Best Campgrounds near Amelia, OH

The area surrounding Amelia, Ohio contains several established campgrounds within a 30-mile radius, primarily along the Little Miami River and nearby lakes. East Fork State Park Campground, located about 10 miles from Amelia, provides year-round camping with both tent and RV sites featuring electric hookups, showers, and sanitary facilities. Stonelick State Park Campground, situated approximately 15 miles northwest of Amelia, offers seasonal camping from April through October with electric sites that accommodate tents, RVs, and cabins. Several other mixed-use campgrounds can be found within driving distance, including Winton Woods Campground in Cincinnati and A.J. Jolly Park in northern Kentucky.

Most campgrounds in the region require advance reservations, particularly during summer weekends and fall foliage season. "The nice thing about the Dayton metro parks is that each night in the front country camp sites they include a bundle of fire wood," noted one camper about nearby facilities. Water levels at East Fork Lake and other waterways can fluctuate seasonally, affecting boat launches and swimming areas. Several campgrounds offer paved bike paths connecting to longer regional trails, including the 76-mile Milford Bike Trail accessible from Jim Terrell Park. Parking at trailheads and popular water access points often fills quickly during summer weekends, with most campgrounds maintaining relatively level sites suitable for both tents and recreational vehicles.

Campers consistently mention the lake views and water recreation as highlights at East Fork and Stonelick Lake State Parks. Sites situated near lakes and reservoirs typically book earliest, especially during peak summer months. Fishing access receives positive mentions in reviews of most area campgrounds, with several facilities offering boat rentals during warmer months. A visitor remarked that "Autumn is the best time to camp in Ohio" when describing Cowan Lake State Park, reflecting the popularity of fall camping throughout the region. While many campgrounds provide modern amenities like showers and electric hookups, several reviews note limited privacy between sites at more developed facilities. The mixed-use nature of these campgrounds accommodates various camping styles, from primitive tent sites to RV pads with water and electric connections.

Best Camping Sites Near Amelia, Ohio (80)

    1. East Fork State Park Campground

    65 Reviews
    Concord, OH
    6 miles
    Website
    +1 (513) 734-2730

    $29 - $30 / night

    "This is your standard Ohio State Park campground.  It has the usual parking, water, restrooms, camp store, and activities.  East Fork is rather nice as it has the lake and long trails. "

    "Our favorite campsite for the outskirts of Cincinnati. Lots of great spots available! You can get to the lake in about a 15 minute drive."

    2. Stonelick State Park Campground

    30 Reviews
    Goshen, OH
    16 miles
    Website
    +1 (513) 625-6593

    "Our spot was right next to a small Pollinator trail that lead to the water. My little ones had a blast riding their scooters around the round about. The restrooms are a quick walk and very clean."

    "This is a great park in southern Ohio, easy to reach, 20 minutes off the interstate 275. There are a number of good sites, but some with a significant slope that leveling would be an issue."

    3. A.J. Jolly Park & Campground

    11 Reviews
    Alexandria, KY
    13 miles
    Website

    "Amazing place for the price and proximity to the city!! Just wish there was more hiking trails"

    "Close to Cincinnati but each site is wooded and on lake front , lots to do!"

    4. Tucker's Landing

    8 Reviews
    Fort Thomas, KY
    12 miles
    Website

    $25 - $54 / night

    "Site 22 had a beautiful view of the ohio river. The kids enjoyed seeing the barges going up and down the river. It was very quiet and peaceful. Sites were very clean."

    "Not much in the surrounding area."

    5. Kincaid Lake State Park Campground

    25 Reviews
    Falmouth, KY
    21 miles
    Website
    +1 (859) 654-3531

    $24 - $38 / night

    "Primitive tent camping is back in its own little part of the park near the lake (there are a few lakeside sites if you have a small kayak or raft to use while there) and while we liked the privacy the"

    "we really enjoy Kincaid. nice and quiet. when we go its usually just to relax at the camper. most sites are pretty un-level. another downfall is nothing is within a true walking distance, the pool, mini"

    6. Winton Woods Campground

    23 Reviews
    Fairfield, OH
    23 miles
    Website

    "Tent/RV sites were level and had lots of Shade and trees for Hammocks. 1.7 mile paved walking trail is great for walking, running and biking. A short 18 hole Disc Golf course is close by."

