15 Ohio Campsites So Beautiful You’ll Want To Pitch A Tent Immediately

Updated: July 8, 2026

We live in such a beautiful state and there are so many different places to choose from and get back to nature.

If you’re in need of a wonderful weekend getaway, check out these awesome places to go camping here in the Buckeye State.

Grab the s’mores and the bug spray, friends. It’s time to get out there and enjoy a weekend under the stars.

Quick orientation before you pack the car. A handful of these are practically in Columbus’s backyard: Alum Creek is about 21 miles out, and the Buckeye Lake and Sunbury KOAs both sit under a 35-minute drive. Others, like Kelleys Island out on Lake Erie, earn a full long weekend. The state parks all book through ReserveOhio (up to six months ahead, or call 866-644-6727), while the KOAs and Lazy River take reservations on their own sites.

Mohican State Park

About: The campground at Mohican State Park offers a variety of overnight accommodations. They’ve got a large family campground with electric and non-electric sites, as well as camper cabins and Sherman cabins. Other amenities located near the campground complex include archery range, multi-use trails system, and historic grist mill.
Best for: cabin campers and hikers
Website: Mohican State Park
Reserve: ReserveOhio
Distance from Downtown Columbus: 78 miles

Shawnee State Park

About: Shawnee State Park has two campgrounds, and they could not be more different. The heavily wooded Turkey Creek Campground is the classic pick, with electric and non-electric sites that suit tents and trailers alike. The Ohio River Campground got a full rebuild and reopened as a modern spot right on the water: paved full-hookup sites, a marina with boat access, an 18-feature splash pad, and a big fenced dog park. Bring the RV to one and the tent to the other.
Best for: RVers and tent campers alike
Website: Shawnee State Park
Reserve: ReserveOhio
Distance from Downtown Columbus: 105 miles

Kelleys Island State Park

About: This lakeside campground offers Full-Hookup, Electric and Non-electric sites. They’ve got pet-friendly spots, a volleyball court, showers and flush toilets, and a playground. Plus, if you don’t want to camp in a tent, you can rent a cabin or a yurt!
Best for: a Lake Erie island weekend
Website: Kelleys Island State Park
Reserve: ReserveOhio
Distance from Downtown Columbus: 135 miles

Hocking Hills State Park

About: Located right next to Old Man’s Cave, this popular campground features direct access to the trails of the Hocking Hills area. They’ve got all of your typical campground amenities, including a pool, a playground, a volleyball court, a camp store, and even a laundry facility. If you’re looking to do some primitive camping, you can do that at the hike-in sites. The whole campground got a winter electrical overhaul and reopened in May 2026, so the sites and hookups are freshly updated.
Best for: hikers and first-time campers
Website: Hocking Hills State Park
Reserve: ReserveOhio
Distance from Downtown Columbus: 57 miles

Lazy River At Granville

About: The Lazy River at Granville offers primitive camping, water and electric and full hookup sites with water, electric and sewer. All sites have a picnic table and a fire ring and there’s a creek that runs the length of the campground, plus there are hiking trails in the woods around the campground. There’s plenty of fun for the whole family here, with a swimming pool, ziplines, sand volleyball, a game room, and more.
Best for: families who want a pool and ziplines
Website: Lazy River At Granville
Distance from Downtown Columbus: 40 miles

John Bryan State Park

About: The park’s wooded campground offers a total 56 camp sites, including both electric and non-electric sites. Most of the sites are partially shaded, which makes them ideal for tent camping. They each have picnic tables and fire rings. You can bring the dogs along because pets are permitted on all sites.
Best for: tent campers who want shade and quiet
Website: John Bryan State Park
Reserve: ReserveOhio
Distance from Downtown Columbus: 58 miles

Dillon State Park

About: Dillon State Park Campground offers a variety of overnight accommodations including a large family campground, equestrian campsites, group camp area, and deluxe vacation cabins. Amenities at the campground include basketball and volley ball courts, as well as free wifi at the camp store.
Best for: equestrians and cabin campers
Website: Dillon State Park
Reserve: ReserveOhio
Distance from Downtown Columbus: 58 miles

Alum Creek State Park

About: For a quick getaway from Columbus, Alum Creek State Park Campground is a perfect choice. They’ve got a beach and boat ramp for the exclusive use of campers, plus there are basketball and volleyball courts, mini-golf, horseshoe pits, and playgrounds. The campground offers all electric campsites and pets are welcome at all of them.
Best for: a fast getaway from Columbus
Website: Alum Creek State Park
Reserve: ReserveOhio
Distance from Downtown Columbus: 21 miles

