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Equestrian Camping near Clarence J. Brown Dam and Reservoir, OH

7 campgrounds with availability this weekend

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    Clarence J. Brown Dam and Reservoir offers limited options for equestrians seeking horse camping. None of the campgrounds in the immediate area feature dedicated horse corrals or equestrian-specific facilities according to available data. Buck Creek State Park Campground, located near Springfield, provides the closest camping accommodations but lacks horse-specific amenities. The campground features level concrete pads with full hookups for RVs, tent sites, and cabin options, but equestrians need to make alternative arrangements for their horses. The sites are spacious enough for standard camping equipment but are not configured for horse trailers or portable corrals.

    Several hiking trails around Buck Creek connect to the reservoir shoreline, though these are not designated as bridle paths. Horses are permitted in certain areas of the park but not within the main campground loops. Campers traveling with horses often use these facilities as a base camp while trailering to nearby bridle trails. The reservoir offers fishing, boating, and swimming opportunities for campers seeking recreational activities. For dedicated equestrian camping, horse owners typically travel to other state parks in Ohio with properly designated horse camping loops that include trailer parking and direct trail access.

    Best Equestrian Campgrounds near Clarence J. Brown Dam and Reservoir (9)

      1. Buck Creek State Park Campground

      4.4(33)1mi from Clarence J. Brown Dam and Reservoir131 sitesRVs, Tents, Cabins, Glamping

      "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."

      "I did not spend enough time here to give a thorough review, but what I will say is that this site is nice if you need a campsite for a couple nights while passing through Ohio."

      Available this weekend

      from $25 - $160 / night

      46 Sites Available

      2. Kiser Lake State Park Campground

      4.2(14)19mi from Clarence J. Brown Dam and Reservoir71 sitesRVs, Tents, Cabins

      "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."

      "Pretty surroundings."

      Available this weekend

      from $21 - $55 / night

      41 Sites Available

      3. Alum Creek State Park Campground

      4.4(82)45mi from Clarence J. Brown Dam and Reservoir298 sitesRVs, Tents, Cabins, Glamping

      "Happened to be next to the park host. No choice of where to locate my large tent.  Showers/bathrooms were OK--older facilities.  "

      "There are tons of trails to check out all throughout the park. Kayaking on the northern side of the lake would be recommended. It gets too busy with larger boats in the main area of the lake."

      Available this weekend

      from $19 - $70 / night

      10 Sites Available

      4. Deer Creek State Park Campground

      4.3(32)35mi from Clarence J. Brown Dam and Reservoir224 sitesRVs, Tents, Cabins, Glamping

      "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."

      "Enjoy a few hours or the day hiking one of eight trails or all of them. If you have horses take them out on the two loops especially for them. Lodge, campground, cabins so many options."

      Available this weekend

      from $35 / night

      117 Sites Available

      5. Cowan Lake State Park Campground

      4.4(29)40mi from Clarence J. Brown Dam and Reservoir267 sitesRVs, Tents, Cabins, Glamping

      "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."

      "Cowan Lake State Park is near Wilmington, Ohio and they have been making a lot of improvements to the park.  It is a great location between Cincinnati and Columbus with easy access from the highway. "

      Available this weekend

      from $25 - $160 / night

      106 Sites Available

      6. Delaware State Park Campground

      4.7(40)47mi from Clarence J. Brown Dam and Reservoir205 sitesRVs, Tents, Cabins, Glamping

      "This state park spans over 2,000 acres and is just north of the cute Ohio town of Delaware. "

      "Delaware State Park is a gem in the Ohio state park system. What is amazing to us is how few people seem to know it exists!"

      Available this weekend

      from $35 - $40 / night

      2 Sites Available

      7. Dayton Metro Parks (Five Rivers Metroparks)

      5.0(8)40mi from Clarence J. Brown Dam and ReservoirTents

      "This meant with two little ones we wouldn't have to constantly remind them to socially distance or put on masks.  We were alone but had plenty of park supports."

      "There's a great backpacking trail that's challenging and an easy middle meeting place for friends/family from Columbus and Cincinnati that can meet in Dayton Metroparks/Five Rivers - Germantown and take"

      from $15 - $28 / night

      Check Availability

      8. Sycamore State Park Campground

      3.7(3)33mi from Clarence J. Brown Dam and Reservoir17 sitesTents

      "This park has such a variety of things to do. there’s a great disc golf course, really nice trails to hike with challenging hills and nice areas with shelters for grilling and parties and such."

