The Dyrt – find campgrounds for tents, RVs, cabins, glamping and more.
Open in App

Best Campgrounds near Cynthiana, OH

615 Reviews

Campgrounds near Cynthiana, Ohio provide diverse options for outdoor recreation in rural southern Ohio. Paint Creek State Park Campground offers tent, RV, and cabin sites with developed amenities including electric hookups, showers, and drinking water. Long's Retreat Family Resort, approximately 11 miles south of Cynthiana, features tent camping, RV sites, cabin rentals, and glamping accommodations with boat-in access. The region includes both state park facilities and private resorts with varying levels of development, from basic tent platforms to full-service RV sites with sewer hookups.

Most campgrounds in the area operate seasonally, with peak availability from April through October. Long's Retreat Family Resort specifically runs from April 1 to October 31, while several state parks including Paint Creek, Rocky Fork, and Pike Lake remain open year-round. Winter camping is available at select locations with heated bathroom facilities. Reservations are recommended during summer weekends and holidays when waterfront sites fill quickly. Cell phone coverage can be limited or nonexistent at some rural campgrounds. A recent review noted, "Be prepared to really go off the grid, as there is no phone service out here at all, and the wifi is terrible."

Many campers report water recreation as a primary attraction at campgrounds near Cynthiana. Paint Creek State Park provides lake access with boat ramps for fishing and water sports, while Long's Retreat features swimming areas, water slides, and canoe rentals. Families particularly appreciate the range of activities available beyond standard camping. Several visitors mentioned the peaceful environment created by the lack of connectivity. According to one camper, "No cell service at all which is good and bad," while another shared that disconnecting was "a great reset" where "everyone has to actually spend time together." Bathroom and shower facilities receive mixed reviews across the region, with state park campgrounds typically offering standard but functional amenities.

Map showing campgrounds near Cynthiana, OhioExplore the Map

Best Camping Sites Near Cynthiana, Ohio (74)

    1. Paint Creek State Park Campground

    21 Reviews
    Paint Creek Lake, OH
    6 miles
    Website
    +1 (937) 981-7061

    "Cute, charming Ohio State Park. Enjoy 4 lovely hiking trails that showcase the parks features by taking you through the woods and fields. Fish is offered and their is boat dock ."

    "An excellent disc golf course, hiking and beautiful lake views. Just past the town of Bainbridge, Ohio is Seip Mound to explore and hike the trails."

    2. Long's Retreat Family Resort

    13 Reviews
    Sinking Spring, OH
    6 miles
    Website
    +1 (937) 588-3725

    "We have been going here for the last 6 summers with a big group (nearly 30 kids with us). Everyone always has such a great time and it is the highlight of all the kids summers."

    3. Rocky Fork State Park Campground

    18 Reviews
    Hillsboro, OH
    10 miles
    Website
    +1 (937) 393-4284

    "The camp grounds we stayed in was nearly full and had every conceivable form of camping from tents to full size motor coaches."

    "Camp sites available next to the lake. Beautiful lake for kayaking, boating and swimming. Only downfall is that you have to drive a few miles to get to the beach."

    4. Pike Lake State Park Campground

    11 Reviews
    Latham, OH
    7 miles
    Website
    +1 (740) 493-2212

    "Ranger Review: Morsel Spork at Pike Lake State Park Campground Review:

    We stayed at site 67 next to the camp host. The camp site was nicely shaded with a small creek behind it."

    "The lake is smaller, but nice beach area and pedal boats are fun. We hiked the Greenbriar and CCC Trails. They are not too challenging but beautiful."

    5. Lizzy’s Acres

    1 Review
    Bainbridge, OH
    5 miles
    +1 (740) 438-2678

    $25 - $35 / night

    "Lizzy's Acres is a new listing on the Dyrt, but they offer a great location for those looking to explore the area.  Check them out and show them some love!"

