Best Campgrounds near Lebanon, OH

The small town of Lebanon, Ohio, has several good camping spots within a short drive. Cowan Lake State Park Campground sits along the water, where many campers spend time kayaking and watching for birds and deer. Buck Creek State Park Campground works well for fishing and boating trips, and includes extras like a marina and disc golf course nearby. If you prefer a more basic camping experience, John Bryan State Park Campground has nice hiking trails through the woods and rocky areas. Kids tend to do well at all these parks since they have decent bathrooms and open spaces to play. The fall colors make September and October really nice for camping here, but July and August can get pretty hot - bring extra water and sunscreen if you camp then. You can reach all these campgrounds on regular paved roads without any trouble. Just check the state park website before you go, as some areas close during winter or for maintenance. The campgrounds around Lebanon have sites that work for both tents and RVs, so you have options regardless of your gear.

Best Camping Sites Near Lebanon, Ohio (102)

    1. Caesar Creek State Park Campground

    49 Reviews
    Waynesville, OH
    15 miles
    Website
    +1 (937) 488-4595

    $33 / 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!"

    2. Stonelick State Park Campground

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

    $20 - $70 / night

    "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."

    3. Olive Branch Campground

    13 Reviews
    Oregonia, OH
    8 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. Lebanon-Cincinnati NE KOA

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

    "We had no idea how cute and historic Lebanon was! The park staff were great and we were able to top off our propane. Level sites, decent sized sites for a KOA."

    "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."

    5. Cowan Lake State Park Campground

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

    $24 - $130 / night

    "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. "

    6. East Fork State Park Campground

    64 Reviews
    Concord, OH
    27 miles
    Website
    +1 (513) 734-2730

    $33 / night

    "This is your standard Ohio State Park campground.  It has the usual parking, water, restrooms, camp store, and activities.  East Fork is rather nice as it has the lake and long trails. "

    "Our favorite campsite for the outskirts of Cincinnati. Lots of great spots available! You can get to the lake in about a 15 minute drive."

    7. Winton Woods Campground

    23 Reviews
    Fairfield, OH
    19 miles
    Website

    "Tent/RV sites were level and had lots of Shade and trees for Hammocks. 1.7 mile paved walking trail is great for walking, running and biking. A short 18 hole Disc Golf course is close by."

    "The location is located on the lake with access to put in a kayak or canoe. The bathrooms are clean, with private combined shower/dressing stalls."

    8. Morgan's Riverside Campground & Cabins

    5 Reviews
    Oregonia, OH
    7 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."

    9. Morgan’s Canoe and Outdoor Adventure

    5 Reviews
    Oregonia, OH
    7 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."

    10. Winton Woods Campground Hamilton County Park

    13 Reviews
    Fairfield, OH
    19 miles
    Website
    +1 (513) 851-2267

    $43 - $73 / night

    "The campground fills up fast and there were plenty of shaded electric sites close to the lake. There were also plenty of pull through sites for the big rigs."

    "Playground and walk path well kept."

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Recent Reviews near Lebanon, OH

721 Reviews of 102 Lebanon Campgrounds


  • Chasity S.
    Mar. 20, 2026

    The Landing at Bear Creek RV Park

    Worst management! I’m afraid to even still be here!

