campsites from walk-ins to drive-ins to FCFS with or without electricity/water. Plenty of shade in a very quiet surrounding. Access to Monroe lake as well as a small beach for swimming."

      6. Sundance Lake Dispersed Camping

      4.0(5)20mi from UnionvilleTents

      "Free disbursed camping at its best in Indiana. Not another soul camped within earshot. Clean site. Gravel pad for vehicle. Green grass for tent. 14 day limit. No reservations needed or available."

      "I chose this spot because we wanted to camp by water, but didn’t realize the camp sites are a 5-10 minute walk from the lake."

      7. Hickory Ridge

      3.0(2)15mi from UnionvilleTents

      8. Hickory Ridge Primitive Dispersed Campsites

      2.5(2)14mi from UnionvilleTents

      "Very nice drive during the day, hiking is fantastic!"

      9. Riddle Point Park on Lake Lemon

      Be the first to review2mi from UnionvilleRVs, Tents

      10. Hoosier National Forest Holland Loop Campground

      Be the first to review15mi from UnionvilleTents

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    Tent Camping Reviews near Unionville, IN

    577 Reviews of 14 Unionville Campgrounds


    • 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.

    • E
      Jul. 14, 2022

      Sky Smith

      Great pool; rough sites and campers

      Pros: Very nice large-size pool with slide, attached playground, green space, and sand-filled soccer pitch all included on the pool grounds. These amenities are great as the pool takes a 15 minute clear-out break about once per hour. There is a concession stand with limited selection, but the benefit is that it takes credit card (and cash). 

      The camp store is not the best we've visited. Very limited supply, but they did keep a stock of bacon in their refrigerator and that made my wife happy. 

      Cons: Typical Indiana State campground. We visited for a weekend and landed in a terrible spot. The grade was severe and despite using all the travel trailer tricks to level my site, I could not get level. We dealt with it, but I noticed 4 or 5 quality spots that sat vacant through the weekend, however, were allegedly reserved. I had terrible anxiety for the entire weekend that we would roll backward into a ravine. 

      We were on an electric side of the park, and the pull-through site across from us was occupied by a tent with a minivan. No judgment here, but they were watching highly taboo movies on a wide screen projector with loud speakers around midnight, well after quiet hours had expired. 

      Verizon and AT&T cell phone service were nil, even with a booster and WiFi pack. Our site was littered with cellophane wrappers and cigarette butts. Clearly the previous campers did not adhere to the "leave no trace" doctrine. 

      DNR was very, very present at the campground, but at many sightings it seemed like they were watching for rule infractions as opposed to upholding the integrity of the park. I know that seems conflicting, but if you visit this park you will understand. 

      Bathrooms were mostly clean. Vault toilets were disgusting, but that's expected for concrete topped port-a-potties.

    • D
      Jul. 17, 2019

      Charles C. Deam Wilderness

      A couple nights on the sycamore trail

      Wonderful place. Excellent trail following a nice little stream along the one side. Being in a national forest dispersed camping is allowed if you follow leave no trace principals, but I stayed in a couple of the official sites. The official sites all had rock fire rings and bushcraft furniture.

      The one negative was I did have to pack out previous campers trash along with my own. Being close to the college there was evidence that less than mature campers may frequent the area. That being said once on trail I didn’t see another soul past a couple hundred feet of the trail head and only heard a pair of hikers on the trail pass my camp site as I ate my breakfast the one morning.

      A wonderful backpacking area!

    • Randy M.The Dyrt PRO User
      May. 13, 2023

      Happy Campers Campground

      Off the beaten path by a lake

      See all 3

      Approx $35 / day

      Happy Campers Campground

      5.0 (1 reviews)

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      Roam with care

      Remember to enjoy these campgrounds in a sustainable, respectful way. Clean up after yourself, be friendly with others, and don't overstay your welcome :)

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      Got it

      Details

      Call 812-239-6263 for reservation. Plan to arrive before dark.

      5 full hook-up sites, 1 primitive site, and one primitive cabin. On a lake stocked with fish. Port-a-potty and shower house available.

      Location

      Contact

      39.4931, -87.0188

      https://happycamperscampgroundinc.com

      Cell signal

      Verizon LTE

      AT&T LTE

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      Weather

      Averages

      Forecast

      Jan

      2.57"

      34.6°

      16.8°

      Feb

      2.48"

      39.6°

      20°

      Mar

      3.39"

      50.5°

      28.6°

      Apr

      3.99"

      62.9°

      39.4°

      May

      5.41"

      72.4°

      49.3°

      Jun

      4.67"

      81.1°

      58.7°

      Jul

      5.19"

      84.2°

      61.7°

      Aug

      3.37"

      83.2°

      60.2°

      Sep

      3.73"

      77.3°

      52.3°

      Oct

      3.49"

      65°

      41.2°

      Nov

      3.98"

      52°

      31.8°

      Dec

      3.26"

      38.3°

      20.7°

      Seasonal scales

      Spring

      Summer

      Fall

      Winter

      Crowdedness

      Others between 10 and 50 feet away

      Fullness

      Almost full

      Noise

      Occasional man-made noise (trains, cars, etc...)

