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Deer Creek State Park Campground accepts pets at all of its 230+ campsites, offering electric hookups and multiple lodging options for travelers with dogs. A.W. Marion State Park and Buck Creek State Park similarly welcome pets throughout their grounds, with amenities including picnic tables, fire rings, and drinking water. Some sites provide privacy with trees and hedges between neighboring sites, making them suitable for campers with active dogs. Campgrounds maintain standard pet rules requiring dogs to be leashed and attended at all times. Several sites near fishing spots allow easy access for pet owners who want to bring their dogs along while fishing. Visitor reviews confirm bathroom facilities are clean and plentiful throughout most pet-friendly campgrounds despite heavy weekend use.
The hiking trails connecting Deer Creek's campground to the lodge offer excellent opportunities for dog walking, with the route covering approximately 5 miles round trip. Campers frequently report wildlife sightings including deer and raccoons near their sites, so keeping dogs secured is essential for safety and preventing wildlife disturbances. Weather considerations are important when camping with pets in this region, as summer sites with limited shade can become uncomfortably hot for dogs. During peak season, the campgrounds fill quickly, particularly on weekends, making advance reservations advisable for pet owners. Pet-friendly cabin options exist at several parks including Hocking Hills State Park and Alum Creek State Park for those seeking more protected accommodations with their dogs, though specific pet policies may vary by location and cabin type.
"A lot of nearby activity, private and open sites, lake, beach, trails, marina, bikes, putt putt, dog park, playground, laundry, water close, electric at sites, many "comfort stations" "wash houses" so"
"Some are smaller, close to neighbors while other have seclusion with trees. From past experience, if it rains, some of the sites do flood. We had great weather this weekend."
from $39 - $52 / night
Check Availability"It's has a site right behind it, but has a nice size green space for an ez-up. The pad was a nice length and held our small camper and truck with room to spare."
"There was also a path directly from our site that led to one of the hiking trails. Yay for us and our easy access; however, it also welcomed people to cut through your site."
from $25 - $40 / night
Check Availability"Not only one but was using 4 buckets at a time before dumping keeping in her camper before caught dumping behind camper and trying to fit it down a small hole where the honey pots go that you are suppose"
"The lake was pretty. Watching the herons was relaxing. The people in our section were courteous. All seemed to obey the quiet hours."
"No driving your vehicle any further than the bottom of the hill. Great location, very beautiful. Spacious in between 5 campgrounds and right next to the Scioto River."
"Got lucky and found an opening for site 5 which was right on river and away from the busier parts of park - didn’t see a single person. Nice tent pads, campfire ring, and provided wood."
"Some are adjacent to the playground There are tons of things to do: Miniature golf Disc golf BMX trails Small dog park Golf course Horse camp"
from $23 - $50 / night
Check Availability"This walk in camp ground was located just minutes from Old Man’s Cave. It’s a family friendly and pet friendly camp ground. Our stay was quiet and relaxing."
"There are trails all over the park. Can be a bit busy during the warmer months. The park is pet friendly and has a nice nature center before you hike down to Old Man’s Cave."
from $20 - $70 / night
Check Availability"This was the only park we’ve gone to this uear with both a large dog park AND a fenced in dog beach! Folks were friendly at the dog park with bunches of chairs set around like a conversation pit."
"Alum Creek State Park is a beautiful park and great campground just outside the hustle and bustle of downtown Columbus and minutes away from attractions such as the Columbus Zoo."
from $23 - $70 / night
Check Availability"Put on those hiking boots to enjoy 10 varying difficulty trails, bring your bike for one, and hit the multi-use for mountain biking."
"The campsite is next to the 12 mile set of mountain bike trails. It is a great mountain biking/camping getaway. The trails are easy, so for all levels. Nice camping for families. "
from $27 - $37 / night
Check Availability"It was definitely not an easy task to get a camp site here as a walk-in. We checked on reserve America several times with no luck."
"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."
from $29 - $160 / night
Check Availability"Not a sightseeing destination, but very convenient place to stop for the night if you’re on a road trip doing a lot of driving. Safe neighborhood with a kroger right down the street."
TravelerOnly weekend stays and it ends in wintertime. I’m sure it’s pretty and all, but it’s hard to find legit, free dispersed camping in Ohio! Oh well, rest stops always work for car camping.
