Campground

Tipsaw Lake

Hoosier National Forest · Bangor · Maine — managed by USDA Forest Service

Sites open now — checked live on Recreation.gov
Tipsaw Lake campground
Photo: Recreation.gov · Nancy Myers

Weekend availability at Tipsaw Lake

Live from Recreation.gov · checked Sep 19, 12:55 PM PT

Sold out 1 of the next 6 weekends — exactly when cancellation alerts earn their keep.

  • Fri, Sep 18
    Sold out
  • Fri, Sep 25
    Open
    32/42 sites
  • Fri, Oct 2
    Open
    36/42 sites
  • Fri, Oct 9
    Open
    37/42 sites
  • Fri, Oct 16
    Open
    38/42 sites
  • Fri, Oct 23
    Open
    40/42 sites

Friday + Saturday nights, sites bookable both nights. Counts come from a rotating sweep and can lag a cancellation by up to a day — alerts watch your exact dates within minutes.

How booked is Tipsaw Lake?

as of September 19

Sites are open right now — we found space out to Oct. That changes fast at a campground. We check Tipsaw Lake around the clock, so the moment your dates fill up and a cancellation reopens them, you'll be first to know. Weekdays still have room — for now.

Weekends (Saturday night)

Sep 26Open
Oct 3Open
Oct 17Open
Oct 24Open

Weekdays (Wednesday night)

Sep 23Open
Oct 7Open
Oct 21Open

Availability checked directly against the reservation system, out to 3 months ahead.

Campsites & amenities

Site-level details from Recreation.gov's official catalog.

Campsites
50
Electric sites
37
Water hookups
14
Sewer hookups
2
Pull-through
2
Group Shelter ElectricGroup Shelter No HookupGroup Standard ElectricRV ElectricStandard ElectricStandard No HookupWalk-In

About this campground

Overview 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. 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

Getting there

From St. Croix, Indiana, travel south on State Route 37 about 5 miles to the Tipsaw Lake sign. Turn right and continue about 3 miles to the campground. Tipsaw Lake is only 3 miles from Interstate 64.

Elevation
523 ft
Contact
812-843-4891

Activities

  • SWIMMING SITE
  • HUNTING
  • HIKING
  • FISHING
  • CAMPING
  • BOATING
  • BIKING

Nearby federal campgrounds

Never miss an opening at Tipsaw Lake

Popular Maine campgrounds book out months ahead — but cancellations happen every day. We watch Tipsaw Lake around the clock and alert you the moment a sold-out site reopens for your dates, so you don't have to keep refreshing Recreation.gov.

Not ready to subscribe? Get a free weekend heads-up.

We'll email you if Tipsaw Lake opens up for a weekend you pick. No account needed.

Details from Recreation.gov's official RIDB catalog. Conditions change — confirm with the managing office or on Recreation.gov before you go. Not affiliated with Recreation.gov or any federal agency.