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Best Campgrounds near Chillicothe, OH

574 Reviews

Chillicothe, Ohio serves as a gateway to several established campgrounds offering diverse accommodation options. Scioto Trail State Park Campground, located within city limits, provides tent and RV camping with amenities including electric hookups, drinking water, and trash disposal. Sun Valley Campground and Walnut Creek Campground and Resort expand the options with cabin accommodations alongside traditional camping areas. Within a short drive, campers can access Tar Hollow State Park and Hocking Hills State Park, both offering more extensive trail systems and varied terrain. Most campgrounds in the region maintain year-round operations, though amenities and services may be limited during winter months.

Reservations are strongly recommended for developed campgrounds, particularly during summer weekends and fall color season. Many campgrounds feature both reservable and non-reservable sites, with the latter filling quickly on weekends. Water and electric hookups are common at established sites, while primitive camping areas typically offer vault toilets and communal water sources. Cell service varies significantly throughout the region, with coverage becoming increasingly spotty in more remote areas like Zaleski State Forest. The terrain ranges from relatively flat campgrounds to more challenging hilly areas in the state forests. A visitor noted that "Autumn is the best time to camp in Ohio" with pleasant temperatures and colorful foliage enhancing the experience.

Campers consistently rate water access as a significant factor in site selection, with lakefront campgrounds receiving higher ratings. Paint Creek State Park Campground and A.W. Marion State Park Campground both feature lake access for fishing and non-motorized boating. Several visitors mentioned appreciating the mix of outdoor activities available, including hiking, fishing, and paddling opportunities. The proximity of campgrounds to natural features like caves and rock formations in Hocking Hills draws many visitors, though this can lead to crowding during peak seasons. Based on reviews from The Dyrt, campers seeking more solitude might prefer the less-visited Tar Hollow State Park or Lake Hope State Park, where one reviewer described it as "the unsung hero of Logan county" with fewer crowds than nearby popular destinations.

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Best Camping Sites Near Chillicothe, Ohio (94)

    1. Hocking Hills State Park Campground

    109 Reviews
    South Bloomingville, OH
    25 miles
    Website

    $29 - $46 / night

    "There are lots of caves, trails, camping options and activities in the area. Be careful, however, every year someone is injured or dies going off trail, often falling from a cliff."

    "If you stay away from the main roads, you might feel like you're in a smaller campground."

    2. Tar Hollow State Park Campground

    24 Reviews
    Adelphi, OH
    14 miles
    Website
    +1 (740) 887-4818

    $4 - $27 / night

    "The campground is about 2-3 acres large, situated on a hill with a path dug out around the perimeter. "

    "The drive there was a very interesting tour of trump flags Amish buggies and more. Would come back if I was stranded in Ohio, but overall great pit stop for cleaning up on a long journey."

    3. Scioto Trail State Park Campground

    10 Reviews
    Waverly, OH
    8 miles
    Website
    +1 (740) 663-2125

    $25 - $30 / night

    "We chose to camp at Scioto Trail State Park because of it's proximity to Salt Creek Kayak Adventures. While I had hiked at Scioto Trail in the past, this was our first visit to the campground."

    "Walk-in sites with pit toilets and potable water. The map of how the sites are laid out online is extremely inaccurate, I would not have picked my site if it had been accurate."

    4. A.W. Marion State Park Campground

    33 Reviews
    Circleville, OH
    22 miles
    Website
    +1 (740) 869-3124

    $21 - $25 / night

    "They had a scavenger hunt which made us really experience the nature around us, going through the woods off trail, going to the lakeside, walking around looking for different things on a list."

    "October weekends in Ohio State Park campgrounds are super popular so we weren’t able to make a reservation here. "

    5. Sun Valley Campground

    4 Reviews
    Chillicothe, OH
    5 miles
    Website
    +1 (740) 775-3490

    "We were able to reserve a drive-thru site on the same day we wanted it.  It looks like there are quite a few seasonal campers there.  Sites have space between them, many are shaded. "

    6. Paint Creek State Park Campground

    21 Reviews
    Paint Creek Lake, OH
    20 miles
    Website
    +1 (937) 981-7061

    "Cute, charming Ohio State Park. Enjoy 4 lovely hiking trails that showcase the parks features by taking you through the woods and fields. Fish is offered and their is boat dock ."