GuideThis was the only park we’ve gone to this uear with both a large dog park AND a fenced in dog beach! Folks were friendly at the dog park with bunches of chairs set around like a conversation pit. Lots of water and dog tennis balls were available.
The dog beach was fenced so your dog can be off leash. There is even a fenced in area out in the water to keep the pooches from swimming across the Lake chasing geese.
The campground itself was quite nice and spacious. Some of the most private camping sites I’ve seen in Ohio. Shower facilities we a bit above average mad seemed to be looked after at least once a day (we were there in the off season).
IMHO, one of the nicest campgrounds in the state.
ScoutWe stayed two nights here on our tour of Ohio. After staying in state parks, the narrow sites are close with no privacy. Our pull through site was on the (inner) road, so lots of golf carts, cars and campers passing by. All pull through sites are on the road side. The site is not level and our leveling system has the front wheels off the ground. Many full time units here beautiful patios and decor. Staff is nice and friendly. Trash pickup isn’t offered and the walk to dumpster would be excessive for unfit or handicapped. We would stay again. Amenities are clean, as described and dog Park is immaculate but small.
GuideAlum Creek State Park is a beautiful park and great campground just outside the hustle and bustle of downtown Columbus and minutes away from attractions such as the Columbus Zoo.
The campground has good sized sites and is wooded throughout with clean bath houses, well maintained roads, and easy access for big rigs.
There is also a very nice dog park in the park including dog beaches with lake access for your pups to swim.
We love this campground and the beautiful lake and appreciate the easy access to local attractions, shopping, and more.
GuideAutumn is the best time to camp in Ohio. Lots of small bathrooms. Lake access. Only reason I didn't give it 5 stars was due to the fact there was no quick reentry. Had to wait for rvs in front of me to register.
LegendLots of room! Privacy, some sites have accommodations for several tents as well as full hook up for campers. Some are adjacent to the playground There are tons of things to do: Miniature golf Disc golf BMX trails Small dog park Golf course Horse camp
TravelerAlum Creek is just beautiful, nice sites, most of them are at least partially shaded, lots of woods, hiking trails, the lake, it is what I think of when I think of State Park campground camping in Ohio. There are a couple problems. 1. Only ONE little dump station. This is a big campground, so if you're leaving Sunday, you better get up at the crack of dawn to get to the station, otherwise be prepared to wait in a long long line of RV's. We by-passed the long line and stopped at a different State Park campground on the way home and paid 10.00 to use their dump station. 2. They never answer their phone at the campground office. I mean NEVER. If you have a question you will just have to deal with the reserveamerica people who really know nothing other than what they read on the campground website. So basically you know as much as they do. It's maddening. We will go back, but it's a 2 hour drive so it won't be anytime soon.
Scoutgreat state park campground. There are some full hook ups but mostly just electric. They have pancake breakfast on Saturday mornings through summer and doughnuts on Sunday. Helpful camphost. There is a campground beach and boat launch. Lost of hiking paths in the campground and in the park area. A great dog park with lake entrance for the pups. tmThere is also some mountain bike trails. Plenty to do for everyone.
ScoutVery clean, well maintained. A lot of nearby activity, private and open sites, lake, beach, trails, marina, bikes, putt putt, dog park, playground, laundry, water close, electric at sites, many "comfort stations" "wash houses" so not far from one.
Mount Sterling camping opportunities exist across several Ohio state parks and private campgrounds within a 30-mile radius. Most campgrounds in this central Ohio region sit at elevations between 800-1,100 feet. Summer temperatures typically reach 85°F with high humidity, while spring and fall camping seasons offer milder 60-75°F daytime temperatures.
Fossil hunting at Caesar Creek: Visitors can obtain permits to collect fossils at designated areas. "There is a nice lake, good hiking, close to waynseville. Family friendly, good nature center and ability to look for fossils," notes reviewer Megan D. at Caesar Creek State Park Campground.
Mountain biking on dedicated trails: Several parks maintain trails specifically for mountain bikes. Karen K. reports that A.W. Marion has "plenty of space and shade in not electrical campsite for a hot summer day... Walked around near camp and checked out group camping sites that had plenty of space and trees for hammocking and tent set up."
