Camping in Indiana

Every Indiana camping guide our team has shipped — campgrounds, free dispersed sites, RV parks, family picks, backcountry permits, and seasonal calls.

Published guides

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  When Is Camping Season in Indiana? Month-by-Month Reality

  A month-by-month honest look at Indiana camping season, from mud-boot April to leaf-peeper October to quiet winter woods.

  By Buck Tanner
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  Camping Near the Biggest City in Indiana — Under 90 Minutes

  Nine campgrounds and state forests within 90 minutes of Indianapolis, ranked by an honest van-lifer who's actually slept at most of them.

  By Riley Cobb
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  Mountain Camping in Indiana: Elevation Picks for Cool Nights

  Indiana doesn't have mountains, but the southern hills, ridges and ravines get you the closest thing — here's where to camp for cool nights.

  By Riley Cobb
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  Beach Camping in Indiana: What You Actually Get

  Straight talk on beach camping in Indiana — what the Dunes actually deliver, inland lake alternatives, and when to go without the crowds.

  By Buck Tanner
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  Indiana State Parks for Camping: The Ones Worth the Drive

  A 38-year park veteran's honest take on which Indiana state parks are actually worth the drive — Turkey Run, Brown County, the Dunes and more.

  By Buck Tanner
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  RV Campgrounds in Indiana: Hookups, Sites, Honest Reviews

  An honest, shoulder-season-biased look at Indiana's RV campgrounds — Hoosier National Forest, state parks, the Dunes, and which private parks earn the drive.

  By Wren Holloway
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  Pet-Friendly Camping in Indiana: Where Dogs Are Genuinely Welcome

  Real dog-friendly camping in Indiana — state parks, Hoosier NF, the Dunes beach rules, and which spots to skip. From a van-lifer who's done it.

  By Riley Cobb
• 
  Lake Camping in Indiana: 10 Sites With Real Water Access

  10 Indiana lake campgrounds with actual water access — from Monroe and Patoka to Chain O'Lakes — with honest picks, prices, and booking tips.

  By Riley Cobb
• 
  Free Dispersed Camping in Indiana: Where We Actually Pull In

  Where to actually pull in for free dispersed camping in Indiana — Hoosier National Forest, state forest primitive zones, and what to skip.

  By Buck Tanner
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  Family Camping in Indiana: Picks That Won't Drive You Nuts

  A considered roundup of Indiana family campgrounds — Brown County, McCormick's Creek, the Dunes, Turkey Run, Pokagon, and the Hoosier National Forest.

  By Wren Holloway
• Best Campgrounds in Indiana

  A considered roundup of Indiana's best campgrounds — from Hoosier National Forest to the Dunes — with history, geology, and shoulder-season honesty.

  By Wren Holloway
• 
  Backcountry Camping in Indiana: Permits, Routes, Bear Notes

  Straight talk on backcountry camping in Indiana — where to go, what permits you actually need, and why the raccoons are scarier than the bears.

  By Buck Tanner