State Park

Mounds State Park

Madison County, IndianaAbout 286 acresEstablished 1930
Status
Status not posted
Entrance fee
Statewide rule — see below
Day-use reservations
None mentioned
Dogs
Not stated — check with park
Camping
75 campsites
Official site
in.gov765-642-6627

Official page last checked Oct 29, 2026. How we keep this current

Overview

Photograph by the Public Lands Institute — Mounds State Park
Photograph by the Public Lands Institute — Mounds State Park. Photo: Public Lands Institute. CC0 1.0 (public domain dedication)

Mounds State Park is a 286-acre park in Madison County, in Chesterfield.

Visitors come for fishing, picnicking, and hiking. Overnight options include 75 campsites, with tent sites.

Hours

Park, gate, office and facility hours are listed separately because they often differ. Alerts above override normal hours.

FacilityDaysHoursSeason
Visitor centerDaily9 a.m. – 4 p.m.—
Official wording

Be sure to visit our Nature Center, which includes a wildlife viewing room, animal displays, interactive games, and more. Hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. Naturalist-led hikes and interpretive programs are offered every weekend throughout the year.

Source: official park page, checked Oct 29, 2026. Times are local to the park (America/Indiana/Indianapolis).

Fees and passes

Per vehicle daily gate fee: $7 Indiana plates / $15 out-of-state at state parks and state-managed lakes; exceptions Indiana Dunes ($7/$20), Prophetstown ($8/$16), Falls of the Ohio Interpretive Center ($9 adult/$7 child); $2 per person age 5+ on foot, bicycle or horseback.

Statewide fee rule from Indiana's park system; this park’s page doesn’t list its own fees.

Indiana park passes

  • Annual Entrance Pass — $50. Noncommercial vehicle, driver and passengers at DNR properties that charge a gate fee Details
  • Non-resident Annual Entrance Pass — $120. Non-Indiana resident noncommercial vehicles Details
  • Golden Hoosier Passport — $25. Indiana residents 65+ or eligible for SS disability; vehicle, driver and passengers Details
  • Disabled Hoosier Veteran Pass — $25. Persons eligible for a Disabled Hoosier Veteran plate Details
  • SSDI Pass — $25. Indiana residents receiving or eligible for SSDI Details

From the Indiana state guide. Confirm which passes this park accepts.

Reservations

Day use
No day-use reservation requirement mentioned
Booking system
ReserveAmerica (Indiana State Parks) for camping, cabins, shelters, group camps; separate inn reservations
Phone
1-866-622-6746 (camping, cabins, shelters, group camps); 1-877-563-4371 (inns and Brown County cabins)

Check availability and book

We link to the official booking system rather than showing live availability, which changes minute to minute.

Camping

Campground or site typeSitesHookups / featuresPrice
Electric75Electric—
Camping details from the park
  • Electric / 75 sites
  • Youth Tent Areas
  • Dumping Station

From the official park page, checked Oct 29, 2026. Site counts and prices can change; confirm when booking.

Things to do

PicnickingHikingFishingCamping

Trails

TrailLengthDifficultyNotes
Trail 11 miEasyYou will find the 20 most common trees in Indiana marked for your convenience along this trail. The trail also winds around four prehistoric mounds, one of which is the Great Mound, the focal point of the park. A tree guide and mounds history guide can be obtained at the Visitors Center. Parts of this trail are wheelchair accessible.
Trail 20.5 miRuggedBegins at the pavilion. Going to the left, it descends to a boardwalk that skirts a spring-fed creek and onto the backside of the Great Mound. When starting from behind the pavilion, it provides a shortcut downstairs to the White River and intersects with Trail 5.
Trail 30.9 miModerateThe trail descends into the woods from the first two parking lots on the left side of the road in the picnic area. It winds through the forest, providing views of different species of birds and animals. It intersects with Trail 5 and skirts the backside of the pavilion.
Trail 40.7 miRuggedBegins from the back parking lot at the pool. This trail is suited for the avid hiker because of its rugged terrain and steep hills. It can be traveled to and from the campground via a long boardwalk, which descends into a ravine with a creek and then climbs up the bluff. It provides a scenic overlook with all types of wildlife and many of our feathered friends. It intersects Trail 5 three times.
Trail 52.5 miModerateBegins at the main gate and skirts the boundary of the park. It provides a scenic view as it follows along the White River and the limestone bluffs. One might catch glimpses of different types of waterfowl and aquatic life. It crosses several creeks and goes on into the woods, where all kinds of songbirds, along with upland game, make their home. This is a great trail for spring wildflower enthusiasts and for fans of the majestic hardwood trees that populate the forest. It is the longest and most popular trail in the park.
Trail 60.4 miModerateBegins at the campground control station and leads to either the campground or the canoe launch area. This trail works great for campers who want to fish or purchase minor items from the camp store. It’s a great trail for a short hike and enjoying the outdoors.
Trail descriptions from the park

Mounds State Park offers a motorized wheelchair that can be taken on trails and around facilities.

1. EASY (1 mile)—You will find the 20 most common trees in Indiana marked for your convenience along this trail. The trail also winds around four prehistoric mounds, one of which is the Great Mound, the focal point of the park. A tree guide and mounds history guide can be obtained at the Visitors Center. Parts of this trail are wheelchair accessible.

2. RUGGED (.5 mile)—Begins at the pavilion. Going to the left, it descends to a boardwalk that skirts a spring-fed creek and onto the backside of the Great Mound. When starting from behind the pavilion, it provides a shortcut downstairs to the White River and intersects with Trail 5.

3. MODERATE (.9 mile)—The trail descends into the woods from the first two parking lots on the left side of the road in the picnic area. It winds through the forest, providing views of different species of birds and animals. It intersects with Trail 5 and skirts the backside of the pavilion.

4. RUGGED (.7 mile)—Begins from the back parking lot at the pool. This trail is suited for the avid hiker because of its rugged terrain and steep hills. It can be traveled to and from the campground via a long boardwalk, which descends into a ravine with a creek and then climbs up the bluff. It provides a scenic overlook with all types of wildlife and many of our feathered friends. It intersects Trail 5 three times.

5. MODERATE WITH HILLS (2.5 miles)—Begins at the main gate and skirts the boundary of the park. It provides a scenic view as it follows along the White River and the limestone bluffs. One might catch glimpses of different types of waterfowl and aquatic life. It crosses several creeks and goes on into the woods, where all kinds of songbirds, along with upland game, make their home. This is a great trail for spring wildflower enthusiasts and for fans of the majestic hardwood trees that populate the forest. It is the longest and most popular trail in the park.

6. MODERATE (.4 mile)—Begins at the campground control station and leads to either the campground or the canoe launch area. This trail works great for campers who want to fish or purchase minor items from the camp store. It’s a great trail for a short hike and enjoying the outdoors.

Fishing

Fishing (White River)

A state fishing license is usually required.

Amenities

Facilities

  • Picnic areas
  • Visitor center
  • Park or camp store

Camping

  • Tent camping

✓ listed by the park · ✕ the park says it is not available. Anything not shown here isn’t mentioned by the official source — that means unknown, not unavailable.

Getting there

Nearest town
Chesterfield
Coordinates
40.0954, -85.6197
Phone
765-642-6627

Google Maps directionsApple MapsOfficial park map (PDF)

Nearby state parks

Sources and freshness

“Last checked” is when our system last read the official source. No change has been detected since this page was first published. Hours, fees and rules can change without notice — confirm with the park before you go. Methodology

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