Tipsaw Lake

Photo · Nancy Myers

Not publishedStatus

ReservableAccess

50Sites

102 ftMax rig

The place

The Tipsaw Lake Recreation Area is located on the shores of its namesake lake in south-central Indiana's Hoosier National Forest. It offers camping, picnic areas, boating, swimming, hiking, biking and educational programs. Visitors enjoy the scenic views of the forest and all it has to offer. Recreation Boating, fishing and swimming in the lake are popular activities. Electric motors are allowed, and fishing for pan fish is considered excellent. The boat ramp and parking area is open year-round. A beautiful swimming beach with playground equipment and a modern bathhouse is also available. Keep reading

The beach offers a combination of sand and sun or a shady, grass-covered hillside. A 5.9-mile trail for hiking and mountain biking runs from the day-use area around the lake. The trail includes scenic overlooks of the lake and valley and traverses a variety of forest types. A trail permit is available for purchase and is required for mountain bikers age 17 and older. Facilities The area offers dozens of individual, double and group campsites, available for tent and RV camping. Group sites can accommodate up to 65 people. Each site is equipped with tables and campfire rings with grills. Accessible flush toilets, showers and drinking water are provided. A beach area is fully accessible and is equipped with washing stations and changing rooms. Electric and water hookups are available at some sites and parking surfaces are paved. A day-use area is also available and provides access to the beach and picnic areas and shelters, as well as the boat ramp. Horseshoe pits and and open areas for games are nearby. Natural Features The campground is adjacent to 131-acre Tipsaw Lake, in a hardwood and pine forest. Situated at an elevation of 380 feet, the campground is composed of five loops that offer dozens of campsites. Some sites are shaded and the roads are paved. Nearby Attractions Special Places on the Hoosier National Forest Brooks Cabin Buffalo Trace Carnes Mill Site Clover Lick Barrens Hickory Ridge Lookout Tower Initial Point Lick Creek African American Settlement The Jacob Rickenbaugh Homestead Wesley Chapel Gulf

SRC · Recreation.gov RIDB full extract · 2026-08-23

The sites · 50

Loop	Site	Type	Max rig	Electric	ADA
CATB	001	rv electric	44 ft	50
CATB	002	rv electric	53 ft	50
CATB	003	rv electric	58 ft	50	yes
CATB	004	rv electric	102 ft	50
CATB	005	rv electric	50 ft	50
CATB	006	rv electric	55 ft	50	yes
CATB	007	rv electric	65 ft	50	yes
CATB	008	rv electric	54 ft	15
CATB	009	rv electric	72 ft	50
CATB	010	rv electric	49 ft	50
CATB	011	rv electric	70 ft	15 amp	yes
Dogwood	024	standard electric	35 ft	50
Dogwood	025	standard electric	35 ft	50
Dogwood	026	walk to	35 ft	—
Dogwood	027	walk to	35 ft	—
Dogwood	028	standard nonelectric	35 ft	—
Dogwood	029	standard nonelectric	35 ft	—
Dogwood	030	standard nonelectric	35 ft	—
Dogwood	031	standard nonelectric	35 ft	—
Dogwood	032	standard nonelectric	35 ft	—
Dogwood	033	standard nonelectric	35 ft	—
Dogwood	034	standard nonelectric	35 ft	—
Dogwood	035	standard nonelectric	25 ft	—
Dogwood	036	standard nonelectric	25 ft	—
Dogwood	037	standard nonelectric	35 ft	—
ESHL	GS1	group shelter electric	—	30
GGRP	GS4	group standard electric	35 ft	50
JackPine	001	standard electric	20 ft	15
JackPine	002	standard electric	40 ft	15
JackPine	003	standard electric	20 ft	15
JackPine	004	standard electric	40 ft	15
JackPine	005	management	20 ft	100
JackPine	006	rv electric	20 ft	15
JackPine	007	rv electric	20 ft	100
JackPine	008	rv electric	35 ft	15
JackPine	009	standard electric	20 ft	15
JackPine	010	standard electric	20 ft	15
JackPine	011	walk to	10 ft	15
JackPine	012	walk to	10 ft	15
JackPine	015	standard electric	35 ft	50
JackPine	016	standard electric	35 ft	50
JackPine	017	rv electric	35 ft	50
JackPine	018	standard electric	35 ft	50
JackPine	019	standard electric	35 ft	50
JackPine	020	standard electric	35 ft	50
JackPine	021	standard electric	35 ft	50
JackPine	022	standard electric	35 ft	50
JackPine	023	standard electric	35 ft	30
PGRP	GS5	group standard electric	35 ft	—
WEST	GS2	group shelter nonelectric	—	—

SRC · Recreation.gov RIDB full extract · 2026-08-23

Booking

183 daysBooking window before arrival

Recreation.gov default: most campsites can be booked six months prior to arrival date. Most campgrounds go on sale at 7am PT / 8am MT / 10am ET, but not always; check the facility Seasons and Fees tab. Some locations also offer shorter supplemental booking windows.

Book on recreation.gov

SRC · Rules verified against recreation.gov · 2026-08-24

Fees

Each campsite fee includes a camping unit (tent,camper) & one vehicle (single sites) and two vehicles (double sites). There is a$8.00 charge per day for the second vehicle, and $8.00 charge per day for any additional vehicle (must be paid at time of check-in). Maximum two vehicles per single site, and four vehicles per double site. There is a surcharge for the site with electric and water. Annual Boat/Day Use Pass: $50.00 each (sticker must be applied to the windshield of the registered vehicle) $30.00 each additional in the same household. May be used at Hardin Ridge, Indian-Celina and Tipsaw Recreation Areas.

SRC · Recreation.gov RIDB full extract · 2026-08-23

Your representative

This campground sits in IN-08. This member’s public-lands record →

SRC · U.S. Census TIGER · MTJP Scorecard