    "An excellent disc golf course, hiking and beautiful lake views. Just past the town of Bainbridge, Ohio is Seip Mound to explore and hike the trails."

    7. Pike Lake State Park Campground

    11 Reviews
    Latham, OH
    17 miles
    Website
    +1 (740) 493-2212

    "Ranger Review: Morsel Spork at Pike Lake State Park

    Campground Review:

    We stayed at site 67 next to the camp host. The camp site was nicely shaded with a small creek behind it."

    "The lake is smaller, but nice beach area and pedal boats are fun. We hiked the Greenbriar and CCC Trails. They are not too challenging but beautiful."

    8. Walnut Creek Campground and Resort

    2 Reviews
    Chillicothe, OH
    8 miles
    Website
    +1 (740) 774-1203

    "Nice scenic drive to campground only 7 miles off of Hwy 35. No"

    "Has fishing, kayaking, golf cart trails, volleyball set up, basketball court, swimming pool and super nice cabins."

    9. Trackside Camping

    2 Reviews
    Waverly, OH
    10 miles
    Website
    +1 (740) 701-2908

    $35 / night

    10. Waters Edge Canoe Livery

    1 Review
    Chillicothe, OH
    3 miles
    Website

    $12 / night

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Recent Camping Photos near Chillicothe, OH

231 Photos of 94 Chillicothe Campgrounds

Recent Reviews near Chillicothe, OH

574 Reviews of 94 Chillicothe Campgrounds

  • RThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 30, 2025

    Jackson Lake State Park Campground

    A day a life in the office

    I drove an hour and a half to get here because dyrt showed that we had full AT&T service here that is not the trucks we have between one and two bars of AT&T service so we’ll see if we drove here for me to be able to work for a couple days and be out in God’s creation

  • Shelby I.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 29, 2025

    Rocky Fork State Park Campground

    A place to sleep

    Camp sites are very tightly packed together and feels like I'm in someone's backyard that is having trouble growing grass.

  • Alex A.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 28, 2025

    Baileys Trail Tent Camping

    Peaceful Stay

    Wonderful little location. We drove for about 3 hours to get from where we are. Nice wide open space surrounded by woods. There were other campers but very friendly and had plenty of space to ourselves. Very nice bathroom/shower compared to what we expected. Will visit again.

  • Joe B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 25, 2025

    Campbell Cove Camping

    Nice campground

    We stayed at site 63 , on the water. Big site, water view and plenty of space. The road across the lake has an uphill section and people like to race up it. Trucks, motorcycles and cars. Really loud. I know the campground doesn’t control the road, so it’s just a note about the noise. The site is amazing, and I would come back.

  • Evan C.
    Aug. 18, 2025

    Rocky Fork State Park Campground

    Fine tenting, poorly kept

    8/13/2025

    Got here after dark, but navigated to a pretty secluded loop that's just for tenting (site 61 - see map). Stakes went in fine. Seemed to be a lot of different types of spiders, which was cool to see and even cooler that they didn't bug me. Less cool - the site wasn't very clean - bits of trash that a park attendant/ranger definitely should've been picking up. Moreover, there were stray cats living in that section (I saw three), which were very cute but I'm sure they're not living their best life and the wildlife probably don't appreciate them being around either. I called later to let the park know (nobody was around during my stay) and they said they'd get maintenance on it. If you stay here and see them, I'd urge you to let the park know again, or maybe call animal control.