Sunbury / Columbus North KOA

About: This snazzy, 100-acre campground has everything you need for the perfect camping trip. They’ve got room for everything, from tents to RVs, plus the place is jam packed with amenities like a pool, fishing spots, canoe and kayak rentals, and even a petting zoo.
Best for: families with young kids
Website: Sunbury / Columbus North KOA
Distance from Downtown Columbus: 33 miles

Hueston Woods State Park

About: If winter camping is your vibe, then you’ll want to plan a trip to Hueston Woods State Park. The campground is open year-round and offers over 200 electric sites, including 20 with full hookup, and more than 100 non-electric sites. Water is available year-round and amenities include outdoor checkers, basketball and volleyball courts, and playgrounds.
Best for: year-round and winter camping
Website: Hueston Woods State Park
Reserve: ReserveOhio
Distance from Downtown Columbus: 112 miles

Salt Fork State Park

About: While the campground at Salt Fork State Park primarily caters to RVs, there are some electric tent campsites available. The park also allows primitive camping, but reservations are required. Amenities at the campground include playgrounds, special access to a beach and boat docks (with permits), as well as gem mining.
Best for: RVers and gem-mining kids
Website: Salt Fork State Park
Reserve: ReserveOhio
Distance from Downtown Columbus: 91 miles

East Harbor State Park

About: East Harbor State Park campground is the largest campground in the Ohio State Park system. With full hookup, electric, non-electric, and ADA sites, there really is a spot for everyone. And everyone includes your pets because they’re permitted at all sites. If you’re feeling fancy, you could also take advantage of the yurts onsite! Amenities include a boat launch ramp and fish cleaning building for use by campers, plus a seasonal camp store where you can rent bikes or borrow board games.
Best for: big groups and boaters
Website: East Harbor State Park
Reserve: ReserveOhio
Distance from Downtown Columbus: 126 miles

Indian Lake State Park

About: Indian Lake State Park has some gorgeous, waterfront camping sites. There are electric, full hook-up, and premiums campsites available. Amenities include seasonal naturalist programs, playgrounds, basketball and volleyball, and bicycle and boat rental. Beach, swimming pool, boat ramp, and boat docks are provided for the exclusive use of registered campers.
Best for: waterfront campers and swimmers
Website: Indian Lake State Park
Reserve: ReserveOhio
Distance from Downtown Columbus: 74 miles

East Fork State Park

About: The campground at East Fork State Park provides plenty of shade for camping at its 300+ campsites. Amenities at the campground include miniature golf, a basketball court, a cornhole area, playgrounds, a nature center, a beach, and hand-powered boat and bike rentals.
Best for: the Cincinnati side of the state
Website: East Fork State Park
Reserve: ReserveOhio
Distance from Downtown Columbus: 97 miles

Buckeye Lake/Columbus East KOA

About: Chill out at this park-like campground, full of trees and open space. From primitive camping to deluxe cabins and everything in between, this classic campground has a lot to offer. Amenities include a game room, gem mining, outdoor games, sand volleyball, shuffleboard, peddle carts, a pool, and more.
Best for: family camping close to Columbus
Website: Buckeye Lake/Columbus East KOA
Distance from Downtown Columbus: 30 miles

Ohio Camping FAQ

Can you camp for free in Ohio?

Not at the state park campgrounds on this list, which all charge a nightly fee. Ohio’s state forests are a different story. You can pitch a tent for free at the designated primitive and backpack sites in forests like Zaleski, Shawnee, Tar Hollow, and Mohican, usually with a free self-registration permit. Just know that free means rustic: a fire ring and a cleared spot, not showers and electric hookups.

When do Ohio state park campgrounds open?

Some, like Hueston Woods, stay open year-round. Many others run a main season from around April through late October, then either close or drop down to limited sites and electric-only hookups from November through March. If you are planning a winter trip, check the specific campground before you load the car.

Which campground on this list is closest to Columbus?

Alum Creek State Park, about 21 miles from downtown, is the quick-getaway pick. After that, the Buckeye Lake and Sunbury KOAs both sit right around a 30-minute drive, so you can leave after work on a Friday and still have the tent up before dark.

Do you need reservations to camp at Ohio state parks?

For summer weekends and holidays, yes, and the good sites go fast. Book through ReserveOhio up to six months ahead for campsites (twelve months for cabins), online or at 866-644-6727. New dates open at 7am, so set an alarm if you are chasing a holiday weekend. Off-season and primitive sites are often first-come, first-served.

What’s the best Ohio campground for families?

The two KOAs near Columbus, Sunbury and Buckeye Lake, are built for kids, with pools, gem mining, and a petting zoo at Sunbury. Lazy River at Granville leans the same way, with pools and ziplines. If you would rather be in a state park, Alum Creek and Indian Lake both have easy water access and swimming close to home.