Camping near Lockbourne, Ohio ranges from primitive tent sites to full-hookup RV locations within a 30-mile radius. Most camping areas sit between 700-900 feet elevation in terrain characterized by rolling hills and creek valleys. Winter temperatures regularly drop below freezing from December through February, making most sites seasonal operations with limited or no winter availability.
What to do
Fishing opportunities: Pine Lake at Tar Hollow State Park Campground offers family-friendly shore fishing. "Pine Lake is nice, but the beach is a bit small. Overall, this has been a lovely place to relax and decompress," notes a camper who appreciated the water access.
Backpacking trails: The REI water trail at Scioto-Grove Metro Park provides an accessible introduction to backpacking with five reservable sites. "Scioto Grove is great if you're looking to test out some new backpacking gear. There are 5 reservable sites along the river trail and they all have tent pads and a fire pit," reports one visitor.
Miniature golf: Take a break from hiking with a round of mini-golf at Tar Hollow's camp store area. "There is miniature golf, but don't expect a major chain's high quality production--this is a state park. There is a foosball table and air hockey as well in a separate game room," explains a camper.
What campers like
Secluded tent camping: North Ridge at Tar Hollow provides a tent-only area with greater separation from RVs. "It is the crest of the hill, so the different spots have different amounts of slope. The whole site is one large cleared oval, with a large grassy area at the crest. It is really, really quiet," shares one camper.
Lake activities: Alum Creek State Park Campground offers multiple water recreation options. "There is a campground beach and boat launch. Lost of hiking paths in the campground and in the park area. A great dog park with lake entrance for the pups. There is also some mountain bike trails," reports a visitor.
Site privacy: Campers consistently mention site spacing at Alum Creek as a major plus. "Space and Privacy...the two things that bring me back to this campground year after year. We have never had a 'bad' campsite at the Alum Creek State Park Campground. Each camping space is separated by trees and brush," explains a regular visitor.
What you should know
Weekend-only availability: Some locations have very limited scheduling. At Scioto-Grove, "Only weekend stays and it ends in wintertime. I'm sure it's pretty and all, but it's hard to find legit, free dispersed camping in Ohio!" explains one camper about the restricted availability.
Limited bathrooms: Facilities vary widely between campgrounds. At A.W. Marion State Park Campground, "Normally the vault toilets are really clean but it looked like they hadn't been touched since we were there in January and February. I don't mind the vault toilets but not when the first one you visit has no toilet paper and the seat was disgusting."
Cell service gaps: Most state parks have spotty coverage. "It is pretty remote (no cell phone coverage at even the top of the hills), and really is a chance to 'get away' from the modern life," notes a Tar Hollow camper about connectivity limitations.
Tips for camping with families
Activity options: Jackson Lake Park offers multiple family entertainment choices. "Lots of fun for kids with the swimming pond and arcade. The little lake was so much fun. My children were upset we had to leave early due to the storm coming in," reports a family visitor.
Site selection: Pay close attention to site descriptions when booking. "Site #9 is probably the biggest in the primitive section. It is right next to the entrance road (and dumping station), which is a bummer, but the size of the site made it totally worth it," advises a camper at A.W. Marion.
Bring extra supplies: Many locations have inconsistent bathroom stocking. "Always pack extra!" reminds a camper at Tar Hollow after finding empty toilet paper dispensers, reflecting a common issue across regional campgrounds.
Tips from RVers
Campground location: Alton RV Park provides convenient access to Columbus. "Not a sightseeing destination, but very convenient place to stop for the night if you're on a road trip doing a lot of driving. Safe neighborhood with a kroger right down the street," notes a traveler.
Site leveling: A.W. Marion offers some particularly level sites in the electric area. "I stayed at site #32. No other campers there for the weekend, but a lot of foot traffic. My husband thought this site was more level than #31. This site is big and spacious and backs up to trees," reports a winter camper.
Water hookup challenges: Some parks have unusual water connection setups. "We appreciated the full hook-ups and pull through site. But, the water hook ups were accessible through a hole/pipe and we had to 'fish' down to connect our hose," explains an RVer at Jackson Lake Park.
