Hardin Ridge Recreation Area Campground

As others have written the campsites are very beautiful. We stayed at #153 in the Pine loop. The pad was large and paved. The site also was large and included 30 amp electric, fire ring, picnic table, and a flat tent pad. The only negative for the site was the fire ring was completely above ground and stood about 2 feet tall--you had to almost peer over it to see and enjoy the fire. Most other sites did not have this type of ring.
Note: the Pine loop closes at noon 9/19/2022 for the season. The large Bluegill loop will remain open with sites available on a first-come, first served basis.

Beautiful forested setting! We stayed in Site 157 in the Pine section. Electric but no water hookup, however there was a water spigot across the road so no big deal. I wish we could stay more than one night, but guess we need to come back to explore.

My only complaint is that we had to pay for 2 nights even though only staying for one (Friday) night. That's not fair to someone who needs a site for a Saturday night. I really dislike the 2-night weekend rule!!

Firewood for sale @ $7 a bundle. Friendly check in people and camp hosts.

We were able to receive 20 TV channels on our air antenna.

Long winding road to get here but worth it!

Hardin Ridge is a hidden gem. Each loop is very separate from the other, spread out along a two mile road from the gate to Lake Monroe. The sites are spread out and offer 30 amp and a few have 50 amp service. Plenty of first come first serve sites in addition to reservable sites. The bathroom and showers and very clean. The team of campground hosts are extremely friendly and helpful.

I stayed here twice this month. It was so enjoyable the first time that I returned for an extended stay. I paid $17/ night for site with 30 amp and no water. I used my America the beautiful pass. Site 207 on the Holland Loop was very large and shady with lots of privacy and a vault toilet steps away. The entire campground was very clean and well maintained. Camphosts were friendly but not intrusive. Great hiking trails down to the lake. I rode my bike through all the loops and had a nice shady 8.5 mile ride. I stayed during the week and was the only camper in the loop.

The only negative was the shower. The spray lasted 3 seconds -Really,I counted! I found a work around that another camper told me about. I used the handicap shower and it worked great. Spray stayed on for 2.5 minutes-aaaah!

Our camping plans changed with hurricane Florence barreling toward the east coast so we ended up in the Hoosier National Forest Hardin Ridge campground. This is a very nice campground with newer shower houses/restrooms. Lots of space between sites and many of the sites are walk up. Camp hosts were very helpful and friendly. Situated on the largest lake in Indiana, (not counting Lake Michigan,) there was plenty to do here. We even took a day trip to Churchill Downs (about 2 hours away) to watch the horse races. This could be a favorite getaway only six hours from home. We will be back. FYI, our price was with 50% discount with our national parks pass, plus $7 for electric and $3 for water, so $20 per day.

Note, rate shown is for a Electric site. We paid $17 half-price + $7 for electric.

Hardin Ridge is a huge FS CG - over 200 sites on Lake Monroe. It’s a COE lake so nothing but a boat ramp is on the water. We are nestled in the trees. The water is down there somewhere, we just can not see it. I think we are the only ones in the CG. I know we are the only ones in our loop. Most sites have electric, a few have W&E. We have three hot bars of LTE and all the network stations. All this for $17 a night. Bloomington is 30 minutes away.

Not sure how access is rated. It's pretty far off the Interstate, so for those who want easy off/on, this would not be good for them.

Location, great for fishing, boating and relaxing. Nothing else if you are looking for that.

They have older and new bath houses. Our loop, Pine, has a new one. Great showers.

Most sites are gravel, some are paved.