    "The location is located on the lake with access to put in a kayak or canoe. The bathrooms are clean, with private combined shower/dressing stalls."

    7. Jim Terrell Park

    3 Reviews
    Terrace Park, OH
    11 miles
    Website
    +1 (513) 831-4192

    $5 / night

    "The Milford bike trail is part of a paved bike path that is 76 miles long.  This campsite is tucked away as in across the street from the bike trail."

    8. Big Bone Lick State Historic Site Campground

    45 Reviews
    Patriot, IN
    30 miles
    Website
    +1 (859) 384-3522

    $35 / night

    "We wanted to be close to the Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati, Ohio. We found this campground and were pleased with the less than 1 hour drive to get to the stadium."

    "This campground is on top of a hill close to the Ohio river. Nice paved sites (not level, but most are not anyway). Water hookup is far away, but we don’t usually hook it up to our pop up."

    9. Winton Woods Campground Hamilton County Park

    14 Reviews
    Fairfield, OH
    23 miles
    Website
    +1 (513) 851-2267

    $43 - $73 / night

    "The campground fills up fast and there were plenty of shaded electric sites close to the lake. There were also plenty of pull through sites for the big rigs."

    "Playground and walk path well kept."

    10. The Landing at Bear Creek RV Park

    5 Reviews
    Felicity, OH
    15 miles
    Website
    +1 (513) 787-3240

    $50 / night

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Recent Reviews near Amelia, OH

593 Reviews of 80 Amelia Campgrounds


  • Dave C.
    Oct. 9, 2025

    Follow The River RV Resort

    Don't ask for a refund if you can't park there!

    The manager at this RV park assaulted me and snatched my iPhone out of my hand! Are you kidding me?? The video was edited(shortened) because these review sites won't allow anything more than 30 seconds. BUT what was said by both of us beforehand and afterwards doesn't matter. The fact is she's supposed to be the professional and she not only called me a"d*ck" and an"a**hole", but she proceeded to violently take my phone out of my hand and refused to give it back. I ultimately talked her into giving it back but WHO DOES THIS? She later actually punched me in the face. Yeah! Right in the face. But unfortunately, the video started and when she got on me, I guess I accidentally hit the stop button I was so scared. What was I scared of? Because, in the professions I've had, you learn that people are capable of anything. I didn't know if she was armed. I know I wasn't. I called 911 and am going to pursue the prosecution of her for assaulting a person over 60 yrs old, which is a felony. These types of animals do not need to be on our streets much less managing a nice RV park. This all came about because the sewer pipe on my motorhome is only 5" off the ground when parked. The lot she gave me has a sewer inlet pipe that sits over a foot off the ground meaning the feces would have to flow uphill to work. When I pointed this out, this manager said,"that's your problem, you'll have to figure it out". When I asked for a refund, she said no way and started in on my calling me vulger names(she did this several times). What professional person dealing with the public does this? She also refused to move me to another site saying she doesn't have any, but anyone can look around and see the park is not even half full- so, that's a lie. Annndddd, there's more! But I'll be posting every day on this site(and many others), so I’ll address more tomorrow and in the coming days and weeks.

  • Shelby I.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 29, 2025

    Rocky Fork State Park Campground

    A place to sleep

    Camp sites are very tightly packed together and feels like I'm in someone's backyard that is having trouble growing grass.

  • Kara S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 6, 2025

    Stonelick State Park Campground

    Big sites but can be loud and crowded

    Nice big sites, fairly level. We camped at site 35 and it was very slopey, our levelers only helped a little. First night the shower house STUNK but then the next day it smelled fine while our closest bathrooms were out of order. The trail to the lake was right next to the sit and that was lovely.

  • Evan C.
    Aug. 18, 2025

    Rocky Fork State Park Campground

    Fine tenting, poorly kept

    8/13/2025

    Got here after dark, but navigated to a pretty secluded loop that's just for tenting (site 61 - see map). Stakes went in fine. Seemed to be a lot of different types of spiders, which was cool to see and even cooler that they didn't bug me. Less cool - the site wasn't very clean - bits of trash that a park attendant/ranger definitely should've been picking up. Moreover, there were stray cats living in that section (I saw three), which were very cute but I'm sure they're not living their best life and the wildlife probably don't appreciate them being around either. I called later to let the park know (nobody was around during my stay) and they said they'd get maintenance on it. If you stay here and see them, I'd urge you to let the park know again, or maybe call animal control.

