Best Campgrounds near Bluffton, OH

Northwestern Ohio's camping landscape around Bluffton features a mix of established campgrounds and recreational areas within a 30-mile radius. The Bluffton/Findlay SW KOA, located directly in Bluffton, provides year-round camping with full hookup options for both tent and RV campers. Nearby Van Buren State Park Campground offers more natural surroundings with tent sites, RV spots, and cabin rentals, while Ottawa Metro Park Campground in Lima provides water and electric hookups in a family-friendly setting with swimming and fishing areas. Riverbend Recreation Area near Findlay rounds out the options with diverse accommodation types including glamping and yurts. Most campgrounds in the region feature standard amenities like picnic tables, fire rings, and access to drinking water.

Reservations are essential during summer months when campgrounds frequently reach capacity, especially on holiday weekends. Many sites in the area can be booked up to six months in advance through Ohio State Parks or private campground reservation systems. Weather conditions vary significantly by season, with humid summers that can bring mosquitoes and occasional thunderstorms, while spring camping often contends with muddy conditions. As one camper noted about Ottawa Metro Park, "It has a big swimming area, a fishing area, big campsites and walking trails. It's nice Ohio camping." Most campgrounds in the region have paved or gravel roads accessible to standard vehicles, though some sites at state parks may have limited shade coverage during summer months.

Water-based recreation forms the centerpiece of camping experiences in the Bluffton area. Indian Lake State Park Campground, though slightly farther at about 45 minutes south, receives consistent praise for its swimming facilities and boating opportunities. "Good sites, nice beach and a real swimming pool. Many places for fishing from shore or launching your boat," noted one visitor. Campers frequently mention the family-friendly atmosphere at most locations, though several reviews point to limited hiking opportunities compared to other regions of Ohio. Sites with water views tend to book quickly, particularly at Lake Cody and Arrowhead Lake RV Park. Highway noise affects some campgrounds in the region, with several reviewers mentioning this as a minor drawback at otherwise well-maintained facilities.

Best Camping Sites Near Bluffton, Ohio (80)

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Recent Reviews near Bluffton, OH

240 Reviews of 80 Bluffton Campgrounds


  • Rebecca H.
    Sep. 9, 2025

    Wapakoneta KOA

    Out Standing

    Wonderful facility! Pool, pool table, games for kids and adults. The grounds are beautiful and the staff is super friendly and helpful! Oh and in the laundry room they even have a sink for washing dishes! Great for tent campers ar those with small units that don't have kitchens.

  • JThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 6, 2025

    Toledo East-Stony Ridge KOA

    First KOA

    Nice campground, gravel semi level spot. Full hookup but sewer connection was at very back of spot. We used dump station.

  • 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.

  • Shannon G.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 2, 2025

    Van Buren State Park Campground

    Small and peaceful

    We 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • JThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 26, 2025

    Meadow Brook Campground

    Motorcycle Tent Camping

    Very friendly staff and clean facilities. Primarily a seasonal camper location but I found many open tent sites on a weekday. Nice grassy spot to pitch the tent, a rare luxury.

  • 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.

  • Paula  S.
    Aug. 11, 2025

    Blue Water Campground

    Our stay at bluewater

    The staff is extremely friendly, and try to accomadate with anything you could need. The campesites are fairly large with gravel pads. They offer water and electric hook-up for 30&50 amps. There is not a sewer hook up but they do offer a weekly pump out for a small fee and a dump station on the way out. The pool, ponds, playground and pavillion are all within walking distance from almost any site.


Guide to Bluffton

Camping near Bluffton, Ohio centers on relatively flat terrain with elevations ranging between 800-850 feet above sea level. Northwest Ohio's summer humidity levels typically reach 70-80% during peak camping months, creating conditions where evening temperatures remain warm. Most campgrounds in this area feature clay or loam soil that can become quite muddy after rainfall, particularly in spring months.

What to do

Fishing opportunities: At Twin Lakes Park, campers can enjoy both swimming and fishing lakes with decent bass fishing. "Caught some decent bass and kids enjoyed all the bluegill fishing," notes one visitor who appreciated the dual-purpose lakes.

Dog-friendly activities: Van Buren State Park Campground includes a designated dog park area alongside its hiking trails. "They also had a dog park and small wildflower garden," mentions a recent camper who appreciated these pet-friendly amenities.

Swimming options: Ottawa Metro Park Campground features structured swimming areas with good water clarity during summer months. A recent visitor commented on the thoughtful design: "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."

Trail exploration: For campers seeking moderate hiking, Van Buren State Park offers multiple trail options with minimal elevation change. "Hiking is great. Probably better for people with horses," notes one reviewer who found the trails well-maintained but particularly suited to equestrians.