      Available this weekend

      from $19 - $200 / night

      16 Sites Available

      9. Korbel Campgrounds at Ohio Expo Center

      3.2(5)40mi from Clarence J. Brown Dam and Reservoir359 sitesRVs

      from $60 / night

      Check Availability

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    Equestrian Camping Reviews near Clarence J. Brown Dam and Reservoir

    246 Reviews of 9 Clarence J. Brown Dam and Reservoir Campgrounds

    • TThe Dyrt Pro User
      Oct. 30, 2026

      Kiser Lake State Park Campground

      Reservations are done online at reserveohio. Bathrooms and showers are really nice. Pretty surroundings.

    • J
      Oct. 3, 2026

      Alum Creek State Park Campground

      Nice Suburban Campground

      Right close to Columbus this campground is a staple for locals trying to just get away for the weekend. There is an amphitheater, a camper’s beach, nature center, and more all within the campground. Alum creek state park is a larger facility surrounding the campground with a public beach, walking paths, mountain bike trails, archery range, hunting areas, boat marina and more. The public beach is rather gravelly but has nice shower houses and grills available. We are attending during fall fest where they put on many activities for the campers and it is a lot of fun. You have to reserve 6 months in advance to be able to get in on fall fest unless there is a last minute cancellation. Our site is relatively flat parking, we didn’t need to level the rig. It did rain the morning we got here and the area around the fire pit was a bit muddy. The view out the back of this camp site is nice and wooded, you’re not looking at your neighbors out the back window. The sides you can definitely see each other but it’s still wooded and secluded enough between the sites here.

    • Tara R.The Dyrt Pro User
      Sep. 20, 2026

      Delaware State Park Campground

      Love this one!

      Great campground. My favorite is each loop has their own shower house! Nice playgrounds for kids. Nice private sites. Lots of woods and trails. Good lake for boating fishing and kayaking. Park is very clean and well maintained. They have a kids fishing pond! It’s also great for biking.

    • Tara R.The Dyrt Pro User
      Sep. 5, 2026

      Buck Creek State Park Campground

      Great campground!

      This one is the closest to home! We love it here. Great Lake/reservoir for boating, kayaking swimming and fishing. Two Nice shower houses. Playground. Camp store! Updated fhu sites. Has a good size marina with Store in nature Center. Park is great for riding bikes.

    • Tara R.The Dyrt Pro User
      Aug. 30, 2026

      Kiser Lake State Park Campground

      Very surprised by this small campground!

      Very small campground, not much privacy between the sites. But is very nice all around. Nice big lake, nice shower house, nice camp store. It has a nice beach. Very well maintained lake .

    • Tara R.The Dyrt Pro User
      Aug. 15, 2026

      Alum Creek State Park Campground

      Very nice big campground

      This campground is huge. Great for biking. Nice lake for fishing, boating and kayaking. There is a campers beach in campground. Many sites have water access. Small fishing pond. Very nice camp store. Big, wooded sites.

    • Tara R.The Dyrt Pro User
      Jul. 25, 2026

      Deer Creek State Park Campground

      Big a lot of wooded spots

      Good family camping ground. Most sites are wooded, kids fishing pond. Good playground. Nice shower rooms. Free putt putt and good camp store.

    • Tara R.The Dyrt Pro User
      Jul. 25, 2026

      Cowan Lake State Park Campground

      Bigger campground.

      Have been here twice this year. Great campground. Big camp store with restaurant. Putt putt. Most sites and great, some have slopes. Kid friendly. Good hiking trails

    • Marsha S.The Dyrt Pro User
      Jul. 1, 2026

      Deer Creek State Park Campground

      Beautiful State Park & Campground

      My favorite state park in Ohio (so far). Very clean, lots of activities, nice size sites. Easy to get to from Columbus and lots of activities.

    Guide to Clarence J. Brown Dam and Reservoir

    Camping options near Clarence J. Brown Dam and Reservoir extend beyond the immediate vicinity, with several state parks within 30-45 minutes of driving distance. The reservoir spans 2,120 acres with approximately 10 miles of shoreline, making it popular for boating and fishing activities. Most campgrounds in the area have seasonal availability from April through October with reduced services during colder months.