      Shade

      Mostly shaded, but still some spots with sunlight

      Cleanliness

      Pristine, no trash at all

      Safety

      Very safe

      Road difficulty

      No problems with any vehicle

      Features and amenities

      Water hookup

      Sewer hookup

      50A Electric

      Showers

      Picnic tables

      Toilets

      Pets allowed

      Wifi

      Fire pits

      randyorsusan

      Great place to stop overnight or for a few days. Can hear the highway; but it's not very loud or intrusive. Camp host/owner is very friendly. Plenty of room for kids or pets to roam and play. Very clean and safe.

    • 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

    • Daisy C.
      Jun. 5, 2020

      Yellowwood State Forest

      Quiet, Peaceful, and Primitive

      Yellowwood state forest campground does not accept reservations. It is first come, first served. 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. The park office does have firewood for sale, but only during open hours, which are limited. There is no camp store, no playgrounds, and no pool. Swimming is not allowed in Yellowwood lake. Each site has a fire ring with grill grate and picnic table. There are four campground loops and a horseman’s campground. Campgrounds have vault toilets and drinking water access. I do not know if water is turned on year-round. There are no modern restrooms. Sites are wooded and fairly level. All sites are primitive. We have only tent camped at Yellowwood, so I can’t say what size travel trailers would fit in the sites. Yellowwood road changes over to gravel once you enter the state forest. It is well maintained. You can also access the forest by Jackson Creek road, but you’re on gravel for longer, and I seem to remember it being a bit rougher. We have camped at Yellowwood several times between 2011-2018. The only time we have ever seen the campground busy is over big holiday weekends like Labor Day, Memorial Day, and 4th of July. Otherwise use is light. We have several times been one of two or three campers in the loop. Several trails are nearby in the state forest, including the Tecumseh Trail. Horse trails are also available. Yellowwood lake is adjacent to the campground and there is a boat ramp, but there are limitations on boating(motor size). Check with the DNR website. Camp here if you like quiet, peaceful camping. You won’t run into a bunch of loud partiers.

    • G
      Jun. 28, 2019

      Oak Ridge Camping Area — Morgan-Monroe State Forest

      Quiet, just right!

      I’ve camped here several times and have always enjoyed it. When tent camping and want something quiet and a place with great trails, this is a good place to go. Even though it’s hot outside today, there’s lots of shade and a breeze. At this campground, there are two areas of pit toilets, and a big outdoor sink. Fire wood and maps can be obtained just up the road at the new Morgan Monroe headquarters. A self pay station is set up there. You select your site, set up, then go pay. Each site has a picnic table, fire ring and plenty of room for tenting with most sites big enough for a trailer. There’s a playground at the entrance of Mason Ridge campground and a fire tower.

    • Shelly S.The Dyrt PRO User
      Oct. 26, 2017

      Sky Smith

      In the woods

      Lieber State Recreation Area, Cloverdale, IN is west down I70 from Indianapolis, 2 miles down RT243. Cagles Mill Lake borders the southwestern side of the area.

      We arrived to a very quiet campground with few campers. Our site was next to the showerhouse, in the trees and had an attached grass trail out the back. All of the campsites boasted two picnic tables and some were very spacious. The sites were electric only and there were water sites positioned strategically throughout the campground.

      The showerhouse was older but maintained. There were also pit toilets throughout the campground( not much to say about typical pit toilets....)

      There were primitive sites in the adjacent campground that did not have much tree cover but appeared to be good size sites to set up in.

    • Daisy C.
      Jun. 8, 2020

      Oak Ridge Camping Area — Morgan-Monroe State Forest

      Off the Beaten Path

      We stayed at site 13 at Morgan-Monroe State Forest, Mason Ridge Campground in June 2020. Site 13 has a little trail that goes down to a large flooded sinkhole behind the campsite. There were lots of tree frogs singing because of the proximity to water. Mason Ridge Campground has vault toilets and drinking water available. There are outdoor sinks at the drinking water stations. There is a dumpster in the campground for trash. Mason Ridge Campground is first come, first served, self-register and pay at the park office. Bring exact change. Firewood is available to purchase, but only when the park office is open, and hours are limited. It is also allowed for campers to gather downed wood throughout the forest for campfires. Chainsaws are not allowed, so bring a handsaw and spitting axe if you want to do this. Campsites are mostly good for tents, but several of the sites would be fine for small to medium sized travel trailers and RVs. Sites are primitive, with gravel parking pads. Campfire ring, grill grate, and picnic table are at all sites. There is a dump station. There are no electric sites. Oak Ridge Campground is a second campground loop in MMSF. It only has a handful of sites but feels very secluded. Most of these sites are suited for tents only, or little teardrop campers. Oak Ridge is only open as an“overflow” campground, so only bet on it being open during summer. There is also a group campground for scout troupes and other groups. When we camped here, there was a rowdy group of car campers that came to have a bonfire and drink all night two sites down from us. They would loud and obnoxious. I do not know if this type of thing is common occurrence at this property, or if we“lucked out” that night. The rest of the folks camping there were quiet. There were no hordes of flashlight children running amuck through the campground like you get at the state parks. There is a playground and fire tower right next to the Mason Ridge campground, but both were closed due to coronavirus. There are many trails in MMSF. Good hiking. 