What campers like

Clean facilities: Arrowhead Lake RV Park & Campground receives consistent praise for its maintenance standards. "A very well kept campground with lots of fun things to do, like hiking fishing and corn hole. I would camp here again in the future," reports one satisfied visitor.

Accessibility features: Ottawa Metro Park's bathroom facilities earn recognition for thoughtful design. One camper specifically noted: "I was very impressed with the design of the restrooms regarding accessibility. Everything in the bathrooms was intentionally designed for accessibility, not a thoughtless retrofit."

Seasonal camper community: Many Bluffton-area campgrounds foster a welcoming atmosphere for weekend visitors. At Arrowhead Lake, a camper observed: "Very welcoming campground with many seasonal RVs. Everyone was friendly throughout the stay."

Value pricing: Indian Lake State Park Campground offers competitive rates despite its amenities. A recent visitor at Arrowhead Lake noted similar value: "Overall a pretty nice camping spot. Oh and it was only $45 a night."

What you should know

Noise considerations: Highway noise affects some campgrounds in the area. At Twin Lakes Park, one camper reported: "This place is one of the worst camp place I've ever stayed at. I paid $60 for the night loud noise from the highway."

Limited shower facilities: Van Buren State Park lacks shower facilities entirely. "My only complaint about Van Buren State park is that there are no shower facilities," notes a regular visitor who otherwise enjoys the park.

Registration systems vary: Van Buren State Park Campground requires advance booking. "You must reserve a spot by phone or online only, no walk ins. I made my reservation while standing at the visitor cabin," explains one camper who learned this firsthand.

Weather impact: Campgrounds near Bluffton experience significant seasonal variations affecting site conditions. At Indian Lake, one camper shared: "Our experience with Indian Lake was tough, unfortunately we suffered a pretty severe thunderstorm while we were tent camping, it looked like a tsunami coming in."

Tips for camping with families

Playground access: Twin Lakes Park features playgrounds positioned near campsites. "Playground is great, lots to do, and the fishing and swimming lakes are nice," reports a family who stayed at site 65.

Swimming depth awareness: Arrowhead Lake RV Park provides a swimming pond with limited depth. "They have two ponds, one for fishing and one for swimming. The swimming one has a dock kids jump off but it only goes to about 3.5-4 feet deep at the deepest point," notes a family who visited with children.

Space between sites: Ottawa Metro Park offers well-spaced sites for families needing room. "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," shares one camper who appreciated the layout.

Entertainment options: Indian Lake State Park provides organized activities for children. "Lots of activities for kids and families and even movies and music on the weekend," notes one camper who appreciated these structured options.

Tips from RVers

Pad levelness: Check site leveling before setup at Indian Lake State Park. "Our pad was not level front to back so we had to adjust a little bit," advises one RVer who needed to make accommodations during setup.

Site selection strategies: At Ottawa Metro Park, arrivals are first-come, first-served but with ample availability. "The campground is first-come first serve, but don't worry about getting a site. There are plenty," notes one experienced camper.

Electrical hookup variations: Van Buren State Park offers electric service at most sites, but reliability varies. "Electric did not work at all sites," cautions one camper who experienced inconsistency in the hookups.

Dump station locations: Some parks require traveling to separate areas for sanitary dumping. "Only criticism is you have to drive to another area of the park for an RV dump," mentions a Van Buren State Park visitor who found this inconvenient.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where are the best campgrounds near Bluffton?

Several excellent campgrounds are located near Bluffton. Ottawa Metro Park Campground offers spacious sites primarily for RVs, a swimming area, fishing spots, and walking trails. For a more historic experience, Sauder Village Campground provides clean facilities, well-spaced sites, and full hookups, plus it's connected to Historic Sauder Village. Other notable options include Bluffton/Findlay SW KOA and Van Buren State Park, which is easily accessible from I-75 with numerous trails and outdoor recreation opportunities.

What do visitors say about Twin Lakes Park in Bluffton?

Twin Lakes Park near Bluffton is known for being a versatile camping destination with several amenities. The park offers drive-in, hike-in, and walk-in access, making it suitable for various camping styles. Facilities include reservable sites, water access, toilet facilities, and big-rig-friendly areas. While specific visitor reviews for Twin Lakes are limited, similar parks in the region like Independence Dam State Park Campground and Riverbend Recreation Area Campground receive praise for their natural settings and accessibility.

What camping is available near Bluffton, OH?

According to TheDyrt.com, Bluffton, OH offers a wide range of camping options, with 80 campgrounds and RV parks near Bluffton, OH and 1 free dispersed camping spot.

Which is the most popular campground near Bluffton, OH?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Bluffton, OH is Twin Lakes Park with a 3-star rating from 4 reviews.

Where can I find free dispersed camping near Bluffton, OH?

According to TheDyrt.com, there is 1 free dispersed camping spot near Bluffton, OH.