Charlestown State Park: A Breath Of Fresh Air   

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Nestled along the Ohio River, Charlestown State Park is a historical beauty formed from the realms of the Ice Age. What was once considered a shallow waterbed, is now a beautiful emblem of what nature has to offer. Over the years, development in the area has led to many changes and, of course, for the good one must say.

Seated on over 5,100 acres of lush green property, the Charlestown State Park is currently the third largest of its kind in Indiana. Its history is more than the ordinary as it once housed a portion of the Indiana Army Ammunition Plant. Interesting right? It boasts a lot of recreational features that are perfect for complimenting your vacation.

The breathtaking view overlooking the Fourteen Mile Creek provides a mesmerizing feeling like no other. It is among one of the oldest streams found in the state and forms a unique scenery as a perfect backdrop.

Along the lines of the river stands a monument with a rich history. Known as the Devil’s Backbone, this stone remain was once part of a fortress built by Welsh adventurers. Charlestown State Park Features

Visiting the amazing Charlestown State Park will grant you access to features that are not often seen elsewhere. Within the grounds of the park, you are able to access (not limited to):

• Past time nature activities like boating, canoeing, camping, bird watching, cycling, field sports, fishing, and hiking are encouraged here. The seven trails are easily marked with range and level of difficulty.
• You are close to other DNR properties like Clark State Forest, Deam Lake State Recreation Area, and Fall of the Ohio State Park. These all add bridle trails, hunting, mountain biking, picnicking, target ranges, an interpretive center, historic features, and wildlife watching.
• Close range amenities:  You are steeped in nature, yet a quick drive from “civilization”. Within a 1-mile distance from the venue, you will find features that include but are not limited to a medical center, propane, boat, and vehicle fuel among others.
  
  Also, within a 10-mile radius, it includes amenities such as a hospital, souvenir stores, grocery, Church, meeting/conference venue, and others. We stopped at Schimpffs Candy and The Vintage Fire Museum – but you will hear more about those both soon!

Charlestown State Park Staff

The venue is also rich in amazing customer service and staff who is ready and willing to provide you with a rare experience. They will ensure you are satisfied with the services you receive from your reservation to your final minutes spent here…but make sure you print off all documents related to your reservation for your arrival.

We were originally greeted very differently than any other Indiana State Park by a slightly surly young man who reprimanded us for not having printed verification. This was a slight problem as we were there as travel writers and didn’t make our original reservation…he was also the first person to NOT hand us a map and show us where we needed to go to find our site.

Never fear, this park is very easy to navigate and we found it ourselves, easily. The lots are blacktopped so it is easy for RVs and easy to level out your pop-up camper.

There isn’t a nature site like the other parks, but they are working on it – in the main office you can see that they do have a room in process of being a great learning station, down to flash cards for local flora and fauna. You really need to check out their great hiking trails to see nature at it’s best.

Our bathroom report? Immaculate. This might be because we were in a full hookup area and surrounded by RVs. With only a handful of tents or pop-ups that means a lot less users for the park showers. It was seriously like being in the Taj Mahal of bathrooms and probably cleaner than our three bathrooms at home – eek!

If you want to experience what nature has to offer without feeling imposed on, here is an open and natural location for you. Where Mounds State Park had a herd of trash pandas, we saw a bounty of bunnies here.

Seriously, the rabbits are easy to view in the early morning and early evening. We even saw turtles crossing the road and stopped to assist them. Do still bring all garbage and food in at night – the hubster got a little lazy one night and we had a furry visitor.

There are raccoons here, just not in full force. The environs provide a rich atmosphere and habitat that suits the lifestyle of both plants and animals. You will definitely have an experience worth more than a thousand words.

Places To Stay Nearby

Other campsites you might like:

• Embrace Nature at Fort Defiance State Park
• Recharge at Salamonie Lake State Campground
• Chillax at Mounds State Campground in Indiana
• Experience History and Nature at Wyalusing State Park
• Scheffel’s Hideaway Campground Makes You Feel Like Family
• Family Fun at Indian Trails Campground