Best Campgrounds near Jamestown, OH

Camping near Jamestown, Ohio encompasses several developed campgrounds with diverse amenities across Greene County and surrounding areas. Caesar Creek State Park Campground, located about 15 miles south of Jamestown, offers tent and RV sites with electric hookups, water access, and boat-in camping options. John Bryan State Park Campground, situated near Yellow Springs approximately 10 miles northwest of Jamestown, provides both drive-in and hike-in sites for tent and RV camping. The region includes additional options for cabin stays at Buck Creek State Park and Cowan Lake State Park, with several campgrounds offering year-round availability.

Seasonal considerations affect campground experiences throughout the area, with autumn often providing the most comfortable conditions. "Autumn is the best time to camp in Ohio," noted one visitor to Cowan Lake State Park. Most campgrounds require reservations, especially during summer months when waterfront sites fill quickly. The area experiences typical Midwest seasonal patterns with humid summers and cold winters, making spring and fall particularly popular for camping. Several campgrounds have undergone recent improvements, including renovated shower facilities and cabin upgrades. Cell service is generally reliable throughout the region, though coverage may vary at more remote sites. Many campgrounds feature recently planted trees to replace those lost to emerald ash borer damage, though shade availability varies considerably between sites.

Campers particularly value the water recreation opportunities available at many campgrounds in the area. Lakes for fishing, kayaking and swimming are common features, with Cowan Lake State Park and Caesar Creek State Park both offering extensive waterfront activities. Trail access represents another highlight, with several campgrounds providing direct connections to hiking and mountain biking routes. A visitor to John Bryan State Park noted, "The campsite is next to the 12 mile set of mountain bike trails. It is a great mountain biking/camping getaway." Campground density varies significantly between locations, with some offering spacious, secluded sites while others feature more closely arranged camping areas. Most established campgrounds provide clean bathroom facilities, though amenities range from basic vault toilets to modern shower houses. Wildlife sightings, particularly raccoons, are commonly reported at several campgrounds in the region.

Best Camping Sites Near Jamestown, Ohio (78)

    1. John Bryan State Park Campground

    42 Reviews
    Yellow Springs, OH
    11 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."

    2. Caesar Creek State Park Campground

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

    $17 - $75 / night

    "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"

    "We stayed in Site 12, which was huge and conveniently located close to a fairly new shower house. That facility was among the very best I've seen! Amazingly clean!"

    3. Buck Creek State Park Campground

    33 Reviews
    Clarence J. Brown Dam and Reservoir, OH
    21 miles
    Website
    +1 (937) 322-5284

    $23 - $35 / night

    "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."

    "I did not spend enough time here to give a thorough review, but what I will say is that this site is nice if you need a campsite for a couple nights while passing through Ohio."

    4. Cowan Lake State Park Campground

    28 Reviews
    Wilmington, OH
    20 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. "

    5. Jacoby Road Canoe Launch

    2 Reviews
    Yellow Springs, OH
    12 miles
    Website
    +1 (937) 562-7440

    $15 / night

    "This can be located in your Google Settings/Advanced/Accessibility/ and enable the captions.   Yellow Springs is a popular destination in Ohio. "

    "Beautiful spot for tent camping right next to the Little Miami River. Picnic tables and fire pit are also nice amenities. I just wish there were a trash can. Still had a great time, though."

    6. Sky Lake Resort and Fishing

    3 Reviews
    Springfield, OH
    14 miles
    Website
    +1 (937) 210-9750

    $65 / night

    "Sky Lake Resort is a very nice little campground nestled in among a series of 4 or 5 lakes. The views are fantastic and if you like to fish, this is the place for you!"

    "We loved our time at Sky Lake! It’s a beautiful property, well maintained, and easy to make a reservation. We will definitely be back!"

    7. REI Lakes Campground

    4 Reviews
    Springfield, OH
    14 miles
    +1 (407) 729-1848

    8. Olive Branch Campground

    13 Reviews
    Oregonia, OH
    24 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."

    9. Frontier Campground

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

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

    10. Mound Ridge

    2 Reviews
    Arkansas River - Pool 5, AR
    15 miles
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Recent Reviews near Jamestown, OH

591 Reviews of 78 Jamestown 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.

  • 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.

  • 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 Jamestown

Camping sites near Jamestown, Ohio offer options within 15-20 miles of town, with varying accessibility depending on seasonal conditions. Greene County maintains several camping areas with direct water access, with most campgrounds situated between 300-1,200 feet in elevation. Trails and fishing spots connect many campgrounds, creating an extensive outdoor network.

