Rustic Knolls Campground maintains well-maintained, pet-friendly sites with spacious tent and RV camping options near Centerburg, Ohio. The family campground permits dogs throughout the property with standard leash requirements. Cardinal Center Campground and Sunbury/Columbus North KOA Holiday also welcome pets with designated pet areas and full hookup sites. Pets are allowed at all reviewed campgrounds in the area, providing diverse accommodation options from primitive tent sites to RV spots with 50-amp service and pet-friendly cabins. Dogs enjoy ample space at campsites without feeling crowded near neighbors. Sites typically include picnic tables and fire rings, though some outer sites at Cardinal Center may require campers to create their own fire rings using available rocks.
Off-leash dog trails at Berkshire Campgrounds provide excellent opportunities for pets to run freely in designated wooded areas, a feature particularly appreciated by pet owners who find restrictive pet areas at other parks challenging. The campground features a small lake with well-groomed trails specifically designed for dogs to explore. Most campgrounds in the area maintain clean facilities with accessible pet waste disposal stations. Rustic Knolls offers a swimming pond with inflatable attractions perfect for family recreation, while keeping pets in designated areas. Several campgrounds remain open year-round, including Berkshire and Cardinal Center, allowing for pet-friendly camping regardless of season. The quiet, remote setting of Rustic Knolls Campground, located down a gravel road well off the beaten path, provides a peaceful environment for pets and their owners seeking a relaxing outdoor experience.
$23 - $70 / night
"This was the only park we’ve gone to this uear with both a large dog park AND a fenced in dog beach! Folks were friendly at the dog park with bunches of chairs set around like a conversation pit."
"Alum Creek State Park is a beautiful park and great campground just outside the hustle and bustle of downtown Columbus and minutes away from attractions such as the Columbus Zoo."
$39 - $40 / night
"Lots of hiking trails, stocked fishing pond for kids, disc golf, dog park and the lake itself.
Site 187 this trip.""It’s close to home, but more importantly it has great trails and wooded sites. Winter camping has several sections of the park closed, only 1 shower house open and no camp hosts or camp store."
$37 - $50 / night
"Site 29 - this was a nice site in tall pine trees and colors all around. The pad was gravel and pretty level. We had trees in our site that could be used for hammocks as well."
"This is one of the smaller campgrounds in the Ohio State Parks system but it’s a little hidden gem."
$47 - $53 / night
"Our site was on a cul de sac and was close to the pool. The sites and road were gravel. They have an indoor pool, stocked fishing pond, and an indoor clubhouse with a pool table."
"from our garden as we had way too much for just us and asked the welcome center to tell people to help themselves to what ever they wanted. we then toured the campgroundand found the stocked fishing lake"
"The campground is tucked away in a suburb of Columbus next to a soybean field, very quiet area. Only a 15-20 minute drive into town to go shopping if need be."
"This is a hugely spaced out camp with ample space to each site and great amenities for kids & dogs. Immaculate and well run. Late check in was easy, requests were honored."
$35 - $95 / night
"We stayed two nights here on our tour of Ohio. After staying in state parks, the narrow sites are close with no privacy."
"Small dog park. Normal size lots for an RV park. Super crowded on a summer weekend. All size rvs and also tent campers. Easy to find."
"Great walking trail back through the woods. Pet friendly and the bathrooms were very nice. Well....I guess we did! We are now in a search for a Diesel pusher to go full-time!"
"They have a nice walking trail, potlucks, holiday events, live entertainment and are putting in a new, bigger pool! They also redid the driveway."
"Rustic is down a gravel road, well off the beaten path, and a little more remote than the boondocks. Frank, the owner, and his team are great."
$25 - $35 / night
"Sites are around a manicured field but with a high “pollinators maze” in the middle that creates too privacy and sound barrier. Only outhouses but they were very clean."
$38 / night
"This place is huge, tons of paths for walking and exploring. Also features mini golf, volleyball, basketball, an in-ground pool and a pond."
"There is a small lake that you can walk around. They also have a path through the woods where you can let the dogs run if you choose to."