  • Evan C.
    Aug. 18, 2025

    Jim Terrell Park

    Looks Good!

    8/13/2025

    NOTE: I did NOT stay here. I was going to, but decided to drive a little farther than I had initially planned. I did want to check it out though because there aren't many reviews. 

    This looks like a solid option to tent for a night though. The town looks very nice and quiet, and the park seems well-kempt. If the sites are on the river, just know there's a restaurant on the opposite bank that might be a source of noise/light at night, and the park itself is kind of close to the road. I'm not exactly sure where one would tent, but there did seem to be some flat space behind a rafting/kayaking shack to the left as you pull in.

  • Rhonda B.
    Aug. 17, 2025

    The Landing at Bear Creek RV Park

    Best full time campground on the Ohio River!

    We are full-time RVers and this is by far the best park we've stayed at! It's peaceful and beautiful, everyone (especially Management) is so friendly and fun! The laundry facility is one of the greatest amenities as we've stayed other places without one, so we truly appreciate it! The splash pad is fantastic for children and adults alike! There's a dog park, and a kids kangaroo jump pad as well. The view of the river is beautiful! On weekends there's entertainment and/or cornhole tournaments to bring everyone together. The park is maintained perfectly and I've enjoyed calling it home! By far the best park in Southern Clermont County! Must see!

  • Kim H.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 10, 2025

    Cowan Lake State Park Campground

    Sizeable Site, Good for Families

    We stayed in Site 78. The lot was VERY large and well maintained. The asphalt pad was decently level; a picnic table and fire ring were included.

    There was significant variety in the types of sites: some were quite wooded while others were full sun. Some sites were much larger than others.

    The restrooms were decent. They weren't new; however, they were very clean. I didn't check out any bath houses.

    The campground was filled with parents and kids riding bikes, playing, and having fun. Nobody was out of control or obnoxious. Plenty of dogs were present.

    We'll return next summer.

  • Robert H.
    Aug. 9, 2025

    Northern Kentucky RV Park

    Nice place to stay on the way price is priced accordingly on the high side

    Very nice attendant helpful even tried to help me find a lower priced campground but the others were full

  • K
    Aug. 8, 2025

    Cedarbrook Campground

    Wonderful stay w one hiccup

    This is a very well managed and maintain campground except the laundry facility. Washers are old and bed bugs were found. If you stick to your own camper you will be safe. Any campground that has cabins will have bedbugs. That’s a fact!


Guide to Amelia

Camping near Amelia, Ohio offers a mix of paved and rustic experiences within a region dominated by several watersheds. The area sits between the Little Miami River and East Fork Lake, placing most campgrounds at elevations between 800-900 feet above sea level with seasonal water level fluctuations affecting campsite access. Water management projects throughout the region create numerous reservoir-based recreation opportunities where fishing and paddling remain popular from April through October.

What to do

Fishing access: East Fork State Park Campground features multiple lake fishing locations with varying depths. "The lake is nice you can rent kayaks canoes. Or use your own boat. The boat ramp is nice," notes one reviewer about the access points available beyond the standard beach areas.

Mountain biking: Jim Terrell Park connects to a 1.2-mile mountain biking trail adjacent to the campground. "What you may not realize is right next to the campground is a mountain biking trail that is 1.2 miles long... I don't bike this trail as that would not be wise with my coordination skills. However, I have hiked it several times," explains one visitor about this lesser-known trail option.

Golfing: Kincaid Lake State Park Campground offers both mini-golf and full-size golfing options. "Golf (both full size and mini) and fishing seem to be the main attraction, there are also sports fields, a pool, and some short hiking trails," reports one camper about the diverse recreation options.

Kayak launching: Several campgrounds provide direct water access for personal watercraft. "The campground is set on a lake with a kayak launch site right in the campground. I like the fact that there is a walking/bike path throughout the park," mentions a visitor to Winton Woods Campground regarding the convenient access.

What campers like

Electric sites with shade: The mix of amenities and natural settings draws positive feedback. "Sites situated near lakes and reservoirs typically book earliest, especially during peak summer months," with one camper noting specifically about Stonelick State Park Campground: "Nice big sites, fairly level. We camped at site 35 and it was very slopey, our levelers only helped a little... The trail to the lake was right next to the site and that was lovely."

