Best Campgrounds near Fort Loramie, OH

Fort Loramie, Ohio provides access to several established campgrounds with diverse accommodation options including tent sites, RV hookups, and cabins. Lake Loramie State Park Campground serves as a central camping destination in the area, offering waterfront sites and full amenities including electric hookups, showers, and drinking water. Within a 30-mile radius, additional options include Grand Lake St. Marys State Park, Indian Lake State Park, and several private campgrounds such as Cottonwood Lakes and Poor Farmer's Campground, creating a network of camping opportunities throughout western Ohio.

Seasonal considerations affect camping experiences in this region, with most campgrounds remaining open year-round but offering peak amenities from April through October. Many campsites require reservations, particularly for summer weekends and holiday periods when waterfront sites fill quickly. "We love this campground. It is less than 2 miles away from our home but great events and spaces to get our feet wet when learning new techniques," noted one Lake Loramie visitor. Weather patterns can impact comfort, with several reviews mentioning mosquitoes and humidity during summer months. The relatively flat terrain makes most camping areas accessible without special vehicles, though some primitive tent-only sites may require short walks from parking areas.

Campers consistently highlight water recreation as a primary attraction at most area campgrounds. Lake Loramie offers fishing opportunities directly from some campsites, while Grand Lake St. Marys provides boating access and a swimming pool with splash pad for families. Reviews indicate mixed experiences with site privacy, with some mentioning close proximity to neighboring campers. As one visitor described Lake Loramie: "Relax on the waters edge in shear tranquility. Perfect beach for swimming, excellent trails for hiking, and awesome lake to boat." Most developed campgrounds in the region provide standard amenities including picnic tables, fire rings, and access to bathhouses. Several campgrounds offer cabin rentals as alternatives to traditional camping, with varying levels of amenities from rustic shelters to more comfortable accommodations with electricity.

Best Camping Sites Near Fort Loramie, Ohio (83)

    1. Lake Loramie State Park Campground

    9 Reviews
    Fort Loramie, OH
    1 mile
    Website
    +1 (937) 295-2011

    "Relax on the waters edge in shear tranquility. Perfect beach for swimming, excellent trails for hiking, and awesome lake to boat. Multiple launch ramps provide ease and convenience."

    "Love being so close to the lake we can fish all the time. The beach is a bit of a walk from the campground but not to far. They offer canoe rentals, and bike rentals."

    2. Grand Lake St. Marys State Park — Grand Lake St Marys State Park

    14 Reviews
    St. Marys, OH
    15 miles
    Website
    +1 (419) 394-3611

    "great like campground on Ohio’s biggest inland lake"

    "friendly staff, very clean restrooms, playground, could not swim in the water due to contamination which they have spent millions to repair and is slowly on the up and up, not too far from town, surrounded"

    3. Indian Lake State Park Campground

    34 Reviews
    Lakeview, OH
    27 miles
    Website
    +1 (937) 843-3553

    "This Ohio State Park is in a small quaint town. Good sites, nice beach + a real swimming pool. Many places for fishing from shore OR launching your boat !"

    "The campground was nearly empty so that was nice but the surrounding area was very crowded. There was nearly no area on the lake that didn’t have houses. The campground was clean and well maintained."

    4. St. Mary's Section - Buckeye Trail (Points 6-7)

    1 Review
    Fort Loramie, OH
    6 miles
    Website

    "You're learning to backpack the Buckeye Trail, and you want to take the first steps towards that without worrying about the physical load you're going to have to carry."

    5. Cottonwood Lakes

    1 Review
    Fort Loramie, OH
    8 miles
    Website
    +1 (419) 582-2610

    6. Wapakoneta KOA

    8 Reviews
    Jackson Center, OH
    19 miles
    Website
    +1 (419) 738-6016

    $42 - $55 / night

    "We stay here while visiting family nearby Ohio. Lots of shade and quiet even with families and usually pretty full, hosts are extremely nice and accommodating. Swimming pool is clean."

    "Great service and help getting the trailer positioned correctly. A few food options on site are nice. The actual sites are very small. Not much room to fit the trailer and vehicle."

    7. Kiser Lake State Park Campground

    13 Reviews
    Fletcher, OH
    23 miles
    Website
    +1 (937) 362-3822

    "I may be biased, with it being close to home, but they have a lot for the kids to do. Beach, volleyball net, playground. Plenty of water locations. For me the bathrooms are unusable."

