Charlestown State Park is a beautiful gem tucked along the Ohio River in Charlestown, Indiana, about 30 minutes north of Louisville, Kentucky. On more than 5,100 acres, this park offers a unique blend of activities for a fun family weekend. Its rich natural history houses the remains of Rose Island, a 1920s amusement park.
The park is on land that was the former Indiana Army Ammunition Plant, dating back to WWII. Its history, though, goes further back into the Ice Age, when glaciers over time created the river and the local landmark, Fourteen Mile Creek.
Top 3 features:
- Rose Island
- Hiking
- Camping
Ideal for: Families and couples. This park is pet friendly; just keep your furry friends on a leash!
Rose Island
Rose Island was a thriving amusement park in the 1920s. Its extensive amenities included a swimming pool, small zoo, Ferris wheel, shooting gallery, cafeteria, and more. Unfortunately, the 1937 Flood destroyed the park beyond repair, but some of the park’s remains can still be seen through its mile-long loop. The landmarks give you a nostalgic history of the park, and much of the path parallels The Ohio River. When you cross the Portersville Bridge to access the island, make sure you pause to take in the scenery and grab a photo op with your crew!
Due to the park featuring skeletal remains of the structures, this site is perfect for Halloween lovers who appreciate the eeriness that accompanies Rose Island’s nostalgia.
Rose Island is a fun time for all, but be prepared – the paved path downhill and the intense climb back up is not for the faint of heart! Bring some water and bring a buddy if you are pushing a stroller. On occasion, the park offers guided tours of Rose Island. Check with the park rangers to see when tours will be offered next.
Take a Hike!
With more than 16 miles of marked hiking trails, Charlestown State Park has some gorgeous scenic trails ranging from easy to rugged, the longest trail at 3.1 miles. If you want a longer trek, you can easily combine Trails 3, 4, and the Rose Island Loop, with other trails nearby to extend your adventure!
The trails are excellent for wildlife (especially the 72 species of birds you can find in the park), offer shaded trails in the forest, and include gorgeous scenery to view wildflowers.
Charlestown State Park now has a Track Chair for guests to use on the paved portion of trail 3, and trail 7, the Rose Island loop. Guests must give the park office a call at least 24 hours ahead of the time they plan to use the chair. Guests must come to the Charlestown Office on the day of the Track Chair rental to complete a User Agreement form and watch a brief training video. Guests will then be able to proceed to the Rose Island trailhead to receive the Track Chair from a staff member. The staff member will provide the guest with a brief hands-on training of the Track Chair, then the guest can take the Track Chair to Rose Island and back. The Track Chair can be rented out between 8:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Sunday – Saturday starting April 15th, 2026, and can be rented out between 8:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Monday – Friday starting November 1st, 2026.
Fishing Too!
If you don’t mind carting your fishing pole and tackle for a short walk, you can also access stream-bank fishing off of Trail 3! Or if you’d like to spend the day boating, you can drive to Charlestown Landing, located at the Southern tip of the park, and take one of the most scenic hikes on Trail 6 to kick off your morning before spending the day on the water.
You can also take guided tours along trails such as the Once in a Blue Moon Hike or the Full Moon Hike. See the park’s event page for more details!
Dust Off the ol’ Tent!
Charlestown State Park offers an incredible camping space conveniently located near the majority of the trails. Located near the Park Office and picnic shelters, the campground is accessible for 60 full hook-up sites, 132 electric sites, and offers campground reservations. Whether you’re camping old-school or bringing the family camper, this area is a gorgeous way to spend the weekend surrounded by lush forests and wildlife. The campground parking lot also leads to Trail #5, which leads to a beautiful overlook of Fourteenmile Creek.
You can call 1-866-622-6746 or reserve online at Camp.IN.gov.
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Maps
Contact Information:
- 12500 Indiana 62, Charlestown, IN 47111
- 812-256-5600
Getting There: Driving instructions, gate entrances
- Cost: $7 a car for Indiana tags, $15 for out-of-state tags.
Parking
- There are 7 sizable parking lots in the park – click here to view the park map, which labels each parking area.
For more information on Charlestown State Park and for up-to-date safety regulations, check out the Indiana Department of Natural Resources website.
