Alum Creek State Park Campground accommodates pets on both tent and RV sites with designated pet-friendly cabin options. Pets must remain leashed throughout the campground, with a maximum of three pets permitted per site. Cross Creek Camping Resort also welcomes pets with spacious sites that provide adequate room for dog setup areas. Both locations feature standard amenities for pets including waste stations and nearby walking trails suitable for dogs. Tree Haven Campground requires all dogs to be leashed when outside campers, though the campground maintains clean facilities that pet owners appreciate.
Scioto Grove Metro Park offers free backpacking sites where dogs can accompany hikers along the REI water trail. The park provides firewood at each site, with tent pads and fire rings available at all five riverside camping locations. Sites are reservable but fill quickly during the limited camping season. The backpacking trail serves as an excellent location for testing gear with pets before longer expeditions. Pastime Campground accommodates pets but campers should note the relatively narrow sites, particularly in the grass section. The newer gravel sites offer more space for pets to relax comfortably while maintaining distance from neighboring campers. Several sites require special consideration for proper pet management due to close proximity to other campers.
$23 - $70 / night
"This was the only park we’ve gone to this uear with both a large dog park AND a fenced in dog beach! Folks were friendly at the dog park with bunches of chairs set around like a conversation pit."
"Alum Creek State Park is a beautiful park and great campground just outside the hustle and bustle of downtown Columbus and minutes away from attractions such as the Columbus Zoo."
$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."
"Small dog park. Normal size lots for an RV park. Super crowded on a summer weekend. All size rvs and also tent campers. Easy to find."
$39 - $40 / night
"Lots of hiking trails, stocked fishing pond for kids, disc golf, dog park and the lake itself.
Site 187 this trip.""It’s close to home, but more importantly it has great trails and wooded sites. Winter camping has several sections of the park closed, only 1 shower house open and no camp hosts or camp store."
"No driving your vehicle any further than the bottom of the hill. Great location, very beautiful. Spacious in between 5 campgrounds and right next to the Scioto River."
"Got lucky and found an opening for site 5 which was right on river and away from the busier parts of park - didn’t see a single person. Nice tent pads, campfire ring, and provided wood."
"Not a sightseeing destination, but very convenient place to stop for the night if you’re on a road trip doing a lot of driving. Safe neighborhood with a kroger right down the street."
$60 / night
$15 - $38 / night
"Walking path and playground are adjacent to the campground. There is a nice swimming pool at the south end of the village park. Campers get a discounted admission."
$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."
"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!"
"They have a nice walking trail, potlucks, holiday events, live entertainment and are putting in a new, bigger pool! They also redid the driveway."
$29 - $160 / night
"It was definitely not an easy task to get a camp site here as a walk-in. We checked on reserve America several times with no luck."
"A well manicured campground just outside Dayton, easy to get to, back in pavement site with 30A electric, picnic table and fire pit. Plenty of potable water spigots around, just not at the site."
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.
GuideThis was the only park we’ve gone to this uear with both a large dog park AND a fenced in dog beach! Folks were friendly at the dog park with bunches of chairs set around like a conversation pit. Lots of water and dog tennis balls were available.
The dog beach was fenced so your dog can be off leash. There is even a fenced in area out in the water to keep the pooches from swimming across the Lake chasing geese.
The campground itself was quite nice and spacious. Some of the most private camping sites I’ve seen in Ohio. Shower facilities we a bit above average mad seemed to be looked after at least once a day (we were there in the off season).
IMHO, one of the nicest campgrounds in the state.
ScoutWe stayed two nights here on our tour of Ohio. After staying in state parks, the narrow sites are close with no privacy. Our pull through site was on the (inner) road, so lots of golf carts, cars and campers passing by. All pull through sites are on the road side. The site is not level and our leveling system has the front wheels off the ground. Many full time units here beautiful patios and decor. Staff is nice and friendly. Trash pickup isn’t offered and the walk to dumpster would be excessive for unfit or handicapped. We would stay again. Amenities are clean, as described and dog Park is immaculate but small.
GuideAlum Creek State Park is a beautiful park and great campground just outside the hustle and bustle of downtown Columbus and minutes away from attractions such as the Columbus Zoo.
The campground has good sized sites and is wooded throughout with clean bath houses, well maintained roads, and easy access for big rigs.
There is also a very nice dog park in the park including dog beaches with lake access for your pups to swim.
We love this campground and the beautiful lake and appreciate the easy access to local attractions, shopping, and more.
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
Scoutgreat state park campground. There are some full hook ups but mostly just electric. They have pancake breakfast on Saturday mornings through summer and doughnuts on Sunday. Helpful camphost. There is a campground beach and boat launch. Lost of hiking paths in the campground and in the park area. A great dog park with lake entrance for the pups. tmThere is also some mountain bike trails. Plenty to do for everyone.
TravelerAlum Creek is just beautiful, nice sites, most of them are at least partially shaded, lots of woods, hiking trails, the lake, it is what I think of when I think of State Park campground camping in Ohio. There are a couple problems. 1. Only ONE little dump station. This is a big campground, so if you're leaving Sunday, you better get up at the crack of dawn to get to the station, otherwise be prepared to wait in a long long line of RV's. We by-passed the long line and stopped at a different State Park campground on the way home and paid 10.00 to use their dump station. 2. They never answer their phone at the campground office. I mean NEVER. If you have a question you will just have to deal with the reserveamerica people who really know nothing other than what they read on the campground website. So basically you know as much as they do. It's maddening. We will go back, but it's a 2 hour drive so it won't be anytime soon.
