The Carey, Ohio camping region sits at approximately 820 feet elevation within the flat to gently rolling terrain of northwest Ohio. Most campgrounds in this area operate seasonally from April/May through October, with limited year-round options. Winter temperatures regularly drop below freezing, making proper RV winterization essential for off-season camping at the few facilities that remain open.
What to do
Fishing opportunities: At Arrowhead Lake RV Park & Campground, campers can fish in one of two dedicated ponds. "A well manicured campground... Lots of seasonal trailers, and some large ones! No junk, and golf carts are restricted to electric," notes visitor Tim G.
Hiking trails: Van Buren State Park offers multiple trail systems suitable for day hiking. "Hiking is great. Probably better for people with horses," reports Alysha W. The park features both wooded paths and open areas with seasonal wildflowers.
Water recreation: Some campgrounds feature swimming areas for summer relief from the heat. One camper at Arrowhead Lake noted, "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."
What campers like
Affordability: Several campgrounds in the Carey area maintain reasonable rates compared to other regions. As one camper at Sunset Springs RV Resort noted, "We arrived and were able to upgrade to site #1 due to a cancellation, overlooking the Ohio River. No one between us and the river, and we had a grand view."
Seasonal activities: Many campgrounds schedule regular weekend events during peak season. At Sunset Springs, "Saturday evening they had a pot luck and then live music, which was good enough being a free event," according to Robert T.
Clean facilities: Well-maintained grounds are consistently mentioned in positive reviews. A visitor to Van Buren State Park Campground reported, "Campground is small but well maintained. 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."
What you should know
Limited shower facilities: Several campgrounds have minimal or no shower options. At Van Buren State Park, a regular visitor noted, "My only complaint about Van Buren State Park is that there are no shower facilities." Some parks offer only pit toilets rather than modern restrooms.
Seasonal camper mix: Many RV parks near Carey host a high percentage of seasonal campers. At Leafy Oaks RV Park and Campground, tent campers report, "We tent camp. They have a great spot that's set back in the woods. There are lots of trees. Very peaceful. Dislikes are no shower houses or toilets back there except one port a potty."
Reservation requirements: Booking policies vary significantly between facilities. Some campgrounds require advance reservations while others accept walk-ins. During holiday weekends (Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day), advance reservations are strongly recommended at all facilities.
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Several campgrounds offer play areas for children. At Van Buren State Park, one family reported, "Kids loved having the playground so close to the camper. Will be back soon."
Swimming options: Welcome Woods RV Campgrounds provides water recreation options for families. "The campground is mainly seasonal campers and all seemed very welcoming and nice. We camped Labor Day weekend so I don't know if it's all the time or not but while we were there they did a hog roast corn hole tournaments and some kind of 50/50 raffle every day," noted Ashley R.
Weekend activities: Scheduling your stay during weekend activity periods can enhance family experiences. At Sandusky Milan RV Park, recent visitors observed, "This campground has been wonderfully updated! The owners have added in an additional playground, dog park, newly paved roadways, newly redone building, a new pavilion, fire pit, and boat parking!"
Tips from RVers
Electric service variations: RV campgrounds near Carey often have mixed electric service options. At Fort Firelands RV Park, "They only had 50w outlets, but will lend you a converter for $15.00, which is refundable upon leaving," reported Lisa K.
Dump station locations: Not all campgrounds position dump stations conveniently. At Van Buren State Park, Nicole G. noted, "Only criticism is you have to drive to another area of the park for an RV dump."
Site leveling challenges: Some campgrounds require additional equipment for proper leveling. At Gotta Getaway RV Park, one RVer reported, "Unfortunately, the site we were assigned took three blocks to level up, then the power was on the wrong side and our picnic table was in the back area of another camper."
