Mounds State Park RV & Campground Guide
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Mounds State Park is a unique state park found in Madison County, Indiana. This park features 10 ceremonial earthworks that were built by prehistoric natives known as the Adena people. Centuries after they were constructed, they were used by the Hopewell people, who are thought to possibly be the ancestors of the modern Chippewa, Delaware, Kickapoo, Miami, Ottawa, Peoria, Potawatomi, Seneca, Shawnee, and Wyandot people. At Mounds State Park, four of the original mounds are on display for the public to explore.
The Great Mound is the largest of the earthworks at this state park, and it measures 390 feet across. Other mounds at the park include Fiddle Back Mound and Circle Mound, all of which can be accessed from the paved hiking trails and roads. The park also has a Nature Center that features a wildlife viewing room, interactive displays, and live animals.
Nearby Cities:
Anderson, IN
Chesterfield, IN
Daleville, IN
Bloomer, IN
Spring 32-49 F
Summer 64-84 F
Fall 44-64 F
Winter 18-33 F
RV Resorts & Campsites in Mounds State Park
Campground Accommodations
Mounds State Park Campground
Water hookup: No
Electrical hookup: Yes
Sewer hookup: No
Wi-Fi: No
Pet-friendly: Yes
Max RV length: 66 feet
Other amenities: Fire rings, picnic tables, dump station, restrooms, showers, firewood
Mounds State Park Campground
With 75 campsites, the Mounds State Park Campground is a relaxing, family-friendly escape. All sites have electricity and welcome pets. If you're driving a big rig, book well in advance to reserve one of the pull-through sites; all others are back-in. A dump station and bathrooms make your stay more comfortable, and water is easily accessible from every site. Nightly rates range from $23-$33.
Anderson / Muncie KOA Holiday
Fall asleep to the sound of the White River at Anderson / Muncie KOA Holiday. With a mile of shoreline, this spot is a lovely place to relax after a day at Mounds State Park. You can choose from a wide range of full hookup sites, and with back-in and pull-through options in a range of sizes, there's a site for every RV. From your site, it's an easy walk to the bathhouse, which offers modern restrooms and hot showers. Take advantage of the pet walking area, playground, activities field, the clubhouse, or try your luck in the small catch-and-release fishing lake. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the park. Rates vary by date, site, and RV, but you can expect to pay at least $50 per night.
Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park
If you're traveling with little ones, make your trip more magical with a booking at Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park. It's located 20 miles from Mounds State Park, but the amenities are well worth the drive. The park is packed with kid-friendly activities, including a jump pad, ball pit, basketball, paddle boats, aqua cycles, go-carts, and gem mining. Check the park's schedule for themed weekends, foam parties, arts and crafts, bingo, and dancing. Full hookup sites are available, each with access to free Wi-Fi. Rates start at $40 per night.
What to Do at
Mounds State Park
While the highlight of Mounds State Park is the historic earthworks, there are other opportunities for hiking in wooded areas and fishing in the White River. Ranger-led events occur at the park frequently too, and past events have included guided stargazing, bird walks, and guided tours of the park’s mounds. Picnic sites are also found at the park, and there are two large picnic pavilions that can be rented for group events.
Inside Mounds State Park
Mounds State Park offers a wide range of activities within its 250 acres. Start your visit in the Nature Center, where excellent exhibits and naturalist programs introduce you to the cultures and wildlife that have made their homes in the area. From there, set out on six different hiking trails to check out the mounds and enjoy the scenic, forested landscape. The longest trail is #5, which runs for 2.5 miles through the forests and alongside the White River. Near your campsite, you can also fish in the river, swim in the pool, and check out the historic Bronnenberg Home. While you're there, make sure to explore the site of the amusement park that operated in the early 1900s.
Fishing
Visitors to this state park can go fishing in White River, and there is a fishing site located outside of the campground. The fishing site features a parking lot, and it can be accessed from the main road or from Trail 6, which connects the campground to the river area. Fish species you may catch in the river include smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, channel catfish, flathead catfish, carp, crappie, and bluegill.
Geocaching
Rangers at Mounds State Park frequently place geocaches around the park for visitors to find, and all can be discovered with GPS coordination technology. Most geocaches are found along the hiking trails, and additional geocaches may be placed by private users and shared on the official geocache website for the park.
Nature Watching
Bird watching is popular at Mounds State Park, and visitors can use the wildlife viewing area at the Nature Center to see local bird species, which include American robins, Carolina wrens, house sparrows, red-headed woodpeckers, barred owls, northern cardinals, indigo buntings, and white-throated sparrows.
Hiking
There are six numbered hiking trails at this state park, including the easy one-mile paved trail that features four of the park’s earthworks. Also along this trail are the 20 most common trees of Indiana, all marked for visitors to identify. Other trails at the park range from moderate to rugged in difficulty and weave through valleys and forests.
Biking
Biking is permitted on the paved roads at Mounds State Park though not on any of the hiking trails. Bikers can also access the fishing area on White River.
How to Get to
Mounds State Park
Mounds State Park can be easily accessed from the north and south via I-69 and the west or east via Indiana State Roads 67 or 32. To reach the park from Indianapolis, take I-70 East to exit 89 for I-465 North. Once on I-465, travel eight miles, then keep right to continue onto I-69 North. Continue 25 miles, then take exit 226 for South Scatterfield Road. From there, turn right onto East 53rd Street, left onto South Rangeline Road, and then a sharp left onto East 100 South. Turn right immediately onto Mounds Road, then continue for a half mile before you can turn left into the park entrance.
Entering Mounds State Park
There is a fee of $9 per adult and $7 per child to enter the park daily. For those who enter the park as a pedestrian, the fee is $2 per person over the age of five. Inside the park, there are day-use parking areas found at the Nature Center and at the picnic areas with no additional fee.
Mounds State Park Per Adult : $9.0
Mounds State Park Per Child : $7.0
At Mounds State Park, visitors can learn about the park’s intriguing history, which ranges from the age of the prehistoric Adena people who built the park’s earthworks to the park’s time as an amusement park in the early 1900s. Visitors can also join 400,000 other annual visitors at the Nature Center and on the scenic hiking trails.
Frequently Asked Questions About Mounds State Park
While the campground at Mounds State Park is open year-round, visitors may enjoy hiking at the park most in the late spring, summer, and early fall when the weather is comfortable. During most summer weekends, the historic Bronnenberg House at the park may also be open for guided tours.
There are a number of native species found along the trails at Mounds State Park, including the American toad, common garter snake, spiny softshell, and many species of squirrels. Birds of the park may include the red-headed woodpecker, barred owl, mourning dove, Baltimore oriole, house sparrow, and Carolina chickadee.
There are 72 campsites at Mounds State Park that can accommodate most RVs between 40 and 66 feet long. These sites also each offer electrical hookups with 50-amp power capabilities.
Campers are encouraged to reserve a campsite at Mounds State Park prior to their stay to ensure a space is available. Reservations can be made online through Reserve America.
Pets are allowed at Mounds State Park, but they are not permitted inside any of the buildings at the park or its campground. Pets must be monitored at all times and be kept on a six-foot leash, and pet owners are expected to pick up after their animals.