Pollinators and wildlife areas: Several campgrounds maintain natural areas that support local ecosystems. "Despite the rain and the wind we had a great time! Our spot was right next to a small Pollinator trail that lead to the water," reports a visitor about their experience at Stonelick Lake.

Historic sites: Educational opportunities abound in the region. "This is a small and simple park with a lot of opportunities to learn. There are a lot of little trails that criss cross each other and a lot of informational signs and a little museum," mentions one visitor about Big Bone Lick State Historic Site, adding "We love the live bison."

Riverside camping: Several locations provide waterfront access on both lakes and rivers. "Site 22 had a beautiful view of the ohio river. The kids enjoyed seeing the barges going up and down the river," reports one visitor to Tucker's Landing about this unique camping experience.

What you should know

Site levelness varies significantly: Many campgrounds feature challenging terrain. "None are level looking so you will need to know what your doing to level your rig," explains one camper about sites at A.J. Jolly Park, while another notes "It would have been nice for the gentleman on the phone to tell me that when I was booking. Instead we struggled to get into and out of our site."

Limited privacy between sites: Space constraints affect several campgrounds. "Sites are a bit small and some close together but the park offers a lot," mentions one camper about Big Bone Lick State Park Campground.

Cell service limitations: Despite proximity to Cincinnati, connectivity can be unreliable. "One final note: for a park so close to a large city (Cincinnati), I was surprised the cell service was so lacking (on Verizon). We eked out one and occasionally two bars of 4G," reports a visitor about East Fork State Park.

Permit requirements: Some areas require advance registration through local authorities. "You have to go into town to book it or have a police officer register you. The local office is open Mondays thru Friday (8:30 - 4:30 PM)," explains a visitor to Jim Terrell Park about the sometimes confusing registration process.

Tips for camping with families

Multiple playgrounds: Several parks offer various play areas across their grounds. "The nature center offered movies in the evening for guest... Playgrounds are in several loops (I saw them in C and G)," reports a visitor about East Fork State Park regarding the entertainment options.

Educational wildlife viewing: Animal exhibits provide learning opportunities. "Amazing views of the water and surrounding wooded areas... Great place to swim during daytime hours, just remember to use caution and don't go out of designated area," notes one reviewer about opportunities at A.J. Jolly Park & Campground.

Halloween celebrations: Seasonal events can affect campground atmosphere. "When we reserved months earlier, we knew that our first night (a Saturday) was 100% full as we got the very last site. What we did not know is that there was a HUGE Halloween celebration complete with 30-40 decorated golf carts parading through the campground," explains a visitor about their October experience at East Fork.

Splash pads and swimming: Water features remain popular during warmer months. "Splash pad, pavilion, playground, Gaga pit, and dog park are a few of the great amenities. Each lot has a fire pit and the lots are large. They do activities for the kids every weekend and also have bands!" reports a visitor about The Landing at Bear Creek.

Tips from RVers

Concrete pads and leveling: Site surface types vary significantly between parks. "Camp sites are all blacktop, level, and clean. Nice bath houses, and playgrounds. Some trails but not a lot else to see. Close to food and shopping areas," notes one camper about Winton Woods Campground, highlighting the convenience of prepared sites.

Hookup locations: The placement of utilities can create challenges. "Water hook ups are on the opposite side of electrical on several sites," reports one RVer about inconsistent utility placement at certain campgrounds, requiring longer hoses and cords.

Dump station access: Not all parks offer on-site sewer hookups. "They have a dump station situated in between the entry road to the Flatwood RV section and equestrian area," notes one camper about the facilities at A.J. Jolly Park.

Reservation systems: Online booking can be challenging at some locations. "We needed to stay on a Monday night and tried all weekend (Sat and Sun before) to book a site online. Both the mobile site and the full website didn't work," explains one RVer about their experience with Hamilton County Park's reservation system.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular campground near Amelia, OH?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Amelia, OH is East Fork State Park Campground with a 4.1-star rating from 65 reviews.

What parks are near Amelia, OH?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 22 parks near Amelia, OH that allow camping, notably West Fork of Mill Creek Lake and Paint Creek Lake.