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, OH
    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, OH
    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, OH
    15 miles
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Recent Reviews near Jamestown, OH

588 Reviews of 78 Jamestown Campgrounds


  • 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.

  • K
    Aug. 8, 2025

    Cedarbrook Campground

    Wonderful stay w one hiccup

    This is a very well managed and maintain campground except the laundry facility. Washers are old and bed bugs were found. If you stick to your own camper you will be safe. Any campground that has cabins will have bedbugs. That’s a fact!

  • AThe Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 26, 2025

    Kiser Lake State Park Campground

    Quiet

    The campground has no full hookups but does have electric. RV sites have a view of the lake. Sites are clean and paved. There is a new shower house that’s pretty nice, but the other bathrooms are pretty nasty. For $29 nightly it’s a good campground. They do things with kids on many weekends. You can also rent canoes or paddle boats. No motors permitted on the lake.


Guide to Jamestown

Camping near Jamestown, Ohio, offers a variety of experiences for outdoor enthusiasts. With several campgrounds in the area, you can find the perfect spot to relax, explore, and enjoy nature.

What to do

  • Boating and Fishing: Many campers enjoy the water activities available at Alum Creek State Park Campground. One visitor mentioned, "Amenities include boating, fishing, disc golf, MTB trails, live music select evenings, etc."
  • Hiking Trails: Explore the scenic trails at East Fork State Park Campground. A reviewer noted, "Great place to ride a bike, or hike or just go for a walk."
  • Wildlife Watching: Deer Creek State Park Campground is a great spot for spotting wildlife. One camper shared, "We saw deer, heard coyotes and even saw a flying squirrel one night - really cool."

What campers like

  • Clean Facilities: Campers appreciate well-maintained restrooms and shower facilities. A visitor at Hueston Woods State Park Campground said, "Bath and shower houses have been updated and were kept clean."
  • Spacious Sites: Many enjoy the roomy campsites at Buck Creek State Park Campground. One reviewer mentioned, "Camp spots were decently sized but no cover between camp spots and little shade."
  • Friendly Staff: Campers often highlight the helpfulness of the staff. A visitor at Caesar Creek State Park Campground noted, "The staff is friendly and the facilities are clean."

What you should know

  • Noise Levels: Some campgrounds can get noisy, especially on weekends. A camper at Indian Lake State Park Campground mentioned, "No one seemed to care about the 10 pm quiet time."
  • Reservation Fees: Be prepared for additional costs when booking online. A visitor at Alum Creek State Park Campground pointed out, "And reserving adds another $6.50."
  • Limited Amenities: Some sites may lack certain amenities. A camper at A.W. Marion State Park Campground noted, "There is no beach, and what is probably a snack bar or boat rental place was all boarded up."

Tips for camping with families

  • Choose Family-Friendly Campgrounds: Look for campgrounds with activities for kids. East Fork State Park Campground offers plenty of space for children to play, as one reviewer said, "Neighbors weren’t sitting on top of one another."
  • Plan for Raccoons: Be cautious with food storage, especially at John Bryan State Park Campground. A camper warned, "The sheer number and boldness of raccoons...freaked the kids and new campers out."
  • Pack Games and Activities: Bring along games to keep the family entertained. A visitor at Hueston Woods State Park Campground mentioned, "There are great recreational activities."

Tips from RVers

  • Check Site Lengths: Make sure to verify the length of your RV site. A camper at Stonelick State Park Campground advised, "Some sites are really short. Be sure to check the pad length."
  • Be Prepared for Slopes: Some campgrounds have uneven terrain. A visitor at Caesar Creek State Park Campground noted, "There are a number of good sites, but some with a significant slope that leveling would be an issue."
  • Use Online Reservations: Many campgrounds require online bookings. A camper at Indian Lake State Park Campground mentioned, "The online reservation system is clumsy to use at best."

Whether you're looking for a peaceful retreat or an adventurous getaway, the jamestown, OH campgrounds have something for everyone.

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.