Best Campgrounds near Waynesville, OH

Waynesville, Ohio and the surrounding area feature several established campgrounds catering to various camping preferences. Caesar Creek State Park Campground offers spacious sites for both tent and RV camping with electrical hookups, drinking water, and shower facilities approximately 12 miles northwest of Waynesville. Frontier Campground, located directly in Waynesville, provides well-maintained sites with full hookups including water, sewer, and electricity. The region includes developed campgrounds with cabin options such as Morgan's Riverside Campground and Morgan's Canoe and Outdoor Adventure within 15 miles of Waynesville.

Camping accessibility in the area remains consistent year-round at several locations, though some campgrounds like Stonelick State Park operate seasonally from April through October. Most established campgrounds require reservations, especially during summer months and weekends. Caesar Creek State Park features newly updated electrical hookups and well-maintained restroom facilities. The terrain throughout the area is generally flat to gently rolling, making most campsites easily accessible for standard vehicles without special clearance requirements. Cell service is typically reliable throughout the region. A camper noted that "Caesar Creek State Park sites are spacious, it has excellent, helpful staff, and the sites aren't stacked on top of each other."

Waterfront access represents a significant draw for many campers in the Waynesville area, with Caesar Creek Lake offering swimming, fishing, and boating opportunities. Several visitors highlighted the peaceful atmosphere at local campgrounds, with one reviewer describing Frontier Campground as "by far the most peaceful, quiet place we have stayed over the years." The campgrounds near Waynesville provide convenient access to attractions including hiking trails, the Ohio Renaissance Fair, and the historic downtown of Waynesville itself. While some campgrounds like Caesar Creek offer significant tree cover and shade, others have more open sites. Campers particularly appreciate the clean facilities, with multiple reviews mentioning well-maintained shower houses and restrooms. Wildlife viewing opportunities include various bird species and small mammals like raccoons, which are commonly spotted throughout the camping areas.

Best Camping Sites Near Waynesville, Ohio (85)

    1. Caesar Creek State Park Campground

    52 Reviews
    Arkansas River - Pool 5, AR
    6 miles
    Website
    +1 (937) 488-4595

    $17 - $75 / night

    "Great hiking trails through the woods. 12min from RenFair-a lot of fun! Waynesville-antique Mecca of Ohio-meh, not so much."

    "There is a little store, but note that the firewood is in huge, unburnable pieces, (as most Ohio state park firewood is), so you'll need tons of kindling and several firestarters, or an ax and some way"

    2. Cowan Lake State Park Campground

    28 Reviews
    Wilmington, OH
    15 miles
    Website
    +1 (937) 382-1096

    "Autumn 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."

    "Cowan Lake State Park is near Wilmington, Ohio and they have been making a lot of improvements to the park.  It is a great location between Cincinnati and Columbus with easy access from the highway. "

    3. Olive Branch Campground

    13 Reviews
    Oregonia, OH
    7 miles
    Website
    +1 (513) 932-2267

    $47 - $75 / night

    "This campground is shady, quiet with plenty to do in the surrounding area. There is a pool, laundry room and large field with a playground and basketball court."

    "There is a nice walking trail through the woods, a small pool, playground, and a pond for fishing."

    4. John Bryan State Park Campground

    42 Reviews
    Yellow Springs, OH
    21 miles
    Website
    +1 (937) 767-1274

    "The campsite is next to the 12 mile set of mountain bike trails.  It is a great mountain biking/camping getaway.  The trails are easy, so for all levels.  Nice camping for families.  "

    "Great place to visit has three parks in one John Bryant and Glen Helen nature preserve and Clifton Gorge are some of the best hiking trails in south west Ohio."

    5. Lebanon-Cincinnati NE KOA

    10 Reviews
    Lebanon, OH
    10 miles
    Website
    +1 (513) 932-7717

    "This KOA sets the bar for the Ohio locations we have visited. The bathrooms are amazing and private. The tent site we had was huge and there were actually trees for our suspended tent and hammocks."

    "Cute town Cons: sites are fairly close to each other."

    6. Stonelick State Park Campground

    30 Reviews
    Goshen, OH
    22 miles
    Website
    +1 (513) 625-6593

    "Our spot was right next to a small Pollinator trail that lead to the water. My little ones had a blast riding their scooters around the round about. The restrooms are a quick walk and very clean."

    "This is a great park in southern Ohio, easy to reach, 20 minutes off the interstate 275. There are a number of good sites, but some with a significant slope that leveling would be an issue."

    7. Thousand Trails Wilmington

    4 Reviews
    Clarksville, OH
    7 miles
    Website
    +1 (888) 707-1477

    "There is plenty of hiking close by and either Dayton to the north or Cincinnati to the south for plenty of things to do."

    "We like the location to the State park nearby for hiking trails and mountain biking trails (Ceasar Creek).   "

    8. Morgan’s Canoe and Outdoor Adventure

    5 Reviews
    Oregonia, OH
    11 miles
    Website
    +1 (513) 899-2166

    $30 / night

    "https://www.morganscanoe.com/ This site is close to King's Island and Fort Ancient. It also was next to a bike trail. "

    "The location is amazing being right next to the river. The sites are just a tad close together so we felt on top of the other campers and didn’t have privacy. I will definitely return though."

