6 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Van Buren State Park Campground provides accommodations for horseback riders with designated areas for horses to be kept during overnight stays. The park features recently added pens for horses as an alternative to tie-ups, allowing more secure containment options for equestrians. Campsites offer electric hookups at most sites, though some may not have functioning electrical service. The campground maintains pit toilets rather than flush facilities and lacks shower amenities. Tent camping, RV sites, and cabin options are available, with a separate equestrian camping area distinct from the standard camping loops. The park is easily accessible from Interstate 75 and remains open year-round. The campground area is flat, shaded, and comfortable with centralized well water.
Trails throughout Van Buren State Park accommodate horseback riding with interconnecting routes suitable for various skill levels. The campground is organized into two distinct loops, with one side specifically designated for equestrian use. Horse owners need to make reservations ahead of time, as walk-in camping is not permitted. The park offers a dog park area and small wildflower garden in addition to the horse-specific amenities. The dump station for RVs is located in a separate section of the park, requiring a drive from the campground. The park includes a playground near the campsites, making it suitable for families traveling with both children and horses. Trail systems provide scenic riding opportunities through the natural woodland setting. Reviews indicate the hosts are friendly and accommodating to equestrian campers.
"Since Van Buren State park is an easy 20 minutes away from home for me, i visit there often. it is clean and quiet, they dont get too busy and loud."
"It’s a small campground with one side as equestrian and the other side not. All sites had electric and water, no full hookup. There were only drop toilets and no showers."
from $35 / night
Check Availability"Lots of trails within reach and a horse riding stable if that is your thing. Heard lots of wolves, saw lots of tracks but no animals. I’d like to go back in the spring and hike around some more!"
"It is usually easy to get multiple sites next to each other with reservations.
There is a decent sandy beach here with a playground and volleyball net."
from $38 - $43 / night
Check Availability"Friendly staff, clean park, close to supermarkets and other food locations. RV repair and sales nearby. I got lucky and woke up to a horse and dog competition at no extra cost to me."
"We used our Starlink Mini and it worked well on a nearly cloudless day with unobstructed access to the sky. I would definitely stay here again."
from $20 / night
Check Availabilityfrom $100 - $160 / night
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TravelerFriendly staff, clean park, close to supermarkets and other food locations. RV repair and sales nearby. I got lucky and woke up to a horse and dog competition at no extra cost to me.
ScoutSince Van Buren State park is an easy 20 minutes away from home for me, i visit there often. it is clean and quiet, they dont get too busy and loud. the horse camp is nice with some new pens to keep your horse instead of them having to be tied up. They keep the restrooms clean, but no flush toilets, which dont bother me. My only complaint about Van Buren State park is that there are no shower facilities.
LegendThis is a typical fairground campground with open grassy areas for campsites surrounded by barns and tracks. The fairgrounds is located just off I-94 which makes for easy entrance and exit to the campground, but, means there is lots of road noise. Close by are plenty of stores, restaurants, gas stations, etc. In fact, there is a gap in the fence that runs around the fairgrounds allowing you to walk to a Walmart, McDonalds, Dunkin Donuts, and more.
We arrived without a reservation and the women in the office was very helpful providing a map with all available sites during our stay and letting us choose which one we wanted. One of the first things you notice is that a number of people are here long-term so we went to the back area hoping it would be quieter and less crowded. A number of the campsites are “buddy” sites meaning your patio opens to your neighbors so be careful which one you pick. This is pretty undesirable when the neighbor is a total stranger so we chose a site where we didn’t have anyone next to us.
They offer 50 amp full hook-up sites, 50 amp/water, and 30 amp/water sites with pull-thru and back-in options. There is a dump station located in the middle of the park which is easy to get to. The roads are wide and a lack of trees makes this campground accessible for any size RV. The sites are level but some lack grassy making the patio pretty dusty or muddy. Unfortunately, where we were was pretty muddy just after a light rain. This campground works best for RV’s and not tents. For tenters there is a designated section that is set in a corner of the park with large trees for shade but not much privacy between you and others. A water spigot is in the tent area and there was one picnic table. The camp office sells firewood but we only saw two fire pits in the whole park. Be aware that noise from the interstate and nearby train tracks may make for a restless night. Bathrooms are centrally located in the campground and were old and tired but relatively clean. On-site laundry is available.
Apparently, management is having some issues with campers not obeying some of the rules. One of the sad things about this campground is that campers have to be reminded to clean up after their dogs. Apparently, it is such an issue that we got a letter stating that if you don’t pick up your dogs poop you would be asked to leave. How sad is that? There is free WiFi which worked pretty well. Upon checking in, we had to sign a piece of paper stating that we would not download copyrighted material or stream movies or we would be asked to leave.
My favorite aspect of this campground is that they had a community garden that you were welcome to pick from. We got tomatoes, Swiss chard, peppers, broccoli, and more. Overall, this campground was fine for the few nights we were here and close to the attractions we wanted to visit. We never felt unsafe even though it was close to major cities. We chose this campground because we wanted to go to Ann Arbor and Dearborn and it was a very convenient location.
Pros:
· Good location if you want to visit Ann Arbor and Dearborn
· Close to interstate for easy access
· Long, level sites that will fit any RV
· Community garden you can pick from vegetables
· Stores and restaurants are nearby (some within walking distance)
Cons:
· Lots of road noise from I-94
· No trees for shade or privacy
· Would not recommend for tent camping
· Many campers are long-term
· “Buddy” campsites with patios facing each other
LegendWe stayed one night on our way to IN. We’ve never been here before and wanted to check it off our list. It’s a small campground with one side as equestrian and the other side not. All sites had electric and water, no full hookup. There were only drop toilets and no showers. They were clean but I don’t think I’d want to do more than a weekend there. It had a nice playground for kids and plenty of trails to hike or go horseback riding. They also had a dog park and small wildflower garden. The check in cabin had ice and wood for sale but no store. Our site was really nice. The pads were recently paved and had a huge bumper at the end. The fire ring was nice and the site had plenty of space for tents.
