Lima, Ohio campgrounds sit within the gently rolling terrain of west-central Ohio, where the elevation averages around 850-900 feet above sea level. The area features a humid continental climate with four distinct seasons, and most campgrounds remain open from April through October. Multiple camping options cluster within a 30-mile radius of Lima, offering varying levels of amenities and natural settings.
What to do
Fishing opportunities: Van Buren State Park Campground has a stocked pond where visitors can fish without traveling far from their campsites. According to one visitor, "It has tons of trails and a pond. There are a few places to car camp or RV camp nearby."
Winter recreation: During colder months, some parks offer seasonal activities not available in summer. One visitor at Van Buren State Park Campground noted, "I 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."
Biking trails: The Ottawa Metro Park area features extensive paved trails for cyclists. A camper mentioned, "Beautiful park with bike and walking paths," while another noted access to "a 13-mile Greenway passes by there."
What campers like
Clean facilities: Multiple reviews highlight the well-maintained nature of the campgrounds. At Ottawa Metro Park Campground, one visitor wrote, "This is a beautiful, peaceful campground that's not a parking lot like many city campgrounds. It's clean as clean can be, including the bathrooms."
Spacious sites: Campers consistently mention appreciating room between sites. At Grand Lake St. Marys State Park, a reviewer noted, "Large spacious sites with cement or paved spots." Similarly, at Poor Farmer's Campground, one camper said their site was "clean family oriented and spacious."
Swimming options: Grand Lake St. Marys State Park offers recreational water features beyond natural swimming. As one camper described, "Has a pool, playground, putt putt golf, boat docks, hiking trails, and some other great amenities," while another mentioned "a nice pool and splash pad."
What you should know
Availability systems vary: Some parks require reservations while others operate first-come, first-served. At Ottawa Metro Park Campground, a visitor explained, "The campground is first-come first serve, but don't worry about getting a site. There are plenty."
Bathroom facilities differ: While some parks offer full shower houses, others have more basic options. At Van Buren State Park Campground, a camper noted, "There were only drop toilets and no showers. They were clean but I don't think I'd want to do more than a weekend there."
Lake conditions: Grand Lake St. Marys has experienced water quality challenges. One camper reported, "We couldn't swim in the water due to contamination which they have spent millions to repair and is slowly on the up and up."
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: When selecting a site, consider proximity to play areas. At Grand Lake St. Marys State Park, one family noted, "The camping spot was great. It was very close to the pool and playground. The sites were pull through which was nice for having young kids. Could sit at our spot and watch our kids at the playground."
Stream play: At Poor Farmer's Campground, children have natural water features for recreation. A reviewer mentioned, "A stream that runs through the campground is nice for the kids to play in when it's too hot for them on the play ground."
Kid-friendly activities: Many campgrounds schedule weekend events. According to a visitor at Poor Farmer's Campground, "They usually have a lot of activities for the weekends planned."
Tips from RVers
Site surfaces: RV parks Lima, Ohio and surrounding areas offer various parking surfaces. At Arrowhead Lake RV Park & Campground, a visitor observed, "The seasonal ones all have back in and the weekends are pull through which is kinda nice," while another noted, "concrete pads and picnic tables. But all the driveways and pull thrus were gravel."
Hookup availability: Lake Cody offers comprehensive services for RVers. According to one visitor, the campground "has everything you need" including full hookups for recreational vehicles of various sizes.
Registration process: Ottawa Metro Park has a straightforward system for checking in. As one RVer explained, "Pick up a registration envelope from the mailbox at the entrance sign, complete the triplicate form and follow the instructions. Money and form goes into an envelope and is dropped into the payment slot at the bathhouse."
