67 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Campgrounds near Crawfordsville, Indiana range from state parks with rugged hiking trails to family-friendly RV facilities with electrical hookups and cabin accommodations. Shades State Park and Turkey Run State Park offer tent and RV camping approximately 20 miles south of Crawfordsville in wooded settings with distinctive sandstone canyons. Private options include Crawfordsville KOA and Sugar Creek Campground, both providing cabin accommodations along with traditional camping spaces. The region includes several lake-based campgrounds such as Lake Waveland Park and Cecil M. Harden Lake Recreation Area, extending the variety of camping environments within a 30-minute drive of the city.
Most campgrounds in the Crawfordsville area operate seasonally, with peak availability from April through October. Several state park facilities, including Turkey Run, remain open year-round but with limited winter services. Electrical hookups are standard at most developed sites, while primitive options exist primarily within the state parks. "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," noted one visitor to a nearby recreation area. Cell service varies considerably throughout the region, with reviews indicating limited connectivity in the canyon areas of Shades and Turkey Run State Parks, while campgrounds closer to Crawfordsville maintain reliable coverage.
Campers frequently mention the distinctive terrain as a highlight of the area's camping experience. The sandstone canyons and hiking trails at Turkey Run and Shades State Parks receive consistently high ratings, providing experiences uncommon in Indiana's typically flat landscape. According to one visitor, "Turkey Run is one of my top 2 campgrounds in Indiana... My absolute favorite part though, is the trails. You completely forget you're in Indiana." Campground reviews indicate varying levels of privacy between sites, with state parks generally offering more seclusion than private campgrounds. Most developed campgrounds near Crawfordsville provide standard amenities including showers, flush toilets, and potable water, though some primitive areas rely on vault toilets. Families particularly appreciate the bicycle-friendly campground roads at several locations, making these camping spots ideal for weekend getaways with convenient access to Crawfordsville's local attractions. Whether you're looking for tent camping or RV sites, Crawfordsville's surrounding campgrounds offer diverse options for outdoor recreation throughout the camping season.
"Canopied by the big beautiful Indiana trees. Close to some good hiking trails."
"Located north of turkey run state park shades offers all the hiking and scenic terrain with less amenities and less crowds. Sugar creek cuts through the ancient sandstone floor creating canyon walls."
from $14 - $25 / night
Check Availability"Turkey Run is arguably the most popular campground (and state park) in Indiana and has its pros and cons."
"Much enjoyed hiking some of the trails at Turkey Run State Park near Marshall, Indiana. This is Indiana's 2nd oldest state park, now 100 years old (1916-2016)."
from $20 - $52 / night
Check Availability"Really cute little park with lots of shade and convenient access to Crawfordsville. We were here for a quick stopover, but made friends with several locals spending time here."
"We arrived at 2am, but they had us all situated for late checkin. The campground itself was very lovely and quiet."
"There are few trails looping around for the walks. Most of tent sites got shade. Rv sites all seem to be level, although kind of close together. Nice and clean bathrooms and shower facility."
"The campsite it very spacious and there’s a decent amount of distance between each site. Sites by the river are especially nice."
from $30 - $45 / night
Check Availability"It's a nice place to walk around, though we were wandering past empty tent spots so in the busy season it might be less free-form on where you can roam."
"Very clean and well kept, smaller but with direct access to an awesome creek. Kids played in the creek all day long. Cheap and plentiful firewood. Really friendly and family owned"
"Raccoon State Recreation Area | Cecil M Harden Lake is located in the heart of historic covered bridge country just 50 miles West of Indianapolis."
"There are multiple boat ramps for easy access to the water. I met a friend there who is a resident of Indianapolis and we had a great time on the water."
from $14 - $62 / night
Check Availability"Nice clean park in west-central Indiana that has a lake and a large number of camping sites along with restrooms and showers."
"The campground is located within close proximity of both Turkey Run and Shades State Park."
from $25 - $40 / night
Check Availability"Only downside is the Indiana entrance fee of I think $18(good for a year) on top of site rental....We're from out of state heading back to East coast so it's doubtful we'll be able to use our entrance"
"Well kept and clean area in the plains of Indiana. Great amnesties for the area such as a new, large public pool and a few hiking and biking trails."
from $50 - $62 / night
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TravelerWe were only here for one night as we are passing through, however we loved this little spot. They have so much fun and activities for the kiddos in addition to a little ice cream parlor and pizza shop. We loved it!
