Our Favorites (and Why)
There are a lot of campground lists out there. This one is different because we hear back from our renters about where they went and what they thought. After a couple hundred rentals, here's what keeps coming up.
McCormick's Creek State Park
About an hour southwest of Indy. Probably the most popular destination for our renters. The sites are well-maintained, there's a great waterfall hike right from the campground, and the canyon trail is genuinely impressive for Indiana. If you're new to camping or bringing kids, start here.
Pro tip: Book sites 200-220 if you can. They back up to the woods and feel more private than the rest.
Turkey Run State Park
About 75 minutes west. This is where you go when you want to feel like you left Indiana entirely. The sandstone gorges and creek crossings on Trail 3 are legitimately beautiful. The campground itself is solid — not fancy, but clean and well-shaded.
Heads up: Trail 3 involves ladders and scrambling. Not great for little kids or anyone with mobility issues. Trails 1 and 2 are way more chill.
Brown County State Park
The "Little Smokies" thing is a bit oversold, but Brown County is genuinely pretty, especially in October. The campground is huge, which means you can almost always get a site, but it also means it can feel a bit crowded on peak weekends.
Nashville (the town, not Tennessee) is a 10-minute drive and has solid food options. Not a bad rainy-day backup plan.
Prophetstown State Park
This one flies under the radar. It's near Lafayette, about an hour and a half northwest. Newer campground, so everything is in great shape. The aquatic center is a huge hit with families. If you're looking for something a little less "rustic" and more "relaxed weekend," Prophetstown is your spot.
Raccoon Lake (Cecil M. Harden)
Great for fishing and kayaking. The campground wraps around the lake and most sites have decent water views. It's quieter than the state parks and rarely fully booked outside of holiday weekends. About an hour west of Indy.
A Few Tips Before You Go
Indiana state park campgrounds fill up fast for summer weekends. If you're planning a Friday-Saturday in June, July, or August, book your site the day reservations open (typically 6 months out). Midweek trips are way easier to snag.
Also — check the DNR website for any burn bans before you go. Nothing worse than showing up ready for s'mores and finding out campfires are prohibited.