    The lady at Bear Creek started out in June 2025 a quiet place with friendly management and their friendly family entire family that all live at one end of the park so no one else can have their spaces a family that causes nothing but gossip and drama that is the reason why I stopped going to throw in dinners and events. The campground itself is a mess management let potholes go all winter long to the point that it was so bad people were complaining. I myself complained, and they acted like they were doing us a favor by getting some gravel and trying to half ass fill the holes the porta potties were out of commission all summer last summer and so far are still out of commission. The splash pad is a joke. The pavilion is just a place with some picnic tables and they have allowed DJ or live band on Friday or Saturday nights where they can all get drunk and act. Accordingly we asked for the owners number to voice our complaints to the people that own the landing at Bear Creek, but management refuses to give the owners information and we had to go other routes to get that information since then they have been harassing us taunting us. They called the police and tried to kick us out without our campers without my therapy cats without our pets without our belongings without our homes we sold our four bedroom house and bought two big campers and this is where we live full-time we will be leaving in April 2026. It is now March 2026 the middle of March and the harassment hasn’t stopped. They have told people things about us that are not true. They’ve been returning our mail just a laundry list of things that are not only illegal, but scary that two people could be that unhinged that they would act this way toward anybody, especially people like myself who have never had a complaint. I never really leave my camper because I have a small business that I run never caused any problems never caused a disturbance and I’ve been here since June 2025 once they found out that we were moving and that we wanted to talk to the owners to follow voice our complaints. It’s been nothing but police and harassment and it’s to the point where I’m afraid to even stay here. I’m afraid they’re going to harm my cats or myself. I’ve never seen two people more unhinged and crazy and spiteful and vengeful as I have the managers that are currently managing the landing at Bear Creek. I’ve never had this much interaction with police officers over managers of a property harassing so badly, knowing that I have mental health issues and using those mental health issues as a threat against me, I do not recommend people come. They stay for maybe a month or two and leave because they realize how awful this place is the gossip the drama there’s been drugs. There’s been a guy that had a knife and was trying to stab all his neighbors, and they found cocaine in his camper. There have been numerous incidents. Someone passed away out here in a strange fashion. This place is a wasteland. It is a routing negative energy and management is childish petty and the most spiteful, crazy, insane unhinged people I have ever seen in my entire life, the way that they have been behaving with their children in their truck driving up to my camper, harassing me outside of my camper, returning my mail just all this craziness. I can’t believe it. I can’t even put together in words to leave this post right now I’m so sorry this is the worst place I’ve ever seen and neither of the worst type of people I’ve ever met in my entire life. Please do not stay here for your own safety. If you’re trying to reach the owners to file a complaint about management the first picture shows you how to do so because management will not give you the owners information.

  • MThe Dyrt PRO User
    Jan. 29, 2026

    Kincaid Lake State Park Campground

    Beautiful Park, Not Big Rig Friendly

    Excellent park for small to mid campers. Main road driving in is VERY narrow and curvy. Can be very difficult to pass oncoming traffic in various areas on road as there is nowhere to merge when meeting oncoming traffic. We have a 38’ pull behind and I will not take it here. Simply not safe as there is not enough room to maneuver at all for a camper that size. Beautiful park for small campers and tents!

  • Dwaynes W.
    Oct. 25, 2025

    Batesville KOA

    THE WORST KOA I'VE EVER STAYED AT

    Bathrooms = -5 Showers = -100 Staff = 5 Campsites = 2. Could they make the sites any smaller? Camper next to you is right on top of you. Landscaping = 4 - just not kept up well at all. Dog Park = one, and it's a loooooooooooong ways away. I travel full-time. Stay at KOA's all the time. This is, by far, THE WORST KOA I have been to and, no matter what, I won't be back. Seriously bad. There's even a $10 charge if you leave the KOA and then try to return . What? I have to pay to get back to my things? It looks nice with the ponds... but truth be told, THE WORST KOA EVER - it's a dump compared to what is expected from a KOA. Uhg.

  • 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.
    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.
    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.


Guide to Lebanon

Caesar Creek State Park Campground offers access to a 2,830-acre lake surrounded by limestone bluffs and rolling terrain. Located within 20 minutes of Lebanon, this destination attracts water enthusiasts during summer months when temperatures typically range from 75-85°F. Winter camping remains available but with reduced amenities as temperatures drop to the 20-40°F range from December through February.

What to do

Fossil hunting excursions: Caesar Creek requires special permits for fossil collection, available at the visitor center. "We also went to a nearby pioneer village. We even got a permit to collect fossils. Great visitor centers too," notes one camper at Caesar Creek State Park Campground.

Kayaking and canoeing: Morgan's Canoe provides equipment rentals with transportation back to camp. "They have been around for a few generations and provide canoeing, rafting, and kayaking at different trip lengths for a great price. There are plenty of spots along the beautiful Little Miami River Valley to pull your canoe off to the side and sit and hang out," reports a visitor at Morgan's.

Mountain biking trails: Accessible directly from camping areas during seasonal openings at several parks. A camper at Cowan Lake mentions, "You can access the mountain bike trails from the campground when they are open. They have converted some sites to premium, but most only offer electric."

What campers like

Spacious sites: Enjoy above-average distance between campsites at select locations. At Morgan's Riverside Campground, campers appreciate that "the wooded sites are very large even the small ones with mature trees. So close to everything Cincinnati has to offer but beautiful scenic river views."

Clean facilities: Most campgrounds maintain well-kept bathroom buildings with hot showers. A visitor to Winton Woods Campground noted, "Bathhouses were very clean. Entrance was gated. Nice campstore."