TravelerA bunch of shade and nice staff
GuideLast minute late evening online reservation.....Arrived about 900pm...There was still someone at the gate house to check us in.....very nice park staff....clean, safe,secure...elec/water hookup...dump station in park....nice level site although somewhat challenging to back into in the dark. Only downside is the Indiana entrance fee of I think $18(good for a year) on top of site rental....We're from out of state heading back to East coast so it's doubtful we'll be able to use our entrance fee during the next year....nice large sites, hardly any campers near our site. I would camp here again if ever in the area.
GuideI enjoyed my stay and loved the various water activities available throughout the park. I had my kayak and had one of the lakes all to myself for an afternoon.
LegendNice halfway point for our road trip to Door County. We stayed here the week after Labor Day. Not sure if park staff had enough time to clean the grounds after the busy holiday weekend… There was a disappointing amount of litter at our site. We had remove the various cans, plastic bottles and ice pack out of our fire ring and the surrounding wooded area was full of more of the same including a full trash bag of garbage. And speaking of full… the pit toilets…There’s a $15 out of state fee above the $25 p/night charge. There’s only one shower for the park so be prepared. The amount of gnats and mosquitoes had us running for cover. The staff we encountered here, we’re cordial and friendly.
Traveler50A service, no water or sewer at the site. Fill your fresh tank on the way in. There’s a dump station on the property, so emptying on the way out is easy.
Site is mostly level with partial shade. The approach is the one thing to watch: 293 isn’t angled off the road, so it’s a tighter back-in than most. We’re towing a 33’ Airstream Classic and made it first try with no issues, so bigger rigs can absolutely get in here. Just take it slow. Once parked, there’s plenty of room, and the spacing between sites is better than most state park campgrounds we’ve stayed in. Bathhouse is only a few sites down.
Cell signal ran about 2 bars. We’re on Starlink so it didn’t matter, but plan accordingly if you work from the road.
Park staff are the highlight. Stephanie checked us in and could not have been more accommodating. Friendly, quick, genuinely helpful.
ScoutThe staff here is very friendly, helpful, and accommodating. Each site has water hookups as well as a firepit, electric and sewage. There is a laundry room with a small library, bath house, and a nice short trail, with a game of horseshoes. Unfortunately no more swimming or kayaking in the lake but there are other parks in the area to do so. Very peaceful back in the woods, would definitely stay here again!
GuideBack in site, along the river, has full hooks! Wonderful bike, walking, you could even see horses on the path! Well taken care of campground, owned by the county. Lots of shade trees, clean bathrooms, playground.
RangerWater park is super clean. Lots of bike trails and camp sites are all clean and level
Camping near Crawfordsville, Indiana offers diverse terrain with elevations ranging from 700 to 900 feet above sea level in the rolling hills of west-central Indiana. Raccoons are frequently mentioned in campground reviews throughout the area, requiring careful food storage practices at most sites. The camping season typically extends from April through October, with limited winter facilities available at select locations.
Paddle Sugar Creek: Sugar Creek Campground provides direct water access with kayak and canoe rentals. "We rented a canoe from a canoe place right down the road from the campground. It was great and once we saw the crowds at the beach area of the park on Saturday afternoon, we were super glad we had been canoeing all day instead of fighting crowds at the park," shares one Turkey Run State Park visitor.
Hike rugged trails: The area features challenging terrain uncommon in Indiana. "This is a hikers park & it has some of the most rugged trails in Indiana. The Pine Hills Nature Preserve is maintained by the park. The Devils Backbone is a popular trail, but definitely on the rugged side," notes a visitor to Shades State Park.
Fish in stocked ponds: Multiple campgrounds maintain fishing areas. "The pond is stocked with GIANT fish (catch and release only) and definitely go for a hike over at Turkey Run," reports a camper at Sugar Creek Campground. Lake-based options also exist at several locations around Crawfordsville.
Wooded sites for privacy: Campgrounds with forest cover provide seclusion. "Nice quiet campground with spacious sites. Canopied by the big beautiful Indiana trees. Close to some good hiking trails," notes a Shades State Park visitor about the camping environment.
Clean facilities: Maintained bathhouses receive consistent praise across campgrounds. "The bathrooms were super clean and the showers were hot with good water pressure," reports a camper at Turkey Run State Park Campground.
Variety of accommodations: Options range from primitive tent sites to full-service cabins. "We stayed in site 41 which is a double site. I'd highly recommend this site. It backs up to Sugar Creek which is just gorgeous in the spring. We saw all kinds of birds, turtles, frogs and even a couple snakes," shares a visitor to Sugar Creek Campground.
