Brown County State Park Camping: The Complete 2026 Indiana Guide

Brown County State Park camping puts you in the largest state park in Indiana, more than 15,000 acres of steep wooded ridges outside Nashville. People call these hills the "Little Smokies," and in October the color draws huge crowds. The park has more than 400 electric sites across three ridgetop campgrounds, plus group camps, cabins and a lodge.

This guide covers the Brown County State Park campgrounds, the campground map, reservations, cabins, trails and the horse camp closure you need to know about before you book.

Brown County State Park Camping: The Basics

• West Gate: 1405 S.R. 46 W, Nashville, IN 47448. All RVs and vehicles towing trailers must use this entrance.
• North Gate: 1801 S.R. 46 E. The covered bridge here has a 9-foot height limit and a 3-ton weight limit.
• Horsemen's Campground entrance: 4800 S.R. 135 S.
• Phone: 812-988-6406 (park office).
• Operator: Indiana DNR. Every vehicle pays a gate fee or shows an annual pass, and out-of-state plates pay more.

Directions: GPS doesn't always send you to the right gate, so enter the address above instead of the park name.

The Brown County State Park Campgrounds

Buffalo Ridge, Raccoon Ridge and Taylor Ridge

The 401 electric sites are split among Buffalo Ridge, Raccoon Ridge and Taylor Ridge, and 17 are wheelchair accessible. Each site has a picnic table, a fire ring and a parking spur, with drinking water nearby and modern restrooms and showers.

• Buffalo Ridge is the winter campground, with a heated bathhouse and a water fill station.
• Raccoon Ridge also holds all 28 non-electric sites, so it is the usual pick for tent camping at Brown County State Park.
• Taylor Ridge has Trail 9 starting near site 324, which is handy because that trailhead has no parking.

Rally Campground and Youth Tent Area

The Rally Campground has 60 sites in four rally camps for groups of five or more camping units. Rally 1 holds up to 150 campers, Rally 2 and 4 hold 75, and Rally 5 holds 50. The Youth Tent Area (Rally 3) is for nonprofit and public youth groups of 10 or more, up to 75 people. Both use shared pit toilets, with no showers.

Horsemen's Campground: Closed for 2027

Read this before you plan a riding trip. The park's listing on the state reservation site says all equestrian campsites close on November 9, 2026, through the entire 2027 season for a major electrical upgrade. We could only read this notice in part, so call the park at 812-988-6406 for the reopening date and for whether the horse trails stay open.

Normally the Horsemen's Campground has 118 electric and 86 primitive sites, each with a tie-up for six horses, next to about 70 miles of bridle trails. A tornado hit the campground in May 2025, and it has been in recovery since. None of the notices we found mention the Buffalo, Raccoon or Taylor Ridge campgrounds.

Horseback riding: the Saddle Barn offers guided trail rides. Call 812-988-8166 to check its schedule.

Brown County State Park Campground Map

Download the maps from the park's DNR page. There are separate maps for Buffalo Ridge/Raccoon Ridge, Raccoon Ridge electric, Taylor Ridge electric and the rally and youth tent areas. Check the site's driveway length before you book, and allow time for the hills if you tow. The Brown County State Park map shows the gates, lakes, shelters and trails.

Best campsites at Brown County State Park: pick Buffalo Ridge for winter trips, Raccoon Ridge for a tent site without hookups and Taylor Ridge if you want to walk to a rugged trail.

Campground Reservations and Dates

Book through the Indiana State Parks reservation system at camp.IN.gov, not Recreation.gov, as with our Turkey Run State Park guide. Family sites open up to 6 months ahead. Rally and youth sites must be booked at least a day before arrival. October weekends are the hardest to get, so book the day your date opens.

• Check-in and checkout: 2 p.m. Monday through Saturday, 5 p.m. on Sundays and holidays.
• Peak season: through November 8, 2026, then again from March 26 to November 7, 2027.
• Non-peak season: November 9, 2026 to March 25, 2027, with lower rates and fewer services.
• Rates: these vary by site and season, so check the reservation site for your dates.

Is Brown County State Park Open? Winter and Closures

The campgrounds stay open all year, and reservations are accepted year-round. In winter, Buffalo Ridge keeps its heated bathhouse, and Raccoon Ridge offers 20-amp electric and non-electric sites. The camp store (812-988-5991) is closed from November through March. See our winter camping guide before a cold trip.

Deer hunts close the park. DNR's calendar lists the park as closed to the public from 8 p.m. November 15 to 8 a.m. November 18, and from 8 p.m. November 29 to 8 a.m. December 2. Call the park if you have a booking on those dates.

Brown County State Park Cabins and Lodge

Abe Martin Lodge is the place to stay inside the park. It has motel rooms, dining and an indoor water park. Cabins book through the lodge, not the camping system.

• Family cabins: 20 two-story cabins with full kitchens that sleep up to 8, open all year.
• Cabin suites: 12 suites with two queen beds, open all year.
• Rustic cabin rooms: sleeping cabins dating from 1932, open April 1 through October 31.

Hotels near Brown County State Park: the town of Nashville, just outside the gates, has inns and rentals.

Trails, Lakes and Things to Do

The park has more than 18 miles of hiking trails, and the numbers match the trail map.

• Trail 2 (CCC Trail): 2 miles past stone bridges and the Lower Shelter House.
• Trail 7 (Ogle Lake): a moderate 1.5-mile loop.
• Trail 8 (HHC Trail): a 3.5-mile loop from the West Lookout Tower, past Tulip Tree Shelter.
• Trail 9 (Taylor Ridge): 3 rugged miles from the campground.
• Trail 10 (Fire Tower): 2.2 rugged miles, starting near the Park Office.

Mountain biking: the park has 30-plus miles of singletrack, and riders need an Off-Road Cycling permit for anything above beginner level. The main trailhead is south of the pool.

Lakes and pool: Ogle Lake (17 acres) and Strahl Lake (7 acres) are for fishing, not swimming. The outdoor pool runs from the Saturday before Memorial Day through Labor Day at the latest.

Nature center: it has exhibits and naturalist programs all year. For fall colors, stop at Hesitation Point. Weather swings quickly on the ridges, so pack for cold nights from October on.

Recommended Gear

• Coleman Sundome Camping Tent: an easy, weatherproof tent for a ridge site. See how to set up a tent.
• Teton Celsius Sleeping Bag: for cold nights in leaf season. See how to stay warm camping.
• Black Diamond Spot 400-R Headlamp: for dark loops and early trail starts.

Use our camping checklist for the rest, and buy firewood locally for your campfire.

More Indiana Camping

For canyon hiking, try Turkey Run State Park. For Lake Michigan beaches, see Indiana Dunes National Park camping. For more options in the state, see our White River Campground guide and our family-friendly campgrounds list.