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Van Buren State Park Campground provides specialized horse camping facilities with several recently added pens for horses. The campground accommodates tent campers, RVs, and cabin users with both electric hookup sites and non-electric options. Located in Van Buren, Ohio, the park features clean, quiet camping areas arranged in two loops on flat, shaded terrain. Horse owners can keep their animals in the designated pens rather than having them remain tied up throughout their stay. The campground offers picnic tables, fire rings, and centralized well water access points. Camp hosts maintain clean pit toilets, though the facility does not include shower buildings. Some campers note the electric hookups do not work at all sites, and the dump station is located in a separate section of the park.
The bridle trails at Van Buren State Park connect directly to the campground, providing convenient access for riders staying overnight with their horses. The park maintains several miles of trails suitable for horseback riding through diverse terrain. Trail users report the grounds are well-maintained, making for comfortable riding experiences throughout the park's acreage. A separate equestrian camping area ensures horse owners have appropriate space and facilities for their animals. The campground requires reservations, which must be made online or by phone as no walk-ins are accepted. Trailer parking is available near the horse campsites. Water access points are strategically placed, though some campers mention difficulties accessing potable water. The park's natural setting offers peaceful surroundings for riders looking to enjoy northwest Ohio's landscape.
"Since Van Buren State park is an easy 20 minutes away from home for me, i visit there often. it is clean and quiet, they dont get too busy and loud."
"It’s a small campground with one side as equestrian and the other side not. All sites had electric and water, no full hookup. There were only drop toilets and no showers."
from $35 / night
Check Availability"Friendly staff, clean park, close to supermarkets and other food locations. RV repair and sales nearby. I got lucky and woke up to a horse and dog competition at no extra cost to me."
"Nice campgrounds easy to get around and my children loved it"
TravelerFriendly staff, clean park, close to supermarkets and other food locations. RV repair and sales nearby. I got lucky and woke up to a horse and dog competition at no extra cost to me.
ScoutSince Van Buren State park is an easy 20 minutes away from home for me, i visit there often. it is clean and quiet, they dont get too busy and loud. the horse camp is nice with some new pens to keep your horse instead of them having to be tied up. They keep the restrooms clean, but no flush toilets, which dont bother me. My only complaint about Van Buren State park is that there are no shower facilities.
LegendThis is a typical fairground campground with open grassy areas for campsites surrounded by barns and tracks. The fairgrounds is located just off I-94 which makes for easy entrance and exit to the campground, but, means there is lots of road noise. Close by are plenty of stores, restaurants, gas stations, etc. In fact, there is a gap in the fence that runs around the fairgrounds allowing you to walk to a Walmart, McDonalds, Dunkin Donuts, and more.
We arrived without a reservation and the women in the office was very helpful providing a map with all available sites during our stay and letting us choose which one we wanted. One of the first things you notice is that a number of people are here long-term so we went to the back area hoping it would be quieter and less crowded. A number of the campsites are “buddy” sites meaning your patio opens to your neighbors so be careful which one you pick. This is pretty undesirable when the neighbor is a total stranger so we chose a site where we didn’t have anyone next to us.
They offer 50 amp full hook-up sites, 50 amp/water, and 30 amp/water sites with pull-thru and back-in options. There is a dump station located in the middle of the park which is easy to get to. The roads are wide and a lack of trees makes this campground accessible for any size RV. The sites are level but some lack grassy making the patio pretty dusty or muddy. Unfortunately, where we were was pretty muddy just after a light rain. This campground works best for RV’s and not tents. For tenters there is a designated section that is set in a corner of the park with large trees for shade but not much privacy between you and others. A water spigot is in the tent area and there was one picnic table. The camp office sells firewood but we only saw two fire pits in the whole park. Be aware that noise from the interstate and nearby train tracks may make for a restless night. Bathrooms are centrally located in the campground and were old and tired but relatively clean. On-site laundry is available.
Apparently, management is having some issues with campers not obeying some of the rules. One of the sad things about this campground is that campers have to be reminded to clean up after their dogs. Apparently, it is such an issue that we got a letter stating that if you don’t pick up your dogs poop you would be asked to leave. How sad is that? There is free WiFi which worked pretty well. Upon checking in, we had to sign a piece of paper stating that we would not download copyrighted material or stream movies or we would be asked to leave.
My favorite aspect of this campground is that they had a community garden that you were welcome to pick from. We got tomatoes, Swiss chard, peppers, broccoli, and more. Overall, this campground was fine for the few nights we were here and close to the attractions we wanted to visit. We never felt unsafe even though it was close to major cities. We chose this campground because we wanted to go to Ann Arbor and Dearborn and it was a very convenient location.