      Pros: sinks, feeling of seclusion, quiet(other than the one group), usually availability unless you arrive really late, long hiking trails

      Cons: limited office hours for firewood purchase, obnoxious car campers

      In summary, this campground is for those who like to“rough it” a little bit.


    Guide to Unionville

    Primitive camping options near Unionville, Indiana include several secluded sites within Hoosier National Forest. The region sits at elevations ranging from 600-900 feet with limestone creek beds and dense deciduous forest cover. Summer temperatures average 80-90°F with high humidity, while spring brings morel mushroom hunting opportunities in the leaf litter of the forest floor.

    What to do

    Creek exploration: Charles C. Deam Wilderness features numerous creek beds worth exploring during your tent camping adventure. A visitor noted, "I walked the creek for hours just looking at all the rocks on the sandbars. I have never encountered so many geodes in my life. Truly magnificent to encounter."

    Forest hiking: Morgan-Monroe State Forest offers multiple trail options for day hikes. One camper shared, "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."

    Lake activities: At Ransburg Scout Reservation, water recreation options abound. A reviewer mentioned, "Located on Monroe lake, they have canoeing, row boats, sailboats, motor boats, and skiing. Lots of fun activities to do, and great hiking trails."

    What campers like

    Primitive solitude: The isolated sites at Berry Ridge Road offer genuine backcountry camping. A camper described, "There are a couple walking trails around, as well each site is fairly far apart. It's really quite only seen a handful of cars drive by and I've stayed here for 2 nights."

    Hammock spots: The terrain in Charles C. Deam Wilderness is ideal for hammock camping. A visitor reported, "I had the awesome experience to hammock camp on the Patton cave trail, along the creek that winds the length of that trail. It was a strenuous hike to pack in/out of, but was beautiful scenery."

    Geological features: The area is known for unique rock formations. One camper at Charles C. Deam Wilderness noted, "The cave is amazing, and if you're interested in backwoods camping, there are an abundance of spaces to do so."

    What you should know

    Site selection: Campgrounds vary in size and suitability. At Morgan-Monroe, a reviewer warned, "This campground is decent if you get one of the few good spots. Many sites are small and can only accommodate a tent."

    Registration process: Hickory Ridge Primitive Dispersed Campsites and other areas have specific check-in procedures. For Morgan-Monroe, a camper advised, "When you arrive set up at your site. Then you will need to go WITH EXACT CHANGE to the sign in at the main building. It's easy, there is a little box on the side of the firewood shed."

    Road conditions: Access can be challenging in some areas. A visitor to Hickory Ridge noted, "I pulled in at midnight in a sedan in the winter and i was able to safely find my way. Very nice drive during the day, hiking is fantastic!"

    Tips for camping with families

    Scout campground option: Ransburg Scout Reservation offers structured camping for families. A reviewer shared, "Spent the week of scout camp there and it was great" while another mentioned, "We have camped here in a cabin, and also tent camped. Beautiful grounds and a great place to enjoy nature."

    Wildlife viewing: Wildlife spotting opportunities abound in the quiet areas. One camper mentioned seeing deer at Hardin Ridge: "I see more deer and other wildlife here than even at Brown County State Park!"

    Kid-friendly activities: Some sites include recreational facilities. A visitor noted, "There is a playground at the entrance of Mason Ridge campground and a fire tower" at Morgan-Monroe State Forest.

    Tips from RVers

    Size limitations: Most primitive sites near Unionville have restrictions on vehicle size. A camper at Sundance Lake Dispersed Camping warned, "I wouldn't be trying to pull a travel trailer back into here unless it was very small."

    Limited services: Many tent camping areas near Unionville lack RV hookups. One visitor to Morgan-Monroe noted, "My wife and were at site 15 from 09/02/21- 09/06/21 camping in a Winnebago Micro Minnie 2108 TB. This park is not for large rigs, but we had no trouble fitting into our small camper."

    Dump station access: Some forest campgrounds offer basic services for small RVs. A camper reported, "The only drawbacks were that the vault toilets are in pretty bad condition and the dump station hose did not have a connection to allow me to flush the blackwater holding tank."

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Which is the most popular tent campsite near Unionville, IN?

    According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Unionville, IN is Oak Ridge Camping Area — Morgan-Monroe State Forest with a 4.1-star rating from 9 reviews.

    What is the best site to find tent camping near Unionville, IN?

    TheDyrt.com has all 14 tent camping locations near Unionville, IN, with real photos and reviews from campers.