Do you love the outdoors and horses? If you're looking for a rustic but comfortable experience, horse camping in Lima is the way to go. Finding a place to stay in Ohio while traveling with your horse has never been easier. Find Ohio equestrian campgrounds with ease on The Dyrt.
Traveler
We camped on lot 57 and the view of the lake was awesome! The new bathhouse is open year round
ScoutMy kids always loved fishing here was a great place to hike as well
Traveler
Difficult to get potable water. Only electric on the sites. Some sites don't have electric hookup. Dump station is in a completely different section of the state park. We arrived around 8 pm and check-in station was already closed. Luckily they have a sign with name and site number. Not much to do other than trails.
GuideWe had an excellent time with our camping trip at Kiser Lake. We were incredibly impressed with the kind staff. We had purchased 8 bundles of wood ($5/bundle) and it was all wet and not usable. The staff worked hard to find us replacements that may have come from a different shipment. We were able to use that to get going and dry out the wet bundles.
We booked a group site which was perfect for us with our dog and our group. It seemed like the regular campsite seemed too crowded for our taste.
ScoutA small intimate campground, perfect if you hate crowds and prefer nature.
TravelerVery nice, clean, people and staff very friendly. You must reserve a spot by phone or online only, no walk ins. I made my reservation while standing at the visitor cabin
TravelerTried it for the first time. It was quiet and relaxing. The camp host was nice and friendly. Kids loved having the playground so close to the camper. Will be back soon.
LegendThis park is know for the lake that is kayak and canoe friendly since it doesn’t allow any kind of boat with a motor. It also features a beach , 2 playgrounds and several hiking trails. Just be careful if you hike with dogs since some trails intersect with a nature preserve which doesn’t allow pets.
The campground itself has 20 electric sites , 56 primitive sites and 4 camper cabins. All the electric sites are pull through and all sites have a fire pit but only the electric sites come with picnic tables.
Due to off season and COVID the camp store is closed and there is no camper host or park office staff around.
We did notice lots of downed trees on the poorly marked hiking trails. Some trails just started but no maps were around and no trails were blazed. It was hard to tell where we were headed or how long a trail was. I tried using the new Detour app and it wasn’t very accurate for this park.
We did have good Verizon cell coverage.
TravelerWith this being my first time camping, I don’t have much to compare it to, but I really enjoyed my stay! I had spot 66 (non-electric standard) and I just had my tent and my car and I would definitely pick that spot again! It was absolutely stunning over looking the water with the trees turning colors. I went the first weekend in October so they had a lot of families there because they had all sorts of Halloween activities going on, so it wasn’t very quiet, but I still enjoyed myself. Got in on a Thursday and it was decently quiet that day. They have some play areas for kids, a few hiking trails and a wetlands, but most people were fishing and kayaking. There is a store, but I didn’t go in. Tons of spots to camp, from very secluded to right in the middle of the action. Very family friendly place. I think some small rules were broken here and there by some of the families, but it was just little things, so no harm no foul. Overall a great campground!
GuideSuper quiet, good fishing
GuideA hidden gem , super quiet , low traffic and decent fishing
GuideOur plans were changed so we lost our reservation. However they let us stay for free at the back of the campground. No power or anything. But it was nice of them to help us out.
ScoutIt’s my favorite campground so far. I may be biased, with it being close to home, but they have a lot for the kids to do. Beach, volleyball net, playground. Plenty of water locations. For me the bathrooms are unusable. Often a lot of bees swarming the bathrooms on top of the smell. I like that they have activities throughout the day for kids on the weekends. Also have a nice camp store/marina with canoe and kayak rentals at a reasonable price.
TravelerI love this place. Its a smaller campground with only two loops of sites, but its flat, shaded, and comfortable. No showers, but clean and sturdy pit toilets with centralized well water..
GuideDon’t get a site in the back under the walnut trees in the fall. They drop all day & night long.
GuideThis park has a beautiful lake and nice (although short) hiking trails. The problem is that there is no running water- no showers and smelly pit toilets. There is one spigot for drinking water.
Beware that the campsites are mostly in one big grassy field with no shade. I'd pick a site along the perimeter or along the lake.
This park is overrun with feral cats (or it was when I was there). Some people might think that is cute. I consider feral cats to be wild animals that carry disease. What's really bad about them is that they've been fed so they are comfortable around people. We spent the whole weekend trying to fend them off- every time our backs were turned, they jumped up on our picnic table. They ate our food, which we had to throw away. When we sat by the fire, they rubbed up against our legs, which is disgusting, considering they carry Bartonella, which is transmitted through their fleas and ticks (Bartonella is a co-infection of Lyme, or you can get it on its own. I know- I've had it since middle school. Feral cats probably carry Lyme too, as they are mammals). I can't express how stressful it was, trying to keep these wild cats away from us the entire weekend. I don't know why the park can't get them under control.
Sure, cat people will be offended by my statement, but would you want raccoons or skunks up on your table, eating out of your pots and pans? Would you want raccoons rubbing up against you while you are trying to relax? These cats are also wild animals, yet way too tame for comfort. Ugh,I shudder remembering it.
TravelerWe stayed during the week for one night. Campground was clean and quiet, had electric hookups at most sites. Host was very friendly. They also have a camp area for horses. Only criticism is you have to drive to another area of the park for an RV dump.
TravelerCampground is small but well maintained. Hiking is great. Probably better for people with horses. Electric did not work at all sites. Pit toilets did not seem sufficient for all camp sites.
ScoutSince Van Buren State park is an easy 20 minutes away from home for me, i visit there often. it is clean and quiet, they dont get too busy and loud. the horse camp is nice with some new pens to keep your horse instead of them having to be tied up. They keep the restrooms clean, but no flush toilets, which dont bother me. My only complaint about Van Buren State park is that there are no shower facilities.
TravelerWe really enjoy Kiser Lake, although there is only one spot for camping that we prefer. It is the only spot that it doesn't feel like you are right on top of your neighbors and actually has some tree coverage. As far as hiking goes, it's on the limited side, but we had a great time kayaking there. The lake was calm and everyone was very respectful of us in our kayaks.
RangerI came cross country skiing here in early January and it was absolutely amazing. It is cold but the terrain is simple for first time skiers.
RangerVan Buren State Park is very easy to access from I-75. It has tons of trails and a pond. There are a few places to car camp or RV camp nearby. I love getting out of town and visiting Van Buren State Park, and I have lots of good memories. It gets 4 stars because I now live in Montana and Montana camping outshines Ohio, but I can't bash on Van Buren State Park at all.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Lima, OH?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Lima, OH is Kiser Lake State Park Campground with a 4.3-star rating from 12 reviews.