TravelerOnly weekend stays and it ends in wintertime. I’m sure it’s pretty and all, but it’s hard to find legit, free dispersed camping in Ohio! Oh well, rest stops always work for car camping.
GuideThis was the only park we’ve gone to this uear with both a large dog park AND a fenced in dog beach! Folks were friendly at the dog park with bunches of chairs set around like a conversation pit. Lots of water and dog tennis balls were available.
The dog beach was fenced so your dog can be off leash. There is even a fenced in area out in the water to keep the pooches from swimming across the Lake chasing geese.
The campground itself was quite nice and spacious. Some of the most private camping sites I’ve seen in Ohio. Shower facilities we a bit above average mad seemed to be looked after at least once a day (we were there in the off season).
IMHO, one of the nicest campgrounds in the state.
ScoutWe stayed two nights here on our tour of Ohio. After staying in state parks, the narrow sites are close with no privacy. Our pull through site was on the (inner) road, so lots of golf carts, cars and campers passing by. All pull through sites are on the road side. The site is not level and our leveling system has the front wheels off the ground. Many full time units here beautiful patios and decor. Staff is nice and friendly. Trash pickup isn’t offered and the walk to dumpster would be excessive for unfit or handicapped. We would stay again. Amenities are clean, as described and dog Park is immaculate but small.
GuideAlum Creek State Park is a beautiful park and great campground just outside the hustle and bustle of downtown Columbus and minutes away from attractions such as the Columbus Zoo.
The campground has good sized sites and is wooded throughout with clean bath houses, well maintained roads, and easy access for big rigs.
There is also a very nice dog park in the park including dog beaches with lake access for your pups to swim.
We love this campground and the beautiful lake and appreciate the easy access to local attractions, shopping, and more.
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.
Scoutgreat state park campground. There are some full hook ups but mostly just electric. They have pancake breakfast on Saturday mornings through summer and doughnuts on Sunday. Helpful camphost. There is a campground beach and boat launch. Lost of hiking paths in the campground and in the park area. A great dog park with lake entrance for the pups. tmThere is also some mountain bike trails. Plenty to do for everyone.
ScoutIn addition to having a pretty lake, lovely campsites that are spread apart nicely, clean facilities, lots of shade, boat ramps, etc.. this park is unique for it's Dog Park facility.
2 large fenced in field areas. One for small dogs, and one for large. There is enough room for several games of dog frisbee to happen at once. Then, there are 2 large fenced in areas for lake access. Balls, dog doo bags, trash bins.. all there. Lots of shade, water fountains, and plenty of running room. I can't rave about this park enough!
The only downside is there is poison ivy lacing the trail from the campsite down to the water, and the Dog Park portion is about 2 miles from the campsites.
Alum Creek State Park
Campground details
ScoutBeautiful park. There is a camper’s beach and a dog park
ScoutVery peaceful campground. There is a train track in the vicinity which every now and then you can hear.....but not bad. The lake is within walking distance from the campgrounds. Our dogs love this place especially when taken for long walks along the pavement. There is a market with great pizza nearby.
There is a nearby dog park as well.
The original check-in station burned down last year and the park has a temporary hut for check in. I hope they rebuild the check-in station and bring back the store. There are a lot of downed trees (either naturally fell or man made) which need to be cleaned up. Some sites can get flooded or become very muddy with heavy rains. The past few years have been problematic with ticks...so be vigilant.
Camping near Centerburg, Ohio offers numerous options within 20 miles of this central Ohio location. The area sits at approximately 1,200 feet elevation with generally mild summer temperatures averaging 80-85°F during peak camping season. Several campgrounds remain accessible via gravel roads, with most sites accommodating both tent and RV campers throughout the April to October season.
Water activities at Alum Creek: The campground beach provides family-friendly swimming options with shallow entry points. "We had an absolute blast at the campsite! We stayed in L and the kids loved being close to the water. The campground beach is an absolute must and we even got close to wildlife (aka some pesky raccoons)," reports Jenny C. about Alum Creek State Park Campground.
Hiking trails: Mount Gilead offers well-maintained paths suitable for all skill levels. A visitor notes, "The camp has nice trails, a fishing lake and disc golf course along with other activities. The store was closed due to Covid-19 but restrooms and showers were open," according to Julie R. at Mt Gilead State Park Campground.
