Best Campgrounds near Bellefontaine, OH

Surrounding Bellefontaine, Ohio are several established campgrounds offering diverse overnight accommodations within Logan County and nearby areas. Indian Lake State Park Campground in Lakeview provides year-round access to tent sites, RV spaces, cabins, and glamping options along its shoreline. Ohio State Eagles Family Recreation Park in Bellefontaine features similar accommodation types with electric hookups, while Zane Shawnee Caverns & Southwind Park combines camping with unique geological features. Most campgrounds in the region maintain standard amenities including water access, picnic tables, and fire rings with seasonal operation schedules.

Several campgrounds in the area operate seasonally, with peak availability from April through October. Indian Lake State Park maintains year-round accessibility, though facilities may be limited during winter months. Reservation requirements vary by location, with most established campgrounds requiring advance booking during summer weekends and holidays. The relatively flat terrain makes most sites accessible without special vehicles, though some lakeside areas may experience periodic flooding or saturation after heavy rainfall. Electrical hookups are common throughout the region, while full-service sites with sewer connections are more limited. A camper noted about nearby Delaware State Park, "The campground is setup in a nice layout with each of the separate sections having a spoke and wheel layout with a bathhouse in the middle. Sites are roomy and we like the wooded feel."

Lakefront camping represents a significant draw to the region, particularly at Indian Lake State Park where boating, fishing and swimming access attract summer visitors. Water-based activities dominate the warm-weather months, though many campgrounds offer hiking trails, playgrounds, and recreational fields. Proximity to attractions like Zane Shawnee Caverns provides additional entertainment options beyond typical campground recreation. Public feedback indicates variable experiences with campground maintenance and amenities. One review of Indian Lake noted, "Campground had a nice well maintained pool with lifeguards. Campground had clean bathrooms and showers, and everything was well maintained. Would have liked more hiking trails." Visitors consistently mention campground cleanliness as important factors when evaluating their experience, while noting that trail development varies considerably between properties.

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Best Camping Sites Near Bellefontaine, Ohio (80)

    1. Indian Lake State Park Campground

    34 Reviews
    Lakeview, OH
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (937) 843-3553

    "This Ohio State Park is in a small quaint town. Good sites, nice beach + a real swimming pool. Many places for fishing from shore OR launching your boat !"

    "The campground was nearly empty so that was nice but the surrounding area was very crowded. There was nearly no area on the lake that didn’t have houses. The campground was clean and well maintained."

    2. Kiser Lake State Park Campground

    13 Reviews
    Fletcher, OH
    15 miles
    Website
    +1 (937) 362-3822

    "I may be biased, with it being close to home, but they have a lot for the kids to do. Beach, volleyball net, playground. Plenty of water locations. For me the bathrooms are unusable."

    "This park is know for the lake that is kayak and canoe friendly since it doesn’t allow any kind of boat with a motor. It also features a beach , 2 playgrounds and several hiking trails."

    3. Back 40 Campground

    3 Reviews
    Ridgeway, OH
    10 miles
    Website
    +1 (937) 468-2267

    $40 - $45 / night

    "Nice admenities like a clubhouse with pool tables, clean flush toilets and shower areas, a nice small lake for swimming."

    4. Ohio State Eagles Family Recreation Park

    1 Review
    Bellefontaine, OH
    6 miles
    Website
    +1 (937) 593-1565

    "Great people who are not in your business every time you turn around. Extremely helpful with anything you need and they go the extra mile even if all you need is to dump your tanks."

    5. Buck Creek State Park Campground

    33 Reviews
    Clarence J. Brown Dam and Reservoir, OH
    27 miles
    Website
    +1 (937) 322-5284

    $23 - $35 / night

    "A well manicured campground just outside Dayton, easy to get to, back in pavement site with 30A electric, picnic table and fire pit. Plenty of potable water spigots around, just not at the site."

    "I did not spend enough time here to give a thorough review, but what I will say is that this site is nice if you need a campsite for a couple nights while passing through Ohio."

    6. Love's RV Hookup-Bellefontaine OH 810

    1 Review
    Bellefontaine, OH
    3 miles
    Website
    +1 (937) 565-6089

    $32 / night

    7. Zane Shawnee Caverns & Southwind Park

    2 Reviews
    Zanesfield, OH
    7 miles
    Website
    +1 (937) 592-9592

    8. Welcome Woods RV Campgrounds

    1 Review
    Lakeview, OH
    9 miles
    +1 (937) 843-2465

    "It was a grassy patch no actual pad to park but as we drove around there were plenty of areas that had gravel pads available."