    "This park is know for the lake that is kayak and canoe friendly since it doesn’t allow any kind of boat with a motor. It also features a beach , 2 playgrounds and several hiking trails."

    8. Poor Farmer's Campground

    6 Reviews
    Fletcher, OH
    20 miles
    Website
    +1 (937) 368-2449

    9. Stillwater Beach Campground

    3 Reviews
    Bradford, OH
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (937) 448-2382

    $50 / night

    10. River Trail Campground II

    6 Reviews
    Celina, OH
    22 miles
    Website
    +1 (419) 795-1400

    $45 - $100 / night

    "Nice lake, you can bring golf carts nice size camping lots. We will go back again great experience beautiful place."

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Recent Reviews near Fort Loramie, OH

317 Reviews of 83 Fort Loramie Campgrounds


  • pThe Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 6, 2025

    Dayton KOA Holiday

    Very clean and shady

    The campsites are shaded and pretty level. I am using a pull through and it is long enough for my RV and 24’ trailer. There is a very nice cement slab with a nice fire pit and picnic table.

  • Byron S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 4, 2025

    Wright-Patterson FamCamp

    Nice RV park

    The sites are paved and level, had full hook ups, WIFI, cellular, shower house. Surprisingly it was not noisy being near the flight line. The site is clean and well maintained. There is a lot to do and visit on and off post. Unfortunately the Air Museum was closed because of the budget shut down but all other services were available (commissary, BX, etc). I would recommend staying here if you are active duty or Veteran.

  • Bodean D.
    Sep. 29, 2025

    Kamp Modoc

    What would you expect from Camping?

    Do you have kids? They have it covered, from playground, to lake with inflatables, train rides, Holiday fun.

    Adults? I see Cornhole every weekend, Campfires, Holiday Events, Golf Cart Parades, DJ's or Live Bands on the weekend, Friendly Seasonal Folks always up for a good time.

    Ameneties? Bath Houses, Laundry, General Store, Small Grill and Pizza Oven. (Pizza is not half bad either).

    Amish make their presence felt on a few weekends throughout the season, from fresh Bakery Goods to a Healthy Sized Sausage Egg Biscuit. (You won't be disappointed)

    Food Trucks on a few weekends throughout the season.

  • Rebecca H.
    Sep. 9, 2025

    Wapakoneta KOA

    Out Standing

    Wonderful facility! Pool, pool table, games for kids and adults. The grounds are beautiful and the staff is super friendly and helpful! Oh and in the laundry room they even have a sink for washing dishes! Great for tent campers ar those with small units that don't have kitchens.

  • Shannon G.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 3, 2025

    Indian Lake State Park Campground

    Lots of sites

    Our pad was not level front to back so we had to adjust a little bit. The fire ring was nice but our picnic table was beat up. I went to move it and the seat pulled right off. We stayed on a Sunday night so it wasn’t packed. There are a ton of sites. Some had great shade and others didn’t have any at all. The bathrooms were flush toilets and they did have shower houses too. The camp store is really big and it’s right next to their pool. They have a dog park, place to dock your boat and a small beach. I would imagine this would be a pretty busy during the summer.

  • Lisa M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 30, 2025

    Resting Roost

    Okay for one night I guess

    We were kind of stuck, looking for a place to stay as we didn’t have reservations during Labor Day weekend so found this place that was listed on Hip Camp. Near Belle Center. PROS- was relatively cheap, $24,out in the middle of fields so pretty quiet, host seems pretty nice. CONS- had to back up a 100 yard driveway, lots of bugs, smells as they just fertilized the fields (not the owners fault). Okay for setting up a tent or a small rig but wouldn’t advise for trailers. Electric was an extension cord. I think water is available. Owner could have mowed the place a bit.

  • Lisa M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 30, 2025

    Buck Creek State Park Campground

    Quiet park with level spaces

    This park was pretty packed over Labor Day weekend, but it still felt like it wasn’t super crowded. Our space was nice and level. Nice hiking trails in the area. Showers were very nice and clean. Several water spickets throughout the park if you needed to access them. It was a bit of a drive back into the campground, probably 3 1/2 miles.