    6. Shady Trails Campground

    2 Reviews
    Hillsboro, OH
    9 miles
    Website
    +1 (937) 393-5618

    "Right across from the North Beach of Rocky Fork Lake"

    7. Scioto Trail State Park Campground

    10 Reviews
    Waverly, OH
    21 miles
    Website
    +1 (740) 663-2125

    $25 - $30 / night

    "We chose to camp at Scioto Trail State Park because of it's proximity to Salt Creek Kayak Adventures. While I had hiked at Scioto Trail in the past, this was our first visit to the campground."

    "Walk-in sites with pit toilets and potable water. The map of how the sites are laid out online is extremely inaccurate, I would not have picked my site if it had been accurate."

    8. Hocking Hills State Park Campground

    109 Reviews
    South Bloomingville, OH
    46 miles
    Website

    $29 - $46 / night

    "There are lots of caves, trails, camping options and activities in the area. Be careful, however, every year someone is injured or dies going off trail, often falling from a cliff."

    "If you stay away from the main roads, you might feel like you're in a smaller campground."

    9. Sun Valley Campground

    4 Reviews
    Chillicothe, OH
    20 miles
    Website
    +1 (740) 775-3490

    "We were able to reserve a drive-thru site on the same day we wanted it.  It looks like there are quite a few seasonal campers there.  Sites have space between them, many are shaded. "

    10. East Fork State Park Campground

    65 Reviews
    Concord, OH
    41 miles
    Website
    +1 (513) 734-2730

    $29 - $30 / night

    "This is your standard Ohio State Park campground.  It has the usual parking, water, restrooms, camp store, and activities.  East Fork is rather nice as it has the lake and long trails. "

    "Our favorite campsite for the outskirts of Cincinnati. Lots of great spots available! You can get to the lake in about a 15 minute drive."

Show More
Showing results 1-10 of 74 campgrounds

2025 Detourist Giveaway

Presented byToyota Trucks

Review Campgrounds. Win Prizes.

Enter to Win

Cynthiana Contest

Enter to Win

Recent Camping Photos near Cynthiana, OH

242 Photos of 74 Cynthiana Campgrounds

Recent Reviews near Cynthiana, OH

615 Reviews of 74 Cynthiana Campgrounds

  • Angie F.
    Oct. 12, 2025

    Palmerosa Horse & Hike Campground

    Picturesque Hocking HIlls retreat

    While we are not horsemen, my husband and I so enjoyed our stay at this remote and picturesque campground. The property reflects great pride and financial investment: nicely-appointed and immaculate bathroom facilities; well-spaced campsites; classy equine stalls; and accommodating service second to none. Highly recommended!

  • RThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 30, 2025

    Jackson Lake State Park Campground

    A day a life in the office

    I drove an hour and a half to get here because dyrt showed that we had full AT&T service here that is not the trucks we have between one and two bars of AT&T service so we’ll see if we drove here for me to be able to work for a couple days and be out in God’s creation

  • Shelby I.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 29, 2025

    Rocky Fork State Park Campground

    A place to sleep

    Camp sites are very tightly packed together and feels like I'm in someone's backyard that is having trouble growing grass.

  • John M.
    Sep. 17, 2025

    Sandy Springs Campground

    A Wonderful Campground!

    We had a wonderful weekend stay at this campground; we were fortunate to get a river view site which was amazing. It is so peaceful to watch the river and see the occasional boat or barge go by. The campground is a very nice facility with unique cabins and nice full hook up sites. They have a nice store, restroom and shower facilities and they even have a small menu that they can prepare and bring to your site including a delicious chocolate chip cookie desert!

    The owners are the real gem here; they are so friendly and accommodating and go out of their way to make you feel at home! We had a grandchild visit and we forgot a jacket and Julie(owner) went out of her way to find a hoodie out of her Halloween stock, so he would have something for the weekend. 

    We will be back!

  • RThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 12, 2025

    Sandy Springs Campground

    Nice spots on the Ohio River

    We had a riverfront site. The camp hosts are very nice and attentive to your needs. We will return

  • Kara S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 6, 2025

    Stonelick State Park Campground

    Big sites but can be loud and crowded

    Nice big sites, fairly level. We camped at site 35 and it was very slopey, our levelers only helped a little. First night the shower house STUNK but then the next day it smelled fine while our closest bathrooms were out of order. The trail to the lake was right next to the sit and that was lovely.

  • Evan C.
    Aug. 18, 2025

    Rocky Fork State Park Campground

    Fine tenting, poorly kept

    8/13/2025

    Got here after dark, but navigated to a pretty secluded loop that's just for tenting (site 61 - see map). Stakes went in fine. Seemed to be a lot of different types of spiders, which was cool to see and even cooler that they didn't bug me. Less cool - the site wasn't very clean - bits of trash that a park attendant/ranger definitely should've been picking up. Moreover, there were stray cats living in that section (I saw three), which were very cute but I'm sure they're not living their best life and the wildlife probably don't appreciate them being around either. I called later to let the park know (nobody was around during my stay) and they said they'd get maintenance on it. If you stay here and see them, I'd urge you to let the park know again, or maybe call animal control.

  • Rhonda B.
    Aug. 17, 2025

    The Landing at Bear Creek RV Park

    Best full time campground on the Ohio River!

    We are full-time RVers and this is by far the best park we've stayed at! It's peaceful and beautiful, everyone (especially Management) is so friendly and fun! The laundry facility is one of the greatest amenities as we've stayed other places without one, so we truly appreciate it! The splash pad is fantastic for children and adults alike! There's a dog park, and a kids kangaroo jump pad as well. The view of the river is beautiful! On weekends there's entertainment and/or cornhole tournaments to bring everyone together. The park is maintained perfectly and I've enjoyed calling it home! By far the best park in Southern Clermont County! Must see!

  • Reb S.
    Aug. 11, 2025

    A.W. Marion State Park Campground

    Horrible

    Really disgusted with out last stay here. We ended up next to some tent campers who were homeless which isn't the issue because things in life happen it was the way they acted that just grossed me out. I spent the first few days listening to them arguing and fighting amongst each other about their welfare checks being spent on their cigarettes beer and weed. They had 2 kids one that was autistic that they called a retard the other one they called stupid and it was just heartbreaking. I ended up having to go inside my camper and turning my ac on to escape their screaming and yelling and fighting that went into the midnight hour. My dog has a heart murmur and it made him anxious. I felt like I was camping in the bottoms of Columbus Ohio. The camp host said they are there all the time which is disturbing that they condone this behavior and makes me question the integrity of this location. Luckily after contacting ODNR we were able to move to a location far from them and given a gift card for our troubles. This was after they moved their camp stuff practically across the front bumper of my 100,000 RV. My husband and I pay way to much for our RV and for our stays to put up with this trash. We'd be hard pressed to come back here and be exposed to this kind of drama again.

Guide to Cynthiana

Camping near Cynthiana, Ohio, offers a variety of experiences for outdoor lovers. From serene lakeside spots to family-friendly resorts, there’s something for everyone in this beautiful region.

What to do:

  • Hiking and Biking: Explore the trails at Cowan Lake State Park Campground. Campers rave about the “great hiking trails and friendly people” that make for a perfect outdoor adventure.
  • Fishing: If you’re into fishing, head to Deer Creek State Park Campground. While some campers found fishing spots crowded, others enjoyed the peaceful surroundings and the chance to catch some fish.
  • Water Activities: At Rocky Fork State Park Campground, you can kayak, boat, or swim in the beautiful lake. One visitor noted, “Beautiful lake for kayaking, boating, and swimming,” making it a great spot for water lovers.

What campers like:

  • Clean Facilities: Campers appreciate the well-maintained restrooms and shower houses at places like Tar Hollow State Park Campground. One reviewer mentioned, “The bathrooms and bathhouse were clean,” which is always a plus when camping.
  • Spacious Campsites: Many campers enjoy the large, private sites at Paint Creek State Park Campground. A visitor shared, “The camp was peaceful and pleasing as the employees and volunteers obviously take pride in their efforts.”
  • Family-Friendly Atmosphere: Families love the activities at Long's Retreat Family Resort. One parent said, “There is so much to do here,” highlighting the fun for kids and adults alike.