    9. Rittenhouse Resort

    2 Reviews
    Bellefontaine, OH
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (937) 652-3400

    "The only real negative we had was we were right next to a group of people who took up four sites and were very loud all night long and kind of rude the whole time."

    10. Resting Roost

    1 Review
    Lakeview, OH
    11 miles
    Website
    +1 (614) 301-2288

    $21 - $30 / night

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Recent Reviews near Bellefontaine, OH

416 Reviews of 80 Bellefontaine Campgrounds


  • Lisa M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 4, 2025

    Alum Creek State Park Campground

    Nice park but some traffic noise

    Spent three nights here while we were visiting friends in Lewis Center. We stayed in F09 and it was a great spot. Lots of protection on both sides so it was very secluded. And close to the shower house. Only reason I didn’t give this five stars was there was still quite a bit of traffic noise around the park that you could hear. Some nice hiking trails as well. Campsite was nice and level. Showers were super clean and awesome water pressure.

  • Shannon G.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 3, 2025

    Indian Lake State Park Campground

    Lots of sites

    Our pad was not level front to back so we had to adjust a little bit. The fire ring was nice but our picnic table was beat up. I went to move it and the seat pulled right off. We stayed on a Sunday night so it wasn’t packed. There are a ton of sites. Some had great shade and others didn’t have any at all. The bathrooms were flush toilets and they did have shower houses too. The camp store is really big and it’s right next to their pool. They have a dog park, place to dock your boat and a small beach. I would imagine this would be a pretty busy during the summer.

  • Lisa M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 30, 2025

    Resting Roost

    Okay for one night I guess

    We were kind of stuck, looking for a place to stay as we didn’t have reservations during Labor Day weekend so found this place that was listed on Hip Camp. Near Belle Center. PROS- was relatively cheap, $24,out in the middle of fields so pretty quiet, host seems pretty nice. CONS- had to back up a 100 yard driveway, lots of bugs, smells as they just fertilized the fields (not the owners fault). Okay for setting up a tent or a small rig but wouldn’t advise for trailers. Electric was an extension cord. I think water is available. Owner could have mowed the place a bit.

  • Lisa M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 30, 2025

    Buck Creek State Park Campground

    Quiet park with level spaces

    This park was pretty packed over Labor Day weekend, but it still felt like it wasn’t super crowded. Our space was nice and level. Nice hiking trails in the area. Showers were very nice and clean. Several water spickets throughout the park if you needed to access them. It was a bit of a drive back into the campground, probably 3 1/2 miles.

  • Megan M.
    Aug. 27, 2025

    Grand Lake St. Marys State Park — Grand Lake St Marys State Park

    Campground is fine but the lake reeks of POO

    First the good: the campground is big and spacious. Some areas were like RV parking lots- no trees, no shade, but there was a grassy area in the middle with nice big trees and shade. There is a nice pool and splash pad. Weirdly, the pool closed from 4 to 5, leaving us with nowhere to go on a 90+ degree day. 

    Now, the not-so-good: we stayed in a camper cabin and it was very shabby and dirty. It had bunkbeds, a full size fridge, and a folding table and folding chairs, which was nice (and rare in Ohio state park camper cabins). The bathrooms were average. Not new, not especially sparkling clean, but fine. Not gross, at least.

    Now, the terrible: the entire lake stinks of pig poop. All the air smells like poo. You feel like you are breathing feces when you approach the water. We were right on the water so we couldn't escape the smell. 

    This lake is notorious for having algae blooms that prohibit swimming. So I did a google search before our trip and the Ohio Department of Health reports that the bacteria level in this lake is dangerously high, and no one should swim in this lake. However, when we walked to the campground beach, there was no sign or warning or anything indicating the bacteria in the water- and people were letting their children and dogs swim in it!! 

    We opted to not kayak or paddleboard in the lake because it was clear that it was full of poop. So we had nothing to do at the park except go to the pool (it was too hot to do anything else). We ended up driving around the country roads and seeing the sights so we could escape the smelly lake and hot poo fumes. Neil Armstrong was born in nearby Wapakoneta so there are some sights to see there, and the towns of Celina and ? one other are cute too. 

    Overall, I will not return to this lake or this part of the state. If you can't get in the water, paddle board or kayak, the only thing left to do is ride around in a boat and hope the water doesn't get anywhere near your mouth or your skin. No thanks.