  • Megan M.
    Aug. 27, 2025

    Grand Lake St. Marys State Park — Grand Lake St Marys State Park

    Campground is fine but the lake reeks of POO

    First the good: the campground is big and spacious. Some areas were like RV parking lots- no trees, no shade, but there was a grassy area in the middle with nice big trees and shade. There is a nice pool and splash pad. Weirdly, the pool closed from 4 to 5, leaving us with nowhere to go on a 90+ degree day. 

    Now, the not-so-good: we stayed in a camper cabin and it was very shabby and dirty. It had bunkbeds, a full size fridge, and a folding table and folding chairs, which was nice (and rare in Ohio state park camper cabins). The bathrooms were average. Not new, not especially sparkling clean, but fine. Not gross, at least.

    Now, the terrible: the entire lake stinks of pig poop. All the air smells like poo. You feel like you are breathing feces when you approach the water. We were right on the water so we couldn't escape the smell. 

    This lake is notorious for having algae blooms that prohibit swimming. So I did a google search before our trip and the Ohio Department of Health reports that the bacteria level in this lake is dangerously high, and no one should swim in this lake. However, when we walked to the campground beach, there was no sign or warning or anything indicating the bacteria in the water- and people were letting their children and dogs swim in it!! 

    We opted to not kayak or paddleboard in the lake because it was clear that it was full of poop. So we had nothing to do at the park except go to the pool (it was too hot to do anything else). We ended up driving around the country roads and seeing the sights so we could escape the smelly lake and hot poo fumes. Neil Armstrong was born in nearby Wapakoneta so there are some sights to see there, and the towns of Celina and ? one other are cute too. 

    Overall, I will not return to this lake or this part of the state. If you can't get in the water, paddle board or kayak, the only thing left to do is ride around in a boat and hope the water doesn't get anywhere near your mouth or your skin. No thanks.

  • d
    Aug. 19, 2025

    River Trail Campground II

    Just So-SO

    We stayed 3 nights. Our site was a dirt pads. There are mostly full-time residents. There is the smell of a massive Chicken coup at our site. THERE ARE A TON OF FLIES!!!!! We had flies for days!. We kill 3 and 5 more would pop-up in our trailer. I was so happy to leave this fly infested site. 

    It's very hard for me to give them less than 5 stairs because, everyone was so nice. We had them filled up our propane tanks and they actually brought them to us and hooked them up while we were gone. Someone even brought us wood planks for stabilizing our trailer. However, truth be told…. our spot was horrible-right next to the laundry room in direct sun and it stunk! The women's shower was gross too. ( I ended up, not using their shower room.)

    We never used their pool.


Guide to Fort Loramie

Camping near Fort Loramie, Ohio offers several lakeside recreation opportunities within a relatively flat, agricultural landscape. The region experiences moderate summer temperatures, with daytime highs typically in the 80s during peak camping season from May through September. Many campgrounds in western Ohio feature family programming on weekends, particularly during summer months when visitation peaks.

What to do

Fishing opportunities: Lake Loramie State Park Campground provides waterfront sites where campers can fish directly from their campsites. "Quiet with a spot on water for fishing," notes Joe D., while Ashley W. mentions, "Love being so close to the lake we can fish all the time."

Water recreation: Indian Lake State Park Campground features multiple water activities beyond swimming. "This parks has a lot to offer if you like water sports. There is a camper beach area, swimming pool and boat launch within the campground," explains Andrea F. The campground added a swimming pool in recent years, making it a popular alternative during algae season.

Explore hiking trails: While hiking isn't the primary draw for most campers in this region, several parks offer short walking paths. At Kiser Lake State Park, visitors should "Just be careful if you hike with dogs since some trails intersect with a nature preserve which doesn't allow pets," according to Andrea F., who also noted the trails were "poorly marked" during her visit.

What campers like

Clean facilities: Wapakoneta KOA receives consistent praise for its maintenance. "Super clean KOA with level gravel sites (no weeds popping up through gravel!) 2 Fenced dog areas, nice playground, game room, giant chess set outside, clean pool," reports Lisa D. The campground also features wooden decks at some sites.

Weekend activities: Many campgrounds organize family-friendly programming. At Indian Lake, one visitor mentioned, "We also visited a local wine room (Fion) when staying at the park which was fun." Shannon G. noted that Indian Lake "would be a pretty busy during the summer" with amenities including "a dog park, place to dock your boat and a small beach."

