Best Campgrounds near Galena, OH

Galena, Ohio provides access to several established campgrounds with varied accommodation options within a 30-minute radius. Berkshire Campgrounds, located directly in Galena, offers full hookups for RVs and tent camping areas around a small fishing lake. Other nearby options include Alum Creek State Park Campground, Cross Creek Camping Resort, and Delaware State Park Campground, which collectively provide opportunities for tent camping, RV sites with hookups, and cabin rentals. Most campgrounds in this region maintain well-developed facilities rather than primitive sites, with several offering amenities like showers, electric hookups, and sanitary dump stations.

Seasonal operation varies among the area's camping facilities, with some parks like Delaware State Park and Cardinal Center Campground operating year-round, while others like Tree Haven Campground maintain a May to November season. A review mentioned that "we have camped here numerous times, sometimes with family, sometimes with friends," highlighting the social aspects of the camping areas. Many campgrounds require reservations, particularly during summer weekends when sites fill quickly. The area experiences typical Midwest seasonal patterns with humid summers and cold winters, making spring and fall popular for camping. Most developed campgrounds in the area feature gravel pads for RVs and designated tent areas, with varying levels of site privacy and spacing.

The camping experience near Galena features several water-oriented recreation opportunities centered around Alum Creek Lake and other smaller bodies of water. Campers report appreciation for the fishing opportunities, hiking trails, and water activities available at many of the campgrounds. As described in feedback on The Dyrt, "Besides the camping there is a sail boat dock and horse riding trails. The lake is big enough to spend hours on!" Several campgrounds accommodate pets, with Alum Creek State Park offering a dedicated dog park with lake access that receives particular praise from visitors. Site spacing varies considerably between campgrounds, with some offering more privacy than others. The proximity to Columbus (less than 30 minutes south) makes these camping areas convenient weekend destinations for city residents while still providing a sense of outdoor immersion.

Best Camping Sites Near Galena, Ohio (91)

    1. Alum Creek State Park Campground

    80 Reviews
    Lewis Center, OH
    5 miles
    Website
    +1 (740) 548-4039

    "Happened to be next to the park host. No choice of where to locate my large tent.  Showers/bathrooms were OK--older facilities.  "

    "First off we have to say that Ohio State Park campgrounds are some of the best we’ve ever stayed in."

    2. Delaware State Park Campground

    37 Reviews
    Radnor, OH
    15 miles
    Website

    "Delaware State Park is a gem in the Ohio state park system. What is amazing to us is how few people seem to know it exists!"

    "This is another of our favorite Ohio State Parks.  The campground is setup in a nice layout with each of the separate sections having a spoke and wheel layout with a bathhouse in the middle.  "

    3. Cross Creek Camping Resort

    13 Reviews
    Lewis Center, OH
    6 miles
    Website
    +1 (740) 549-2267

    $35 - $95 / night

    "We stayed two nights here on our tour of Ohio. After staying in state parks, the narrow sites are close with no privacy."

    "Cross Creek Camping Resort in Delaware, Ohio is a very nice campground with friendly staff and lots of amenities!"

    4. Tree Haven Campground

    7 Reviews
    New Albany, OH
    5 miles
    Website
    +1 (740) 965-3469

    "They have a nice walking trail, potlucks, holiday events, live entertainment and are putting in a new, bigger pool! They also redid the driveway."

    "Great walking trail back through the woods. Pet friendly and the bathrooms were very nice. Well....I guess we did! We are now in a search for a Diesel pusher to go full-time!"

    5. Berkshire Campgrounds

    5 Reviews
    Galena, OH
    1 mile
    Website
    +1 (740) 965-2321

    $38 / night

    "There is a small lake that you can walk around. They also have a path through the woods where you can let the dogs run if you choose to."

    "This place is huge, tons of paths for walking and exploring. Also features mini golf, volleyball, basketball, an in-ground pool and a pond."