Disc golf courses: Parks like John Bryan offer full disc golf courses. "The campground is very nice, clean bathrooms, and showers. There is a disc golf course lots of mountain bike trails and hiking trails! As well as some other great amenities," mentions Shane T.
Short backpacking experiences: For those wanting to test backpacking gear without committing to remote locations. "Scioto Grove is great if you're looking to test out some new backpacking gear. There are 5 reservable sites along the river trail and they all have tent pads and a fire pit, besides that they're totally primitive," writes Zach at Scioto-Grove Metro Park.
Level sites with good spacing: Many campgrounds offer well-maintained, level sites. "We stayed two nights in #184. Our site was HUGE! The pad was very level, so setting up the TT was quick and easy," notes Kim H. at Deer Creek Camping Resort.
Clean facilities despite high usage: Campers frequently mention well-maintained bathrooms. "The bathrooms seemed clean (didn't use them but did look inside), and the camper hosts were nice," reports Aaron S., who stayed at A.W. Marion State Park.
Camping near water access: Sites with lake or river proximity remain popular. "One of my favorites in this area, great rv spots and even better tent/non electric spots... easy walk to fish or to campers beach... my sons love camping here for the trails and large areas to ride their bikes," notes Buck B. about Buck Creek State Park Campground.
Community activities at campgrounds: Many parks schedule regular events. "Camp host on I think lot 71 or there about were great at keeping the activities going. Every night there was a movie and you could buy root beer floats for $1!! And the kids loved it," shares Melissa M. about Buck Creek State Park.
Seasonal campsite availability: Limited sites are available during peak seasons. "From what I've been told you might be able to get into one if you book the whole season a year in advance," explains Catherine about Alum Creek's prime lakefront sites.
Wildlife interactions are common: Be prepared for wildlife encounters. "Need to reserve online, books up very fast. Got lucky and found an opening for site 5 which was right on river and away from the busier parts of park - didn't see a single person. Nice tent pads, campfire ring, and provided wood," reports Anna S.
Shade varies significantly by campsite: Research specific sites for tree coverage. "Not a lot of shade. Partial shade is very generous for the B Loop," warns Nick C. about Caesar Creek.
Primitive camping options exist: Several parks offer more rustic experiences. "This was our second weekend in a row at this campground. While we were here the weekend before, we decided that we wanted to camp on site #9. This site is probably the biggest in the primitive section," explains Cassandra C. about A.W. Marion State Park Campground.
Playground proximity matters: Choose sites near play areas for convenience. "There is a path to the playground which the occasional kid will run down into your campsite by accident," mentions Melissa M. about her Buck Creek State Park experience.
Camp movie nights: Several campgrounds offer outdoor movie screenings. "Small adequate camp store. Movie for the kids at the outdoor theater," notes Karen H.
Kid-friendly hiking routes: Parks feature trails suitable for various ages. "We stayed at site #31 in January and my husband thought this site was more level than #31. This site is big and spacious and backs up to trees," reports Shannon G.
Field areas for active play: Look for campsites near open spaces. "Kids run up and down green hills, ride bikes in their pajamas," observes Karen K. about John Bryan State Park Campground.
Full hookup availability: Several parks offer complete RV services. "Plenty to do for everyone. Great little campground to visit if you don't need a lot of amenities," says Shannon G.
Site leveling challenges: Some campgrounds have uneven terrain. "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," reports Lisa M. from Hocking Hills State Park Campground.
Water fill logistics: Water access points may require planning. "The only negative was the lack of a central fresh water fill station. Spigots are dispersed throughout the camp, which means sitting in the road for as long as it takes to fill your tank," notes Kim H.
Dog friendly campgrounds near Mount Sterling: RV campers with pets should check specific site layouts. "The sites are spacious and private, surrounded by trees and brush," writes Catherine about Alum Creek, making it ideal for pet owners seeking more contained spaces for dogs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Mount Sterling, OH?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Mount Sterling, OH is Deer Creek State Park Campground with a 4.3-star rating from 31 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Mount Sterling, OH?
TheDyrt.com has all 87 dog-friendly camping locations near Mount Sterling, OH, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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