What you should know:

  • Crowded Weekends: Many campgrounds, like Rocky Fork State Park Campground, can get busy on weekends. One camper noted, “The campground was extremely busy on the weekends,” so plan your visit accordingly.
  • Limited Amenities at Some Sites: At Pike Lake State Park Campground, some campers found the facilities lacking. A review mentioned, “The campground is small, and there are only four flush toilets for all the sites.”
  • Noise Levels: Be prepared for noise at certain campgrounds. One visitor at Rocky Fork State Park Campground said, “You can hear the street traffic and airport all day,” which might not be ideal for those seeking peace and quiet.

Tips for camping with families:

  • Check for Activities: Look for campgrounds with activities for kids, like Beechwood Acres Camping Resort. One family mentioned, “Great time with Great People! Very family-oriented place,” which is perfect for a fun family getaway.
  • Plan for Limited Wi-Fi: Many campgrounds, such as Long's Retreat Family Resort, have poor cell service and Wi-Fi. One camper noted, “Be prepared to really go off the grid,” so bring books and games for entertainment.
  • Look for Clean Facilities: Families appreciate clean restrooms and showers. A visitor at Cowan Lake State Park Campground said, “Bathroom was clean and well stocked through the weekend,” which is a big plus for parents.

Tips from RVers:

  • Check Site Sizes: RVers should verify site sizes before booking. A camper at Tar Hollow State Park Campground mentioned, “Our trailer was 32 feet, and there was a potable water faucet nearby,” which is helpful for planning.
  • Be Prepared for Crowds: Many RV parks can fill up quickly, especially on weekends. One visitor at Rocky Fork State Park Campground said, “The campground was extremely busy on the weekends,” so consider going during the week for a quieter experience.
  • Look for Full Hookups: If you need full hookups, check campgrounds like Cowan Lake State Park Campground, where RVers can find “electric hookups and sanitary dump stations.”

Camping near Cynthiana, Ohio, has something for everyone, whether you're looking for a family-friendly spot or a peaceful retreat.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where can I find camping options in Cynthiana, Kentucky?

While Cynthiana itself has limited camping options, several excellent campgrounds are within an hour's drive. Shawnee State Park Campground is located just across the Ohio border and offers secluded tent sites nestled in the trees. Another nearby option is Pike Lake State Park Campground, which provides drive-in and walk-in access with reservable sites. Both parks offer scenic settings for outdoor enthusiasts looking to camp near Cynthiana. For the best camping experience, it's recommended to make reservations in advance, especially during peak season.

What amenities are available at Cynthiana campgrounds?

Campgrounds near Cynthiana offer a range of amenities to enhance your camping experience. Cowan Lake State Park Campground provides numerous bathrooms, lake access, and has undergone recent improvements. The park features both electric and non-electric sites, with tent-only areas situated away from RV pads for a quieter experience. East Fork State Park Campground offers standard facilities including water access, restrooms, a camp store, and recreational activities centered around its large lake. Most nearby campgrounds provide basic amenities like drinking water and toilets, while many also feature hiking trails, swimming areas, and fishing opportunities.

Is RV camping available in Cynthiana?

RV camping is available near Cynthiana at several campgrounds within a reasonable driving distance. Tar Hollow State Park Campground offers RV sites separate from their tent-only areas, with a general store where you can pick up permits and supplies. Long's Retreat Family Resort is another nearby option that welcomes RVs and is big-rig friendly with water and toilet facilities. When planning an RV trip to the area, check ahead for reservation requirements and specific site dimensions to ensure compatibility with your vehicle. Most nearby campgrounds that accommodate RVs also offer electric hookups and dump stations.

Keep Exploring