London, Ohio offers limited equestrian camping options with no dedicated horse corrals or specialized equestrian facilities in the immediate vicinity. Most local campgrounds like Buck Creek State Park Campground and Alum Creek State Park Campground accommodate tent, RV, and cabin camping, but lack specific horse-friendly amenities. Buck Creek State Park features accessible trails suitable for day rides, though campers must provide their own portable containment systems for horses. The concrete pads at regular sites can accommodate smaller horse trailers, but the campground requires advance arrangements for equestrian use.
Trail access near London connects riders to several natural areas, though not from dedicated equestrian campsites. Bridle trails in the region typically require day-use rather than overnight horse camping. Delaware State Park Campground, located approximately 35 miles northeast of London, allows horses on designated trails but also lacks permanent horse corrals or specialized equestrian facilities. Visitors interested in horse camping should contact park offices directly to verify current equestrian policies and trailer parking availability. Seasonal restrictions may apply, particularly during winter months when water access is limited and some facilities close. Campers must bring their own portable corral panels or highline systems as permanent horse containment facilities are not available at these campgrounds.
$29 - $160 / 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."
$39 - $52 / night
"Some are smaller, close to neighbors while other have seclusion with trees. From past experience, if it rains, some of the sites do flood. We had great weather this weekend."
"Enjoy a few hours or the day hiking one of eight trails or all of them. If you have horses take them out on the two loops especially for them. Lodge, campground, cabins so many options."
$23 - $70 / night
"Happened to be next to the park host. No choice of where to locate my large tent. Showers/bathrooms were OK--older facilities. "
"There are tons of trails to check out all throughout the park. Kayaking on the northern side of the lake would be recommended. It gets too busy with larger boats in the main area of the lake."
$39 - $40 / night
"This state park spans over 2,000 acres and is just north of the cute Ohio town of Delaware. "
"Delaware State Park is a gem in the Ohio state park system. What is amazing to us is how few people seem to know it exists!"
$60 / night
$29 - $160 / 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. "
$25 - $55 / night
"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."
"This 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."
$23 - $200 / night
"This park has such a variety of things to do. there’s a great disc golf course, really nice trails to hike with challenging hills and nice areas with shelters for grilling and parties and such."
$23 / night
"Equestrians, mountain bikers, and hikers seem to use this park often. Although no utilities... there is a shelter, restroom and trash recepticle. Campfires are permissible."
GuideAutumn 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. Had to wait for rvs in front of me to register.
TravelerAlum Creek is just beautiful, nice sites, most of them are at least partially shaded, lots of woods, hiking trails, the lake, it is what I think of when I think of State Park campground camping in Ohio. There are a couple problems. 1. Only ONE little dump station. This is a big campground, so if you're leaving Sunday, you better get up at the crack of dawn to get to the station, otherwise be prepared to wait in a long long line of RV's. We by-passed the long line and stopped at a different State Park campground on the way home and paid 10.00 to use their dump station. 2. They never answer their phone at the campground office. I mean NEVER. If you have a question you will just have to deal with the reserveamerica people who really know nothing other than what they read on the campground website. So basically you know as much as they do. It's maddening. We will go back, but it's a 2 hour drive so it won't be anytime soon.
TravelerThis is a huge campground! I tent camped by myself--felt very safe. Happened to be next to the park host. No choice of where to locate my large tent. Showers/bathrooms were OK--older facilities. Wish this park had a laundry facility--another Ohio park I recently stayed at had a fairly new shower facility that included a laundry facility! Did not appreciate the waste management company emptying the dumpsters at 4:00 AM!!! There is a huge, lakeside beach that was just packed with people (no social distancing) and there was trash everywhere--not enough dumpsters. Near to shopping (Polaris), if you are interested. Will try to get a lakeside site next time.
LegendCowan 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. This is good if you want to meet with friends somewhat in between. It isn't too close to the highway so you don't hear the road noise as it is a few miles away but it is an easy drive to the park.
They have been revamping the Nature Center to make it more accessible to folks as they have recently added a ramp. The Nature Center actually has two buildings side by side used for different purposes. Then behind the Nature Center they have a location where several birds are located in cages. Then next to where the birds are kept you will notice a new paw print trail that is a short but informative hike.
The commissary has great pizza and ice cream. We also bought our firewood and ice from them as well. We didn't need to leave the park. We had a few trails to pick from and picked two of the shorter ones for members in our group.
The cabins have been revamped as well. They are all close to each other so if you wanted to have a family reunion or a get together this would be a great spot to do so. At the end of the main road it will lead you to the lake. You can use the dock to put your boat out (kayak and certain motor boats). Folks are fishing at the lake or simply enjoying the beauty of the lake.
The beach is simple but that is part of the charm. It is clean and we were able to swim on the hot days that we had while camping.