Pros:
· Good location if you want to visit Ann Arbor and Dearborn
· Close to interstate for easy access
· Long, level sites that will fit any RV
· Community garden you can pick from vegetables
· Stores and restaurants are nearby (some within walking distance)
Cons:
· Lots of road noise from I-94
· No trees for shade or privacy
· Would not recommend for tent camping
· Many campers are long-term
· “Buddy” campsites with patios facing each other
LegendWe stayed one night on our way to IN. We’ve never been here before and wanted to check it off our list. It’s a small campground with one side as equestrian and the other side not. All sites had electric and water, no full hookup. There were only drop toilets and no showers. They were clean but I don’t think I’d want to do more than a weekend there. It had a nice playground for kids and plenty of trails to hike or go horseback riding. They also had a dog park and small wildflower garden. The check in cabin had ice and wood for sale but no store. Our site was really nice. The pads were recently paved and had a huge bumper at the end. The fire ring was nice and the site had plenty of space for tents.
TravelerWe stayed during the week for one night. Campground was clean and quiet, had electric hookups at most sites. Host was very friendly. They also have a camp area for horses. Only criticism is you have to drive to another area of the park for an RV dump.
TravelerCampground is small but well maintained. Hiking is great. Probably better for people with horses. Electric did not work at all sites. Pit toilets did not seem sufficient for all camp sites.
RangerVan Buren State Park is very easy to access from I-75. It has tons of trails and a pond. There are a few places to car camp or RV camp nearby. I love getting out of town and visiting Van Buren State Park, and I have lots of good memories. It gets 4 stars because I now live in Montana and Montana camping outshines Ohio, but I can't bash on Van Buren State Park at all.
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
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.
Van Buren State Park Campground offers horseback riding and camping options across two distinct camping areas within 5 miles of Harbor View, Ohio. The park maintains specific facilities for equestrian campers including recently constructed horse pens. Temperatures in northwest Ohio range from winter lows near 15°F to summer highs around 85°F, with moderate rainfall throughout the camping season from April through October.
Cross-country skiing: Van Buren State Park provides winter recreation opportunities with simple terrain suitable for beginners. "I came cross country skiing here in early January and it was absolutely amazing. It is cold but the terrain is simple for first time skiers," notes Kevin T. about Van Buren State Park Campground.
Trail riding: The park features several miles of bridle trails accessible directly from the equestrian camping area. Horse owners can keep their animals in designated pens rather than tied up during overnight stays. "The horse camp is nice with some new pens to keep your horse instead of them having to be tied up," reports Angie B.
Explore nearby attractions: The park's location provides convenient access to regional points of interest. "Van Buren State Park is very easy to access from I-75. It has tons of trails and a pond," explains Lindsay B., adding that it's perfect "for getting out of town."
Quiet atmosphere: The campground maintains a peaceful environment with well-spaced sites. "We stayed during the week for one night. Campground was clean and quiet, had electric hookups at most sites. Host was very friendly," shares Nicole G. about Wayne County Fairgrounds RV Park.
Playground access: Families appreciate the centrally located recreation amenities. "Kids loved having the playground so close to the camper," mentions Scott F., noting the convenience for parents wanting to supervise children while at their campsite.
Level terrain: The flat topography makes setup easier for all camping types. "Its a smaller campground with only two loops of sites, but its flat, shaded, and comfortable," Joseph N. explains about the camping areas.
Limited amenities: The park offers basic facilities without some common conveniences. "No showers, but clean and sturdy pit toilets with centralized well water," notes Joseph N. from Van Buren State Park Campground.
Site selection matters: Some locations offer more privacy and space than others. "Some of the sites are small so you have to be careful which site you reserve if you're a tent camper. The outside of the circle is your best bet," advises Brendan V.
Reservation required: The park does not accept walk-ins, requiring advance booking through official channels. "Our 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," shares Monica S. about an unusual accommodation.
Playground proximity: Request sites near recreational facilities for easier supervision. "If you can get a good middle spot it's nice if you have kids since there's a playground, swings, basketball, and tether court," recommends Brendan V. from Van Buren State Park Campground.
Noise considerations: Road proximity can affect sleep quality for light sleepers. "The park is also just off a country road so traffic can occasionally be heard but it's not excessive," notes Brendan V. about ambient noise levels.
Weekend-length stays: The basic facilities may limit comfort for extended visits. "There were only drop toilets and no showers. They were clean but I don't think I'd want to do more than a weekend there," advises Shannon G.
Electric reliability check: Verify hookup functionality upon arrival. "Electric did not work at all sites," warns Alysha W. about Van Buren State Park Campground, suggesting campers test connections before completing setup.
Dump station location: Plan for separate travel to waste disposal facilities. "Only criticism is you have to drive to another area of the park for an RV dump," notes Nicole G. about the logistics of servicing recreational vehicles.
Recent improvements: The park has upgraded several facilities. "The pads were recently paved and had a huge bumper at the end. The fire ring was nice and the site had plenty of space," reports Shannon G. about site conditions for larger vehicles.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Harbor View, OH?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Harbor View, OH is Van Buren State Park Campground with a 4-star rating from 12 reviews.
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