Best Dog-Friendly Camping in Indiana

From the sandy bluffs and hundreds of lakes in the north to the limestone caverns in the south, Indiana’s parks are popular with outdoor lovers. In a state defined by its love for automobiles, peaceful afternoons on the river and hundreds of miles of remote hiking are just a short trip away. You don’t have to look far to find your getaway, so come and discover camping in Indiana!

With over 30 state parks and a national forest, it’s not hard to find the perfect place to spend the night. Campers love finding the best place to visit in the fall for the perfect autumn colors, and tranquil summer evenings are a great time to get family together outside for a weekend away.

Find your escape on Indiana’s White River, which meanders for over 200 miles through sandstone bluffs that rise from the river banks. Excellent fishing opportunities and an abundance of wildlife make the White River a hit with locals and tourists alike. With over 12 unique sections of the river to explore, it’s a perfect excuse to call in from work and go camping in Indiana.

Nature lovers camping in Indiana will love the bird watching and serene landscapes of Indiana’s riverways. Call ahead and get set up with an outfitter to guide you through the best fishing holes in the river. Adventure lovers might prefer heading out on their own, thanks to a detailed river guide available online.

Indiana’s Knobstone Trail is a must for hikers and backpackers. Link up with the Tecumseh Trail in the north and the 140-mile trail puts to rest the myths that the state is all-flat. Start within a stone’s throw of Louisville for a hike that winds through hardwood forests, tree-top panoramas, and Southern Indiana’s unglaciated and surprisingly hilly terrain.

Trying to escape the summer heat? Head south to the limestone region–famous for its hidden caverns–and go camping at Hoosier National Forest. Spend your days off hiking and horseback riding in the park’s 200,000+ acres. With the Dyrt, you can be sure to find the best camping in Indiana no matter where the roads take you.

Best Dog-Friendly Sites in Indiana (350)

    1. Dunewood Campground — Indiana Dunes National Park

    126 Reviews
    Beverly Shores, IN
    Website
    +1 (219) 395-1882

    $25 / night

    "There’s tons of trails to do along the lakeshore and none are really far from one another. I grew up in NWI so I didn’t camp in Indiana often but I did here and loved it!"

    "There is so much to do her, wineries and breweries nearby. The beaches are not too crowded. Pet friendly and lots to do for children. This is one of our favorite vacation spots."

    2. Turkey Run State Park Campground

    70 Reviews
    Marshall, IN
    Website
    +1 (765) 597-2635

    $20 - $25 / night

    "Turkey Run is my all time favorite State Park in Indiana. It has great camping with both reserved and walk up options (get there early for walk up options)."

    "Turkey Run is arguably the most popular campground (and state park) in Indiana and has its pros and cons."

    3. Chain O' Lakes State Park Campground

    52 Reviews
    Albion, IN
    Website
    +1 (260) 636-2654

    $12 - $80 / night

    "Met up with 18 other skoolies our first Indiana meet. Met great people had a fantastic time. Great park kids swam, showers are clean. Electric at sites but water isn’t but very close by."

    "Only stopped here for the night to catch a rest so cannot speak to the trails or lakes."

    4. Pokagon State Park Campground

    48 Reviews
    Angola, IN
    Website
    +1 (260) 833-2012

    $16 - $480 / night

    "There's 2 dump stations located in loops 3 & 4. IN THE CAMPGROUND! NEXT TO CAMPSITES!!!!

     "

    "Pokagon (po KAY gun) has everything from a toboggan run to a lodge to lakes all around...you cannot be bored here. Open year round (limited campgrounds and services in winter)."

    5. Indiana Dunes State Park Campground

    47 Reviews
    Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, IN
    Website
    +1 (219) 926-1952

    $23 / night

    "The most beautiful state park in Indiana IMO."

    "The campground although nearly full was relatively calm and quiet. Unlike the craziness of other Indiana state parks I have visited."

    6. Potato Creek State Park Campground

    48 Reviews
    North Liberty, IN
    Website
    +1 (574) 656-8186

    $20 - $90 / night

    "Younger families tend to book up front near the playground and the noise and activities are more robust. Be ready with back up cords, some sites require 75 ft to hook up."

    "I feel this is one of the best state parks in Indiana. Come with your own water as they don’t have water hookups at your campsite but there are some nearby. The sites are very spacious and clean."