  • d
    Aug. 19, 2025

    River Trail Campground II

    Just So-SO

    We stayed 3 nights. Our site was a dirt pads. There are mostly full-time residents. There is the smell of a massive Chicken coup at our site. THERE ARE A TON OF FLIES!!!!! We had flies for days!. We kill 3 and 5 more would pop-up in our trailer. I was so happy to leave this fly infested site. 

    It's very hard for me to give them less than 5 stairs because, everyone was so nice. We had them filled up our propane tanks and they actually brought them to us and hooked them up while we were gone. Someone even brought us wood planks for stabilizing our trailer. However, truth be told…. our spot was horrible-right next to the laundry room in direct sun and it stunk! The women's shower was gross too. ( I ended up, not using their shower room.)

    We never used their pool.

  • JThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 16, 2025

    Cross Creek Camping Resort

    A Very Pleasant and Quiet Campground

    This campground is clean and we'll maintained. They have a pool, and activities on the weekends. Must sure have a tree and grass with fire pits and a table.

  • Don H.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 6, 2025

    Ottawa Metro Park Campground

    Most Excellent Municipal Campground

    This is a beautiful, peaceful campground that's not a parking lot like many city campgrounds. It's clean as clean can be, including the bathrooms. The bath house has men's and women's bathrooms as well as a largish entry room with water fountains (one accessible to those in a wheelchair or child), a vending machine, information about the park, an event calendar, and brochures. While we were there, there was a Blue Grass music event scheduled at the nearby amphitheater.

    I was very impressed with the design of the restrooms regarding accessibility. I don't have a physical disability, but I always consider what the experience would be for someone who does. Everything in the bathrooms was intentionally designed for accessibility, not a thoughtless retrofit. The accessible shower is amazing.

    The campground is first-come first serve, but don't worry about getting a site. There are plenty. Pick up a registration envelope from the mailbox at the entrance sign, complete the triplicate form and follow the instructions. Money and form goes into an envelope and is dropped into the payment slot at the bathhouse.

    If you need firewood, there is an open shed to get some, and instructions on how to pay for it. This is so smart to keep people from bringing in and using their own possibly infested firewood.

    There is a dumpster and water available between sites. Each site comes with a picnic. And the fields around the park are filled with bunnies!

    The sites are well spaced and beautifully maintained. We picked site 30 because it had ample trees on its west side to create nice shade in the afternoon.

    A very relaxed, nice park host lives onsite. The entire vibe is chill. It seems to be run more like in an honor system, but they do have rules. Honor the rules to keep this campground special.

    This campground is only one part of a larger Metro park with lots to offer. Pick up a copy of the booklet (in the bath house) about the entire park system and what it offers.

    The price when we stayed was $30/night with a $5 discount for seniors, and a limit of 30 days (which is incredibly generous).

    We stayed for 11 nights and will return again next time we're traveling through this area.

  • S
    Jul. 27, 2025

    Sunset Springs RV Resort

    Great Family Weekend

    We absolutely loved it! Everyone was so friendly to us “weekenders” and can’t wait to come back. This location is not technically in Upper area. The website has two different locations. We ended up in the one in Mohican area in Loudonville. No complaints here, it was the best camping experience we’ve ever had! Thank you so much for a great trip even through the rain :) -The Rife’s + 4


Guide to Bellefontaine

Camping near Bellefontaine, Ohio, offers a variety of experiences for outdoor enthusiasts. From well-maintained campgrounds to fun activities, there’s something for everyone in this beautiful region.

What to do:

  • Boating and Fishing: Many campers enjoy the water activities available at Alum Creek State Park Campground. One visitor mentioned, "Amenities include boating, fishing, disc golf, MTB trails, live music select evenings, etc."
  • Hiking Trails: Explore the scenic trails at John Bryan State Park Campground. A camper shared, "Lots of great hiking. Sites are small but well maintained."
  • Disc Golf: If you’re into disc golf, check out Delaware State Park Campground, where one reviewer noted, "They put in a putt-putt course recently, had disc golf."

What campers like:

  • Clean Facilities: Campers appreciate the cleanliness of the restrooms and shower houses. A visitor at Caesar Creek State Park Campground remarked, "The showers are clean and the staff is friendly."
  • Spacious Sites: Many campgrounds offer ample space for tents and RVs. One happy camper at Buck Creek State Park Campground said, "Large park with a marina, archery range, disc golf and more."
  • Friendly Staff: Campers often mention the helpfulness of the staff. A reviewer at Deer Creek State Park Campground noted, "Friendly and helpful staff too."