LegendThis was a last minute reservation and only available due to a cancellation. The campground was full for the weekend. The campground is pretty big with different types of sites. Some are smaller, close to neighbors while other have seclusion with trees. From past experience, if it rains, some of the sites do flood. We had great weather this weekend. The site we reserved had a hill right next to the passenger side/door side of your camper. If you had a big camper, it might be tight to open your slides and an awning. You most likely would not sit right outside your camper door. In fact, the fire ring is behind the site and up a small hill. We set up our ez-up in the back and out of the way, it worked for us. There was also a path that led you into the playground. Speaking of playgrounds, you will hear a lot of kids if the weather is nice. We were right across from the camp host (very nice lady) and very short walk to the bathhouse. The bathhouse had 4 flushable toilets and I think 3 showers. The showers did not have benches in the stall, only on the outside directly across. With a full campground, the bathrooms were kept very clean with the amount of people using it. We walked around and noticed a lot of bathhouses and another playground. We took a hike that led us to the lodge - it was an in and out and just under 5 miles. On our way back we stopped at the camp store which was well stocked with items you may need or not. There is a putt putt course, frisbee disc course, horse trails, dog park, nature center, golf course and more trails nearby. There are plenty of things to do if you like to keep busy or are trying to keep kids entertained. (The bees and stinkbugs were out and about while we were there.)
TravelerI've stayed here in the past and Cowan Lake does not disappoint. The B site campground is all non-electric tent camping, and far enough away from the larger RV pads that it's a quiet little campsite! Also, these sites are super close to the bathrooms on the beach, which were very clean during our stay. I was incredibly impressed, because the beach gets pretty busy during the day. The beach itself was clean (for a lakeside beach- there are geese, it's Ohio) and the lake was gorgeous! I will say, the only MILD annoyance is that some of the other campers would drive to the parking lot in front of our campsite and park there into the evening hours to fish or head down to the docks. I'm an early riser, so the headlights and car doors slamming were mildly annoying after about 10p. Not enough to make me choose a different campsite, but worth noting. We rented a tandem kayak and explored the lake, and the equipment was all in good condition. The Commisary is pretty limited but they do have a small kitchen and ice cream, as well as the basics like firewood and ice, as well as the boat rentals. Overall, one of my favorite lakeside campgrounds!
LegendThis state park spans over 2,000 acres and is just north of the cute Ohio town of Delaware. We stayed here for two nights while visiting friends in the area but wished we would have stayed to enjoy all that the park had to offer. The campground was really nice and quiet when we stayed there which was during the week and in the spring and not very crowded. We can imagine that this park is pretty full in the summer with all their amenities and close proximity to major Ohio cities.
The 'pod' layout of the campground made for large campsites (some sites are over 90 feet in length and well suited for large RV’s) with good separation between sites. There are 212 sites that have 50 amp electric. The campground also has yurts for rent (May through October) that are furnished with beds, table and chairs, a cooler, ceiling fan, outdoor charcoal grill and a picnic table with canopy. This is a great option for those wanting to stay in something more than a tent but don’t have an RV.
There is no sewer or water at individual sites but there is a dump station and water fill station near the park entrance. Roads and campsites are paved with grassy patios that feature picnic tables and fire pits. The park does not provide wifi but our Verizon hotspot and 4G phone worked well. There are centrally located bath/shower houses with coin-operated laundry facilities.
The park is open year-round and great for outdoor activities; especially, those that are water-related. There are numerous boat launches, fully equipped marina, and swimming area. We launched our kayaks and had a great time paddling around the lake. Be aware that there is no horsepower limits for boats on the lake and weekends are very popular for anglers in high-powered bass boats. The northern portion of the lake is a “no wake zone” which makes for a more pleasant paddling environment. If you don’t have a boat, boat rentals are available at the marina.
For those wanting to hike there are plenty of hiking/biking trails for you to get out and explore the park. Many of the trails link together so you can decide how long you want to hike. The Lakeview Trail was perfect for us as our dog loved jumping in the water during our hike. Other amenities in the park include a nature center, 18-hole disk golf, hunting, archery, volleyball, horse shoe pits, picnic areas, and an 800-foot designated swimming area. At the camp store/office you can rent bikes as well as other sporting equipment.
If you decide to venture out of the park you are only about 40 miles from downtown Columbus and less than 20 miles to the world-renowned Columbus Zoo (which is definitely worth a visit). The nearby town of Delaware is really nice with downtown shopping, restaurants, a historic theater and brewery (Stass Brewing Company has great Belgian-style beer with a fun atmosphere).
Would definitely camp here again if we were in the area.
GuideSimple and safe... Fifteen reservable sites via online or phone. Equestrians, mountain bikers, and hikers seem to use this park often. Although no utilities... there is a shelter, restroom and trash recepticle. Campfires are permissible. Hiking trails head off from this park that cover many miles. A steep hike up Sugar Loaf will wake you up in the morning.