    9. Morgan's Riverside Campground & Cabins

    5 Reviews
    Oregonia, OH
    11 miles
    Website
    +1 (513) 899-2166

    "Along the Ohio river Morgan’s is the perfect spot to camp if you enjoy nature. The wooded sites are very large even the small ones with mature trees."

    "We were also super close to Kings Island and took a day trip."

    10. Frontier Campground

    2 Reviews
    Arkansas River - Pool 5, AR
    5 miles
    Website
    +1 (937) 572-4894

    "Wonderful gem close to Caesar’s Creek and historic Waynesville. Sites are level with plenty of shade."

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Recent Reviews near Waynesville, OH

673 Reviews of 85 Waynesville 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.

  • Shelby I.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 29, 2025

    Rocky Fork State Park Campground

    A place to sleep

    Camp sites are very tightly packed together and feels like I'm in someone's backyard that is having trouble growing grass.

  • Kara S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 6, 2025

    Stonelick State Park Campground

    Big sites but can be loud and crowded

    Nice big sites, fairly level. We camped at site 35 and it was very slopey, our levelers only helped a little. First night the shower house STUNK but then the next day it smelled fine while our closest bathrooms were out of order. The trail to the lake was right next to the sit and that was lovely.

  • 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.

  • Evan C.
    Aug. 18, 2025

    Rocky Fork State Park Campground

    Fine tenting, poorly kept

    8/13/2025

    Got here after dark, but navigated to a pretty secluded loop that's just for tenting (site 61 - see map). Stakes went in fine. Seemed to be a lot of different types of spiders, which was cool to see and even cooler that they didn't bug me. Less cool - the site wasn't very clean - bits of trash that a park attendant/ranger definitely should've been picking up. Moreover, there were stray cats living in that section (I saw three), which were very cute but I'm sure they're not living their best life and the wildlife probably don't appreciate them being around either. I called later to let the park know (nobody was around during my stay) and they said they'd get maintenance on it. If you stay here and see them, I'd urge you to let the park know again, or maybe call animal control.

  • Evan C.
    Aug. 18, 2025

    Jim Terrell Park

    Looks Good!

    8/13/2025

    NOTE: I did NOT stay here. I was going to, but decided to drive a little farther than I had initially planned. I did want to check it out though because there aren't many reviews. 

    This looks like a solid option to tent for a night though. The town looks very nice and quiet, and the park seems well-kempt. If the sites are on the river, just know there's a restaurant on the opposite bank that might be a source of noise/light at night, and the park itself is kind of close to the road. I'm not exactly sure where one would tent, but there did seem to be some flat space behind a rafting/kayaking shack to the left as you pull in.

  • Rhonda B.
    Aug. 17, 2025

    The Landing at Bear Creek RV Park

    Best full time campground on the Ohio River!

    We are full-time RVers and this is by far the best park we've stayed at! It's peaceful and beautiful, everyone (especially Management) is so friendly and fun! The laundry facility is one of the greatest amenities as we've stayed other places without one, so we truly appreciate it! The splash pad is fantastic for children and adults alike! There's a dog park, and a kids kangaroo jump pad as well. The view of the river is beautiful! On weekends there's entertainment and/or cornhole tournaments to bring everyone together. The park is maintained perfectly and I've enjoyed calling it home! By far the best park in Southern Clermont County! Must see!

  • Kim H.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 10, 2025

    Cowan Lake State Park Campground

    Sizeable Site, Good for Families

    We stayed in Site 78. The lot was VERY large and well maintained. The asphalt pad was decently level; a picnic table and fire ring were included.

    There was significant variety in the types of sites: some were quite wooded while others were full sun. Some sites were much larger than others.

    The restrooms were decent. They weren't new; however, they were very clean. I didn't check out any bath houses.

    The campground was filled with parents and kids riding bikes, playing, and having fun. Nobody was out of control or obnoxious. Plenty of dogs were present.

    We'll return next summer.


Guide to Waynesville

Caesar Creek State Park Campground lies 12 miles northwest of Waynesville in a region characterized by gently rolling terrain between 800-900 feet elevation. The surrounding area features hardwood forests interspersed with open meadows, creating diverse camping environments. Seasonal temperatures in the region range from winter lows in the 20s to summer highs in the mid-80s, with rainfall averaging around 42 inches annually.

What to do

Fossil hunting at Caesar Creek: The park issues permits for collecting fossils in designated areas. A camper notes, "We even got a permit to collect fossils. Great visitor centers too."

Explore Fort Ancient: Located near Morgan's Canoe and Outdoor Adventure, this prehistoric Native American site offers educational exhibits. One visitor mentioned, "This site is close to King's Island and Fort Ancient."

Bike the Little Miami Trail: Several camping spots near Waynesville provide direct trail access. At Morgan's Canoe and Outdoor Adventure, a camper reported, "Close to the Little Miami Bike Trail this was easy to walk on with my friend and her two little ones. The trail was paved which was a huge help."