Proximity to attractions: Stay within easy driving distance of Kings Island amusement park and historic sites. "This site is close to King's Island and Fort Ancient. It also was next to a bike trail. Close to the Little Miami Bike Trail this was easy to walk on with my friend and her two little ones," shares one camper from Morgan's Canoe and Outdoor Adventure.

What you should know

Water conditions vary: Lake swimming areas often have natural bottoms that may be muddy or unclear. A camper at Caesar Creek notes, "We hiked down to the beach, which is mucky on the bottom. It is a little bit of a drive to get to the other parts of the park."

Shade availability: Many campgrounds have lost trees to disease and offer limited shade. "Not a big fan of the park. Good fishing," notes a camper at East Fork State Park Campground.

Weekend crowds: Reserve well ahead for summer weekends when many parks reach capacity. "It was at least our 3rd time staying there. Place is usually pretty full on weekends and the staff are there to make sure you have a great time," reports a visitor to Olive Branch Campground.

Tips for camping with families

Playground access: Choose campsites near recreational facilities for easier supervision. At Stonelick State Park Campground, "My little ones had a blast riding their scooters around the round about. The restrooms are a quick walk and very clean. The showers and park are a small walk but also super nice."

Educational opportunities: Several parks offer nature programs and wildlife viewing areas. "Amazing views of the water and surrounding wooded areas. Good place to fish for bluegill and catfish. Awesome place to swim during daytime hours, just remember to use caution and don't go out of designated area," shares a Stonelick camper.

Safety considerations: Lakes and rivers require close supervision of children. A visitor to Morgan's Canoe mentioned, "We were a little nervous as the cabin is so close the river. This is part of the charm but when you have a 3 year old in your group then it is smart to keep an extra sharp eye on the kiddo as the river is a huge draw."

Tips from RVers

Full hookup availability: Olive Branch Campground offers complete services with 50-amp power. "Very well kept campground with a lot of shade trees. Good separation of seasonal and overnight campers. Pull through and back ins available with full hookups. Friendly and helpful staff," notes one RV camper.

Leveling requirements: Some sites require significant adjustment to level properly. "Hamilton County Park that offers a beach, canoes, fishing, and camping. Sites are drive-up with plenty of room for a tent or two and fire-rings. Some sites may have trees for hammocks," reports a camper at Winton Woods.

Dump station access: Plan for end-of-stay procedures if not in a full-hookup site. "RV Sites are gravel w electric hookups. Close to major highways. Staff were friendly," mentions a visitor at Winton Woods Campground Hamilton County Park.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to camp at Lebanon, Ohio campgrounds?

Camping costs around Lebanon vary by campground type and amenities. At Indian Springs Campground, full hookup sites typically run higher than standard rates but offer level pull-through spaces with picnic tables. State parks like East Fork State Park Campground generally charge $25-35 per night for standard sites, with premium or full-hookup sites costing more. Some private campgrounds offer cash discounts. Public campgrounds like those in the Dayton Metro Parks system might offer more budget-friendly options. Prices typically increase during peak season (summer) and on weekends. Many campgrounds also charge additional fees for pets, extra vehicles, or premium locations near water features.

What campgrounds are available in Lebanon, Ohio?

Lebanon offers several excellent camping options within a short drive. The Lebanon-Cincinnati NE KOA provides convenient access to both Lebanon's historic downtown and Cincinnati attractions. For nature lovers, Cowan Lake State Park Campground near Wilmington offers lakeside camping with easy highway access. Other nearby options include Indian Springs Campground, Caesar Creek State Park, and Morgan's Riverside Campground & Cabins. The region also features East Fork State Park, Hueston Woods State Park, and John Bryan State Park - all within driving distance of Lebanon. These campgrounds offer various amenities including full hookups, tent sites, and recreational activities like hiking, fishing, and boating.

Are there tent camping options near Lebanon, Ohio?

Lebanon-area campers have several excellent tent camping options. John Bryan State Park Campground offers wooded tent sites with access to trails, a frisbee golf course, and is near the popular town of Yellow Springs. The campground is surrounded by woods and provides a more rustic experience. At Hueston Woods State Park Campground, tent campers can enjoy sites north of Cincinnati along Ohio's border with Indiana, featuring attractions like the Raptor Center. For a more secluded experience, Dayton Metro Parks (Five Rivers Metroparks) offers tent camping in a former Boy Scout camp setting. Most of these locations provide basic amenities like picnic tables, fire rings, and access to restroom facilities.