Camping areas near Waverly, Indiana typically sit at elevations between 600-900 feet in the rolling hills of south-central Indiana. The terrain ranges from flat riverfront sites to wooded hillsides with limestone outcroppings. Most campgrounds see seasonal closures from November through March due to freezing temperatures, with peak season bringing daytime temperatures of 75-85°F in summer months.
What to do
Hiking trails access: Morgan-Monroe State Forest offers extensive trail options with varying difficulty levels. "This is probably the best state forest in the state of Indiana. The property is well maintained... 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," notes a reviewer who frequently visits Morgan-Monroe State Forest.
Water activities: Between Memorial Day and Labor Day, many visitors take advantage of local lakes and rivers. At Hidden Paradise Campground, guests enjoy multi-water access points. "What is the best of the best for all in the family? A quarry full to swim with an aqua playground, with use of free life preservers, a creek to kayak or float and a clean campground!" One family notes they return yearly: "Our boys & friends spend most of their time in the river, but also enjoy the quarry lake with inflatables & paddle boats."
Frisbee golf: The Brown County frisbee golf course sits within a 15-minute drive of most Waverly-area campgrounds. Hoosiers On The Ridge properties offer convenient access to this course. As one visitor notes, "We loved this spot in Brown County. Far enough away from town to be peaceful but close enough to be convenient. We were able to make it to Lake Lemon quickly as well as Bloomington and downtown beautiful Nashville!"
What campers like
Private camping spots: Many visitors appreciate the secluded nature of camping in this region. "This campground is decent if you get one of the few good spots. Many sites are small and can only accommodate a tent. Has water and vault toilets. This campground typically remains available as an overflow camping area but is still a good spot," explains a reviewer at Morgan-Monroe State Forest. Another camper adds, "My favorite forest with traditional camping, backwoods camping, and a wonderful secret pioneer cabin for rent."
Stargazing opportunities: The darkness of night skies away from urban centers makes glamping close to Waverly, Indiana ideal for stargazers. At Hidden Paradise Campground, campers mention the tranquil evening atmosphere. "It's a big place we noticed at daylight. Nice playground, appears they have some cabins to be rented, some sites were on the water, very clean and maintained." The campground's relative isolation from major light pollution sources creates optimal night sky viewing.
Friendly atmosphere: Friends O' Mine Campground receives consistent praise for its welcoming environment. "We booked this location as a one night stop on our way to our destination, but it turned out to be way more than that. The owner, their staff, and fellow campers embraced us as part of the family. Their fire pit fellowship is second to none. It's places like this that inspire us to continue camping."
What you should know
Military base noise: Camp Atterbury generates significant noise from training activities. "If you don't mind gunfire 24/7 this is the best place ever," notes a regular visitor to Camp Atterbury Campground. Another camper mentions, "If you don't mind fireing guns 24/7 it's a great little place." While some find the noise bothersome, military personnel often appreciate the familiar sounds: "I'm military, so the gunfire, canon fire, and helicopters didn't bother me at all. Those things don't happen all the time though."
Varying bathroom facilities: Facilities range from well-maintained shower houses to basic vault toilets. At Morgan-Monroe, one visitor reported, "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." Before selecting luxury glamping near Waverly, Indiana, check the shower and restroom conditions.
Seasonal availability: Many campgrounds have limited operating seasons. Indianapolis KOA remains open from "March 1 to November 15," while Brown County-Nashville KOA operates from "April 1 to November 1." Some state forest campgrounds remain open year-round but may have reduced facilities during winter.
Tips for camping with families
Water attractions: Hidden Paradise Campground offers multiple water features popular with families. "Great place for summer camping!" shares one visitor. Another family explains their tradition: "We love this campground so much that we return every year! Great riverside sites. We take our own rafts and kayaks, although both are available for rent/purchase at the camp store. Our boys & friends spend most of their time in the river, but also enjoy the quarry lake with inflatables & paddle boats."
Kid-friendly amenities: Friends O' Mine Campground provides dedicated recreational spaces. "Best place for camping, fishing, and relaxing. Pool onsite, rec room, firepits, showers, campstore, etc." Another family added that "weekend activities made the stay enjoyable for our kids." Consider bringing bikes as many campgrounds have paved roads suitable for children.
Activity planning: Luxury glamping options close to Waverly often feature organized weekend activities. "New owners are great! The whole staff was friendly and helpful. Minutes from state park and downtown. Big rig friendly sites, Tmobile worked perfectly, facilities clean and weekend activities made the stay enjoyable for our kids."
Tips from RVers
Site selection: At Indianapolis KOA, RVers appreciate the site quality but recommend booking in advance. "Everything you would expect from a KOA: clean, easy in-and-out, all the amenities. We stayed two nights during the week, but it was spring break, and the campground was still quiet and orderly." Large RVs may find limited options at some campgrounds. One camper at Morgan-Monroe noted, "We are RV campers and there are only about 5 sites we could get in to. Our camper is about 25' and it was tight get in and out of the campground."
Leveling requirements: Some campgrounds feature uneven sites requiring substantial leveling blocks. One camper reported, "Pads are gravel and we did need to use several leveling blocks on our site, which made for a doosey of a bottom step into and out of our trailer." Bring adequate leveling equipment when traveling with RVs to glamping destinations near Waverly.
Limited dump facilities: "There is a dump station, but I barely got in to dump. So not real RV friendly," notes one camper about Morgan-Monroe State Forest. Larger rigs may need to use dump stations at more developed campgrounds before heading to rustic glamping sites.