Stargazing conditions: Poor Farmer's Campground offers good night sky viewing according to one visitor. "Clean family oriented and spacious. Well run facility w good restrooms and showers plus electri hook up per site. Out in farm country so very little light pollution overall," notes loud F., highlighting an activity not widely mentioned in other regional campground reviews.

What you should know

Water quality concerns: Grand Lake St. Marys State Park has ongoing water quality issues that affect swimming. "The entire lake stinks of pig poop. All the air smells like poo. You feel like you are breathing feces when you approach the water," reports Megan M., who visited in 2025. Another visitor, Amber R., mentioned that they "could not swim in the water due to contamination."

Site privacy varies: While some campgrounds offer wooded sites, many feature open layouts with limited separation between campers. At Indian Lake, Andrea F. notes that "The down since a lot of site are in full sun and no privacy. We do like the B section and try to stay there when we can." David D. described Lake Loramie as having "roomy but no privacy. Great spot if you want to party with you favorite other 5 camper friends."

Insects can be problematic: Mosquitoes and other insects are frequently mentioned in summer reviews. Andrea F. commented about Lake Loramie, "I think for us this park might be better in the fall. The bugs were really bad every time we were outside." At Indian Lake, Amber F. noted, "There must have been a nest of some type of bug in our site because I was bit dozens of times but bug spray pretty much fixed that."

Tips for camping with families

Playground access: When selecting a site at River Trail Campground, consider proximity to the play areas. "My kids had a great time, the playground is very nice, there is a nice pool and a clean pond that is stocked with bluegills," shares Shane M. Several campgrounds feature modern play equipment.

Rental options: Several campgrounds offer recreation equipment for those not bringing their own. At Lake Loramie, Ashley W. notes they "offer canoe rentals, and bike rentals. The park also has beautiful cabins on the lake shore." These rentals typically operate during summer months only.

Seasonal programming: Holiday weekends and summer months feature organized activities at most campgrounds. Shanda A. from Lake Loramie mentioned, "The kids loved the playground and had fun at the Fun Field Day activities!" Similarly, Andrew L. at Kiser Lake appreciated that "they have activities throughout the day for kids on the weekends."

Tips from RVers

Level sites: Cottonwood Lakes and other campgrounds in the region generally offer relatively level parking areas given the flat terrain. However, Shannon G. noted at Indian Lake that "Our pad was not level front to back so we had to adjust a little bit." This inconsistency appears even at parks with paved sites.

Hookup availability: Most campgrounds offer electric sites, but full hookups are less common. At Indian Lake, Andrea F. notes there are "no full hookups but does have electric. RV sites have a view of the lake. Sites are clean and paved." Aaliya B. confirmed the $29 nightly rate represented good value despite limited hookups.

Satellite reception: The open layouts at many campgrounds provide good satellite reception for campers with dishes. At Poor Farmer's Campground, Gordon B. described the setup as "Very nice field rv camping. Well maintained and clean," suggesting minimal tree interference for satellite signals in many camping areas.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Fort Loramie State Park campground located in Ohio?

Lake Loramie State Park Campground is located in western Ohio, approximately 5 miles east of Fort Loramie in Shelby County. The campground sits along the shores of Lake Loramie, between the towns of Minster and Fort Loramie. It's situated in a region known for its recreational lakes, being just north of Grand Lake St. Marys State Park and within an hour's drive of several other state parks in the area.

How can I find a map of Lake Loramie campground?

You can find a map of Lake Loramie campground through several sources. The official Ohio Department of Natural Resources website provides downloadable PDF maps showing the campground layout, trails, and facilities. When making reservations through the Ohio State Parks reservation system, campground maps are available to help select your site. Upon arrival, maps are typically provided at the check-in station. For digital planning, The Dyrt app offers campground information and sometimes user-contributed photos of maps. Wapakoneta KOA, located nearby, often has local area maps including Lake Loramie information for visitors exploring the region.

What amenities are available at Lake Loramie campground?

Lake Loramie campground offers a range of amenities including electric hookups at most sites, shower facilities, flush toilets, and a dump station. The campground features picnic tables and fire rings at each site, with many sites offering shade from mature trees. Recreation options include a swimming beach, boat ramps, fishing access, and hiking trails. Unlike Ouabache State Park Campground where sites can be small and exposed, Lake Loramie typically provides more spacious camping areas with better privacy. Potable water is available throughout the campground, and there are playgrounds for children.