Primitive Camping In Indiana: 11 Best Dispersed Campgrounds
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Courtney Johnston
Author
As our days in Indiana continue to get nicer and brighter, many Hoosiers are heading outdoors to fully embrace the outdoors. All Hoosiers know that one of the easiest ways to take a weekend trip in-state without spending a lot of cash is to pack up your camping gear and find an awesome spot to camp out. If you’re ready for camping season, check out these 11 amazing spots to pitch your tent for some of the best primitive camping in Indiana.
Pokagon State Park, Park Office:, 450 Ln 100 Lake James, Angola, IN 46703, USA
This campsite has everything you could ever want while hanging out outdoors. From the beaches of Snow Lake and Lake James to water fun like paddleboats, rowboats, and pontoons, to thrilling trails and horseback rides, Pokagon State Park has it all.
Let's hop in the car and take a virtual drive to Pokagon State Park with the Traveling Buckeyes as they check out this cool campground in Indiana:
Let's hop in the car and take a virtual drive to Pokagon State Park with the Traveling Buckeyes as they check out this cool campground in Indiana:
Hardin Ridge Recreation Area, 6464 Hardin Ridge Rd, Heltonville, IN 47436, USA
This Hoosier favorite is a beloved campsite for many good reasons. Located within Hoosier National Forest, the ridgelines that surround this campsite make it appear as if you're really camping in the mountains, and not the flatlands of Indiana. Hardin Ridge also offers activities like nature walks, boating, and swimming, and has awesome picnic areas.
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Clifty Falls State Park, 2221 Clifty Dr, Madison, IN 47250, USA
Clifty Falls State Park in Madison is another fantastic camping option. With a waterfall to explore and fantastic hiking trails, this park will grant you the unique opportunity to view waterbeds of fossils and remnants. (Fossil collecting, however, is prohibited)
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Versailles State Park, 1387 US-50, Versailles, IN 47042, USA
Versailles State Park is an awesome spot to fish and camp out at. There are tons of water activities to enjoy, like kayaking, canoeing, or rowing, and you can even bring your own horses to roam their 20-mile horse trails. Pack up your gear and discover a great spot for dispersed camping in IN. Versailles is also a fantastic place to bird watch.
Potato Creek State Park, 25601 IN-4, North Liberty, IN 46554, USA
Potato Creek is an extremely popular camping spot, so much in fact, that you might want to call ahead to reserve your campsite. Once there, you can enjoy Worster Lake, explore wetlands, take in wildlife and nature, and enjoy a ton of water activities.
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Indiana Dunes State Park, 1600 N 25 E, Chesterton, IN 46304, USA
If you're looking for more sand and less grass, Indiana Dunes State Park will offer you expansive beaches, dunes, and a variety of water activities during your camp stay.
Indiana Dunes State Park is a unique site with beautiful flowing sand dunes. Join Loving Life Hitched Up as they review the campground and the sandy beach:
Indiana Dunes State Park is a unique site with beautiful flowing sand dunes. Join Loving Life Hitched Up as they review the campground and the sandy beach:
Shades State Park, 7751 S 890 W, Waveland, IN 47989, USA
Shades State Park offers campers a slightly more reclusive and peaceful camping stay. You can enjoy exploring deep ravines and sandstone cliffs along Sugar Creek, as well as long, peaceful hiking trails.
Monroe Lake, Clear Creek Township, IN 47401, USA
Called Monroe Lake or Lake Monroe almost interchangeably, this Bloomington escape offers awesome campsites and professional nature tours.
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Turkey Run State Park, 8121 Park Rd, Marshall, IN 47859, USA
If you love exploration, you'll want to camp out at Turkey Run State Park. The natural ravines, limestone deposits, and gorges make this park a fantastic choice for photographers and explorers.
Brown County State Park, 1801 IN-46, Nashville, IN 47448, USA
Brown County State Park is a top choice for campers, particularly lovers of nature and wildlife. Enjoy fantastic biking and walking trails, an indoor water park, and horse riding trails.
Patoka Lake Regional Water and Sewer District, 2647 IN-545, Dubois, IN 47527, USA
Patoka Lake has a gorgeous marina and water amenities galore for campers. Their campgrounds also have cabin rentals, in case sleeping in a tent is a bit too rustic for you.
Explore Patoka Lake in southern Indiana with LAF Filmfest as he checks out the campground, walks the shoreline, and explores the area in this video:
Explore Patoka Lake in southern Indiana with LAF Filmfest as he checks out the campground, walks the shoreline, and explores the area in this video:
With so much natural beauty in the state, it isn’t difficult to find primitive camping in Indiana. Are you ready to go explore any of these rustic camping spots in Indiana? Have you ever been camping at one of them before? Share your experience and let us know what your favorite campsite is!
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More to Explore
More great camping spots in Indiana
What are some of the best Indiana campgrounds?
Whether your idea of enjoying the outdoors is in a luxury RV or maybe even rugged dispersed camping, Indiana can deliver. Here are a few of the best camping spots in Indiana for your next weekend getaway:
- Dunewood Campground, Beverly Shores, IN: The Indiana Dunes National Park is a lushly forested park with wildlife everywhere you turn. And it has one of the best campgrounds at an affordable rate. Enjoy magnificent views of Lake Michigan along 15 miles of coastline and 50 miles of hiking trails.
- Tipsaw Lake, St. Croix, IN: Inside the Hoosier National Forest, this campground offers nice shady spots surrounded by lush tall trees. If you enjoy tent camping, this park is for you. Swim in Tipsaw Lake, enjoy a little boating or kayaking, and of course, the fishing is great too.
- Twin Mills RV Resort, Shipshewana, IN: If you enjoy a little extra entertainment and family fun, head to this RV park. Not only is the lake a stunning sight as the sun sets and the beach is hopping during the daytime, but you have a swimming pool to splash around at any time you want. Add to that the hiking trails, bike trails, basketball, and volleyball courts, bocce ball area, and even an onsite laundry — it's pure bliss.
- Hidden Paradise Campground, St Paul, IN: Hidden Paradise Quarry is a cool former rock quarry turned man-made lake and this campground is a hidden gem in Indiana for camping adventures. There is even a special area devoted to scuba diving with underwater treasures to explore — you don't see that in many campgrounds. Then, you have the water park with inflatable trampolines and obstacle courses. There is so much more than just toasted marshmallows at this campground.