What you should know:

  • Noise Levels: Some campgrounds can get noisy, especially during busy weekends. A camper at Indian Lake State Park Campground mentioned, "No one seemed to care about the 10 pm quiet time."
  • Site Proximity: Many sites are close together, which might not suit everyone. A visitor at Mount Gilead State Park Campground said, "The sites are very close together."
  • Reservation Fees: Some campgrounds charge a reservation fee. A camper at Grand Lake St. Marys State Park pointed out, "You have to make a reservation. And reserving adds another $6.50."

Tips for camping with families:

  • Playgrounds: Look for campgrounds with playgrounds for kids. One reviewer at Dayton KOA Holiday mentioned, "There’s a large playground and a couple of different shelters."
  • Family-Friendly Activities: Choose campgrounds that offer various activities. A camper at Alum Creek State Park Campground noted, "Trivia night was fun and a free pancake breakfast on Saturday morning."
  • Safety: Ensure your campsite is safe for kids. A visitor at John Bryan State Park Campground said, "It was a fantastic experience! It had amazing amenities, super easy to navigate."

Tips from RVers:

  • Site Size: Check the size of RV sites before booking. A camper at Buck Creek State Park Campground mentioned, "The non-electric sites don't have a lot of space or privacy."
  • Electric Hookups: Make sure your site has the necessary hookups. A visitor at Deer Creek State Park Campground said, "They have a few primitive sites for tent campers."
  • Quiet Hours: Be aware of quiet hours to avoid disturbances. A camper at Indian Lake State Park Campground noted, "Quiet except for campground party animals who kept it going into the wee hours of the morning."

Camping near Bellefontaine, Ohio, provides a great mix of outdoor fun and relaxation. Whether you're with family or enjoying a solo trip, there's a campground that fits your needs.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best campgrounds near Bellefontaine, Ohio?

For camping near Bellefontaine, Indian Lake State Park Campground offers an excellent experience with lakeside sites and recreational opportunities just a short drive away. Another top option is Kiser Lake State Park Campground, offering serene settings with drive-in, hike-in, and walk-in access. Both campgrounds provide water and toilet facilities. For those willing to drive a bit further, the Ohio State Eagles Family Recreation Park provides a family-friendly atmosphere with boat access and RV amenities. The Bellefontaine area benefits from its proximity to several high-quality Ohio state parks, making it an ideal base for exploring central Ohio's outdoor recreation opportunities.

What fun activities are available when camping near Bellefontaine, Ohio?

The Bellefontaine area offers diverse recreational opportunities for campers. At John Bryan State Park Campground, you can enjoy excellent mountain biking on 12 miles of trails suitable for all skill levels, plus hiking through the adjacent Clifton Gorge and Glen Helen nature preserves. The park also features a children's playground and is near the charming town of Yellow Springs. Delaware State Park Campground provides a less crowded alternative with extensive parkland and trails. Water enthusiasts will enjoy swimming and fishing at several area parks. The region's attractions include the Temple of Tolerance near Wapakoneta and various historical sites. With multiple state parks within driving distance, activities range from boating and fishing to disc golf, hiking, and exploring unique geological features.

Are there RV-friendly campgrounds in Bellefontaine, Ohio?

Yes, several RV-friendly campgrounds serve the Bellefontaine area. Cross Creek Camping Resort offers pull-through sites specifically designed for RVs, though note that sites along the inner road experience more traffic. For a peaceful RV experience, Wapakoneta KOA provides shady sites, clean facilities, and a swimming pool in a quiet setting. Love's RV Hookup in Bellefontaine offers convenient access with full hookups for travelers. Most of these campgrounds provide water, toilets, and reservable sites. While some sites may not be perfectly level, the amenities and accessibility make the Bellefontaine area accommodating for RV camping trips.

What are the most affordable camping options in Bellefontaine, Ohio?

For budget-conscious campers near Bellefontaine, Ottawa Metro Park Campground offers reasonably priced sites with access to swimming areas, fishing spots, and walking trails. Another economical option is Back 40 Campground near Rushsylvania, providing basic amenities at affordable rates. State parks in the region typically offer the best value, with modest fees for tent camping. Many campgrounds in the area provide water and toilet facilities without premium pricing. For the most cost-effective experience, consider weekday camping during the shoulder seasons (late spring or early fall) when demand is lower. Always check for special rates or promotions that might be available, especially for longer stays.