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Within an hour from Indianapolis, there are state parks and campgrounds with incredible nature and wildlife. These spots offer plenty of hiking trails and lake access to indulge in your favorite outdoor activities. Whether you plan to relax and barbecue at your site or spend the day exploring and canoeing on a nearby lake, you’ll need a comfortable and well-equipped campground. These are the 7 best sites for camping in Indianapolis spots.
1. Brown County State Park
Image from The Dyrt camper Stacey S.
The Brown County State Park is an excellent choice for outdoor enthusiasts and hikers to explore. It’s located south of Indianapolis and near Lake Monroe. The Brown County State Park covers around 13,000 acres of rugged hills, ridges, and ravines.
There are plenty of activities to do here, including hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding. The camp has plenty of amenities, including electric and water hook-ups, showers, bathrooms, and potable water.
“Love this park! We have gone there many times when we wanted to visit the fair and Brown County.” – Debbie S.
Campground Details:
- Price: $13-36
- Number of sites: 693
- RV sites: Yes
- Fires allowed: Yes
- Pets allowed: Yes
2. McCormick’s Creek State Park
Image from The Dyrt camper Liz D.
This is one of Indian’s best State Parks, located southwest of the capital. There are beautiful forests with diverse trees and wildflower species and a spectacular limestone canyon. The campground is relatively quiet during most of the year and makes an excellent base camp to explore the area. The McCormick’s Creek State Park campground offers various sites, including full hook-up, electric, non-electric, and primitive.
“Great trails and amazing primitive campsites. Set apart from others so you can have family time!” – Katrina L.
Campground Details:
- Price: $12-44
- Number of sites: 221
- RV sites: Yes
- Fires allowed: Yes
- Pets allowed: Yes
3. White River Campground
Image from The Dyrt camper ProfG999
About 40 minutes from Indianapolis, you’ll find this peaceful campground right next to White River. There’s beautiful sites right up against the river, perfect for fishing, swimming, and relaxing. Even though it’s close to the town of Noblesville, the camp feels pretty secluded.
Their Free Wi-Fi works great, and they have a nice playground for the kids. All sites have a picnic table and a fire ring. Overall, White River Campground is a quiet and clean place with all essential amenities.
“Great spots up against the river and very clean park.” – Shane H.
Campground Details:
- Price: $20-130
- Number of sites: 106
- RV sites: Yes
- Fires allowed: Yes
- Pets allowed: Yes
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4. Shades State Park Campground
Image from The Dyrt camper Scott S.
This campground is located west of Indianapolis and within an hour’s drive. The Shades State Park covers about 3,000 acres of beech and oak forests and sandstone ravines. The park offers around 10 miles of hiking trails to explore Shades’ woods, waterways, and canyons.
It’s a relaxing and peaceful campground, excellent for resting after a long day of hiking. The camp has a dump station and electrical hook-ups but no water hook-ups.
“This is a great, quiet campground during the week. Being non-electric, there is usually a good mix of tent and trailer types.” – Joshua W.
Campground Details:
- Price: $10-24
- Number of sites: 122
- RV sites: Yes
- Fires allowed: Yes
- Pets allowed: Yes
5. Lieber State Recreation Area
Image from The Dyrt camper Steve H.
Lieber State Recreation Area is a nice and shady campground located west of Indianapolis. Even though it’s a big campground and usually crowded in summer, it’s a relatively quiet location.
The Lieber campground has a store with basic supplies, drinkable water, showers, and toilets. You can drive a short distance to Cataract Falls, and there are a few hiking trails in the area. There’s no cell reception, so it’s a great destination for disconnecting and relaxing completely.
“What a great time we had. This park had everything you could want.” – Lauri C.
Campground Details:
- Price: $16-35
- Number of sites: 216
- RV sites: Yes
- Fires allowed: Yes
- Pets allowed: Yes
6. Summit Lake State Park
Image from The Dyrt camper Rich K.
Summit Lake State Park has excellent wildlife and bird observation areas. Nature enthusiasts will love it here and enjoy hiking around the park. It’s possible to rent a boat for daily use and keep it at your campsite.
Overall, it’s a clean and well-maintained camp with potable water, toilets, showers, and a fishing dock. The Summit Lake State Park is a quiet and peaceful campground where you can fish, swim, and explore the various hiking trails around the lake.
“Great family campground. Nice playground nearby which my son loved.” – Becky E.
Campground Details:
- Price: $17-31
- Number of sites: 120
- RV sites: Yes
- Fires allowed: Yes
- Pets allowed: Yes
7. Mounds Campground
Image from The Dyrt camper Shelly S.
Mounds Campground has all the essential amenities and a nice playground for kids. In addition, it boasts a well-maintained swimming pool and many hiking trails. It’s an excellent campground for families with children.
There are naturalist-led walks on the weekend and a visitor center with animals that visitors can feed. Mounds Campground is the perfect getaway for a family seeking a quick break from Indianapolis.
“Great campground for families, lots of hiking trails, rocky beach for kids to play in the river, canoeing.” – Jaime B.
Campground Details:
- Price: $26-49
- Number of sites: 75
- RV sites: Yes
- Fires allowed: Yes
- Pets allowed: Yes
Many state parks in Indiana remain hidden gems for people from other parts of the country. There are beautiful hiking trails, rivers, canyons, and mountains to explore, and the parks are full of wildlife.
Choose one of the Indianapolis campings above for an experience that will immerse you in nature less than an hour from Indiana’s capital. For more information, view The Dyrt’s complete list of spots for camping in Indianapolis.
