Scioto Trail State Park Campground permits pets at all campsites with standard leash requirements. Several pet-friendly campgrounds surround Chillicothe, including Sun Valley Campground, Tar Hollow State Park, and Walnut Creek Campground and Resort, all offering accommodations for campers traveling with dogs. Peaceful nice place, pets okay at Sun Valley Campground according to recent visitors. Most campgrounds require pets to be leashed at all times, properly supervised, and not left unattended. The campgrounds provide a mix of tent sites, RV spots with hookups, and pet-friendly cabins. Tar Hollow State Park Campground features both electric and non-electric sites where dogs are welcome, though the North Ridge tent-only area places campers in close proximity to neighbors.
Dog-friendly hiking trails connect many of the campgrounds to surrounding natural areas. Shawnee State Park includes a great dog park with an agility course located away from the RV camping area, providing a dedicated space for pets to exercise off-leash. The surrounding Zaleski State Forest offers numerous pet-friendly trails for longer hikes with dogs. Campers should be prepared with waste bags, portable water bowls, and appropriate restraints as most parks strictly enforce leash policies. During summer months, early morning or evening walks are recommended to avoid hot surfaces that can damage paw pads. Wildlife encounters are possible in these areas, so keeping dogs leashed protects both the natural environment and pets. Most campgrounds have potable water available, but dedicated pet washing stations are limited.
$20 - $70 / night
"This walk in camp ground was located just minutes from Old Man’s Cave. It’s a family friendly and pet friendly camp ground. Our stay was quiet and relaxing."
"There are trails all over the park. Can be a bit busy during the warmer months. The park is pet friendly and has a nice nature center before you hike down to Old Man’s Cave."
$27 - $75 / night
"The campground is about 2-3 acres large, situated on a hill with a path dug out around the perimeter. "
"Tar Hollow State Park sits adjacent to the State Forest, in a similar setup to Scioto Trail and Lake Hope."
$35 - $60 / 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."
$25 - $40 / night
"It's has a site right behind it, but has a nice size green space for an ez-up. The pad was a nice length and held our small camper and truck with room to spare."
"There was also a path directly from our site that led to one of the hiking trails. Yay for us and our easy access; however, it also welcomed people to cut through your site."
"Peaceful nice place, pets okay. I'd recommend it."
"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. "
$37 - $60 / night
"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 ."
"It ended up being a great site for us and our dogs. There was space between us and our neighbors and we had access to the water."
$39 - $52 / night
"A lot of nearby activity, private and open sites, lake, beach, trails, marina, bikes, putt putt, dog park, playground, laundry, water close, electric at sites, many "comfort stations" "wash houses" so"
"Some are smaller, close to neighbors while other have seclusion with trees. From past experience, if it rains, some of the sites do flood. We had great weather this weekend."
$33 - $200 / night
"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."
"We were able to run a line between trees for a dog run. Great neighbors on both sides but right across the site is the playground. It’s a little noisy but if you have kids, it works."
"Nice scenic drive to campground only 7 miles off of Hwy 35. No"
"Has fishing, kayaking, golf cart trails, volleyball set up, basketball court, swimming pool and super nice cabins."
TravelerOnly 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! Oh well, rest stops always work for car camping.
GuideAutumn is the best time to camp in Ohio. Lots of small bathrooms. Lake access. Only reason I didn't give it 5 stars was due to the fact there was no quick reentry. Had to wait for rvs in front of me to register.
LegendLots of room! Privacy, some sites have accommodations for several tents as well as full hook up for campers. Some are adjacent to the playground There are tons of things to do: Miniature golf Disc golf BMX trails Small dog park Golf course Horse camp
ScoutVery clean, well maintained. A lot of nearby activity, private and open sites, lake, beach, trails, marina, bikes, putt putt, dog park, playground, laundry, water close, electric at sites, many "comfort stations" "wash houses" so not far from one.
TravelerWe stayed in Site 09. The sites are spacious with level, asphalted pads. Each site has a fire pit and picnic table.
Toward the front of the campground is a great splash pad, playground, and dog park, which includes an agility course. These are located away from the RV's; therefore, the campground was very quiet and peaceful.
Nearby was a marina, fishing access, and an archery range. The surrounding hills are pretty.
The bath house was clean. A laundry room was available.
The only drawback was the lack of shade. Because this place is relatively new, in time--as the planted seedlings grow--this problem will lessen.
LegendJust a beautiful park. Clean well maintained. Lots of amenities. Paddle boats, marina, 18 hole disc golf, bike park, huge dog park, store,archery range, playground and trails.
LegendThis was a last minute reservation and only available due to a cancellation. The campground was full for the weekend. The campground is pretty big with different types of sites. Some are smaller, close to neighbors while other have seclusion with trees. From past experience, if it rains, some of the sites do flood. We had great weather this weekend. The site we reserved had a hill right next to the passenger side/door side of your camper. If you had a big camper, it might be tight to open your slides and an awning. You most likely would not sit right outside your camper door. In fact, the fire ring is behind the site and up a small hill. We set up our ez-up in the back and out of the way, it worked for us. There was also a path that led you into the playground. Speaking of playgrounds, you will hear a lot of kids if the weather is nice. We were right across from the camp host (very nice lady) and very short walk to the bathhouse. The bathhouse had 4 flushable toilets and I think 3 showers. The showers did not have benches in the stall, only on the outside directly across. With a full campground, the bathrooms were kept very clean with the amount of people using it. We walked around and noticed a lot of bathhouses and another playground. We took a hike that led us to the lodge - it was an in and out and just under 5 miles. On our way back we stopped at the camp store which was well stocked with items you may need or not. There is a putt putt course, frisbee disc course, horse trails, dog park, nature center, golf course and more trails nearby. There are plenty of things to do if you like to keep busy or are trying to keep kids entertained. (The bees and stinkbugs were out and about while we were there.)
