4.0037 reviewsPrice
Varies
Booking
Reservable
Sites
Varies
Season
Year-round
Cell
No Service
Pets
No Pets
Price
Varies
Booking
Reservable
Sites
Varies
Season
Year-round
Cell
No Service
Pets
No Pets
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Learn more about alerts →Jefferson Lake Campground
40.4696, -80.8084
We'll monitor this campground and alert you the moment sites become available.
Free to start · paid plans add 2-min scans
256,000+ sites monitored · Email alerts to start; SMS and in-app with an account
Learn more about alerts →Horse campers and paddlers who want 18 miles of wooded trails and a no-wake reservoir to themselves, especially in spring when wildflowers are out and before the algae and mosquitoes show up. The equestrian camp with hitching posts and trailer parking is the real draw.
Swimmers, families counting on beach time, or RVers who need reliable hookups will be disappointed. The lake has recurring blue-green algae, the beach is effectively gone, and five electric sites with awkwardly placed pedestals is slim pickings.
Camper Report Card
Rated higher than 43% of graded campgrounds
Graded on what 30 campers actually wrote - graded on 14 things that make or break a trip. Each topic is graded against every other campground on it - A is among the best, C about average. No star ratings.
Strengths
Watch-outs
Each topic is graded against every other campground on it; a topic campers liked never grades below C−. ± shows the 95% confidence range from the sample size.
Context for the broader area surrounding Jefferson Lake Campground, sourced from the federal Recreation.gov rec-area record.
Cagles Mill Lake: The control tower is round and the outlet works conduit was mined through solid rock. Cataract Falls, with upper and lower falls, is the largest waterfall (by volume) in Indiana. The lower falls ends at the headwater of the lake and is accessible by boat. The Corps' Tailwater Areas and much of the operational area around the dam have been designated by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources as a State of Indiana Natural Area.
From Terre Haute, 30 miles east on I-70, 5 miles south on IN 243.
Jefferson Lake Campground appears in our curated guides. Explore more top-rated campgrounds for the same activities and regions.
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Spring is the sweet spot here. Daytime highs run 50–70°F, nights 35–50°F, and the trails firm up enough for horses and hikers without the summer humidity or bug pressure. Wildflowers bloom along the shoreline and the canopy leafs out by mid-May. Early October also draws campers for mild temps and low crowds, though fall can be muddy after rain. Summer offers warm weather for paddling and fishing but coincides with algae blooms and heavier mosquito activity. Winter use is rare; the park sees very few visitors once the leaves drop. Expect spotty cell service year-round, so don't plan to rely on your phone for navigation or weather updates.
Seasonal info: 'Spring is the sweet spot' with pleasant temps, blooming wildflowers, and firm trails.
Reservation tips, booking windows, and free cancellation alerts.
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