Do you love the outdoors and horses? If you're looking for a rustic but comfortable experience, horse camping in Defiance is the way to go. Finding a place to stay in Ohio while traveling with your horse has never been easier. Find Ohio equestrian campgrounds with ease on The Dyrt.
Scout
They have good hiking trails, nice refreshing waters, good food options at certain places
LegendThis state park was established in 1925, so almost 100 years old. The campground must be the original layout. There's a maze like quality to it. The roads are narrow & you may be driving off the road for a big rig.
Some sites are level, some aren't. Some can accommodate larger rigs, most can't. Check the site descriptions carefully & to be doubly sure, call the office & ask.
There's water stations that look very old. They have wooden, shingled roofs. There's 2 dump stations located in loops 3 & 4. IN THE CAMPGROUND! NEXT TO CAMPSITES!!!!
There's 5 loops to the main campground.
100 loop is small & closer to the lake than the other loops. It's the loop we chose this time.
The sites are on the small side. There's 3 campsites that are close to the lake. 115, which is a larger site. 117 & 119 which have clear views of the lake. 117 is more a tent or popup site & is small. 119 is the best of the bunch. A large pad & a large site. There's no privacy bushes. These sites have a view of the lake with trees & brush & are on a ridge overlooking the lake. They aren't ON the lake.
On either side of 117 & 119 are 2 trails that lead to the lake. There's benches & a dock to tie up your boat.
The rest of the sites are a mixed bag. Some are level, some have an incline. If you have a big rig, be aware that the road to the 100 campsites branches into one way. Leading into the campsites, the road is narrow & has a ravine on one side!
200 Loop is non electric
300 Loop is the biggest loop & seems like the best bet for larger rigs. As stated above, some sites are better than others. There's a uniformity here that's missing from the other loops.
Stay away from sites 393& 395!!! These sites are literally right on top of the dump station! As always watch for pit toilets near the sites.
400 loop is a smaller loop next to the 200 loop. There's only one shower house for both loops. Avoid site 444 & probably site 454. These sites are VERY close to the dump station.
500 loop is also smaller& has some nice sites tucked by themselves in the trees. There seems to be more privacy brush on this loop with SOME sites.
512 is close to the shower house. 511 & 513 were somewhat secluded.
If you have a boat you want to tie up at the dock, go for the 100 loop. If you can't get it, be aware there's no parking near the trails to the lake. You can park by the bathhouse & walk.
The shower & restrooms are atrocious!!! Worst looking buildings since Spring Mill SP! Dirty & need an entire overhaul. In fact, raze the buildings & build new ones! They're "cleaned" once a day. Suuuuuure they are. There was actual poop on the door of one of the women's toilet stalls the whole time I was there. Mold & spiders& dirt in the corners. Looks like the last upgrade was in the 50s.
GuideLovely little quiet campground and spacious park with plenty to do for 1-2 days. Staff is non-intrusive, and the site has plenty of room to camp about and roam. Find your own little quiet corner and unplug for a few days. It's better than Ohio's only National Park!
Note: the DNR trail maps are inaccurate but well worth your time, so research your trials well or you'll get a bit lost. Trail signs are also very confusing. Bring plenty of water as posted 'mile' hikes quickly turn in 5 mile hikes. I recommend walking the 'Wetlands' trail around dusk.
Traveler
Difficult to get potable water. Only electric on the sites. Some sites don't have electric hookup. Dump station is in a completely different section of the state park. We arrived around 8 pm and check-in station was already closed. Luckily they have a sign with name and site number. Not much to do other than trails.
GuideEquestrian trails and campgrounds are popular here. Horse rides sold on site. There is a nice hotel that sometimes hosts events actually located in the park. Come tobagginging and ice fishing in the winter and then pamper yourself in the hotel, or visit in the summer and have a beach day or easy hike with the family. Great spot for Pokémon Go because of the available cell service.
ScoutHorseback riding, swimming at the beach, fishing on the dock. Took my children and their friends they looked it
TravelerEnormous park, very clean and grassy. The staff was very helpful and friendly. We stayed there for 1 night only. The bathrooms are nice and clean, also has a nice shower.
TravelerThis is an extremely large campground. About seventy-five percent of the sites are electric. We stayed in Site 255, which was not electric (booked last minute). This site was fairly level but very close to other sites…wouldn’t recommend it. However, Site 269 (next to Site 277) afforded great privacy and was large; among the non-electric sites this was the best I saw. I did not survey the electric sites, but I’m sure the site matters a lot. Non-electric sites are $20.00, plus a $9.00 park entrance fee.
