Glamping options close to Bainbridge, Ohio offer year-round accommodations on varied terrain at elevations between 700-900 feet above sea level. The region's moderate climate features distinct seasons with summer temperatures averaging 75-85°F, ideal for water recreation and hiking. Winter glamping experiences near Bainbridge can drop to below freezing, requiring proper preparation for those seeking off-season outdoor adventures.
What to do
Fishing opportunities: 4-5 miles from campsites. Rocky Fork State Park Campground features a 2,080-acre lake with multiple fishing options. One camper noted, "Great campground... excellent fishing." The lake supports multiple species including crappie, bass, and catfish.
Disconnect completely: No cell service in some areas. At Long's Retreat Family Resort, visitors appreciate the digital detox. "Love no cell reception! Quiet clean and staff (owner) is always pleasant and helpful!" Another camper explained the benefit: "Best part is there is no phone service.....everyone has to actually spend time together and it's a great reset!"
Water recreation: Heated pool options available. Some private campgrounds like Beechwood Acres Camping Resort offer heated swimming pools. "The pool is heated and large enough for everyone to spread out," reports one visitor who appreciated this amenity during cooler weather camping trips.
What campers like
Surprising cleanliness: Updated facilities. Cowan Lake State Park Campground maintains their bathrooms and showers well. A visitor described, "The bathrooms were average for Ohio State parks- icky and grungy, but not gag-worthy. I'm used to the ickiness of state park bathrooms, so I wasn't grossed out. The showers were hot though, which is always a plus."
Privacy options: Walk-in tent sites. At Tar Hollow State Park Campground, tent campers can find more secluded options. "The primitive camping is at the North Ridge campsite at the top of the hill to the north of the lake. There is a single gravel parking lot here, and you are carrying your gear in at most 100 yards, up hill, to the farthest spot," explained one camper.
Varied terrain: Different site types. Glamping near Bainbridge includes options for different preferences. At Cowan Lake State Park, "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."
What you should know
Limited cell service: Plan accordingly. Several campgrounds in the region have minimal or no connectivity. As one camper at Shawnee State Park Campground reported, "There is absolutely no cell service in the Campground. The lodge at the top of the hill has a weak signal, but is better than nothing if you really need to check in with outside world."
Site selection crucial: Read descriptions carefully. Campsites vary significantly in size, slope, and shade. A visitor to Rocky Fork State Park advised, "There are more good sites than bad. 4,5,9,10, 147-165 those were my favorites." At Tar Hollow State Park, "It is the crest of the hill, so the different spots have different amounts of slope. Pay attention to the descriptions in the reservation website if you're not prepared for this."
Seasonal considerations: Some campgrounds close. While Rocky Fork State Park remains open year-round, other glamping options have limited seasons. Beechwood Acres operates from "Apr 1 - Oct 31," and Long's Retreat also has seasonal availability from April through October.
Tips for camping with families
Kid-friendly activities: Built-in entertainment. Stonelick State Park Campground provides multiple recreation options. One visitor observed, "Nice big sites, fairly level... The trail to the lake was right next to the site and that was lovely." Another mentioned it's a "Great place to bring your kids lots of activities for them."
Biking opportunities: Bring wheels. Several campgrounds feature loop roads and trails suitable for children's bikes. At Tar Hollow, "the whole site is one large cleared oval, with a large grassy area (well mown) at the crest. There is room for the kids (or dog) to run around in circles."
Nature programs: Educational experiences. Family-oriented campgrounds often provide guided activities. At Tar Hollow, "In past years we've been able to spend an hour or so at the nature rooms, and then let the kids go off with the naturalist on an hour+ guided hike down the creek to explore for wildlife and plants."
Tips from RVers
Leveling challenges: Scout your site. At Shawnee State Park, one RVer advised: "We were told that the site we'd been assigned was room enough for 52'. Our RV is only 34' so that would be more than enough. We got there and it was maybe 20-24" in length, with no wiggle room because one end was the park road/driveway, the other end a hill."
Limited hookups: Plan water usage. While some campgrounds offer full hookups, many state parks have electric only. A visitor at Cowan Lake noted, "It has water to fill tanks and Dumping Stations to empty as needed, so great semi-boondocking."
Connectivity reports: Work remotely if needed. One RVer at Cowan Lake shared specific internet speeds: "Internet here on t-mobile 5G home is 90Mbps down and 6 to 20Mbps up. Verizon on cellphone, only 10Mbs down, 1-3Mbps up. ATT cellphones are similar to Verizon. Great enough for work or play."
