Yellowwood State Forest, near Nashville, Indiana, is a fantastic spot for those who love a bit of rustic charm and outdoor adventure. This campground offers primitive camping with a focus on nature, featuring spacious sites surrounded by trees and close to the beautiful Yellowwood Lake.

Visitors rave about the fishing opportunities right from the shore, with many campsites just a short walk to the water's edge. As one camper noted, “Lots of primitive campsites here. Many have short trails from them to the lake edge, making for some great night fishing with a cozy fire to return to.” The campground also has picnic tables and fire rings at each site, perfect for evening gatherings under the stars.

If you're into hiking, you’ll find several trails that vary in difficulty, allowing you to explore the stunning landscapes of the area. The campground is first-come, first-served, so be sure to arrive early to snag a good spot. While there are no showers or electric hookups, the peaceful and secluded atmosphere makes it a great escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. 

For those who enjoy a bit of history, gold panning is even allowed here with a permit! Whether you're camping solo, with family, or friends, Yellowwood State Forest offers a laid-back experience that keeps you connected to nature.

Yellowwood State Forest was created in 1940 when federal land was leased to the state of Indiana. The land was deeded to the state in 1956. Prior to that time, the Civilian Conservation Corps and Works Project Administration completed three lakes, a shelter house, and a residence, all still in use.  
More than 2,000 abandoned and eroded acres were planted to pine (red, jack, shortleaf, white, and scotch), black locust, black walnut, white, and red oak. Red and white pines are the true northern pines and are still in good condition. The other pines are succumbing to insects, disease, and extremely cold winters.  
Yellowwood Lake was completed in 1939. The 133-acre lake is about 30 feet deep.

Yellowwood State Forest

Whether you're a tent camper, an RVer, or just passing through, Unionville, IN has a lot to offer. Enjoy the scenic camping, fun activities, and sights and sounds of Unionville. At The Dyrt, campers like you share their favorite spots, plus tips and photos. No matter where you're headed in Unionville, you'll find the best spot for you and your camping crew.

Unionville

The Best Camping Near Unionville, Indiana

Yellowwood State Forest is a great area for camping, hiking, fishing, kayaking, etc. It's just a couple minutes drive from the more popular Brown County State Park. I feel like this is still a bit of a hidden gem. Very easily missed, you will drive a few miles off the main road before you even get to the park, then you have a long stretch of gravel road with a several camping options (electric and non-electric sites available). There is a camp office where you can self register, and if you are there when the office is open, you can purchase firewood on site. Huge cart load for $5 or $6\. Late fall, winter, and early spring when the nights are a little chilly, you may have the whole place to yourself, unlike Brown County State Park, where there will likely still be some campers scattered about.

Great alternative to Brown County State Park

Peaceful little place but unfortunately it rained but we made the best of it, there’s some  secluded spots where you can stay away from others or stay in the more general areas, nice lake to fish and we found a swimming hole for a refreshing dip. This was our first camping trip since moving to Indiana and it sparked a fire can’t wait to checkout all the other parks 

Peaceful 

Very nice place! Hiking, fishing, kayaking, and horse riding trails. It is located just a few minutes from Brown County State park and Nashville In. There is a few RV sites (9 or 10) mostly tent camping sites. There is water available and outhouses, there is a dump station for RVs. I would have given 5 stars, but need some more sites for RVs (some of the sites are not real level). There is NO reservation.

Hidden Gem

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.

Quiet, Peaceful, and Primitive

Very beautiful yet primitive campground. All the campgrounds are numbered and have their own names. Think there are 80 sites in total. They have outhouses for toilets. Some sites have water fountains. There is a picnicing area for day use only right off the water which is beautiful. Sites can hold 6 people total and come with a fire pit with a grill attachment which is awesome! There is one small picnic table per site as well. It's nice a quiet here. Great place to escape the crazy. Very dog friendly too!

Quiet, privative and beautiful

We have tent camped in Yellowwood several times and have always enjoyed our stay.  

We have also had lots of fun renting a rowboat, and being out on the water.  A few times we have camped in groups and rented an area, and that was also a great time camping with friends. 


Great Tent Camping

It costs $13 now. Well maintained though. Plenty of bathrooms and campsites. 

