Lincoln Campground

The Great Outdoors

RV rentals in Spencer County are how this journey will begin; where you take your rental RV from there is up to you. A good place to start would be Hoosier National Forest, near the town of Birdseye. Hoosier is a popular destination for hiking and fishing, but it also conducts educational and interpretive programs and events that are open to anyone; most of the programs and events are held during the summer and are led by well-trained and knowledgeable park staff. Hikers have access to hundreds of miles of established trails, but cross-country hiking (off-trail) is permitted; if you go cross country, make sure you have a map as there are privately owned lands bordering or permeating the park's boundaries. Keep your camper rental nearby, and you can reward your outdoor adventures with a hot meal and hot beverage without having to go anywhere.Interlake State Recreation Area near Spurgeon is a reclaimed former coal mining area now designated as an outdoor recreational area. The effects of the mining are reflected in the topography, which includes human-made lakes and rolling grasslands. The area's main use is as an off-road vehicle park, but you can also hike and mountain bike the area. Interlake has dozens of trails and more than a dozen lakes; some of the lakes are accessible and offer a good opportunity to enjoy fishing. The park is also popular for mushroom picking, but you should make sure you know what you're picking.Patoka River National Wildlife Refuge is an Important Bird Area that was established in 1994 as a result of the decimation of wetlands in Indiana and the resultant decline in the population of bird species that depend on wetlands to survive. Today it consists of bottomland hardwood forests and bottomland forested wetlands and is well known for its hiking, fishing, and wildlife observation opportunities. Visit this park, and you'll have a chance to see more than 300 different species of birds, mammals, and reptiles.

Exploring The Area

Once you've had your fill of the outdoors (if that's possible), there is still much more to see, and a good starting point is the town of Santa Claus. This small but friendly community was named by popular vote in 1856. Today the town is the recipient of an avalanche of letters sent by young children each Christmas; the letters are fielded by local volunteers. As you can imagine, most landmarks and town attractions are named in relation to the Christmas holiday, including a museum and outdoor statue, an organic commercial farm, a horse ranch, several stores, and more. There are a handful of restaurants in town when it's time to refuel and several more within a short distance.Ferdinand is a small town with opportunities to go shopping or kick your feet up and enjoy some locally brewed craft beer while RV camping at Lincoln State Park. It is also home to a massive Benedictine monastery that welcomes everyone regardless of religious views. The grounds are a wonderful place to take a relaxing stroll, and you can take a peek inside the church, browse the gift shop for knick-knacks and presents, or relax in the on-site restaurant. When it's time to eat, Ferdinand has an assortment of commercial chain restaurants and locally-owned eateries, so there is something for everyone. Cuisines include but aren't limited to American and Mexican, Chinese, pizzerias and pub venues, and more. Most of the choices are inexpensive to reasonably priced.Indiana is where outdoor beauty and ruggedness go toe-to-toe with urban attractions and culture, and you don't want to miss either of these. Lincoln Campground is here to make sure you don't (and if you can't trust Lincoln, who can you trust?).