    6. Cardinal Center Campground

    8 Reviews
    Kilbourne, OH
    11 miles
    Website
    +1 (419) 253-0800

    $47 - $53 / night

    "Our site was on a cul de sac and was close to the pool. The sites and road were gravel. They have an indoor pool, stocked fishing pond, and an indoor clubhouse with a pool table."

    "from our garden as we had way too much for just us and asked the welcome center to tell people to help themselves to what ever they wanted. we then toured the campgroundand found the stocked fishing lake"

    7. Sunbury/Columbus North KOA Holiday

    5 Reviews
    Centerburg, OH
    9 miles
    Website
    +1 (740) 625-6600

    "The campground is tucked away in a suburb of Columbus next to a soybean field, very quiet area. Only a 15-20 minute drive into town to go shopping if need be."

    "At least three ponds all fairly nice with ducks and geese hanging around. There's a few sites are unlevel so you may need to use your levelers and maybe some blocks, we did."

    8. Mt Gilead State Park Campground

    24 Reviews
    Mount Gilead, OH
    23 miles
    Website
    +1 (419) 946-1961

    "This is one of the smaller campgrounds in the Ohio State Parks system but it’s a little hidden gem."

    "The "Camp Host" came around a few times a day to ensure trash was picked up and needs were met. Site 8 has full hookups and a concrete parking pad."

    9. Grins & Pickin's CampFarm

    2 Reviews
    Centerburg, OH
    10 miles
    Website

    $25 - $35 / night

    "Sites are around a manicured field but with a high “pollinators maze” in the middle that creates too privacy and sound barrier. Only outhouses but they were very clean."

    10. Autumn Lakes Family Campgrounds

    1 Review
    Centerburg, OH
    9 miles
    Website
    +1 (740) 625-6600
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Recent Reviews near Galena, OH

557 Reviews of 91 Galena Campgrounds


  • J
    Sep. 7, 2025

    Delaware State Park Campground

    Great peaceful campground

    This is our second time coming here really enjoy this place it's typically more of a quiet relaxed camp there is a playground in each of the 4 sections for kids to play with a remodel shower house at each one. Att works good here verizion not so much but at night when people are sleeping verizion gets a little better.

  • Lisa M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 4, 2025

    Alum Creek State Park Campground

    Nice park but some traffic noise

    Spent three nights here while we were visiting friends in Lewis Center. We stayed in F09 and it was a great spot. Lots of protection on both sides so it was very secluded. And close to the shower house. Only reason I didn’t give this five stars was there was still quite a bit of traffic noise around the park that you could hear. Some nice hiking trails as well. Campsite was nice and level. Showers were super clean and awesome water pressure.

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

    Mt Gilead State Park Campground

    Small, quiet campground

    We like this small campground, it works well for us. Our pad was pretty level and not hard to back into with a small camper. however, a lot of the pads are at 90° angles instead of 45° so it can be harder for a larger camper back in. The full hook up side the sites are really tight together. The electric only sits are spread out a little more. Some have decent shade while others have none at all. Our site was really nice and had space for a tent or you could hang from a hammock. Great camp store, playgrounds, frisbee golf, hiking paths and small lake.

  • 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.

  • JThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 16, 2025

    Cross Creek Camping Resort

    A Very Pleasant and Quiet Campground

    This campground is clean and we'll maintained. They have a pool, and activities on the weekends. Must sure have a tree and grass with fire pits and a table.

  • 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.

  • S
    Jul. 27, 2025

    Sunset Springs RV Resort

    Great Family Weekend

    We absolutely loved it! Everyone was so friendly to us “weekenders” and can’t wait to come back. This location is not technically in Upper area. The website has two different locations. We ended up in the one in Mohican area in Loudonville. No complaints here, it was the best camping experience we’ve ever had! Thank you so much for a great trip even through the rain :) -The Rife’s + 4

  • Jenny C.
    Jul. 25, 2025

    Alum Creek State Park Campground

    Family Fun For Everyone!