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.
ScoutIn addition to having a pretty lake, lovely campsites that are spread apart nicely, clean facilities, lots of shade, boat ramps, etc.. this park is unique for it's Dog Park facility.
2 large fenced in field areas. One for small dogs, and one for large. There is enough room for several games of dog frisbee to happen at once. Then, there are 2 large fenced in areas for lake access. Balls, dog doo bags, trash bins.. all there. Lots of shade, water fountains, and plenty of running room. I can't rave about this park enough!
The only downside is there is poison ivy lacing the trail from the campsite down to the water, and the Dog Park portion is about 2 miles from the campsites.
Alum Creek State Park
Campground details
Several campgrounds within 35 miles of Hilliard, Ohio provide camping experiences in this area of central Ohio, where the terrain features gentle rolling hills and deciduous forest landscapes. Summer temperatures typically range from 65-85°F with moderate humidity, while fall camping season brings cooler nights and colorful foliage. Winter camping options remain available at select locations with proper preparations for temperatures that can drop below freezing.
Hiking trail exploration: Scioto Grove Metro Park offers a backpacking trail system ideal for testing gear before longer trips. The REI water trail includes five riverside camping locations with dedicated tent pads. According to Zach, "Scioto Grove is great if you're looking to test out some new backpacking gear. There are 5 reservable sites along the river trail and they all have tent pads and a fire pit, besides that they're totally primitive."
Mountain biking opportunities: Alum Creek State Park Campground features dedicated mountain bike trails for riders of all skill levels. As Jill B. notes, "There is a campground beach and boat launch. Lost of hiking paths in the campground and in the park area. A great dog park with lake entrance for the pups. There is also some mountain bike trails. Plenty to do for everyone."
Fishing access: Buck Creek State Park Campground provides shoreline access to the reservoir for fishing enthusiasts. "The reservoir provides ample opportunity for swimming, fishing and there is great space to fly a kite if that's in your book or tricks," explains Jason M. Several fishing spots are accessible directly from the campground area, making it convenient for families.
Private campsite layouts: A.W. Marion State Park Campground receives praise for its spacious sites with good separation. "We chose site #56 which had electric. It's one of the best sites we found there for it's size, shade and privacy," reports Shannon G. The campground features both electric and non-electric sites distributed throughout wooded areas.
Off-leash pet areas: Berkshire Campgrounds features dedicated off-leash dog trails that appeal to pet owners looking for dog friendly campgrounds near Hilliard. One camper shared, "Our favorite part was the off leash dog trails that were a perfect place to let the pup run. We have struggled at some parks where the pet areas are very restrictive."
Swimming opportunities: Cross Creek Camping Resort maintains a clean pool that campers frequently mention in reviews. "The pool is really nice. They also have a playground for the kids. They also have themed-event weekends, which are really fun!" writes Catherine. Many campers appreciate the combination of swimming options and organized activities.
Reservation requirements: Buck Creek State Park Campground operates with an online reservation system. As one camper notes, "Nice medium size campground. Must reserve online as they are still doing everything virtual." Many popular sites fill quickly, particularly during summer weekends and holidays.
Site conditions vary: Pastime Campground features both grass and gravel sites with significant differences between them. "There are 38 grass sites that are a bit snug, but mostly pleasant. New in June 2019 are 18 gravel padded sites, with lots of space," explains Ron G. The gravel sites tend to provide more space between camping units.
Campground facilities: Tree Haven Campground provides clean amenities but has specific pet regulations. According to reviews, the facilities are "always clean and well maintained. Laundry is free. Internet works well and is free." The campground enforces leash requirements for dogs throughout the property.
Playground access: Several family-friendly campgrounds near Hilliard provide playground equipment for children. At Cross Creek Camping Resort, campers report "activities for the kids to the nice spacious sites. We were there for the Halloween weekend and it was amazing."
Weekend activities: Berkshire Campgrounds offers structured weekend events throughout the camping season. "This campground has it all. Full hookups and great activities for all. There is a small lake that you can walk around," explains James C. Many families appreciate the organized events that keep children engaged.
Campground beach options: Alum Creek State Park Campground features both a main beach and smaller campground beach. Sandy O. mentions "...the beach inside the campground is small, the main beach for Alum Creek State Park is just a short drive away." Families with children often prefer the campground beach for its convenience and typically less crowded conditions.
Hookup availability: Various campgrounds near Hilliard offer different levels of hookups for RVers. At Pastime Campground, "All sites are W/E. All the new gravel sites and half the grass ones have 50/30/20A electric, the rest are 30/20A. The park has a dump station. Two of the gravel sites have sewer hookup."
Site leveling considerations: Buck Creek State Park Campground provides generally level sites for RVs. "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," shares Lisa M. Most RV sites require minimal leveling equipment.
Seasonal considerations: A.W. Marion State Park Campground remains open for winter camping with limited services. Shannon G. notes, "Only electric and vault toilets are available in the winter... Great little campground to visit if you don't need a lot of amenities." Winter campers should prepare for limited water access and potentially muddy conditions during thaws.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Hilliard, OH?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Hilliard, OH is Alum Creek State Park Campground with a 4.4-star rating from 80 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Hilliard, OH?
TheDyrt.com has all 70 dog-friendly camping locations near Hilliard, OH, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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