Campsites near Columbiana, Ohio range from primitive tent spaces to full-amenity facilities across Mahoning, Columbiana, and Beaver counties. The region features rolling hills and woodlands at elevations of 900-1,200 feet, with summer temperatures averaging 75-85°F. Many sites border lakes, streams, or reservoirs that can experience significant water level fluctuations during dry seasons.
What to do
Kayaking at small, quiet lakes: Mill Creek Camping at Berlin Lake Wildlife Area offers multiple water access points. "The only thing we were unable to do is have a camp fire. The fire ring was pushed so far down in the mud we were unable to get good air flow to start a fire," noted one visitor who instead took "the inflatable kayaks out on the lake twice and it was so smooth and clear."
Historical exploration: Beaver Creek State Park Campground features a pioneer village with original buildings. "The best part about the area was the history that surrounds it. There is a pioneer village near the park office that offers some picnicking areas around it. It also has original buildings from the pioneer days (church, school, etc)," according to one camper.
Winter camping options: The Salem-Lisbon Ohio KOA provides year-round camping opportunities with heated facilities. A winter visitor reports, "This was an awesome place for a winter trip! The tent sites were big and right on the lake. Everyone was so kind!"
Geocaching and disc golf: West Branch State Park offers activities beyond typical hiking and fishing. "We also played some disc golf and went geocaching. The campground is nice—the toilets are just pit toilets and they do have a sun shower."
What campers like
Privacy at tent sites: Tomlinson Run State Park Campground offers secluded spots for tent campers. "Most of the sites were pretty private and ours was probably the most private and had a lot of space since we were on the very end of the road/cul-de-sac," noted a visitor who stayed at tent site 40.
Pine forest camping: Beaver Creek State Park has distinctive pine tree camping areas. "We camped this past weekend in site 50. It is an unbelievably spacious site under towering pine trees. The site sits back off the road and really makes you feel like you have the place to yourself," shared one camper.
Clean facilities: Campers consistently note well-maintained bathrooms at Guilford Lake State Park Campground. "The bathrooms were extremely well maintained," wrote one visitor, while another mentioned, "The camp sites on the water are very spacious, but the ones on the inside of the loop, not so much."
Dark skies for stargazing: Several sites offer minimal light pollution. One Beaver Creek visitor noted, "The sky was dark enough to see far more stars than you'd see near any larger towns or cities. To cap it off, we laid in our tent dozing off to the sounds of owls and coyotes!"
What you should know
Sloping terrain at many sites: West Branch State Park Campground has elevation challenges. "Our site was labeled slight slope. That was a joke. We were only off 2 inches side to side but front to back we had to lower the front 15 inches," reported one camper who advised site selection caution.
Limited water availability: Some parks restrict water usage. At Beaver Creek, "They are on a well so there is limited water and they don't allow you to fill up your on board tank. Make sure you fill up before you go!"
Road access restrictions: Vehicle size matters when accessing certain areas. A camper at Beaver Creek advised, "There is a road in the park (Echo Dell Road) that RVs/Trailers can't go on so make sure you approach this campground from Leslie Road!"
Wildlife encounters: Expect wildlife interactions, especially with water birds. A Guilford Lake visitor warned about "Goose excrement all over on the lakeside campsites - bring a small shovel and a lot of plastic bags. Plan on cleaning before you set camp (my site was disgusting)."
Tips for camping with families
Playgrounds and activities: Mill Creek Camping offers multiple recreation options. "The park itself and the bathrooms were very clean. We book a lakefront site and it is just gorgeous! We have our own private little beach which our dog loves," reported a visitor.
Tent sites near play areas: Beaver Creek has strategic sites for families with children. "We got a site near the playground, which my 3 year old enjoyed. The campground wasn't busy and we had a lot of privacy."
Kid-friendly beach access: Guilford Lake provides dedicated swimming areas. "They have a playground, a basketball court, and their own beach for the campers. Along with several docks to fish from and launch your kayak," noted one visitor.
Mixed cabin options: For families not ready for tent camping, Getaway Beaver Creek offers cabin alternatives. "We had a cozy cabin with 2 bathrooms. We also had a small kitchen where we could cook when we didn't want to cook over the fire."
Tips from RVers
Approach routes: Raccoon Creek State Park Campground can be challenging to access. "You drive up a long, steep, windy road to the campgrounds, not to mention the drive to get to the town was very out of the way," warns one RVer.
Water fill stations: Several campgrounds have problematic water access. At West Branch, "the water fill is on an incline so when our tank was 'full' pulling away from fill station it was really only 2/3 full."
Cell service considerations: Mobile connectivity varies significantly. At Raccoon Creek, "If you're on Sprint or T-mobile - there is no service."
Dump station accessibility: Most area campgrounds have dump stations, but they may have limited hours. At Tomlinson Run, one RVer noted "Dump station—2 way and potable water on the other side of it. The only place to drop your trash too."
