Best Dispersed Camping near Brandenburg, KY
Several dispersed camping options exist near Brandenburg, Kentucky in Hoosier National Forest across the Ohio River in southern Indiana. Mitchell Creek Road provides multiple primitive roadside pull-offs suitable for small vehicles and tent camping. The gravel access road can be challenging after rain, with some sections described as "destroyed" requiring access from east or west. These sites are minimalist with no amenities or facilities—just small clearings sometimes containing makeshift fire rings.
The Jackson Trailhead area offers similar primitive camping opportunities after traveling down what one visitor called "a decrepit gravel road." Campsites are located along the trail rather than at the trailhead parking area. For backpackers, the Knobstone Trail (nicknamed "The Little AT") provides backcountry camping options with continuous elevation changes. According to one visitor, "There are plenty of great places to camp along the trail. Water can become scarce in the summer/fall months." The trail crosses roads every 5-10 miles, providing bailout points if needed. All these areas maintain a leave-no-trace ethic and offer genuine seclusion—multiple visitors reported seeing only 2-3 vehicles over 24+ hour periods.