Charlestown State Park — Attraction in River Bluff

This is a nice park. We have camped here often. This last time was not our favorite. The grass was really tall! Should have been cut before the weekend!! Do they ever plant grass seed? Both of our sites had alot of grass (though way too tall!) But 1 site had bare spots that were right where you would park camper and enter and exit out of it. Nothing but mud!!!!! Also, I understand there are rules and signs posted but certain situations should not raise such a fuss! We had 2 campsites. 1 had our camper trailer and tow vehicle and the other had 2 tents. My husband and I where camping with our son and a few of his friends. It rained all weekend! On 1 night a park dnr officer stopped and told us we had too many vehicles on 1 site. There were 3 cars but all were parked on concrete pad. No one in road or grass. Again, it was pouring down raining all day! Who wants to walk back and forth from parking lot to campsite if they need something from their car! He was nice about it and said he would let it go until it stopped raining. But if rules were updated he would have never stopped. Not to mention, all 3 of these cars had to pay to enter park! Then another night a different dnr officer stopped because we had a visitor(who also had to pay to enter park) on our site. Again, I understand there are rules in place. I do feel like these rules need to be adjusted. How can you be allowed 6 people per site but only 1 vehicle?! Esp if you are in tents and there is room on the concrete pad. What's the difference of people having large rv's AND a vehicle or people having 2 or 3 cars?! Along as no one is in grass or road! The rule seems a bit out dated and personally doesn't make much sense! Alot like the 6 people max per site! Our camper trailer sleeps 9 people. What is the point of having something big enough to sleep your family and a few friends if you are only allowed 6 people?? Maybe its just me but these rules don't make much sense and again should...

My hubby and I loved this park. Let me start with the ONLY thing that kept me from giving it five stars. We arrived on a Friday. Our site was close to the playground area and several campers with young children camped nearby. The adults didn't supervise them at all. In fact, sometimes the adults were worse than their children. The noise often went beyond quiet time. There were camp hosts but not in our loop. We did see a park employee driving around but not in the evening. We walked through the park (lots of campsites in this park) and the sites toward the back were MUCH quieter. So when making your reservation, if you want it quiet, I'd strongly suggest getting a site as far to the back and away from the playground as possible. Now the good stuff... everything else. Park staff are friendly and accommodating. Charlestown is very large with lots of picnic areas and hiking trails. Everything was immaculate, including the restrooms (including the one in the campground). Some of the pit toilets use a compostable method which I think is terrific. No odor whatsoever. I never saw dog poop either. The hiking trails are great. Some of them climb up to the ridge along the Ohio and provide some challenge but are doable for someone like me who's not in the prime of life. One trail leads to Rose Island which was a destination during the 20s and 30s. It was destroyed by a flood in the late 30s but a trail with excellent informational stops point out what used to be where. Super interesting. Charlestown Park is an easy drive to and from Louisville where we enjoyed many activities. That's another story. Many people write off states like Indiana and Iowa but I can tell you from experience they have excellent and beautiful state parks. Do not sell them short....

We really enjoy this park. This has been our first trip the last 3 years straight. However we stay at several Indiana state parks and have never been to one so strict. I understand rules are set for a reason, but yesterday my wife had just got to camp from work. Was changing her close before we took her car and dropped it off at the overflow parking lot. 10 minutes and dnr was beating on my camper door asking us to move one of the vehicles. We wasn’t on the grass so I’m not sure what it was hurting. I’d been here since Tuesday so they know we’ve done well following the rules. They’re just so strict on everything unlike any other state park. Sad part is they don’t have a lot to offer. Unless you like trails or a dirty river, that’s about the extent to it. Could invest in a pool or a clean pond to enjoy. A dog park would be lovely. My fur buddy does not like to go on a leash. Our favorite part of the park is how flat the campsites are. Easy to see the younger kids. I was also told the day I arrived that a crew would be in the next day to trim limbs on the trees hanging over my fire pit and throughout the campsite. Never happened. The little dnr boy that worked the second gate before entering the campground Friday night was rude. Acts like a brand new city cop trying to make a name for himself. They do have beautiful trails especially trail 2. Trail 7 is a cool experience also. Electric sites are huge and full hook ups are a good size. Bathrooms are pretty clean and the park is definitely peaceful. Just feel the DNR should be a little more relaxed with their guest instead of making them miserable for something so small. I do appreciate keeping the park nice, peaceful, and safe but darn! Take...