  • Reb S.
    Aug. 11, 2025

    A.W. Marion State Park Campground

    Horrible

    Really disgusted with out last stay here. We ended up next to some tent campers who were homeless which isn't the issue because things in life happen it was the way they acted that just grossed me out. I spent the first few days listening to them arguing and fighting amongst each other about their welfare checks being spent on their cigarettes beer and weed. They had 2 kids one that was autistic that they called a retard the other one they called stupid and it was just heartbreaking. I ended up having to go inside my camper and turning my ac on to escape their screaming and yelling and fighting that went into the midnight hour. My dog has a heart murmur and it made him anxious. I felt like I was camping in the bottoms of Columbus Ohio. The camp host said they are there all the time which is disturbing that they condone this behavior and makes me question the integrity of this location. Luckily after contacting ODNR we were able to move to a location far from them and given a gift card for our troubles. This was after they moved their camp stuff practically across the front bumper of my 100,000 RV. My husband and I pay way to much for our RV and for our stays to put up with this trash. We'd be hard pressed to come back here and be exposed to this kind of drama again.

  • Jay T.
    Aug. 11, 2025

    Shawnee State Park Campground

    Attractive campground with variety of sites and amenities

    Unlike many Ohio State parks I've visited, the Shawnee campground has a variety of great tent sites.   Several of these are hidden in the trees at the top of some steps and up a short path.  We stayed in 12.  If you don't mind hauling your gear a short distance from your car, sites like this are perfect as they're  for tent campers only.  The campground had fun amenities for kids, like a very small mini golf course and an outdoor screen for movie nights.  The shower houses were clean and the small camp store convenient.  All the Shawnee State Park staff I met were super friendly and helpful.

  • Kim H.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 10, 2025

    Cowan Lake State Park Campground

    Sizeable Site, Good for Families

    We stayed in Site 78. The lot was VERY large and well maintained. The asphalt pad was decently level; a picnic table and fire ring were included.

    There was significant variety in the types of sites: some were quite wooded while others were full sun. Some sites were much larger than others.

    The restrooms were decent. They weren't new; however, they were very clean. I didn't check out any bath houses.

    The campground was filled with parents and kids riding bikes, playing, and having fun. Nobody was out of control or obnoxious. Plenty of dogs were present.

    We'll return next summer.

Guide to Chillicothe

The terrain surrounding Chillicothe, Ohio ranges from rolling hills to densely wooded valleys with elevations between 600-1,200 feet. The region experiences distinct seasons with summer highs averaging 85°F and winter lows frequently dropping below freezing. Primitive camping areas typically require hikers to carry gear up to 150 yards from parking areas to reach established campsites.

What to do

Hiking with elevation changes: Pike Lake State Park Campground offers multiple trails with varied terrain. "Parts of the CCC trail were overgrown with briars and narrow," notes Leon H., while another visitor mentions that "We hiked the Greenbriar and CCC Trails. They are not too challenging but beautiful."

Paddling on smaller lakes: Several campgrounds offer water access for non-motorized boating. At Pike Lake State Park Campground, "There is a small lake with a beach. You can kayak, but it's really small," explains Shannon G. The lakes are typically under 100 acres, making them perfect for beginners.

Creek exploration: Waters Edge Canoe Livery provides access to local waterways. Jonathan W. describes it as a "Very fun place to camp and enjoy the creek on a kayak or canoe. Very friendly staff, and one of my favorite places to go."

What campers like

Walk-in tent camping: For those seeking more seclusion, Tar Hollow State Park Campground offers a primitive experience. "The north ridge campground is in an entirely separate area of the park than the RVs and there aren't many campsites, so in that way it feels a little more remote and secluded," explains Sydney.

Spacious sites: Several campgrounds offer larger sites for those wanting more room. At A.W. Marion State Park Campground, Cassandra C. found that "Site #9 is probably the biggest in the primitive section. This site has plenty of room for a few small tents."

Well-maintained facilities: Despite being rustic, many campers appreciate the clean amenities. At Scioto Trail State Park, Anna S. noted, "Walk-in sites with pit toilets and potable water. All sites appeared to have a picnic table and fire ring. Many miles of trails/dirt roads for hiking and biking."

What you should know

Cell service limitations: Be prepared for connectivity issues. At Scioto Trail State Park Campground, Aaron S. mentioned it's "a nice campground. We camped three times this summer and fall. The set-up is good. There are at least three water spigot, and they are easy to get to."