What to do

Disc golf and mountain biking: John Bryan State Park Campground provides extensive trail access with diverse recreation options. "The campsite is next to the 12 mile set of mountain bike trails. There is a disc golf course lots of mountain bike trails and hiking trails! As well as some other great amenities," notes Shane T.

Fossil hunting excursions: Permits are available at Caesar Creek State Park Campground for authorized fossil collection. "We got a permit to collect fossils. Great visitor centers too," reports a camper who visited with their family.

Kayaking on calm waters: The waterways provide multiple launch points for paddlers of various skill levels. "We were able to kayak on the lake the night of a Friday the 13th moon. It was beautiful. The boat ramp and parking lot is easy to use and has a good layout," states a visitor to Cowan Lake State Park Campground.

Historical explorations: Several historic sites surround the camping areas, offering educational opportunities. "You can visit the near by historical town of Yellow Springs," mentions Don B., while another camper noted visits to "a nearby pioneer village" during their stay.

What campers like

Privacy options: Site layouts vary significantly between campgrounds, allowing campers to select based on preferred seclusion levels. "Spacious lots with plenty of tree cover," writes Andy M. about his experience at John Bryan State Park.

Clean facilities: Campers consistently mention facility maintenance as a positive feature. At Buck Creek State Park Campground, a visitor noted: "Showers were nice and clean. Several water spickets throughout the park if you needed to access them."

Local town access: The proximity to Yellow Springs provides campers with dining and shopping alternatives. "Not only is there a great place to camp and hike, there is a cute little hippie town not too far away! If you wanted a relaxing day in the woods it's there but you're not too far away from the town," shares Grace D.

Swimming areas: Several parks maintain designated swimming locations with varying amenities. "There are two swimming beaches, the public one and one in the campground. The campground one is smaller a short hike to get to it," describes a regular visitor to the area.

What you should know

Shade availability: Tree coverage varies significantly between sites and campgrounds. "Sites are spacious and ours backed up to a wooded area" notes a camper at Olive Branch Campground, while others mention limitations: "Not a lot of shade. Partial shade is very generous for the B Loop."

Wildlife encounters: Raccoons are commonly reported at multiple campgrounds. "The raccoons stole our hot dog buns we had sitting on the picnic table for literally 5 minutes while we cooked our hot dogs," warns Nicole C. from her camping experience.

Reservation requirements: Most campgrounds require advance booking, with different policies depending on location. "Must reserve online as they are still doing everything virtual" notes a visitor to Buck Creek State Park Campground.

Water conditions: Lake bottoms vary significantly between swimming areas. "The beach area is just mud and murky water," warns one visitor, while another mentions "mucky" bottom conditions at certain swimming spots.

Tips for camping with families

Biking opportunities: Paved paths throughout many campgrounds provide safe cycling for children. "Kids run up and down green hills, ride bikes in their pajamas," shares Karen K. about John Bryan State Park Campground.

Playground access: Multiple campgrounds feature playgrounds with unique features. "They have recently added a pirate ship on the playground," mentions a visitor to Olive Branch Campground.

Security considerations: Campgrounds generally maintain good security practices. "It was a great experience! it had amazing amenities, super easy to navigate and find and super affordable! Most of all it was safe, we left out stuff there all day while we were out exploring and nothing was ever disturbed," explains Tabby T.

On-site activities: Organized programming varies between parks. "There are organized activities on the lake and through the nature center. You can also do your own thing," mentions Pamela M. about recreational options.

Tips from RVers

Utility connections: RV site layouts affect hookup accessibility at some campgrounds. "All hookups are in the middle of the site my standard cord was not long enough," cautions Bryan Y. at Olive Branch Campground.

Leveling requirements: Site grading varies substantially between campgrounds. A camper at Frontier Campground noted "Sites are level with plenty of shade," while another mentioned, "Most are not level" at a different location.

Internet access: Connectivity varies between campgrounds, with some offering robust service. "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. Great enough for work or play," reports Johnothan R.

Extended stays: Monthly reservation options exist at select campgrounds. "Because they only allow monthly reservations, it keeps the traffic to a minimum and creates more of a community atmosphere," explains Melani J. about her experience.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular campground near Jamestown, OH?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Jamestown, OH is John Bryan State Park Campground with a 4.2-star rating from 42 reviews.

What parks are near Jamestown, OH?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 14 parks near Jamestown, OH that allow camping, notably Clarence J. Brown Dam and Reservoir and Deer Creek Lake.