Mount Gilead camping areas rest in north central Ohio at elevations around 1,100 feet, characterized by gently rolling terrain and mixed hardwood forests. The camping season typically extends from April through October, with limited year-round options available. Winter temperatures can drop below freezing while summer nights remain comfortable for tent camping even during July and August.
What to do
Disc golf course exploration: Mount Gilead State Park offers a challenging disc golf course with unique terrain features. One visitor noted, "We took a night walk with headlamps and found the disc golf course. This was laid out to be a crazy course and included repelling ropes!" according to Sarah G. at Mt Gilead State Park Campground.
Fishing opportunities: Multiple stocked ponds and lakes provide fishing access for various skill levels. At Cardinal Center Campground, visitors can enjoy "a stocked fishing lake (catch and release)" as mentioned by George J., who added that the campground includes "an indoor swimming pool" for after-fishing relaxation.
Hiking trail networks: Several parks offer interconnected trail systems with varying difficulty levels. Bobby C. shared his experience at Mt Gilead State Park: "Hiking trails very well maintained (only saw 3 pieces of trash while hiking, we picked up the garbage)" and mentioned the bonus of nearby attractions like "President Harding's house and tomb close by also a few wineries."
What campers like
Private, wooded sites: Delaware State Park Campground offers exceptional privacy between campsites. According to Maddy B., "the best thing about this campground is the fact that all the sites have privacy. There are nice trails to walk and the bathrooms are the best I've seen at a campground." Many campers specifically seek out this park for its spacious layout.
Lake access for paddle sports: Alum Creek State Park Campground features waterfront camping with direct lake access. Catherine noted, "The camp sites are spacious and private, surrounded by trees and brush. Beautiful walking trails. There's also a great mountain biking trail in the vicinity. There's a small beach within the campground, a bigger public beach a short drive away."
Clean facilities: Multiple campgrounds maintain well-kept restrooms and shower facilities. At Mohican State Park, Wesley S. described the area as a "Well maintained campground with roomy camp sites. Nice heated pool and many activities in the area. Hiking, canoeing, biking, etc."
What you should know
Site selection matters: At Mt Gilead State Park Campground, site layout varies significantly. According to Shannon G., "Our pad was pretty level and not hard to back into with a small camper. However, a lot of the pads are at 90° angles instead of 45° so it can be harder for a larger camper back in. The full hook up side the sites are really tight together."
Reservation requirements: Most campgrounds fill quickly during summer months, especially on weekends. Seasonal campers often book choice locations at Alum Creek, where Catherine observed, "most sites are booked by seasonal campers who pay for the whole season and leave their RV/set-ups in one place the whole season, so all the choice lakefront sites are always taken."
Terrain variations: Some campgrounds feature significant elevation changes. Bobby C. noted about Mt Gilead, "Our site had a deck right behind the camping pad because the site has a descent slope. The fire pit was down the slope which was cool being out of site from walkers."
Tips for camping with families
Water activities for children: Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park at Dogwood Valley offers numerous water-based attractions. Traci F. reported, "We swam in the lake and pools. We loved the paddle boat ducks and swans. The kids had the best time at archery. We watched them feed the fish at the lake in the morning, that was such a fun experience."
Playground access: Multiple campgrounds feature playground equipment for different age groups. At Delaware State Park, Ashley R. mentioned, "My daughter had tons of fun exploring the woods connected to our site. We did not swim due to it being in the 60s and rainy during most of our stay but we did go look at the beach it was very clean and appears well cared for."
Organized activities: Some campgrounds schedule regular family events. According to L W., Jellystone Park offers "tons of planned events for the kids. Our favorites were crafts and the train ride. They had a pizza party at night and gave our family an entire box."
Tips from RVers
Full hookup availability: Sunbury/Columbus North KOA Holiday provides complete RV connections with spacious sites. Gary G. noted, "Areas in the back woods are quite nice and very treed. Quite private but a long walk to the 'town' which is where most of the activities are. All roads are gravel except the main access road which is paved asphalt."
Camp store convenience: Cardinal Center Campground maintains supplies for RVers who need last-minute items. Beth R. highlighted the benefits: "Full hookup (sewer, water, 50/30 AMP), level site, partially shaded in afternoon" and mentioned amenities like "indoor pool, stocked lake (catch & release), corn hole, bouncy pad, basketball court & playground."
Wi-Fi access: For remote workers, connectivity varies by location. Gary G. reported about Sunbury KOA: "Wi-Fi (2.4 and 5G) seems good throughout the entire park. Best Wi-Fi I've ever had at a campground. They have Wi-Fi repeater towers everywhere you look. T-Mobile signal was good, got plenty of TV channels out of Columbus."