GuideThis walk in camp ground was located just minutes from Old Man’s Cave. It’s a family friendly and pet friendly camp ground. Our stay was quiet and relaxing.
GuidePeaceful nice place, pets okay. I'd recommend it.
Campgrounds near Chillicothe offer diverse camping experiences throughout Ohio's Scioto Valley region. The area features elevations ranging from 600-1,300 feet with moderate humidity during summer months when temperatures typically reach the mid-80s. Many campgrounds remain open year-round with primitive sites available during winter months when nighttime temperatures can drop below freezing.
Hiking varied terrain: Pike Lake State Park Campground features several trails of different difficulty levels through wooded hillsides. "We hiked the Greenbriar and CCC Trails. They are not too challenging but beautiful. Parts of the CCC trail were overgrown with briars and narrow," notes Leon H. The park also offers disc golf, though some visitors mention maintenance issues.
Fishing opportunities: A.W. Marion State Park provides shoreline fishing at its small lake. "AW Marion is near 23 and easy access to the highway to get to Columbus. Plenty of space and shade in not electrical campsite for a hot summer day," reports Karen K. The park's layout puts many campsites within walking distance of fishing spots.
Kayaking and canoeing: Waters Edge Canoe Livery allows direct creek access from campsites. "Very fun place to camp and enjoy the creek on a kayak or canoe. Very friendly staff, and one of my favorite places to go," writes Jonathan W. Rentals are available onsite for those without personal watercraft.
Secluded camping spots: Tar Hollow State Park Campground offers primitive camping options away from RV sites. "Beautiful, secluded group camping. Shelter and pit bathrooms. Wide open space for lots of campers. Nice access to trails. Beach area is clean & small little lake," says Renée C. The park maintains separate camping areas for different styles of camping.
Family-friendly amenities: Walnut Creek Campground and Resort provides numerous recreation options. "Has fishing, kayaking, golf cart trails, volleyball set up, basketball court, swimming pool and super nice cabins," according to Kelly W. This dog friendly campground near Chillicothe accommodates various camping preferences.
Natural surroundings: Scioto Trail State Park offers quieter, more rustic camping experiences. "It is small and beautiful, very rustic. The kids love the stream that runs through the park. The lake is beautiful and the fishing is good," reports Marc J. The park maintains outhouses rather than flush toilets, creating a more primitive experience.
Bathroom facilities vary widely: Pike Lake has limited facilities for its size. "They have 79 sites plus a group site and they only have 4 flush toilets and 1 pit toilet to service all of them. None of the sites were full hook up so everyone had to use the four bathrooms," notes Kristin L.
Site selection matters: At A.W. Marion, site conditions differ significantly. "We chose site #56 which had electric. It's one of the best sites we found there for its size, shade and privacy. We set up our camper and our ez-up tent which enclosed our fire ring," explains Shannon G. Research specific site reviews before booking.
Weather considerations: Many campgrounds in the area have drainage issues during heavy rain. "It rained the first day we were there and people were literally bailing there sites out with buckets. The places that weren't flooded were very muddy," warns a Pike Lake visitor.
Playground access: Pike Lake State Park positions some sites near recreational areas. "Site 57 backs up to the ravine and is nice and large. It has a lot of shade and grass. We were able to run a line between trees for a dog run. Great neighbors on both sides but right across the site is the playground," reports Shannon G.
Group camping options: Tar Hollow State Park offers designated areas for larger family gatherings. "We stayed in the walk-in family campground, not the main campground. The sites are mostly far apart from one another and the area is fairly dense woods leaving you feeling a peaceful solitude," explains Kate W. This pet-friendly campground near Chillicothe accommodates groups while maintaining privacy.
Kid-friendly activities: A.W. Marion maintains recreational facilities specifically for children. "Small adequate camp store. Movie for the kids at the outdoor theater," mentions Karen H. Many families appreciate the structured activities during longer stays.
Site leveling challenges: Paint Creek campsites require preparation. "We stayed for just one night at site #34. It ended up being a great site for us and our dogs. There was space between us and our neighbors and we had access to the water," notes Shannon G. RVers recommend bringing extra leveling blocks.
Electric hookup availability: Sun Valley Campground provides full hookups for those requiring amenities. "This campground has a lot to offer with electric and water hookups for RVs with back-in and pull through sites. They have a dump station as well as an onsite bathroom/shower house," explains Andrew S. This dog-friendly camping option near Chillicothe accommodates both short and long-term stays.
Off-season considerations: Scioto Trail remains open year-round. "Very easy to reserve on phone. Price very reasonable. Has only outhouses, but clean and stocked," reports Ken J. Winter campers should prepare for limited facilities and potentially challenging access during snow events.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Chillicothe, OH?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Chillicothe, OH is Hocking Hills State Park Campground with a 4.4-star rating from 109 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Chillicothe, OH?
TheDyrt.com has all 79 dog-friendly camping locations near Chillicothe, OH, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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