U.S. Forest Service · Hoosier National Forest · Indiana

Buzzard Roost Campground

A scenic location for hiking and camping. Parking areas are available at the first trailhead access and at the picnic/camping spur. Tables, grills, garbage can, info board and a vault toilet are available at the camping area. A scenic overlook and benches are located on the bluffs overlooking the Ohio River.

Reservable · Recreation.gov5 sitesFreeNo hookupsPets okFires ok

More like this: reservable in Indiana · free in Indiana · pets allowed in Indiana

Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
A photo of the Buzzard Roost CampgroundBuzzard Roost CampgroundBuzzard Roost CampgroundA photo of Site 5 of Loop Buzzard Roost at Buzzard Roost Campground with Picnic Table, Fire Pit
Photos courtesy of Jeff Fischer · Recreation.gov

Site mix

Standard, no hookups5
Most sites here open on Recreation.gov six months ahead, at 10 a.m. Eastern. Sold out is not final: cancellations come back into the pool, most of them two to three days out. How to catch one

Site guide

5 sites. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.

SiteEntryFits, ftSurfaceShadeWater / sewerPeople / vehiclesFires
1Back-in52PavedPartialNo / –8 / 2Yes
2Back-in57Paved8 / 2Yes
3Back-in50Paved8 / 2Yes
4Back-in50Paved8 / 2Yes
5Back-in50Paved8 / 2Yes

Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 1:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.

Amenities & rules

HookupsNone
EquipmentRVs & trailers, Tents
PetsAllowed
CampfiresAllowed, subject to restrictions
FeesCamping is free of charge.

A vault toilet and garbage can is available. Each campsite includes a fire ring and picnic table.

Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near Buzzard Roost Campground30°40°50°60°70°80°January: 3.77 inches of precipitationFebruary: 3.64 inches of precipitationMarch: 4.82 inches of precipitationApril: 5.25 inches of precipitationMay: 4.99 inches of precipitationJune: 5.41 inches of precipitationJuly: 3.81 inches of precipitationAugust: 2.93 inches of precipitationSeptember: 3.70 inches of precipitationOctober: 4.01 inches of precipitationNovember: 4.34 inches of precipitationDecember: 4.31 inches of precipitationJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 33.2°F averageFebruary: 37.0°F averageMarch: 46.2°F averageApril: 56.5°F averageMay: 65.6°F averageJune: 73.8°F averageJuly: 76.8°F averageAugust: 76.1°F averageSeptember: 69.2°F averageOctober: 57.2°F averageNovember: 46.8°F averageDecember: 37.3°F average0 in2 in4 in6 inTemp °FInches
The line is the average temperature and the bars are average precipitation at English, 11 miles from the campground at 510 feet, station USC00122660 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020. Precipitation totals about 51 inches a year.

Getting there

Coordinates38.1201° N, 86.4656° W · Directions ↗

Good to know

  • Water is not available on site.

Supplies & services

Dump stationDump station ↗22 mi
Outdoor gearBasketball ↗28.8 mi
RV sales & serviceRV sales & service ↗45.8 mi

Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.

Explore

Video

Check out the Tent Camping loop at Buzzards Roost Campground, Lake Murray State Park

Worth a stop

Trails nearby

Forest Service trail data →
  • 0.1 mi
    Buzzard Roost 1
    0.4 mi trail · hiking
  • 3.6 mi
    Oriole East Trail 2
    0.2 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 4.2 mi
    Oriole East Trail 1 ↗
    5.8 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 4.7 mi
    Oriole West 1 ↗
    7.3 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike

Trail and trailhead records are the Forest Service's. Distances are straight-line to the nearer trail end. Trail conditions are not tracked here.

Public land it sits in

On Wilderness Atlas →

Hoosier National Forest begins about 9.8 miles away, and it is the closest of these.

Each unit is published as a centre point and an acreage rather than a boundary, so this section stands it in for a circle of the same area. Whether a campground is inside, and how far it is from one it is outside, are both approximate.

Natural features

Sandstone rock outcrops, bluffs, hardwood forest, and a scenic overlook platform with views of the Ohio River and Kentucky.

Recreation

This site offers rustic camping, scenic views and wildlife viewing. An ardous 0.5 mile trail from the bluff to the banks of the Ohio River is available.

Guidebooks for Indiana

We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.

  • Five-Star Trails: Louisville and Southern Indiana
    Valerie Askren, 2022
    Find at Bookshop.org
  • Rail-Trails Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio
    Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, 2018
    Find at Bookshop.org
  • 60 Hikes Within 60 Miles: Cincinnati
    Tamara York, 2021
    Find at Bookshop.org

Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.

Reference

Questions people ask

Do I need a reservation at Buzzard Roost Campground?

Sites at Buzzard Roost Campground are reservable on Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.

Source: Recreation.gov

How much does it cost to camp at Buzzard Roost Campground?

Nothing. Buzzard Roost Campground is listed as free. Camping is free of charge.

Source: Recreation.gov

What time is check-in at Buzzard Roost Campground?

Check-in 1:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.

Source: Recreation.gov

How many sites does Buzzard Roost Campground have?

5 sites, including 5 standard sites without power.

Source: Recreation.gov

Can I bring an RV to Buzzard Roost Campground?

Buzzard Roost Campground is listed for tents only.

Source: Recreation.gov

Are pets allowed at Buzzard Roost Campground?

Yes, pets are allowed at Buzzard Roost Campground. Leash rules apply.

Source: Recreation.gov

Can I have a campfire at Buzzard Roost Campground?

Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions.

Source: Recreation.gov

What is there to do at Buzzard Roost Campground?

This site offers rustic camping, scenic views and wildlife viewing. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.

Source: Recreation

What if Buzzard Roost Campground is full?

The nearest public campgrounds are Indian Celina Lake (9 mi), Tipsaw Lake (9.1 mi), and Primrose Loop (9.2 mi).

Source: Campgrounds nearby