Stonelick State Park Campground offers quiet, wooded campsites about 30 minutes from Maineville, Ohio. The campground sits at approximately 900 feet elevation in the rolling hills of southwestern Ohio, with seasonal operation from April through October. Several glamping accommodations near Maineville feature direct access to three major water bodies: Stonelick Lake, Cowan Lake, and the Little Miami River.
What to do
Fishing at Stonelick Lake: The lake provides excellent fishing opportunities for bluegill and catfish. "Amazing views of the water and surrounding wooded areas. Good place to fish for bluegill and catfish," notes Lisa S. from Stonelick State Park Campground.
Paddle sports on Cowan Lake: Rent kayaks or bring your own to explore the calm waters. "The boat ramp and parking lot is easy to use and has a good layout. They do have some tent sites close to the boat ramp area and you can see the lake from those tent sites," shares Kenpocentaur K. from Cowan Lake State Park Campground.
Cycling on Little Miami Trail: Access the paved trail directly from some glamping sites. "Close to the Little Miami Bike Trail this was easy to walk on with my friend and her two little ones. The trail was paved which was a huge help for those of us who were extra short and didn't always attend to their surroundings when walking," reports Kenpocentaur K. from Morgan's Canoe and Outdoor Adventure.
Night paddling opportunities: Experience the lake after dark during full moons. "A friend and I were able to kayak on the lake the night of a Friday the 13th moon. It was beautiful," explains a visitor to Cowan Lake State Park Campground.
What campers like
Private bathroom facilities: Newer KOA accommodations feature individual bathrooms. "The bathrooms are amazing and private. The tent site we had was huge and there were actually trees for our suspended tent and hammocks," shares Brian B. from Lebanon-Cincinnati NE KOA.
Spacious sites: Many glamping locations provide ample space between accommodations. "Our site was VERY large and well maintained. The asphalt pad was decently level; a picnic table and fire ring were included," notes Kim H. from Winton Woods Campground.
Riverside locations: Several sites offer direct river access and views. "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," explains janine from Morgan's Riverside Campground & Cabins.
Nature education features: Some trails include informational displays. "I loved the informational boxes and tags that they had on the trees or plants. This is helpful if you have little ones with you or if you are like me and just like to learn about the animals/plants on the trail," shares one camper from Cowan Lake State Park.
What you should know
Seasonal considerations: Most glamping sites have limited operations. "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," cautions Craig C. about Stonelick State Park Campground.
Mixed cabin amenities: Not all glamping cabins offer the same comforts. "The cabins are not in the best of shape. Finding mouse traps and some maintenance within the cabin that should have been done was concerning with a toddler," warns Renée C. from Cowan Lake State Park Campground.
Variable site privacy: Site selection matters for privacy. "Sites of all types/pet-friendly/clean... There are plenty of shady campsites, sunny ones, electric, primitive, pet-friendly, handicapped, and pull-throughs. We love camping in the shady tree-lined areas where we have big sites for family gatherings," explains Pamela M.
Internet connectivity varies: WiFi and cell service can be unreliable. "Internet here on t-moble 5G home is 90Mbps down and 6 to 20Mbps up. Verizon on cellphone, only 10Mbs down, 1-3Mbps up. ATT cellphones are similar to Verizon," reports Johnothan R. about connectivity at Cowan Lake.
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Several campgrounds offer play equipment for children. "Nice cul-de-sac areas for groups with areas for kids to play. Ground is pretty level so bringing a bike for kids to ride on is nice. There is a playground in walking distance too," advises Renée C. about Cowan Lake State Park Campground.
Biking-friendly campgrounds: Flat terrain makes cycling possible for younger campers. "We have camped here several times in the last year. It is small enough to let my kids roam a bit on their bikes and feel comfortable not having eyes on them 24/7. Quiet and Clean," notes Jason L. from Stonelick State Park Campground.
Educational trails: Some parks feature nature education. "The park also had a lending library and walking stick lending program. I thought these were simple but memorable features for this park," shares a camper from Cowan Lake State Park Campground.
Riverside cabin safety: Keep close watch on children near water. "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," cautions a visitor to Morgan's Canoe and Outdoor Adventure.
Tips from RVers
Site selection matters: Look for level sites with adequate shade. "Despite the rain and the wind we had a great time! 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," shares Jess H. from Stonelick State Park Campground.
Dump station and water access: Most parks offer these services even without full hookups. "Has water to fill tanks and Dumping Stations to empty as needed, so great semi-boondocking," notes Johnothan R. about Cowan Lake State Park Campground.
Limited big rig access at some locations: Urban parks may accommodate larger RVs better than state parks. "Very nice campground inside the urban loop in Cincinnati. Close to everything, yet quiet and secluded camping experience. Limited number of full hook-up spots - more would make this and even better site," explains Kenneth D. about Winton Woods Campground.
Variable electric options: Check for 30-amp versus 50-amp service. "Electric site only, full service all full. A bit rough getting RV setup, but pad is fairly level, so easily setup to use slides. Site 60, 46 feet max length, ours 39," shares an RV camper about Cowan Lake State Park.
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