Spring Mill State Park — Attraction in Bedford

I stayed here while camping for the eclipse. The park itself is beautiful and huge -- there is so much to do. The inn was under renovation while I was there, but you can tell it's going to be gorgeous when it's finished. The Pioneer Village is one of the biggest and most well-rounded that I've seen, with lots of buildings, information, and reenactors on hand the weekend I was there, all in a beautiful setting. There is so much to do here -- the caves, many trails, waterfalls, an interesting old cemetery, a huge pool complex when it's warm, etc. Also, the staff on hand were all very friendly and helpful.

I camped at the campsites for the weekend, as well. Because there are so many things for kids to do, these were some of the loudest campsites I have ever been to, with lots of kids and parents yelling. I was in the more wooded camping area which is near the playground and you could hear the kids screaming at the playground all day, and the parents yelling for them to come back, stop fighting, etc. Kids are going to be kids, but I would definitely suggest this campground more for families rather than adults who want a relaxing weekend in nature. The sites themselves are pretty close to each other, but do your homework to find a good one -- some on the outer ring are more private than those in the middle. My site was in between a giant group of 14 people who had tons of people, cars, tents, kids, dogs, etc. and they kept walking through my site and you could hear everything they talked about, plus they played music until 11pm. The next night they left, and the campground as a whole was then only about 60% occupied, and it was much nicer and quieter. RV and tent sites are all the same here, so everyone is mixed in -- for the shoulder season it's so nice to have electric at the site to power a small heater and charge your phone if you are in a tent, but the AC units on RVs can be loud for anyone tent camping in the summer, so something to think about. Bathrooms aren't terrible but could be bigger and freshened up. The camp store is particularly well-stocked and the two women running it were very nice.

I like a more secluded, relaxing tent camping experience so I don't know if I would choose Spring Mill State Park for myself camping again, but it's great for families, and I would definitely go back just to spend a day...

Please read all the way through!! Such a beautiful park! Bath houses at the campground are some of the cleanest we've seen while camping! Love that the campsites have electric and water, just be sure to have a long water hose as some hook ups are quite far from sites. This is definitely a place to escape from your 'electronic devices'. Atleast for us....we have T-Mobile and had no phone service! Tv only picked up 3 channels and only picked up a few radio stations 😆 The reasons for 3 stars and not 5- Campsite description says 'grass surface'. There was no grass where we parked our camper on the pad and had our door. Straight mud! I know this is from when folks put out their large rugs. Park should consider adding gravel like alot of other parks do! Would be helpful especially on a rainy day!! What a mess!! We didn't use our large rug. Would have been a mess cleaning that off! THE BIGGEST ISSUE TO ME------ To me, this is a policy that SHOULD BE CHANGED!! Camping with dogs. It should NOT BE ALLOWED TO LEAVE YOUR DOG UNATTENDED AT YOUR CAMPSIGHT WHEN YOU PLAN TO BE GONE FOR MORE THAN 30 MINUTES! (And even that is pushing it!) Our 'neighbors' left their golden leashed up outside in 90 degree temperatures ALL DAY!! I believe they left the poor pup there while they took their kids to enjoy the pool. Yes the dog had a small bowl of water but the only shade was under the picnic table! (I included a photo!)This INFURIATES me!! Leave your dog with a pet sitter or family member!!!! Or don't go camping!!!! I asked someone at the park office if this was acceptable and was told yes. This should be changed!! Alot of other campgrounds do not allow this! They checked our ID at the gate (which we have never been asked for before!) and was told some people are reselling campsites for a profit (this is a new one for us to hear), but yet they allow campers to leave behind their 4 legged family members! More worried about $$ and not the well being of a pet ???? Please look into this policy...

Such a special place, and especially so when getting a little of the history narrative from one of the amazing staff or volunteers. I'm grateful to those past and present who have worked and do work to preserve and maintain this marvelous piece of history at Spring Mill State Park! Visiting there is like strolling peacefully through the past and being inspired for the blessings of both the past and the present as surrounded by nature in its finest display. They have an operating gristmill, and the staff and volunteers exhibit crafts like leather, sewing, weaving and discuss the history as they run the mill and sell the cornmeal ground there in the very Spring Mill! If you're lucky and fortunate you can be there, or plan to be there, in September when the community puts together the Persimmon Festival and the magnificent Candlelight Tour in the village there at Spring Mill - it's a marvelously enjoyable, inspiring and beautiful event. I first visited with a friend and his parents and camped there when in 7th grade while visiting from Louisville, Kentucky. I've been back to visit over years since then, but my friend moved away, yet he recently visited Kentucky and Indiana, from his home in Texas, and I met him at Spring Mill as we revisited and toured the grounds, all the while we caught up about our lives and the great visits from our past there at Spring Mill. We had dinner at the Inn, and on our way out of the restaurant we met a couple who spent their honeymoon at the Inn 56 years ago and had not been back until this night for their anniversary celebration at Spring Mill! I can't imagine you wouldn't have a magnificent visit if you enjoy nature and the idea of visiting old log homes and buildings from a couple generations ago with an operating Spring...