    What to do

    Hiking and biking trails: Buck Creek State Park offers several trails connecting to the reservoir shoreline. "We visited the Ohio Caverns. The tour is worth the money, the 'gem' mining was fun for our younger kids. Yellow Springs is a great, funky town. Many great places to eat. Dark Star Used Bookstore is a must see every time we visit," notes Leon H. about Buck Creek State Park Campground.

    No-motor boating: Kiser Lake State Park provides a unique boating experience where no motorized watercraft are permitted. "This park is known 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," explains Andrea F. about Kiser Lake State Park Campground.

    Fishing opportunities: Multiple reservoir access points allow for various fishing experiences. "A hidden gem, super quiet, low traffic and decent fishing," says Buck B. about Kiser Lake State Park. Anglers should note that early May is reported as excellent for crappie fishing at several area lakes.

    What campers like

    Private campsites: Delaware State Park offers secluded camping areas with good separation between sites. "This summer my family has went to many campgrounds and by far Delaware has been our favorite. The site we were on was set back in the woods. My daughter had tons of fun exploring the woods connected to our site," shares Ashley R. about Delaware State Park Campground.

    Clean facilities: Many campers note the well-maintained bathhouses at area campgrounds. "Showers were very nice and clean. Several water spickets throughout the park if you needed to access them," comments Lisa M. about Buck Creek State Park Campground.

    Family-friendly atmosphere: Campgrounds near Clarence J. Brown Dam offer various activities for children. "Had a 4 day 3 night long weekend. 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," remarks Melissa M. about Buck Creek State Park.

    What you should know

    Equestrian camping alternatives: For horseback riders seeking camping with equestrian facilities, Sycamore State Park offers horse trails though limited camping options. "All i know is there are great horse trails!" notes Daniele M. about Sycamore State Park Campground. Riders typically use this area for day trips rather than overnight horse camping.

    Site reservations required: Most campgrounds in the region fill quickly during peak season. "Must reserve online as they are still doing everything virtual. Camp spots were decently sized but no cover between camp spots and little shade," advises Mike & Deb L. about Buck Creek State Park.

    Weather considerations: Spring camping can bring mud and flooding concerns. "The heavy rains we'd been having had left the valley and banks very sloppy and muddy," reports Charles R. about camping at Dayton Metro Parks.

    Tips for camping with families

    Look for playgrounds: Several campgrounds provide play areas for children. "Every night there was a movie and you could buy root beer floats for $1!! And the kids loved it. We also used the camper beach but to the left of it to launch our kayaks," shares Melissa M. about Buck Creek State Park.

    Select level sites for kids' bikes: Flat terrain makes for easier family activities. "My sons love camping here for the trails and large areas to ride their bikes," says Buck B. about Buck Creek State Park.

    Consider proximity to bathrooms: When camping with children, bathroom access can be important. "Bathrooms were clean but not spotless and in need of a little repair. 108 was very close to the bathrooms," notes Mike & Deb L.

    Tips from RVers

    Full hookup availability: For extended stays, several area campgrounds offer complete services. "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. Nice hiking trails in the area," advises Lisa M. about Cowan Lake State Park Campground.

    Site leveling requirements: Many campgrounds have paved pads that reduce setup challenges. "A bit rough getting RV setup, but pad is fairly level, so easily setup to use slides. Site 60, 46 feet max length, ours 39," shares Johnothan R. about Cowan Lake State Park.

    Internet connectivity: Working remotely while camping is possible at some locations. "Internet here on t-mobile 5G home is 90Mbps down and 6 to 20Mbps up. Verizon on cellphone, only 10Mbs down, 1-3Mbps up. ATT cellphones are similar to Verizon. Great enough for work or play," adds Johnothan R.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Clarence J. Brown Dam and Reservoir?

    According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Clarence J. Brown Dam and Reservoir is Buck Creek State Park Campground with a 4.4-star rating from 33 reviews.

    What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Clarence J. Brown Dam and Reservoir?

    TheDyrt.com has all 9 equestrian camping locations near Clarence J. Brown Dam and Reservoir, with real photos and reviews from campers.