Starve Hollow State Recreation Area
- Status
- Open (per official listing)Sat–Sun 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
- Entrance fee
- Statewide rule — see below
- Day-use reservations
- None mentioned
- Dogs
- Not stated — check with park
- Camping
- YesAlso cabins
- Official site
- in.gov812-358-3464
Official page last checked Oct 29, 2026. How we keep this current
Current alerts 1
Water quality BLUE-GREEN ALGAEFound in lakes year round. Don't drink the water. Shower after you swim. More information.
Posted by the park. Official alert
Overview
In Jackson County, about 14 miles southwest of Seymour, Starve Hollow State Recreation Area covers about 278 acres.
Things to do include canoeing and kayaking, swimming, boating, biking, and fishing. Its trail network totals roughly 11 miles, according to the park. Facilities for water recreation include boat or kayak rentals. For overnight stays there are campsites (tent sites). There are also cabins for rent.
Hours
Park, gate, office and facility hours are listed separately because they often differ. Alerts above override normal hours.
| Facility | Days | Hours | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Park | Sat–Sun | 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. | — |
Official wording
Memorial Day Weekend - end of October, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
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)
We link to the official booking system rather than showing live availability, which changes minute to minute.
Camping
- Map of Starve Hollow FULL HOOKUP Sites
- Map of Starve Hollow ELECTRIC and CABIN Sites
Full Hookup camping facilities: electric, sewer, and water hookup as well as fire ring, picnic table, and parking spur at each site. Modern restrooms/showers (wheelchair accessible) are available nearby. 53 sites available, sites 222, 232, and 234 are wheelchair accessible.
Electric camping facilities: electric hookup, fire ring, picnic table and parking spur at each site. Drinking water is available in area. Modern restrooms/showers (wheelchair accessible) are available nearby. Dumping station is available. There are 87 sites available. Sites 28, 44, 65, 75 and 90 are wheelchair accessible.
Non-electric camping facilities: 10 camp sites with drinking water supply and modern restroom/showers (wheelchair accessible) nearby. Site 316 is wheelchair accessible.
Read more from the park
All campsites will be available for reservation up to six months in advance by simply calling a toll-free telephone number or logging onto the internet.
Campers will be able to make reservations by calling, toll free, 1-866-6CAMPIN (1-866-622-6746) Monday through Thursday from noon to 8 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturday between 8 a.m. and noon EST They may also log onto the web, 24 hours a day at Camp.IN.gov.
Property office hours are 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Beginning in May, gates are open seven days a week and remain open through October. Gate attendants can answer questions, check-in campers with reservations or walk-ins, sell passes and permits, sell firewood and ice, and rent boats. You can reach office staff or an on-duty gate attendant by calling 812-358-3464.
Starve Hollow has 13 rent-a-camp cabins available March-Nov. (closed Dec.-Feb.) (NOTE: Local sales only during off season/winter months, contact property for details). Each cabin has a front porch with a swing, outside electric outlet and front porch light. Inside there are two small rooms each providing a ceiling fan with light, a heating/cooling unit and electrical outlets. The front room offers a small table with bench seats, corner shelf, chair, rocking chair, and a loft. The back room offers a bunk bed (single) and a double bed (NO LINENS or MATTRESS PROVIDED). Air mattress recommended. Reservations can be made online at Camp.IN.gov. No pets, smoking or cooking permitted in cabins.
From the official park page, checked Oct 29, 2026. Site counts and prices can change; confirm when booking.
Cabins and lodging
Map of Starve Hollow ELECTRIC and CABIN Sites
Things to do
HikingBikingPicnickingFishingSwimmingBoatingCanoeing and kayakingCamping
Trails
Starve Hollow has several hiking trails to explore that total approximately 11 miles. All trails are located east of the lake and campground providing both easy and rugged hiking opportunities. You will experience variety of terrain along the way from lowlands to dry ridge tops. A trail head is located in the campground begins from the rent a camp cabin area providing quick access to several different loops of various lengths. Another trail head located across from the Vallonia Tree Nursery providing an alternative starting point to the 5.6 mile Turkey Roost Trail/Orange Trail, also accessible from the campground trail head. Each trail is painted with different color blazes on trees providing a reference to which trail you are hiking. Maps are available at gates, education center and office. An additional 11 miles of hiking trails are located on the neighboring Jackson-Washington State Forest along with 13 miles of horse trails.
- Hiking Trails Map
Swimming
A large beach is available for swimming from the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day. Restrooms, dressing facilities, showers, and food concessions are available to visitors. Wheelchair ramps allow access to beach and concession area.
Boating and paddling
Starve-Hollow Lake has three boat ramps to choose from, one at the dam and two in the electric campground. Kayak, rowboat and canoe rental is available.
A valid Indiana fishing license is required. Rowboat and canoe rental is available from mid April through October. Starve-Hollow Lake is a trolling motor only lake. For campers a fish cleaning station is available.
Amenities
Facilities
- Picnic areas
- Playground
- Nature center or museum
Water
- Boat, canoe or kayak rentals
Camping
- Tent camping
Lodging
- Cabins
✓ 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
- Address
- 4345 S. County Road 275 W.
Vallonia, IN 47281 - Nearest town
- Seymour — about 14 mi southwest (straight line)
- Coordinates
- 38.8166, -86.0821
- Phone
- 812-358-3464
Google Maps directionsApple Maps
Directions from the park
Address: 4345 S. County Road 275 W. Vallonia, IN 47281
Nearby state parks
Sources and freshness
- Indiana State Parks — park page — last checked Oct 29, 2026
- Indiana State Parks 'Find A Park' property list + DNR ArcGIS site layers (coordinates)
- USGS PAD-US 4.1 (boundary and acreage)
“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