There are numerous walking trails, along with horse and bike trails. Additionally, there are boat rentals, horseback rides, pony rentals, swimming, nature center, and a restaurant at the inn.
This is a family oriented park. Extended family groupings are very common. Nevertheless, people and their children are well behaved.
I would recommend this campground for two days or more. A one day stay will mean you probably won’t see much of this wonderful park. The only reason I gave it a four was that even in mid-September it was packed.
GuideWe stopped here for a night on our cross-country trip, wish we had 2 nights because we had lots of thunderstorms. We camped in our teardrop on the primitive tent loop. Sites were nice and secluded where we were, but you could hear a few late night partiers nearby. Tons of things to do (playgrounds, lake, beach, hiking, horseback and pony rides etc). The lodge is a nice structure but the food we sampled was mediocre.
TravelerVery nice, clean, people and staff very friendly. You must reserve a spot by phone or online only, no walk ins. I made my reservation while standing at the visitor cabin
GuideThis was our first stop from NY to CO. We didn’t have a lot of time but enjoy the time we had. Lots to do in this park and we want to go back and spend more time on our next trip East.
GuideWhat a beautiful park. So much to do, beach, hike, bike, horse back ride. Campgrounds can be crowded, lots of families, lots of kids. Campground 3 was a little tight for our 38 ft Class A, but certainly doable. Choose your spot wisely. The park staff were very friendly, very helpful. We needed to move spots, and then had issues with the electric. Everyone we dealt with was very accommodating, helpful, friendly.
GuideThey have a snow tabaggon my kids love it, a nice inn, and amazing staff!! All very affordable.
TravelerWe stayed in campsite #26, it was wooded, clean and quiet. I'm only giving 4 stars because the showers could have been a little cleaner. This is our 2nd time staying here and although we didnt use anything 3lse we would stay here again. Bring bug spray and citronella candles, lots of mosquitoes.
ScoutThose giving 5 stars are gracious or inexperienced. The management of this dumpster fire are disgusting and disgraceful. The accommodations are garbage and poorly maintained. The amenities are non-existent. Just don’t stay here if you want to have a nice stay at a cabin or campsite.
GuideThe campground was full, but was surprisingly quiet. Clean comfort stations and grounds. It was a bit odd that there was only one water fill station, and two oddly placed dump stations, but we were not in a hurry so waiting was not a concern. Our site, 315, was listed as having a slight grade. The gravel pad was surprisingly steep, with a good slope down on the camp side. It worked, but I do not feel the descriptions online fit the actual gravel pad. There were other sites that seemed impossible to have a level trailer.
ScoutPretty clean but crowded
TravelerTried it for the first time. It was quiet and relaxing. The camp host was nice and friendly. Kids loved having the playground so close to the camper. Will be back soon.
TravelerThis camp ground site was well used but we came in late and were able to grab a spot. Luckily we visited off season. I bet this campground is very popular in the summer time. Highly recommend. We camped at 301 and there were vaulted toilets by the site.
GuideOur stay was short, but I'd definitely consider another trip! Beautiful campground, large but still felt pretty secluded. Bathrooms were clean and well stocked.
GuideWe are heading to Colorado from Michigan so this was just a stopover, one night. Very much like this park and will be back when we have more time to enjoy it. Spacious sites, good shade.
TravelerGreat place for family, lots of amenities.
TravelerReally nice campground, we stayed one night while traveling. Clean bathrooms and showers! Campsites clean, some privacy between sites with trees, very quiet. Had lake, trails, would be great for families on vacation.
GuideOur plans were changed so we lost our reservation. However they let us stay for free at the back of the campground. No power or anything. But it was nice of them to help us out.
GuideThis was our very first camping trip with the travel trailer and we loved it! We had family come up and really enjoyed it. We found a little hiking trail with the family and enjoyed taking our dog out on it. We will absolutely be going back next year!
GuideSecond time here. Sites are shorter and sometimes uneven. Bike trail, hiking trails, store, beach, inn, nature center.
TravelerGood servis, clean, polite peoples,
Horse camping in Ohio offers a unique opportunity to explore the great outdoors while enjoying the company of your equine friends. With a variety of campgrounds catering to horse enthusiasts, you can find the perfect spot to saddle up and hit the trails.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Defiance, OH?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Defiance, OH is Pokagon State Park Campground with a 4.5-star rating from 46 reviews.
