Clarence J. Brown Dam and Reservoir is the perfect place for adventurous campers and RVers. There are tons of hikes and other fun activities to partake in. Experience some of the most stunning views that Ohio camping has to offer. At The Dyrt, campers like you share their favorite spots, plus tips and photos. No matter where you're headed in Clarence J. Brown Dam and Reservoir, you'll find the best spot for you and your camping crew.
$23 - $35 / night
"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."
"We booked a last minute 4th of July weekend and found site 48 available. It had a pretty level pad, lots of green space and a tree for shade."
$35 / night
"By the time you get to the campground, you’ll completely forget you’re just outside a busy city"
"This park is know for the lake that is kayak and canoe friendly since it doesn’t allow any kind of boat with a motor. It also features a beach , 2 playgrounds and several hiking trails."
"I may be biased, with it being close to home, but they have a lot for the kids to do. Beach, volleyball net, playground. Plenty of water locations. For me the bathrooms are unusable."
"Nice, flat campsites, running water and flush toilets. I believe all sites are electric and we brought a projector/screen to watch some movies."
"The sites, while somewhat close to each other, are very well secluded. Which can be good or bad depending on if you are going with multiple families vs just one family. Bathrooms were clean."
"The campground is pretty congested the roads are small and the sites are very close together but the grounds are clean and you have water and electric hookup throughout."
"If you are retired or active duty military, you have access to recreation sites maintained adjacent to many bases."
"Has a nice size dog park."
"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."
"Wifi strong, Verizon service great, premium electric (I have 30amp and there was a hookup), no water as it’s winter meaning no bathrooms (there is a porterhouse). Clean sites and friendly folks."
"We stayed in a small cabin with a swing on the porch but there are many lodging choices. A stream ran behind the cabin. It has a pool and lots of kids activities."
"There are cabins, campsites in trees, campsites that aren’t. There’s a nice Mixture of available sites. All the employees are very nice and helpful. They really work hard to maintain the site."
"Clerk told us to book online once we picked our spot, as she had just closed the register. We just chose an open spot that was level as we could see in the dark."
"The boat ramp and parking lot is easy to use and has a good layout. They do have some tent sites close to the boat ramp area and you can see the lake from those tent sites. "
"We can imagine that this park is pretty full in the summer with all their amenities and close proximity to major Ohio cities. "
"A fire ring, picnic table, and electric hookup complete each site. Generous foliage provides separation between most sites.
Bath/Shower: Fully contained all-gender units in the third loop."
ScoutThe adorable cabin fulfilled my tiny home dreams and camping craving! The cozy cabin had a queen bed, twin bunks and a sofa that made out to a full size sleeper. Kitchen included a fridge, sink and single cup coffee maker. Coffee k cups were provided in a few different varieties as well as sugar and creamer packs. Bathroom had tub/shower, clothesline to dry swim suits or hand-washed clothes, toilet, sand sink vanity. Bedding and towels were provided and were crisp, clean white. WiFi was a bonus and although it wasn’t the fastest it was very useful when looking up nearby activities. Our cabin had a grill, an outdoor table with four chairs, a swing and a fire pit which we enjoyed our last night there. Staff was friendly and helpful. There were laundry facilities within the park and lots of activities but we didn’t take advantage of any of that during our brief stay. Overall, we were very pleased and would gladly stay again!
LegendThis state park spans over 2,000 acres and is just north of the cute Ohio town of Delaware. We stayed here for two nights while visiting friends in the area but wished we would have stayed to enjoy all that the park had to offer. The campground was really nice and quiet when we stayed there which was during the week and in the spring and not very crowded. We can imagine that this park is pretty full in the summer with all their amenities and close proximity to major Ohio cities.
The 'pod' layout of the campground made for large campsites (some sites are over 90 feet in length and well suited for large RV’s) with good separation between sites. There are 212 sites that have 50 amp electric. The campground also has yurts for rent (May through October) that are furnished with beds, table and chairs, a cooler, ceiling fan, outdoor charcoal grill and a picnic table with canopy. This is a great option for those wanting to stay in something more than a tent but don’t have an RV.
There is no sewer or water at individual sites but there is a dump station and water fill station near the park entrance. Roads and campsites are paved with grassy patios that feature picnic tables and fire pits. The park does not provide wifi but our Verizon hotspot and 4G phone worked well. There are centrally located bath/shower houses with coin-operated laundry facilities.
