Free Camping in Indiana

76 sites across 5 federal and state land agencies. 0 sites have full agency-grounded write-ups; the rest are in the indexing queue.

National Park Service sites

9 sites. National Park Service camping rules →

  • Central Avenue Walk-in Sites
    Developed· Indexing
  • Dunewood Campground
    Developed· Indexing
  • George Rogers Clark National Historical Park
    Developed· Indexing
  • Indiana Dunes National Park
    Developed· Indexing
  • Indiana Dunes National Park Programs and Tours
    Developed· Indexing
  • Indiana Dunes Visitor Center (Dorothy Buell Memorial Visitor Center)
    Developed· Indexing
  • Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial
    Developed· Indexing
  • Memorial Visitor Center
    Developed· Indexing
  • Paul H. Douglas Center for Environmental Education
    Developed· Indexing

PRIVATE sites

41 sites. PRIVATE camping rules →

  • Acorn Oaks Campground
    Developed· Indexing
  • Bear Lake Camp
    Developed· Indexing
  • Big Fish-N-Campground
    Developed· Indexing
  • Big Fish-N-Campground
    Developed· Indexing
  • Camp Ray Bird
    Developed· Indexing
  • Camp To-Pe-Ne-Bee
    Developed· Indexing
  • Camp Wabashi
    Developed· Indexing
  • Campground No.2
    Developed· Indexing
  • Campground No.5
    Developed· Indexing
  • Campsite 19
    Dispersed· Indexing
  • Cornerstone Retreat Family Campground
    Developed· Indexing
  • Deer Ridge Camping Resort
    Developed· Indexing
  • Family Campground
    Developed· Indexing
  • Group Camp
    Developed· Indexing
  • Heritage Hills Campground
    Developed· Indexing
  • Hickory Hills Campground
    Developed· Indexing
  • Hickory Ridge Horse Camp
    Developed· Indexing
  • Hidden Creek Campground
    Developed· Indexing
  • Indiana Beach Campground
    Developed· Indexing
  • Indiana Dunes State Park Campground
    Developed· Indexing
  • Izaak Walton League (Peru)
    Dispersed· Indexing
  • Jameson Camp
    Developed· Indexing
  • JT's Lakeside Campground
    Developed· Indexing
  • La Porte County Fairgrounds Campground
    Developed· Indexing
17 more PRIVATE sites in Indiana.

US Army Corps of Engineers sites

13 sites. US Army Corps of Engineers camping rules →

  • Brookville Lake
    Developed· Indexing
  • Cagles Mill Lake
    Developed· Indexing
  • Cecil M. Harden Lake
    Developed· Indexing
  • J. Edward Roush Lake
    Developed· Indexing
  • Mississinewa Lake
    Developed· Indexing
  • Ohio River - Cannelton Pool
    Developed· Indexing
  • Ohio River - John T. Myers Lock and Dam
    Developed· Indexing
  • Ohio River - Newburgh Pool
    Developed· Indexing
  • OVERLOOK SHELTER (BROOKVILLE LAKE)
    Developed· Indexing
  • Patoka Lake
    Developed· Indexing
  • Salamonie Lake
    Developed· Indexing
  • TAILWATER SHELTER 1 (BROOKVILLE LAKE)
    Developed· Indexing
  • TAILWATER SHELTER 2 (BROOKVILLE LAKE)
    Developed· Indexing

US Forest Service sites

10 sites. US Forest Service camping rules →

  • Blackwell Campground
    Developed· Indexing
  • Buzzard Roost Campground
    Developed· Indexing
  • HARDIN RIDGE
    Developed· Indexing
  • Hickory Ridge Campground
    Developed· Indexing
  • Hoosier National Forest
    Developed· Indexing
  • Hoosier National Forest - Horse and Bike Trails
    Developed· Indexing
  • INDIAN CELINA LAKE
    Developed· Indexing
  • Saddle Lake Campground
    Developed· Indexing
  • Shirley Creek Campground
    Developed· Indexing
  • Youngs Creek Campground
    Developed· Indexing