No longer free

Yellowwood State Forest, named for the environmentally unique Yellowwood tree, is 23, 326 acres located 7 miles West of the artist community of Nashville, Indiana. Nestled in the rolling hills of southern Indiana famous for it's fall leaf color displays and gorgeous vistas. Yellowwood offers 79 primitive class c sites in four campground areas adjacent to the 133 acre Yellowwood Lake; Red Pine, White-Oak Hickory, Redbud and Black Gum;$13 per night. There are several potable water stations and pit toilets throughout the campgrounds and one dump station located in Red Bud. The Red Bud area also has a small camp store(not open during our visit, so not sure of their offerings). We did note some ADA accessible sites. Horse camping is also available in 12 class c sites in the Horseman Camp with miles of horse trails. Several picnic areas and shelters in the area; one beautiful location overlooking the lake with stunning brown county stone fireplaces. This park is perfect for tent camping or smaller units; we would not recommend for larger units as most sites are small and unlevel and may challenge your maneuvering skills! The park has 5 hiking trails ranging from easy to rugged and access to the Tecumesh Trail(43 miles) originally proposed to span from Florida to Canada. The park office facility offers boat(lake is known for good fishing) and kayak rental, ice and firewood. If you need facilities to accommodate your larger rig or feel a need for more amenities; Brown County State Park is just a few miles to the East...but don't pass up planning at least a day trip to enjoy this incredibly beautiful State Forest property. 772 Yellowwood Lake Rd, Nashville, IN 47448 GPS- 39.183995,-86.337878

This is a real Hidden Gem

So many great tent sites. Wooded. Row boats, kayaks. 

Wonderful place

We stayed at site 11 in the Red Pine campground. The sites were wooded and well maintained, as were the vault toilets. I would have preferred to have a sink to wash my hands, but this campground is more “roughing it” than those with full bathrooms. It was nice and quiet, it felt more secluded than larger campgrounds. Great area to hike and explore. We’ll be back! 

Great secluded, smaller campground

I’m writhing this review on a Tuesday and the Maintenence Crews are in full swing. The campground is sparsely populated as expected for a weekday. The spots are nice and grassy, secluded, and some that may be used for multiple or large family camp outs. They have john boats and kayaks for rent on the weekends along with a camp store. The Forest office and camp store are both closed during the week. 2bars of 5G for AT&amp;T users. Nice picnic 6’ table and fire ring at every site. 

Peaceful and Secluded

Beautiful area. First come, first served, but open spots even on Memorial Day Weekend. Cash only. Lots of good sites!

Quiet

this is a nice campground in a very touristy area. we arrived on a thursday and stayed through sunday. it got more and more crowded friday &amp; saturday but quiet hours were observed and it was a relaxing stay at the end of a long trip. it says big rig friendly, i disagree, we have a 20’ trailer and it was tight. the lake is beautiful, no swimming kinda sucked. hiking was great. 

nashville indiana

Lots of primitive campsites here. Many have short trails from them to the lake edge, making for some great night fishing with a cozy fire to return to.

Great Camping & Fishing Combo

 This is a State Forest campground near Nashville, Indiana. Primitive camping. Pit toilets only. This is by Yellowwood Lake, so boating &amp; fishing opportunities. 

All these sites are first come, first serve. No reservations. 

There's a Forest Office with area information &amp; a small display. 

There's several trails of varying length. 

Believe it or not- gold panning is a thing here! You need a permit.

They rent boats at the Forest Office. Electric motor only.

  

 There's several camping loops. There's a horse camp also. 

The boat ramp is near the horse camp loop.

 We didn't go down the Red Pine Loop, but did check out White Oak/Redbud&amp; Black Gum.

 Hickory loop is right off the road &amp; the sites are visible from the road. They looked nicely spaced.

White oak loop had several nice sites. Redbud is close to a building they call a camp store. It may have been many years ago, but not open now.

 Several picnic spots by the lake. The best site in Redbud would be 39. Large site with some shade. I would also say 38, but site 37 is directly behind it. This is the camp host spot, so occupied. These sites are near the pit toilets.

The best spot in Black Gum would be site 75. Large site at the end of the loop &amp; right by the lake.

  

 If you go back to Hwy 46 where the road split on your way in, follow the sign to the dam. Just a large earthen dam, but there's trail heads here. There's the Scarce O' Fat Trail which has been mentioned on the Facebook Indiana Hiking page.

  

$13 per night regular camping.$16 per night for horseman's.

Photos of Yellowwood State Forest

Real photos from real campers