    7. Clifty Falls State Park Campground

    46 Reviews
    Madison, IN
    Website
    +1 (812) 273-8885

    $16 - $25 / night

    "If you live outside of Indiana you have to pay a $9 entrance fee on top of the campground reservation fee, which makes for a pricey weekend trip for those on a budget."

    "No sewer or water hookup as you would expect at most Indiana State Parks. The sites are extremely spacious and plenty of sites with shade."

    8. Charlestown State Park Campground

    37 Reviews
    Charlestown, IN
    Website
    +1 (812) 256-5600

    $23 - $30 / night

    "We biked throughout the park and hiked 4 of the trails, 3 of which were pretty rugged and all had elevation changes for a good hiking challenge. "

    "It's a fairly new park on the site that used to be the Indiana Ammunition Plant. Good-sized sites with a very helpful staff. I hiked trail 2 and found the waterfall and several other gorgeous views."

    9. Patoka Lake Campground

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

    $12 - $25 / night

    "Only waterfill location was at the camp store. Shower house was open and warm water was available. Big DNR presence and staff was friendly and helpful. Quiet campground wasn’t many occupants."

    "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."

    10. Harmonie State Park Campground

    34 Reviews
    New Harmony, IN
    Website
    +1 (812) 682-4821

    $20 - $23 / night

    "Ranger Review: Primus at Harmonie State Park

    I recently visited Harmonie State Park near New Harmony, In. https://indianastateparks.reserveamerica.com/campgroundDetails.do?"

    "Located in Southwest Indiana, about 40 miles from Evansville. 

    This is a typical Indiana State Park. Some sites are pretty close together, some are spacious."

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Dog-Friendly Camping Reviews in Indiana

2455 Reviews of 350 Indiana Campgrounds


  • L
    Jul. 7, 2024

    Tipsaw Lake

    Great Camp Spot for Families

    Besides picking the only weekend where the camp had plumbing issues… my 4 year old daughter and I loved this place. This was my first time camping in Indiana and it did not let me down! The rangers were very nice and was pleased to answer any of my questions, the lake and bathrooms were clean and the place was nice and quiet. I’ll be back again.

  • Brady R.
    Oct. 27, 2020

    Paynetown Campground

    Lake Views - Good for Covid

    With COVID, it seems that everyone...and then more people are going camping. It's a bittersweet type of situation. Nevertheless, it's been very hard to find decent camping in Indiana that isn't packed in like sardines, while also trying to escape the city and get into nature - not around more people.

    Luckily, a friend and I came here last October and this place was great. We got a non electric site and were in the middle of the sites. We had a great lake view and were very happy with our setup. It was a pull-through site, although not all are like that. We were able to set up in no time. 

    We had lots of space, away from our neighbors. The campstore had wood and random items that you might need should you forget. We were just steps away from the lake and enjoyed walking down there every morning. There aren't the best hiking trails around, so you'll need to drive to the nearby Brown County or National Forest to hike on trails that are actually worth the time. 

    I will add that the setup is a bit odd for non-electric. You basically had to pull up to the gatehouse, get your reservation info, then do a U-turn and go back out past the campstore in order to get to your campground. Very odd setup to say the least.

  • Brady R.
    May. 16, 2019

    Clifty Falls State Park Campground

    Don't Recommend Non-Electric Sites

    Out of all places I've camped in Indiana, this is, by far, the worst. Please note that this is for the non-electric sites. Reasons for the low rating:

    • the firewood that they sell to you is complete crap. It's so wet and damp that you can't burn it. We have had to take every single batch back we've purchased cause it's so bad. They don't do refunds.
    • The playground is so close to most campsites in the non-electric section. I'd recommend getting as far away as possible as the screams of children echo like birds flying throughout the campground.
    • Not the park's fault, but raccoons are horrible here. I'm talking, "walk up to your campfire as you're sitting next to it and steal food that's on the burner" bad. Lol.

    We were lucky enough to find a campsite (#118) very far away from the playground which was surrounded by grasses that separated the campsites surrounding you which was very nice. Again, the raccoons were horrible though.

  • Cody W.
    Aug. 22, 2021

    Dunewood Campground — Indiana Dunes National Park

    Great spot to stay if you’re visiting

    Compared to the other popular campground in the state park this is way less crowded. There’s tons of trails to do along the lakeshore and none are really far from one another. I grew up in NWI so I didn’t camp in Indiana often but I did here and loved it! There are a bunch of raccoons that can come steal food so beware of that! Overall nice though!