US Fish and Wildlife Service sites

3 sites. US Fish and Wildlife Service camping rules →

  • Big Oaks National Wildlife Refuge
    Developed· Indexing
  • Muscatatuck National Wildlife Refuge
    Developed· Indexing
  • Patoka River National Wildlife Refuge and Management Area
    Developed· Indexing

Common questions about camping in Indiana

How long can you camp on public land in Indiana?
The federal limit on BLM and USFS land in Indiana is 14 days within any 28-day period at one camp area, then a 25-mile move. Source: 43 CFR §8365.1-2 for BLM and 36 CFR §261.10 for USFS. NPS sites in Indiana have separate per-park limits, usually set by the park superintendent's compendium. Always check the local field office before relying on the rule for any specific site.
Are there fire restrictions in Indiana right now?
Fire restrictions in Indiana change weekly during fire season. Check the BLM Indiana state office page and the USFS Indiana forest pages for the current Stage I, II, or III restrictions before lighting any fire. Stage I usually means no open fires outside developed grates. Stage II usually means no fires anywhere on the unit, including stoves outside developed sites. Carry a backup stove and a check-in plan.
What's the difference between dispersed and developed camping in Indiana?
Dispersed camping in Indiana means primitive, no fee, no facilities. You pull off a public-land road and camp where established disturbance already exists. Developed camping means a designated campground with a host, vault toilet, fire ring, picnic table, and usually a nightly fee through Recreation.gov. USFS national forests in Indiana allow dispersed camping along MVUM-marked roads. Per 36 CFR §261.13 and the Travel Management Rule.
Can you run a generator at public-land campsites in Indiana?
Generators are generally allowed at developed campgrounds in Indiana with quiet hours, usually 8pm to 8am. The exact window varies by site and is posted at each campground or in the host's contract. On dispersed land, the federal noise rules and Leave No Trace ethics apply: do not run a generator within 200 feet of water or after dark. Some NPS units in Indiana prohibit generators entirely; check the park's compendium first.
Are dogs allowed at public-land campsites in Indiana?
Dogs are generally allowed on BLM and USFS public-land sites in Indiana when leashed, with the same Leave No Trace ethics that apply to humans: pack out waste, keep your dog on a 6-foot leash or under voice control, do not let them chase wildlife. NPS units in Indiana are stricter; dogs are typically barred from trails and backcountry, allowed only in developed campgrounds and on paved roads. Always check the specific unit's rules before driving in. State park rules vary too.
Can you camp on public lands in Indiana in winter?
Winter access in Indiana depends on the unit. Many BLM dispersed sites and USFS forest roads stay open year-round when conditions allow but become snowed-in or gated above certain elevations. Developed campgrounds usually close from mid-October to mid-April. NPS units in Indiana often shift to limited winter operations with reduced services. Check the agency office or Recreation.gov for current road status and gate closure dates. Carry chains and emergency supplies in shoulder season.
Where can you dump RV waste on public lands in Indiana?
Most dispersed and primitive sites in Indiana do not have dump stations. You need to plan a stop at a developed campground (USFS, BOR, USACE, or NPS) with a dump station, or a paid commercial dump at a Pilot/Flying J or KOA on your route. Recreation.gov lists which federal campgrounds have dump stations. Never dump on dispersed land; it is a federal violation under 36 CFR §261.11 and 43 CFR §8365.1-1. Sites that have a dump station show it in the Boondock site page.
What's cell coverage like at public-land campsites in Indiana?
Coverage in Indiana varies sharply by carrier and site elevation. Carriers' coverage maps are aspirational; the FCC National Broadband Map is more honest but still self-reported. For remote Indiana sites you should expect no signal on Verizon and T-Mobile at most BLM dispersed land and on dry-side USFS roads. AT&T tends to drop in canyons. The Boondock site page shows coverage data when we have it; absent that, assume no signal and tell someone your plan before you go.

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