Tipsaw Lake
Hoosier National Forest — lakeside, fishing, hiking
Location: Bangor, IN, IN
Price: From $24 per night
Price range: $24–$80 per night
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 (136 reviews)
Season: Year-round
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.The area offers dozens of individual, double and group campsites, available for tent and RV camping.
Cell coverage (FCC estimate): weak signal. Actual signal may vary in remote areas. Best carrier: Verizon. Verizon 4G: 100%. AT&T 4G: 0%. T-Mobile 4G: 0%.
Amenities: Fire Rings, Picnic Tables, Flush Toilets, Drinking Water, Showers, Electric Hookups, Fishing, Boat Launch
Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/tipsaw-lake to be notified when sites open up.
Tipsaw Lake offers scenic camping on the shores of its namesake lake in Hoosier National Forest with excellent fishing for pan fish, boating with electric motors allowed, and a 4.5/5 rating from 84 Google reviews praising clean facilities and a remote yet accessible setting.
Wildlife alert: Eastern Towhee, Belted Kingfisher, Wood Thrush, Acadian Flycatcher, Eastern Milksnake, Rough Greensnake, and Eastern Box Turtle documented in the area.
Insider tips for Tipsaw Lake: Book early—this is a popular federal campground with limited availability. Primitive camping loop (Dogwood) is well-maintained with decent cell coverage and site 30 is a favorite among campers. Only 3 miles from Interstate 64 for convenient access despite feeling remote.
Skip Tipsaw Lake if: You need full RV hookups—most sites have no hookups and are suitable only for self-contained RVs.. You dislike cold showers—some campers reported this issue.. You prefer crowded campgrounds—it can be quite empty even during holidays..
Best time to visit Tipsaw Lake: Year-round — Campground operates year-round, though campers report quieter conditions during off-peak times like early fall..
Nearby campgrounds: Indian Celina Lake (Bangor, IN), Saddle Lake Campground (Gatchel, IN), Buzzard Roost Campground (Magnet, IN), German Ridge Campground (Cannelton, IN).
Cell Phone Coverage at Tipsaw Lake
Cell signal at Tipsaw Lake (Bangor, IN): weak overall signal based on FCC broadband data. Best carrier: Verizon.
- Verizon 4G LTE: 100% coverage
Coverage data source: FCC Broadband Data Collection (BDC). Actual signal may vary due to terrain, tree cover, and distance from towers. Camper reports are more reliable than coverage maps in remote areas.
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.The area offers dozens of individual, double and group campsites, available for tent and RV camping.
Verified facts
RIDB / Recreation.gov official databaseAmenities
RIDB /facilities /campsites · owner-verifiedStraight talk
CamperWatch intel · curated from camper reportsKnown issues, each with the workaround. Read before you book.
Insider tips & when to go
CamperWatch intel · hand-curated entryBook early
this is a popular federal campground with limited availability.
Primitive camping loop (Dogwood) is well-maintained with decent cell coverage and site 30 is a favorite among campers.
Only 3 miles from Interstate 64 for convenient access despite feeling remote.
Campground operates year-round, though campers report quieter conditions during off-peak times like early fall.
Things to do nearby
RIDB /activities /recareas + intelConditions today
LiveCell signal
FCC BDC · quarterly datasetFCC maps are theoretical — camper reports confirm signal. Best carrier: Verizon.
Wildlife nearby
iNaturalist · research-grade · 8 kmLocation
Leaflet · OpenStreetMap tiles
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.
Campground entrance
Google Maps APICommunity
#community · posts, photos & Q&A · AI-moderated (Claude Vision)Pro tips
- Book on recreation.gov exactly 6 months ahead at 10am ET — Hoosier National Forest fills fast in peak season.
- Check current road conditions at Hoosier National Forest before arrival — seasonal closures common.
Frequently asked questions
RIDB facts + intel · FAQPage schema, speakableHow much does Tipsaw Lake cost per night?+
What season is Tipsaw Lake open?+
Does Tipsaw Lake have hookups?+
What is the maximum RV length at Tipsaw Lake?+
How do I make reservations at Tipsaw Lake?+
What is the cell service like at Tipsaw Lake?+
What season is Tipsaw Lake open, and what are check-in times?+
Official resources
●Data sources on this page
CamperWatch never fabricates data. Where data is unavailable, it is not shown.
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