TravelerWe stayed during the week for one night. Campground was clean and quiet, had electric hookups at most sites. Host was very friendly. They also have a camp area for horses. Only criticism is you have to drive to another area of the park for an RV dump.
TravelerCampground is small but well maintained. Hiking is great. Probably better for people with horses. Electric did not work at all sites. Pit toilets did not seem sufficient for all camp sites.
GuideHad the pleasure of visiting first weekend in February, on the coldest weekend of the year! Nice little cabin set in about 800’ from where you park. It has a table, wood stove, and 4 sets of bunks in a back room. Lots of trails within reach and a horse riding stable if that is your thing. Heard lots of wolves, saw lots of tracks but no animals. I’d like to go back in the spring and hike around some more! Pro tip for cold nights is to block the back room and sleep in the main area-
RangerVan Buren State Park is very easy to access from I-75. It has tons of trails and a pond. There are a few places to car camp or RV camp nearby. I love getting out of town and visiting Van Buren State Park, and I have lots of good memories. It gets 4 stars because I now live in Montana and Montana camping outshines Ohio, but I can't bash on Van Buren State Park at all.
RangerThis is a nice place to camp if you dont mind the bigger parks. There is electrical on each site and is mostly a place for campers and RVs. There are fire pits and picnic tables at each site. It is usually easy to get multiple sites next to each other with reservations.
There is a decent sandy beach here with a playground and volleyball net. Also in the park are some small dirt trails for hiking and biking. There are enough loops here to go for walks as well.
Most of the sites are in the sun, but there are a few sites with more shade and tree cover.
Van Buren State Park Campground stands out as a prime location for equestrian camping near Berkey, Ohio. The park's horse-friendly facilities include purpose-built horse pens added as an alternative to traditional tie-ups. Located in flat, wooded terrain approximately 25 miles south of Toledo, the park maintains trails that connect throughout the natural woodland setting, providing varied routes for riders of all experience levels.
Trail riding options: Van Buren State Park offers interconnected trails suitable for horseback riding through woodland areas. According to Kevin T., "I came cross country skiing here in early January and it was absolutely amazing. It is cold but the terrain is simple for first time skiers," indicating the gentle topography that makes these trails accessible for both winter sports and horseback riding.
Playground activities: The campground features recreational facilities near the equestrian camping area. Scott F. notes, "Kids loved having the playground so close to the camper," making it convenient for families to balance horse care with children's entertainment.
Nature exploration: The park includes natural areas for wildlife viewing and plant identification. Shannon G. mentions that "They also had a dog park and small wildflower garden," providing additional outdoor experiences beyond horseback riding.
Equestrian accommodations: Van Buren State Park Campground receives positive feedback for its horse-specific facilities. Angie B. shares, "the horse camp is nice with some new pens to keep your horse instead of them having to be tied up," highlighting the park's efforts to improve equestrian amenities.
Quiet atmosphere: Many visitors appreciate the peaceful setting. Joseph N. states, "Its a smaller campground with only two loops of sites, but its flat, shaded, and comfortable," describing the calm environment that appeals to those seeking tranquility.
Campground layout: The organization of the equestrian camping area separate from standard sites receives positive mentions. Nicole G. notes, "They also have a camp area for horses," confirming the dedicated space for equestrian campers.
Toilet facilities: The campground offers pit toilets rather than flush facilities. Angie B. explains, "They keep the restrooms clean, but no flush toilets, which dont bother me. My only complaint about Van Buren State park is that there are no shower facilities."
Electric hookups: Electrical service may be inconsistent at some sites. Alysha W. mentions, "Electric did not work at all sites," so campers requiring reliable power should verify their site's service before arrival.
Dump station location: RV campers should note the dump station isn't adjacent to the campground. Nicole G. points out, "Only criticism is you have to drive to another area of the park for an RV dump," requiring additional planning for RV waste disposal.
Playground proximity: Waterloo Sugarloaf Modern in the nearby Waterloo Recreation Area provides family-friendly amenities. Kim S. shares, "They rode bikes around the loop and loved swimming and the playground. Facilities were nice and clean and many sites had trees to give shade at certain times of day."
Site selection for tents: Consider campsite location carefully when tent camping with children. Brendan V. advises, "Some of the sites are small so you have to be careful which you site you reserve if you're a tent camper. The outside of the circle is your best bet and there's a few scattered in the middle."
Centralized activities: Choose sites near recreational facilities when camping with children. Scott F. notes at Van Buren, "Kids loved having the playground so close to the camper," highlighting the benefit of proximity to play areas.
Electrical considerations: When bringing an RV for equestrian camping near Berkey, Ohio, check electrical service availability. Alysha W. mentions at Van Buren, "Electric did not work at all sites," suggesting campers verify hookups before arrival.
Site dimensions: Some parks may have limitations for larger rigs. Beth G. experienced challenges at Waterloo Recreation Area, noting, "Site was a little small for our 38foot - we had to go sideways which opened us up to other campers."
Seasonal access: Wayne County Fairgrounds RV Park offers an alternative location with seasonal considerations. Mike M. warns, "I arrived for a 2 week stay in the area on 11/12. I discovered this campground was closed for the season," indicating the importance of verifying operational dates, especially during off-season periods from November through March.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Berkey, OH?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Berkey, OH is Van Buren State Park Campground with a 4-star rating from 12 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Berkey, OH?
TheDyrt.com has all 6 equestrian camping locations near Berkey, OH, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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