Uneven terrain at some sites: Campsite topography varies considerably. "The site was very uneven. It definitely sloops to the back corner. It's was difficult to level our camper but we got it in the end," explains a Turkey Run camper about site #35.
Weekend crowds: Popular parks fill quickly during peak season. "I would advise to camp during the week for a less crowded time," suggests a Sugar Creek Campground visitor, while another notes: "We arrived on Thursday on April 29th and the place was empty."
Wildlife encounters: Prepare for animal visitors, particularly after dark. "Watch out for the raccoons. Those guys are not afraid of anything," warns a Turkey Run State Park camper, a common theme across multiple campground reviews in the region.
Look for playground access: Several campgrounds feature recreational areas for children. "My boys enjoyed the playground and my wife enjoyed the modern showers. Shades State Park is a great place to unplug and reconnect," mentions a visitor to Shades State Park Campground.
Consider weekday visits: Families report quieter experiences outside peak times. "We love the family friendly atmosphere, and all of the extras they offer for the kids! There is a great pond for fishing, and there are lots of fish to catch!" reports a Sugar Creek visitor.
Select sites strategically: Location within campgrounds affects noise and convenience. "We were in site 94, which was right next to the bathhouse. It had almost a whole extra campsite's worth of space next to it for my kids to run around. It also had a tree for shade and was nice and level," notes a Turkey Run camper.
Check site levelness: Many RV sites require adjustment. "Sites have chip gravel, clean sites, clean comfort stations. Some sites are full hookup," notes a camper at Prophetstown State Park, while others mention challenges with uneven terrain at various campgrounds.
Verify hookup locations: Utility placement varies between sites. "My site was easy to level, beautiful wooded campground convenient to interstate," reports a camper at Crawfordsville KOA, though another visitor notes: "sewer hookup was all the way at the end of the site, needed extra extension to hook up sewer."
Consider rig size limitations: Not all campgrounds accommodate larger vehicles. "This wouldn't be a campground I would choose if I had a big rig," advises a Shades State Park visitor about the limitations of certain camping areas, particularly in the more primitive sections of state parks.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best campgrounds near Crawfordsville, Indiana?
The Crawfordsville area offers several excellent camping options. Shades State Park Campground provides spacious, quiet sites under a beautiful tree canopy with access to hiking trails. Another top choice is Turkey Run State Park Campground, Indiana's second oldest state park, featuring RV and tent sites with water/electric hookups and modern bathrooms with showers. Both parks offer stunning natural landscapes with sandstone canyons and trails. Other notable options include Lieber State Recreation Area near Cloverdale and White River Campground, which offers riverside sites with free WiFi and hot showers.
Are there campgrounds with cabins available near Crawfordsville?
Yes, several campgrounds near Crawfordsville offer cabin accommodations. Lieber State Recreation Area Campground located west of Indianapolis near Cloverdale provides cabin options alongside traditional camping sites. The recreation area borders Cagles Mill Lake, offering water activities in addition to comfortable lodging. Thousand Trails Horseshoe Lakes is another option with cabin rentals, situated in a large park with various amenities. While primarily known as an RV park, it offers alternative accommodations for those not interested in tent camping. Always call ahead to check cabin availability and make reservations, especially during peak summer seasons.
Where is Sugar Creek Campground located in Crawfordsville, Indiana?
Sugar Creek Campground is located in the Crawfordsville area of Indiana. This drive-in campground offers amenities including water access and toilet facilities. It's situated along Sugar Creek, which is a popular waterway that runs through the region, including through nearby Shades State Park where the creek cuts through ancient sandstone creating scenic canyon walls. The campground is accessible by vehicle and provides reservable sites that can accommodate larger RVs. For those interested in water activities, Sugar Creek is known for canoeing opportunities, and the campground's location makes it a convenient base for exploring the natural attractions of west-central Indiana.
Is there a KOA campground in Crawfordsville, Indiana?
Yes, there is a Crawfordsville KOA in Crawfordsville, Indiana. This private campground offers a shaded setting with convenient access to the town. The KOA features basic amenities including a swimming pool and playground. It's described as a cute park that serves as both a quick stopover location for travelers and a short vacation spot for locals. The campground appears to have a mix of short-term visitors and long-term residents. With its proximity to Crawfordsville and its family-friendly facilities, the Crawfordsville KOA provides a comfortable camping experience for those visiting the area.
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