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 arrived three hours after check in started and headed straight to the camp office to check in."
"Happened to be next to the park host. No choice of where to locate my large tent. Showers/bathrooms were OK--older facilities. "
"Large, private sites, good electric service, reasonable distance to Columbus. I was confused about no on-site office, self check in. Lake is beautiful. Bathrooms are decent."
"For the rest of the weekend our campsite had standing water around the fire pit and was similar to other site around the campground."
"Big lots , very family friendly , Well-stocked store lots of family activities the water isn’t swimmable at the moment but it’s still really nice nice bath houses nice toilets"
"The bathrooms are clean. The sites have LOTS of extra space in between for hammocks, kids running, and privacy. There are lots with trees and lots without."
"Autumn 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."
"We 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."
"We can imagine that this park is pretty full in the summer with all their amenities and close proximity to major Ohio cities. "
"The lake was pretty. Watching the herons was relaxing.
The people in our section were courteous. All seemed to obey the quiet hours."
"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"
"Wonderful gem close to Caesar’s Creek and historic Waynesville. Sites are level with plenty of shade."
"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."
"I never decorate for Halloween but with everything going on in 2020 I said what the heck. I think it turned out nice but not good enough to be a winner."
$42 - $55 / night
"Had a back-in, water/electric spot that was roomy as we were on an end. Wood deck, picnic table, and fire ring included. Very well kept grounds, friendly staff, and all-around good atmosphere."
"2 Fenced dog areas, nice playground, game room, giant chess set outside, clean pool.. you name it, this KOA has it!"
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.
TravelerThis campground is well attended as most lots are filled each time I visit. The bathrooms are clean. The sites have LOTS of extra space in between for hammocks, kids running, and privacy. There are lots with trees and lots without. There is a commissary that includes everything you could possibly need as well as a hot grill. There is a beach for swimming, trails for hiking (not long distances), a basketball court and multiple playgrounds. When we were there, they had an outdoor movie theater for the kids and served complimentary popcorn. It was nice and hassle free.
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
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.
TravelerThis is a huge campground! I tent camped by myself--felt very safe. Happened to be next to the park host. No choice of where to locate my large tent. Showers/bathrooms were OK--older facilities. Wish this park had a laundry facility--another Ohio park I recently stayed at had a fairly new shower facility that included a laundry facility! Did not appreciate the waste management company emptying the dumpsters at 4:00 AM!!! There is a huge, lakeside beach that was just packed with people (no social distancing) and there was trash everywhere--not enough dumpsters. Near to shopping (Polaris), if you are interested. Will try to get a lakeside site next time.
GuideIt's easy to get there. The non-electric sites don't have a lot of space or privacy (ie; trees) between them, definitely no hammocking. There's also a private camper's beach that is absolutely serene, probably not safe to swim in. Due to it being a holiday weekend, it was busy & loud like you'd expect, but it was so rowdy we left early. When we showed up, someone dumped all their trash in our firepit, absolutely disgusting behavior. Two different camp groups, one in electric and one in non-electric, got into loud verbal fights that resulted in the police being called. Fireworks and loud music were played all night long. No quiet hours, or if there are any they're not enforced. It's still great for a night visit if you're in the area, but it's not a dream weekend getaway by any means.
TravelerLarge, private sites, good electric service, reasonable distance to Columbus. I was confused about no on-site office, self check in. Lake is beautiful. Bathrooms are decent.
Frequently Asked Questions
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According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular glamping campground near Clarence J. Brown Dam and Reservoir is Buck Creek State Park Campground with a 4.4-star rating from 33 reviews.
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