RangerDelaware State Park is a gem in the Ohio state park system. What is amazing to us is how few people seem to know it exists! this state park is only 15 to 20 minutes away from Alum Creek State Park and yet there are virtually no crowds at all. The park is very large and the campground is adjacent to Delaware Lake, a reservoir a few miles north of the small town of Delaware. The lake offers boating with unlimited horsepower but it seems most of the boats on the lake were either fishing boats or kayaks. There is a very nice swimming beach, a beautiful marina with a full service store and two very good disc golf courses. There is also a youth fishing pond for the youngsters and plenty of hiking trails throughout the park. The campsites all have asphalt pads and are quite spacious; all are electric only as far as we could tell. The biggest con is also this park’s greatest pro and that is the campground requires a long drive to get to it - but that makes it feel more “out there.” The town of Delaware has a very vibrant downtown with lots of quality local restaurants and bars plus grocery stores and fuel to keep you well stocked for your camping trip. Highly recommended!
London, Ohio sits at approximately 1,100 feet elevation in the Till Plains region, characterized by gently rolling terrain formed by glacial activity. The area experiences four distinct seasons with humid summers averaging 85°F and winters that can drop below 20°F. Camping facilities near London typically remain open year-round, though water access at many sites is winterized from November through March.
Disc golf excursions: Sycamore State Park Campground features a challenging disc golf course with varied terrain. "The park has such a variety of things to do. There's a great disc golf course, really nice trails to hike with challenging hills and nice areas with shelters for grilling and parties and such," notes Heidi G.
Fishing opportunities: Kiser Lake State Park offers fishing in a motor-free lake environment, creating peaceful conditions for anglers. "Super quiet, good fishing," reports Buck B. The lake is particularly known for bass and panfish, with shoreline access available directly from waterfront campsites.
Mountain biking trails: Great Seal State Park provides challenging terrain for mountain bikers looking for Appalachian foothills experiences. "Equestrians, mountain bikers, and hikers seem to use this park often," explains Michael L. The Sugar Loaf trail offers particularly steep climbs with technical sections suitable for intermediate to advanced riders.
Private wooded sites: Delaware State Park Campground, located about 35 miles from London, offers secluded camping spots with natural separation. "The best thing about this campground is the fact that all the sites have privacy," writes Maddy B., who visited in early October. The campground features four separate loops with bathroom facilities centrally located in each section.
Lake access for non-motorized boats: At Buck Creek State Park Campground, visitors appreciate the dedicated boat access points. "We also used the camper beach but to the left of it to launch our kayaks. Which was nice because you could back up to the pathway and park. Then drag your kayak down a short trail to the water," shares Melissa M.
Level camping pads: Alum Creek State Park Campground provides well-designed sites with proper drainage. "The camp sites are spacious and private, surrounded by trees and brush," reports Catherine. Sites in loop M offer particularly good access to trails and facilities, though campers should note that this loop can flood during heavy rain.
Limited equestrian camping facilities: For those seeking equestrian camping near London, Ohio, specialized facilities are scarce. Delaware State Park allows horses on designated trails but requires portable containment systems. "The dog part was quite muddy and actually closed while we were there and we were a bit disappointed by that but there was plenty of space to walk the pups," notes Marshall P., indicating variable trail conditions that would affect horse riders as well.
Seasonal closures: Most campgrounds in the region limit water access during winter months. At Kiser Lake State Park, "Due to off season and COVID the camp store is closed and there is no camper host or park office staff around," reports Andrea F., highlighting reduced services outside peak season.
Trail markings can be inconsistent: When planning hiking or riding excursions, be prepared for navigation challenges. "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," warns Andrea F. about Kiser Lake.
Playground access: Buck Creek State Park Campground offers multiple play areas for children. "My sons love camping here for the trails and large areas to ride their bikes," says Buck B. The campground features multiple playgrounds distributed throughout the camping loops.
Scheduled activities: Cowan Lake State Park Campground runs organized programs for younger visitors. "They do things with kids on many weekends," mentions Aaliya B. Summer weekends typically include nature programs, movie nights, and seasonal celebrations.
Swimming options: Multiple beaches are available at Buck Creek, as Leon H. explains: "There are two swimming beaches, the public one and one in the campground. The campground one is smaller, a short hike to get to it." The campground beach tends to be less crowded but offers fewer amenities than the main public beach.
Leveling considerations: Cowan Lake State Park Campground offers well-maintained pads. "The asphalt pad was decently level; a picnic table and fire ring were included," reports Kim H., who stayed in Site 78. Sites in the outer loops tend to have better positioning for larger rigs.
Electrical service: Many campgrounds near London offer reliable power for extended stays. "Internet here on t-moble 5G home is 90Mbps down and 6 to 20Mbps up. Verizon on cellphone, only 10Mbs down, 1-3Mbps up," notes Johnothan R. at Cowan Lake State Park, providing useful connectivity information for remote workers.
Limited full hookup availability: Most campgrounds provide electric-only sites with centralized water and dump stations. "Has water to fill tanks and Dumping Stations to empty as needed, so great semi-boondocking," adds Johnothan R. about Cowan Lake's facilities, indicating campers should plan for partial hookup camping in most locations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near London, OH?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near London, OH is Buck Creek State Park Campground with a 4.4-star rating from 32 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near London, OH?
TheDyrt.com has all 9 equestrian camping locations near London, OH, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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