Tent campsites near Lima, Ohio range from riverside sites to woodland settings within a 50-mile radius. The area features primarily flat terrain with elevations between 800-900 feet above sea level. Summer camping season typically runs May through October with July temperatures averaging 73°F, while spring and fall bring cooler temperatures and occasional rainfall.
What to do
Fishing opportunities: Independence Dam State Park Campground offers direct access to the Maumee River. One camper notes, "This park is great for the right kind of trips, we visit here often in the summer to enjoy the river, kayak, and relax."
Water activities: Tee Pee Family Campground features a swimming pond with recreational features. A visitor mentioned, "The pond was fantastic. Has a large inflatable slide and a dock that you can jump off of in the middle. Kids loved it."
Hiking trails: Backpackers can access the Buckeye Trail system at various points near Lima. The St. Mary's Section - Buckeye Trail offers multi-day hiking opportunities. A hiker comments, "If you start in Lockington or Fort Loramie, this shelter is approximately 10 miles in and the right place to break a two-day backpacking trip."
What campers like
River views: Many campsites at Independence Dam provide views of the Maumee River. According to a camper, "The park itself is very narrow and long, and stretches down the Maumee River bank. It's very green with lots of trees and shade cover."
Walking paths: Paved paths at Independence Dam State Park Campground provide recreational options beyond the campsites. One visitor stated, "The paved path that goes along the camping sites is very nice and makes for a great walk or bike ride."
Small, quiet settings: On Cedar Pond offers a more intimate camping experience with just two tent sites available. A recent visitor simply noted, "The stay was amazing! So beautiful."
What you should know
Site selection matters: At Independence Dam State Park, site location significantly impacts the camping experience. A camper advises, "Sites 1-6 are misleading on the site, they are not on the river bend, there is a gravel trail/road between them and the river bank. It's not a huge deal for access but annoying if your expecting direct access."
Limited facilities: Most tent campgrounds in the Lima area provide basic amenities only. At Independence Dam, a camper reported, "There are no hookups, only vault toilets, no staff only very nice camp hosts."
Road noise: Some campgrounds experience traffic noise due to proximity to roadways. One camper at Independence Dam noted, "The one big drawback in my opinion is the fact that the two lane traffic road is within 50-100 yards of the campsite, so the sound of vehicle traffic is quite frequent, especially since this road appears to be a favorite of motorcyclists."
Tips for camping with families
Bathroom accessibility: When camping with children, consider site locations in relation to facilities. One camper at Independence Dam observed, "The down side of 16 is it is situated right next to the toilets, so you get a lot of foot traffic from others using the bathroom and the constant slamming of the toilet door gets a bit annoying."
Limited playground options: Some campgrounds have minimal recreation structures for children. A camper at Tee Pee Family Campground noted, "Playgrounds for the kids are very weak. Just a few swing sets but that's about it."
River safety: Campgrounds near water require extra attention with children. A camper at Independence Dam mentioned, "There is no direct access to the river in most areas, but there is an opening near the middle of the campsite which allows access, along with access for kayaks."
Tips from RVers
Length restrictions: Many tent campgrounds near Lima have limited space for larger vehicles. One camper at Independence Dam reported, "There were only a very few sites that had paved pads that would accommodate our van; the rest were clearly for tents only."
Reservation requirements: Weekend camping often requires advance planning. A camper noted, "When I tried to make reservations, there was a two-night minimum on the weekends and we were just passing through so I decided to see if we might be able to snag one night if there were sites available."
Self-registration process: Some campgrounds operate with minimal staffing. At Independence Dam State Park Campground, a visitor mentioned, "There did not seem to be any staff or rangers on-site and there is self-registration."