The park is open year-round and great for outdoor activities; especially, those that are water-related. There are numerous boat launches, fully equipped marina, and swimming area. We launched our kayaks and had a great time paddling around the lake. Be aware that there is no horsepower limits for boats on the lake and weekends are very popular for anglers in high-powered bass boats. The northern portion of the lake is a “no wake zone” which makes for a more pleasant paddling environment. If you don’t have a boat, boat rentals are available at the marina.
For those wanting to hike there are plenty of hiking/biking trails for you to get out and explore the park. Many of the trails link together so you can decide how long you want to hike. The Lakeview Trail was perfect for us as our dog loved jumping in the water during our hike. Other amenities in the park include a nature center, 18-hole disk golf, hunting, archery, volleyball, horse shoe pits, picnic areas, and an 800-foot designated swimming area. At the camp store/office you can rent bikes as well as other sporting equipment.
If you decide to venture out of the park you are only about 40 miles from downtown Columbus and less than 20 miles to the world-renowned Columbus Zoo (which is definitely worth a visit). The nearby town of Delaware is really nice with downtown shopping, restaurants, a historic theater and brewery (Stass Brewing Company has great Belgian-style beer with a fun atmosphere).
Would definitely camp here again if we were in the area.
LegendPROS
Able to reserve 144 days prior to arriving
Very nice campground but the design leaves a lot to be desired
Friendly camp hosts who were busy picking up trash in common areas and cleaning sites Moveable picnic table
Metal fire ring with cooking grate
Site D45 level asphalt parking pad surrounded by grass
Great view of lake from D loop; some had water access at rear of site
Quiet except for campground party animals who kept it going into the wee hours of the morning
Coin-operated laundromats in non FHU loops $1.50 wash and $1 dry
Free WIFI available and able to connect at campsite
Dump Stations at Park exit have complimentary hoses
Camp store sells hard dipped ice cream
14 miles from the Airstream Service Center in Jackson Center
CONS
No senior discount
$6.50 reservation fee for self made on-line reservation
Basically the FHU loops are out in a field…no privacy from neighbors and no shade what so ever
Grass around sites desperately needed mowed, if you could get thru the large mud puddles
FHU loop D has narrow roads and require driving on grass to back in trailer and some campers in other sites had to move their vehicles
Short length of campsite required creative parking of tow vehicle
Damn Canadian Geese poop every...what a mess!
Site number on electric utility box
FHU sewer connection at the back of the campsite so bring the looooong stinky slinky FHU loop D had tiny toilet building, but no showers; showers were in non-FHU loops
No entry gate personnel on a Friday afternoon to accomplish check-in. Went to park office next morning and was informed no check in required prior to Memorial Day. Never saw a Park ranger driving thru campground
GuideAlthough it’s quite a bit off the main road, it was a nice place to stay. Gate was manned when we arrived just before 8:00 pm. Clerk told us to book online once we picked our spot, as she had just closed the register. We just chose an open spot that was level as we could see in the dark. Weary from a day of travel, we put our heads on the pillow and were fast asleep. Shortly after 9 we heard several rounds of gun shots; that was alarming because it was well after sunset. All in all it was a nice spot with electric only. Several gray water dumps were situated throughout the campground. Dumpsters were full from I’m sure what was a busy weekend of fall camping. The lake was beautiful with ability to rent kayaks. Frisbee golf was onsite too. Commissary for ice and basic sundries, with playground nearby. We didn’t visit the bathhouse, so I’m unsure of it’s condition. Tenant sites with no electricity were down by the lake. Cabin rentals were in a separate spot, off the lake. All in all, in was a nice place with lots of things to do. More of a destination park, for sure.
TravelerWe stayed in a small cabin with a swing on the porch but there are many lodging choices. A stream ran behind the cabin. It has a pool and lots of kids activities. Gravel roads aren’t great for small kids learning to ride bikes but ok for older kids and adults.
LegendGeneral: 214-site campground, all with electric hookups. Campsites are in four loops.
Site Quality: All sites are paved and appeared to be level. A fire ring, picnic table, and electric hookup complete each site. Generous foliage provides separation between most sites.
Bath/Shower: Fully contained all-gender units in the third loop. Each one has a bench and a baby changing station. Soap and air dryers. A more traditional bath/shower house was in the fourth loop (don’t know about the first two loops).
Activities/Amenities: Several hiking trails (but it was raining when we were there so didn’t explore), a small putt-putt course (free use of putters and balls), disc golf, shuffleboard, basketball, tennis, and a small camper store. Each loop has a playground and other recreational options (i.e. volleyball net). The marina offers water toy rentals.
My five-star rating is based on the possibility of what our stay might have been if the weather had cooperated! Unfortunately, it was cold and rainy during our stay in June. We will definitely be back again to take advantage of the marina rentals.
