As our days in Indiana continue to get nicer and brighter, many of us are heading outdoors to fully embrace nature. All Hoosiers know that one of the easiest ways to take a weekend road trip in-state without spending a lot of cash is to pack up your camping gear and find an awesome spot that offers tent camping in Indiana. 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. Pack the car and let’s go!

1. Pokagon State Park, Angola

Primitive Camping In Indiana
Pokagon State Park, Park Office:, 450 Ln 100 Lake James, Angola, IN 46703, USA
Greg Molina/Google
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.

2. Hardin Ridge Recreation Area, Heltonville

Hardin Ridge Recreation Area, 6464 Hardin Ridge Rd, Heltonville, IN 47436, USA
Bart Heird/Flickr
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.

3. Clifty Falls State Park, Madison

Clifty Falls State Park, 2221 Clifty Dr, Madison, IN 47250, USA
Gallopingphotog/Flickr
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)

4. Versailles State Park, Versailles

Versailles State Park, 1387 US-50, Versailles, IN 47042, USA
J. Stephen Conn/Flickr
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.

5. Potato Creek State Park, North Liberty

Potato Creek State Park, 25601 IN-4, North Liberty, IN 46554, USA
Kevin Chodzinski/Flickr
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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6. Indiana Dunes State Park, Chesterton

Indiana Dunes State Park, 1600 N 25 E, Chesterton, IN 46304, USA
Steve Stearns/Flickr
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.

7. Shades State Park, Waveland

Shades State Park, 7751 S 890 W, Waveland, IN 47989, USA
A. Smith/Google
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.

8. Monroe Lake, Bloomington

Monroe Lake, Clear Creek Township, IN 47401, USA
WFIU Public Radio/Flickr
Called Monroe Lake or Lake Monroe almost interchangeably, this Bloomington escape offers awesome campsites and professional nature tours.

9. Turkey Run State Park, Marshall

Primitive Camping In Indiana
Turkey Run State Park, 8121 Park Rd, Marshall, IN 47859, USA
Oxalis37/Flickr
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.

10. Brown County State Park, Nashville

Brown County State Park, 1801 IN-46, Nashville, IN 47448, USA
BellaEatsBooks/Flickr
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.

11. Patoka Lake, Dubois

Patoka Lake Regional Water and Sewer District, 2647 IN-545, Dubois, IN 47527, USA
By Sarah Ewart (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
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.

With so much natural beauty in the state, it isn’t difficult to find primitive camping in Indiana. Are you ready to explore any of these rustic camping spots in Indiana?

5 Secluded Indiana Campgrounds That Are Great For A Relaxing Getaway

Have you ever been camping at one of them before? Share your experience and let us know what your favorite place to go camping in Indiana!

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More to Explore

More Great Camping Spots In Indiana

Chris Muras | April 14, 2023

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.

What are some top destinations for glamping in Indiana? 

While we love primitive camping, we understand that some Hoosiers prefer a more luxurious stay, so here are some of the top destinations for glamping in Indiana:  

  • Sleeping Bear Retreat, French Lick
  • Indianapolis KOA Holiday, Greenfield
  • Mary Rose Herb Farm & Retreat, Bristow
  • Cabin On The Ridge, Madison
  • Yurt Glamping on the Tippecanoe, Monticello
  • Caboose Lake Yurt Glamping, Remington
  • Antler Log Cabins Vacation Rentals, Unionville
  • S&H Campground, Greenfield
  • Hardin Ridge Recreation Area, Heltonville

Want more? We recommend that you check out our previous article to discover some more destinations for glamping in Indiana.

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