Night paddling at Cowan Lake: Experience the lake after dark for a unique perspective. A visitor shared, "A friend and I were able to kayak on the lake the night of a Friday the 13th moon. It was beautiful."

What campers like

Private bathrooms at Lebanon KOA: Many campers appreciate the individual shower facilities. One reviewer stated, "The bathrooms are amazing and private. The tent site we had was huge and there were actually trees for our suspended tent and hammocks."

Large campsites at Olive Branch: Sites offer good separation between campers. A visitor noted, "Sites are spacious and ours backed up to a wooded area. There is a nice walking trail through the woods, a small pool, playground, and a pond for fishing."

Free amenities at state parks: John Bryan State Park offers loaner items for visitors. According to a camper, "The park also had a lending library and walking stick lending program. I thought these were simple but memorable features for this park."

Reliable connectivity: Several campgrounds offer surprisingly good internet access. At Cowan Lake State Park, a camper found, "Internet here on t-moble 5G home is 90Mbps down and 6 to 20Mbps up. Verizon on cellphone, only 10Mbs down, 1-3Mbps up. ATT cellphones are similar to Verizon."

What you should know

Limited shade at Caesar Creek: The campground has fewer trees than some might expect. A visitor observed, "These sites have plenty of space between them. But there isn't a lot of shade. Partial shade is very generous for the B Loop."

Seasonal tree issues at Cowan Lake: Recent forestry management has changed the landscape. A camper noted, "Nice place, spread out, plenty of room between sites, very little shade as they have cut down a whole lot of trees."

Water conditions vary: Some swimming areas may not meet expectations. One Caesar Creek visitor warned, "No swimming even though camp ground seems to have beach. Its beach area is just mud and murky water."

Noise levels at riverside camps: Morgan's Riverside Campground can be lively, especially on weekends. A camper reported, "The noise was not the greatest. They assured us that there was a night person who monitored noise and partying... but a group of loud, drunk men right on the river were allowed to yell and make a ruckus until at least 2am."

Tips for camping with families

Cabin options for beginners: For those new to camping, Morgan's Canoe offers entry-level accommodations. A visitor explained, "We enjoyed being able to be close to the river and then being inside with a floor/door which a tent wouldn't have given us that extra security. We had plenty of space for my friend, her two kids, and me."

Kid-friendly sites at Cowan Lake: The campground layout works well for children. One camper observed, "Nice cul-de-sac areas for groups with areas for kids to play. Ground is pretty level so bringing a bike for kids to ride on is nice. There is a playground in walking distance too."

Wildlife viewing opportunities: Many camping areas near Waynesville offer chances to spot local animals. At Caesar Creek, a camper shared, "Overall good times, except the raccoons stole our hot dog buns we had sitting on the picnic table for literally 5 minutes while we cooked our hot dogs."

Tips from RVers

Site selection at Stonelick: Some spots require careful leveling. A recent visitor advised, "We camped at site 35 and it was very slopey, our levelers only helped a little."

Electricity considerations: Different campgrounds offer various hookup options. At Cowan Lake, a camper reported, "Electric site only, full service all full. A bit rough getting RV setup, but pad is fairly level, so easily setup to use slides. Site 60, 46 feet max length, ours 39."

Monthly options for extended stays: Frontier Campground in Waynesville caters to longer-term campers. A reviewer mentioned, "Because they only allow monthly reservations, it keeps the traffic to a minimum and creates more of a community atmosphere."

Frequently Asked Questions

What camping options are available in Waynesville, Ohio?

Waynesville offers diverse camping experiences for all preferences. Frontier Campground provides a wonderful option with level, shaded sites close to Caesar's Creek and historic Waynesville. For metropark camping, Dayton Metro Parks (Five Rivers Metroparks) at Twin Creek offers a unique experience in a former Boy Scout camp. Additionally, private options like Indian Springs Campground provide full hookup sites with amenities, though at a slightly higher price point.

What amenities does Frontier Campground in Waynesville, Ohio offer?

Frontier Campground is a peaceful retreat featuring level sites with plenty of shade trees. The campground is conveniently located near both Caesar's Creek and historic downtown Waynesville, making it an ideal base for exploring the area. While specific amenity details are limited in the reviews, the campground is known for its pleasant setting and is considered a hidden gem in the region. For RV campers seeking alternatives with full amenities, nearby Lebanon-Cincinnati NE KOA offers reservable sites with water and toilet facilities that accommodate big rigs.

Where are the best campgrounds near Waynesville, Ohio?

The Waynesville area boasts several exceptional campgrounds. Caesar Creek State Park Campground offers shady sites, particularly in Loop F, with clean shower facilities and access to hiking trails. It's just 12 minutes from the Renaissance Fair and close to Waynesville's antique shops. Cowan Lake State Park Campground is another excellent option with lake access, multiple bathhouses, and both electric and non-electric sites. Fall is particularly beautiful here, making it perfect for autumn camping trips.