LegendWe stayed in site 174 on the farthest loop from the entrance. This site provided full shade all day long. The pad was pretty even so not a lot of leveling to do for our a-frame camper. The pad was easy to back in to and we had plenty of room to pull our truck forward. The site has 30 amp and 50 amp and our 30 amp was not working. We notified the park staff and they responded quickly to come out and fix it. The site had a great fire ring and lots of space for chairs, an ez-up, pop-up bathroom tent off to the side and it probably could have held 1-2 tents. There were trees close enough to set up 1-2 hammocks as well. The park staff came out it seemed to be every 3 hours to spray the water fountain in the middle of the turn around. There is a showerhouse in the middle of the loop, not a far walk or you could drive as there were a few parking spots nearby. The showerhouse had plenty of flush toilets and sinks. There were three showers that had doors, but it was just one space and no bench inside your stall. There were plenty of hooks, but you could get your items wet if you weren't careful. There is a bench outside of your stall and there is a curtain that separates you from the toilets and sinks. Not the greatest changing area if you are shy. You could tell it was the weekend as the bathrooms were a little messy, but I've seen way worse. There are also two dumpsters outside the showerhouse for trash. Watch out for the masked bandits (raccoons). They were not shy at all and we had to chase them off from our campsite. Do not leave out any food or trash, they will get into it. There are lots of trails (we found a lot of mushrooms!), a beach, playgrounds and a frisbee golf course. The mosquitoes were really bad this weekend, but we had been there last year and didn't have any issues.
GuideThis was a great experience! Nice, flat campsites, running water and flush toilets. I believe all sites are electric and we brought a projector/screen to watch some movies.
This campground is usually super booked but noise level was not an issue.
We stayed at site J24 and the only down fall was that the fire ring did not have a grate.
LegendThis park is know for the lake that is kayak and canoe friendly since it doesn’t allow any kind of boat with a motor. It also features a beach , 2 playgrounds and several hiking trails. Just be careful if you hike with dogs since some trails intersect with a nature preserve which doesn’t allow pets.
The campground itself has 20 electric sites , 56 primitive sites and 4 camper cabins. All the electric sites are pull through and all sites have a fire pit but only the electric sites come with picnic tables.
Due to off season and COVID the camp store is closed and there is no camper host or park office staff around.
We did notice lots of downed trees on the poorly marked hiking trails. Some trails just started but no maps were around and no trails were blazed. It was hard to tell where we were headed or how long a trail was. I tried using the new Detour app and it wasn’t very accurate for this park.
We did have good Verizon cell coverage.
Cabin camping near Clarence J. Brown Dam and Reservoir offers a serene escape into nature, with various amenities and activities to enhance your outdoor experience.
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping options are available at Clarence J. Brown Dam and Reservoir?
Clarence J. Brown Dam and Reservoir offers multiple camping options through Buck Creek State Park Campground. The area provides both traditional campsites with electric hookups and cabin accommodations. The Dam Site area features drive-in access with basic amenities including water and toilets. For those seeking more developed facilities, nearby Kiser Lake State Park Campground offers campsites in a peaceful setting with playgrounds and hiking trails. The reservoir area is particularly popular with water enthusiasts, as the lake permits various water activities. Reservations are recommended, especially during peak summer months when the campgrounds tend to fill quickly.
How do I make cabin reservations at CJ Brown Reservoir?
To reserve cabins at CJ Brown Reservoir, you should book through the Ohio State Parks reservation system up to 144 days in advance of your arrival date. This can be done online through the Ohio Department of Natural Resources website or by calling their reservation hotline. Similar to Indian Lake State Park Campground, early booking is recommended, especially for summer weekends and holidays when availability becomes limited. The reservation process requires payment at the time of booking, and you'll receive confirmation details via email. For alternative cabin options in the region, Lebanon-Cincinnati NE KOA offers cozy cabins with amenities like queen beds, twin bunks, and kitchen facilities.
What is the cost of staying in cabins at CJ Brown Reservoir?
Cabin rates at CJ Brown Reservoir/Buck Creek State Park typically range from $85-125 per night depending on the season, day of week, and cabin type. This pricing is comparable to other nearby options like Dayton KOA Holiday, which offers various cabin styles with different amenities affecting the price. Most cabins require a two-night minimum stay on weekends during peak season (May-September). Additional fees may include a non-refundable reservation fee and optional add-ons such as linens or firewood. For budget-conscious travelers, midweek and off-season stays often come with reduced rates. Always check the official Ohio State Parks website for current pricing as rates are subject to annual adjustments.
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