As a survival prepper in Indiana, I know the importance of finding the right camping spots. Not just any campsite will do when you’re preparing for an emergency, wilderness survival situation, or just getting away to practice your skills in the wild. Indiana’s diverse landscape—from rolling hills and dense forests to clear rivers and lakes—offers countless opportunities for training, prepping, and getting that much-needed escape from the hustle and bustle of daily life.

Whether you’re prepping for a natural disaster, TEOTWAWKI (The End of The World As We Know It), or just learning new skills for your survival toolkit, finding the right places to camp is critical. The right site can provide solitude, resources, and perfect opportunities for training your skills, honing your wilderness survival techniques, and perfecting your bug-out strategy.

The following list of Indiana’s top 30 campsites isn’t just about packing up and getting some fresh air. It’s about honing your survival skills, getting accustomed to your gear, and testing your mental and physical toughness in a variety of environments that Indiana has to offer. From dense woods to riverside sites, these campsites are ideal for preppers who want to stay connected with nature and prepared for any situation.

1. Brown County State Park

Located in the heart of Indiana, Brown County is the largest state park in Indiana. With over 15,000 acres of forested hills, it’s an ideal spot for practicing bushcraft, setting up your tent, and testing your fire-starting skills. You’ll also find numerous hiking trails and potential natural resources to test your survival instincts.

2. Hoosier National Forest

Stretching across 202,000 acres, the Hoosier National Forest offers many opportunities to practice wilderness survival. There are several primitive campsites scattered throughout the forest, perfect for honing your skills in shelter building, navigation, and resource management.

3. Indiana Dunes State Park

If you’re interested in practicing survival near water, the Indiana Dunes State Park is one of the best locations. Its proximity to Lake Michigan offers unique challenges, such as managing coastal winds and understanding waterborne survival tactics. You’ll also find sand dunes and varied terrain to test your wilderness adaptability.

4. Shakamak State Park

This park is a great location for preppers who want to combine lake survival with forested terrain. Its three large lakes are excellent for testing your fishing, water purification, and boat navigation skills.

5. Morgan-Monroe State Forest

Morgan-Monroe State Forest is perfect for preppers seeking solitude. With dense woods and plenty of wildlife, it’s a prime spot to practice camouflage, trapping, and observation skills.

6. Raccoon Lake State Recreation Area

This area offers water access, which makes it ideal for practicing water purification and fishing. The surrounding forests also provide opportunities to work on shelter building and fire making.

7. Tippecanoe River State Park

Tippecanoe River is perfect for preppers who want to focus on water navigation and survival. With campsites along the river, you’ll be able to practice boat-based survival, fishing, and living off the land.

8. Cataract Falls

This is the perfect spot if you’re training in both water survival and bushcraft. The nearby falls offer a chance to practice water filtration techniques, while the woods give you a place to focus on shelter-building and finding edible plants.

9. Charles C. Deam Wilderness

This 13,000-acre wilderness area offers a true challenge to survivalists. With rugged terrain and dense forest, it’s a place where you can really push your limits when it comes to navigation, fire-making, and food sourcing.

10. Pokagon State Park

If you’re a prepper focused on winter survival, Pokagon is ideal. With its sledding hills and deep woods, you can practice fire-starting in cold weather and test your cold-weather camping gear in real-world conditions.

11. Spring Mill State Park

This state park offers a range of natural features that will test your prepper skills, from cave systems for exploring to rugged terrain and ample wildlife for hunting and trapping practice.

12. Versailles State Park

With its dense woodlands and large lake, Versailles is great for water survival and bushcraft practice. If you’re prepping for a natural disaster, this is an excellent place to practice emergency shelter-building and water purification.

13. Yellowwood State Forest

This is a secluded and serene place, perfect for honing wilderness survival techniques. With limited development, it’s a great spot to practice skills like fire building, finding shelter, and foraging.

14. Turkey Run State Park

Known for its stunning canyons and rock formations, this park offers an opportunity to practice rock climbing, navigating uneven terrain, and testing your mental toughness.

15. Clifty Falls State Park

This park provides rugged, forested terrain where you can practice shelter-building and navigate the more challenging sections of the park. The waterfalls are a good opportunity for water purification and filtering practice.

16. Lake Monroe

Located near Bloomington, Lake Monroe offers great spots for fishing and kayaking, making it a perfect spot to practice water navigation and aquatic survival. The surrounding forest provides ample space for bushcraft training.

17. O’Bannon Woods State Park

Perfect for practicing survival skills, O’Bannon Woods offers primitive campsites and miles of trails. There are also several caves in the area, great for exploring and learning about sheltering in natural formations.

18. Deer Creek Wildlife Management Area

With a variety of ecosystems, including wetlands and forests, this location is great for practicing both survival and wildlife tracking. It offers limited amenities, allowing for an authentic prepper experience.

19. Laurel Ridge

A great spot to work on both navigation and survival, Laurel Ridge offers rugged terrain and steep trails, providing a perfect challenge for any prepper looking to test their hiking endurance.

20. Patoka Lake

This lake provides a good balance of water survival skills and forest-based training. Practice fishing, boating, and shelter-building while being surrounded by rich natural resources.

21. Ferdinand State Forest

Perfect for advanced preppers, this state forest offers a variety of terrains for shelter-building and fire-starting, while also allowing for wildlife tracking and even hunting opportunities.

22. Chain O’ Lakes State Park

Chain O’ Lakes offers a unique experience for water-focused preppers, with its many interconnected lakes. It’s ideal for waterborne survival tactics and camping off the beaten path.

23. Hickory Ridge Campground

Located in Brown County, this site provides a quiet, secluded area for preppers to practice solo survival techniques and hone basic skills like fire-building, foraging, and fishing.

24. Redbird State Recreation Area

A well-known spot for off-roading, this area also provides many trails for hiking and testing your survival skills in dense woods, perfect for testing your navigation and tracking abilities.

25. Pine Hills Nature Preserve

Known for its rugged topography, Pine Hills is great for practicing extreme wilderness survival. With rocky cliffs and thick forests, this is the place to test your endurance and self-reliance.

26. Ridgeway State Forest

For preppers looking for seclusion, Ridgeway offers just that. The forest is perfect for practicing advanced survival techniques like shelter-building in harsh environments and finding food in less hospitable places.

27. Salamonie River State Forest

Another great river-based location, this area allows you to practice survival techniques related to water access, purification, and shelter building in varied terrain.

28. Twelve Mile Creek Park

Located in the western part of Indiana, this park is a great place for primitive camping and prepping. The dense woods and creek access offer great resources for prepping practice.

29. Kankakee River State Park

Kankakee River offers a chance to practice survival in wetland and water-heavy environments. The river is an ideal location for fishing, water purification, and testing the effectiveness of your survival gear in damp conditions.

30. Hickory Run State Park

For the ultimate prepper experience, Hickory Run offers dense forests and pristine lakes. It’s the ideal location for testing your wilderness survival knowledge, whether it’s winter camping or heat endurance.

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Indiana’s campgrounds aren’t just for weekend getaways—they’re practical training grounds for any prepper worth their salt. Whether you’re building a bug-out bag, practicing water filtration, or learning how to identify local flora and fauna, these campsites give you the real-world practice you need to be ready for anything.