  • EThe Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 8, 2025

    Rvino - Lost Acres, LLC

    Family Fun

    A relaxing campground for the whole family. Swimming, camp fires, children parks, dog park, small trails, and only 10 minutes from Indiana beach. Love staying here.

  • Shelly S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 21, 2019

    Harmonie State Park Campground

    Lotsa trees

    Ranger Review: Primus at Harmonie State Park

    I recently visited Harmonie State Park near New Harmony, In. https://indianastateparks.reserveamerica.com/campgroundDetails.do?contractCode=IN&parkId=570048 Just a heads up when camping in Indiana there is a fee to visit the State Parks. I always carry cash for that , laundry and in some states bathroom use. So, the number one thing that stuck out to me about this campground was the shade. For the most part it’s level (floodplain...I saw no standing water) And all the sites are nicely shaded (we are talking full growth) and good size. The sites are electric only, no water, no sewer. There are centrally located water hydrants and a dump station on the way out of the campground. The campground wasn’t very full when we visited, but there is a plethora of activities to enjoy. An Olympic size pool which back in the day my kids woulda loved. Hiking paths (very wide), one right by the campground and a connector trail to the mountain bike trail area. There’s also a bike section on the paved roads. You could spend a comfortable week here and not be bored.

    Product Review: As a Dyrt Ranger I get to occasionally try out outdoor products while camping and this trip I brought along some Primus “kitchen gear” https://primus.us/ . Primus is known for its camping stoves , the kitchen accessories are pretty sweet too. I have the Trailsporks , a long spoon , a spatula for grilling , campfire plates and a campfire knife. These are very sturdy made accessories and pack in my kit without taking up a lot of space. There are a lot of options on the site to fit your packing needs too, from family fireside to fastpacking . I’m building my fireside kitchen kit .

  • Nancy W.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 12, 2017

    Terre Haute Campground

    Great location to I-70 and Terre Haute

    This campground is great proximity to I-70 for an easy on/off the interstate and just outside of downtown Terre Haute (approximately eight miles). The park is nice and shady with large trees. When we were there in November, there were very few other campers and most appeared to be transients there for just one night. With all the amenities in this place there is probably a lot going on in the summer. Downtown Terre Haute has plenty of activities including live music, sporting events, museums, restaurants, and historic sites.

    RV sites are pull thrus and back-ins that vary from 50 amp full hook-up with deluxe patio to 30 amp water/electric. All sites were level. There are definitely sites big enough for big-rigs with tow vehicles so you don’t have to unhook if you are just stopping for a night. Water, sewer and electric hook-ups were well-placed and easy to reach. In addition to the RV sites, there are kamping cabins with deluxe accommodations (including air conditioning, kitchens, and bathrooms) capable of sleeping up to 6 people to rustic cabins without bathrooms. Tent sites are available as is a “teepee.”

    Amenities at the park include: swimming pool, camp store (with fire wood), full service restaurant (May – November), propane fill, bike rental, basketball courts, playground, horseshoes, petting zoo, and coin laundry. The restroom and shower house was clean. There is a dump station located at the exit of the park. Our Verizon 4G phone and hotpsot had great service. Our antenna picked up about two dozen television channels

    If you have a dog, there is an off-leash dog park and you are free to walk dogs around the property and there is a long road leading into park. The only problem we had with the park was that some of the trees were not trimmed and the roads where narrow and would rub against our RV.

  • L
    Jul. 11, 2021

    Sun Outdoors Lake Rudolph

    Fun family campground

    This is a great location near the lake, dog park and community center and has excellent internet access.

  • A
    Jul. 28, 2021

    Angola/Hogback Lake KOA Holiday

    First Trip of the season

    We enjoyed the stay at this campground. They have all of the KOA amenities pool, lazy river, jump pillow, playground and dog park. Entire campground was clean and well maintained. This campground also sits on the shores of Hogback Lake which is an all sports lake. Many things to do in the area Wild Winds Buffalo Preserve, Pokagon State Park(hiking, biking and horseback riding), Amish communities close by, Black Pine Animal Sanctuary, Angola, IN many shopping and dining experiences.


Guide to Indiana

Discovering pet-friendly camping in Indiana opens up a world of adventure for you and your furry companions. With numerous campgrounds welcoming pets, you can enjoy the great outdoors without leaving your pets behind.

Pet-friendly campgrounds include spacious sites and amenities

Pet owners like the variety of activities available

Dog-friendly activities while camping near scenic locations