    We had an absolute blast at the campsite! We stayed in L and the kids loved being close to the water. The campground beach is an absolute must and we even got close to wildlife (aka some pesky raccoons). We love that electric is included and was helpful for plugging in fans during the hot night.

  • Andrea H.
    Jul. 25, 2025

    Dillon State Park Campground

    Campground is quiet

    My partner and I have been here for 3 days , were staying for a week. So far everyone has been friendly or keeps to themselves. The bathrooms and showers are clean and the deer are plentiful and beautiful


Guide to Galena

Camping near Galena, Ohio, offers a mix of beautiful nature and fun activities for everyone. Whether you're looking for a peaceful retreat or an adventurous getaway, there are plenty of campgrounds to choose from.

What to do:

  • Hiking: Explore the scenic trails at Hocking Hills State Park Campground. One camper mentioned, "Beautiful area with great hikes and views close by," making it a perfect spot for nature lovers.
  • Fishing and Boating: At Alum Creek State Park Campground, you can enjoy fishing and boating. A visitor shared, "The sites are good sized compared to a lot of state parks good for tent and RV."
  • Disc Golf: If you enjoy disc golf, check out Buck Creek State Park Campground, which has a great course. One reviewer said, "Large park with a marina, archery range, disc golf and more."

What campers like:

  • Clean Facilities: Campers appreciate the cleanliness of the restrooms and shower houses. A visitor at Mohican State Park Campground noted, "Restrooms and showers clean and sanitary."
  • Spacious Sites: Many campgrounds, like Dillon State Park Campground, offer large sites. One happy camper mentioned, "They have very large sites and there is no trouble finding one with trees."
  • Family-Friendly Atmosphere: Campgrounds like Delaware State Park Campground are known for being family-friendly. A reviewer said, "Each section has its own playground for the kids."

What you should know:

  • Reservation Requirements: Many campgrounds require reservations, which can sometimes be tricky. A camper at Indian Lake State Park Campground mentioned, "The online reservation system is clumsy to use at best."
  • Noise Levels: Some campgrounds can get noisy, especially during busy weekends. A visitor at Buck Creek State Park Campground noted, "It was so rowdy we left early."
  • Limited Amenities: Not all campgrounds have the same amenities. For example, A.W. Marion State Park Campground lacks showers, which some campers found inconvenient.

Tips for camping with families:

  • Choose Family-Friendly Campgrounds: Look for places like John Bryan State Park Campground, which has a playground and plenty of space for kids to play. A reviewer said, "The grounds had a nice modern playground."
  • Plan Activities: Make sure to plan activities that everyone can enjoy. One family at Deer Creek State Park Campground enjoyed biking and hiking, saying, "Great place to ride a bike, or hike or just go for a walk."
  • Pack Snacks: Keep snacks handy for the kids. A camper at Alum Creek State Park Campground mentioned, "The staff was friendly, and the campsites were well maintained."

Tips from RVers:

  • Check Site Sizes: Make sure to check the size of the RV sites before booking. A visitor at Hocking Hills State Park Campground noted, "The spots were pretty darn close together for a state park."
  • Use Electric Hookups: If you need power, look for campgrounds with electric hookups, like Dillon State Park Campground. One RVer said, "The sites have level pads."
  • Be Prepared for Crowds: Some campgrounds can get busy, especially on weekends. A camper at Indian Lake State Park Campground mentioned, "No one seemed to care about the 10 pm quiet time."

Camping near Galena, Ohio, has something for everyone, from families to RV enthusiasts. Just remember to plan ahead and enjoy the great outdoors!

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular campground near Galena, OH?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Galena, OH is Alum Creek State Park Campground with a 4.4-star rating from 80 reviews.

What parks are near Galena, OH?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 13 parks near Galena, OH that allow camping, notably Alum Creek Lake and Delaware Lake.