Variable site quality: Campsite conditions can differ dramatically within the same campground. At Pike Lake, Kristin L. observed that "It rained the first day we were there and people were literally bailing there sites out with buckets. The places that weren't flooded were very muddy."

Bathroom facilities: Know what to expect with facilities. At Tar Hollow State Park, Sydney explained, "The bathrooms are pit latrines. However…these are some of the dirtiest I've experienced. The bathrooms are also very narrow and perhaps most importantly, they are not lit."

Tips for camping with families

Playground accessibility: Some sites offer immediate access to play areas. At Pike Lake State Park, Shannon G. noted their site was "right across the site is the playground. It's a little noisy but if you have kids, it works."

Educational opportunities: Many parks offer ranger-led activities. Jonathan W. described Tar Hollow: "There is a small two-room nature center, and there is a naturalist who conducts several activities. In past years we've been able to let the kids go off with the naturalist on an hour+ guided hike."

Swimming options: Walnut Creek Campground and Resort provides multiple recreation options. Kelly W. noted it "Has fishing, kayaking, golf cart trails, volleyball set up, basketball court, swimming pool and super nice cabins."

Tips from RVers

Site selection cautions: Many campgrounds have limited level sites. At Hocking Hills State Park Campground, Meghan H. reported, "Ironically, we stayed at the worst campsite there, it was downslope, and they had recently cut down many trees and the site was a muddy mess. Every single other campsite they were perfect."

Check hookup availability: Facilities vary widely between campgrounds. At Sun Valley Campground, Andrew S. notes it "has a lot to offer with electric and water hookups for RVs with back-in and pull through sites. They have a dump station as well as an onsite bathroom/shower house."

Site layout challenges: Some campgrounds have tighter spacing than others. At Hocking Hills, Laura C. observed, "The camping however left a lot to be desired. The sites were extremely close together."

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best campgrounds in Chillicothe, Ohio?

The Chillicothe area offers several excellent camping options. Tar Hollow State Park Campground is known for its secluded tent sites that provide an immersive nature experience. The North Ridge campsite is particularly popular for those seeking solitude. Another top choice is Scioto Trail State Park Campground, conveniently located near Chillicothe with reservable sites, water access, and toilet facilities. For those willing to venture slightly further, Paint Creek and Pike Lake State Parks also offer quality camping experiences within a reasonable drive. The region's campgrounds are particularly beautiful during autumn when the foliage transforms the landscape.

What is the cost of camping in Chillicothe, Ohio?

Camping costs near Chillicothe vary by facility type and amenities. At Hocking Hills State Park Campground, sites typically range from $25-35 per night depending on whether you choose electric or non-electric options. Paint Creek State Park Campground offers competitive rates for both tent and RV camping, with prices generally falling between $20-30 nightly. Ohio state parks maintain relatively consistent pricing, with primitive sites being the most affordable option at around $15-20 per night. Private campgrounds like Walnut Creek and Sun Valley typically charge higher rates ($30-50) but offer additional amenities. Most campgrounds offer discounts for extended stays and may have different seasonal pricing structures.

Are there private campgrounds near Chillicothe for RV camping?

Yes, several private campgrounds near Chillicothe cater specifically to RV campers. Hocking River RV Park offers pull-through spots that can accommodate large rigs up to 43 feet, though some maneuvering may be required. The park features riverside fire rings and basic bathroom facilities. Waters Edge Canoe Livery is another option with drive-in access, water, and toilet facilities for RV campers. Walnut Creek Campground and Resort provides full RV hookups and is big-rig friendly. Most private RV parks in the area offer reservable sites, and many remain open year-round with amenities like water, electric, and dump stations.

Is tent camping available near Chillicothe?

Yes, tent camping is readily available near Chillicothe. Scioto-Grove Metro Park offers weekend tent camping opportunities, though it's closed during winter months. For a more secluded tent experience, Lake Hope State Park Campground provides a quieter alternative to more crowded parks in the region. The park features beautiful surroundings and is less congested than nearby alternatives. Additionally, Walnut Creek Campground and Pike Lake State Park offer tent sites within driving distance of Chillicothe. Most tent sites in the area include basic amenities like fire rings and access to restroom facilities.

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