Disc golf challenges: Multiple courses available with varying difficulty levels. "We stayed only one night and it was a pretty roomy site. We took a night walk with headlamps and found the disc golf course. This was laid out to be a crazy course and included repelling ropes!" shares Sarah G. about Mount Gilead.
Shooting sports: Cardinal Center provides facilities for various shooting disciplines. "We have visited the Cardinal Center several times for shooting and waterfowl events but did camp there for the first time over Thanksgiving. We practically had the park to ourselves," notes Andrea F.
Private, wooded sites: Many campgrounds offer sites separated by trees and natural barriers. "The camp sites are spacious and private, surrounded by trees and brush. Beautiful walking trails. There's also a great mountain biking trail in the vicinity," says Catherine about Alum Creek State Park Campground.
Well-maintained facilities: Clean bathrooms and shower houses receive frequent praise. "The showers were nice, you get your own shower room which was quite large. Restrooms were nice also and there was access to 'a hole in the ground' bathroom that wasn't so nice," reports Jana H. from Mount Gilead.
Year-round availability: Several campgrounds operate beyond typical camping seasons. "We have visited the Cardinal Center several times for shooting and waterfowl events but did camp there for the first time over Thanksgiving. They have a nice indoor pool and shower rooms attached," mentions Andrea F. from Cardinal Center Campground.
Fishing opportunities: Stocked ponds provide reliable fishing experiences. "They have a nice fishing pond, stocked fishing lake (catch and release) the indoor swimming pool. The camp also has some very nice cabins," notes George J.
Site layout considerations: Some campgrounds feature unusual configurations that affect privacy and setup. "Our site had a deck right behind the camping pad because the site has a descent slope. The fire pit was down the slope which was cool being out of site from walkers," reports Bobby C. about Mount Gilead.
Weather impacts: Rain can affect certain sites more than others. "Sites are nice with some sites able to boat up to them. Be careful with rainy weather, some sites have flooded in poor weather," warns Katelyn P.
Off-season limitations: Services may be restricted during shoulder seasons. "The store was closed due to Covid-19 but restrooms and showers were open," notes Julie R.
Remote locations: Some campgrounds require travel on unpaved roads. "If you are looking for a quiet little place to relax, this is it. Rustic is down a gravel road, well off the beaten path, and a little more remote than the boondocks," explains Brandon P. from Rustic Knolls Campground.
Activity scheduling: Themed weekends provide additional entertainment options. "We had an awesome time. From the activities for the kids to the nice spacious sites. We were there for the Halloween weekend and it was amazing," writes Lauri C. about Cross Creek Camping Resort.
Swimming options: Multiple pools and water features available for children. "The kids loved the swimming pools and splash pads, the awesome play ground and lots of playing in the creek," shares Amanda D. from Lazy River at Granville.
Rainy day alternatives: Indoor facilities offer backup plans when weather turns. "There was a huge thunderstorm one of the nights, where we initially retreated to our vans; but then decided to drive up to the store and got ice cream which made the kids super excited about the rain. And they let all the tent dwellers use the game room to relax in and ride out the worst of the storm," explains Amanda D.
Dog friendly options: Many campgrounds accommodate pets with specialized amenities. "This place is huge, tons of paths for walking and exploring. Our favorite part was the off leash dog trails that were a perfect place to let the pup run. We have struggled at some parks where the pet areas are very restrictive," notes Jess from Berkshire Campgrounds.
Site selection strategy: Consider noise levels when choosing locations. "I probably wouldn't select site 20 again, as it is close to the pool and the basketball court, a lot of youth noise, but understand. But a lot of people just cut through our campsite throughout the weekend," advises Scott W.
Hookup configurations: Some sites require additional equipment. "The new section (sites numbers in the 200s) have hook ups at the front of the sites so you may have to buy longer hoses," warns Ryan H.
Leveling requirements: Prepare for uneven sites at certain campgrounds. "The site is not level and our leveling system has the front wheels off the ground," reports Brenda M. about Cross Creek.
Winter camping capabilities: Full hookup sites with seasonal availability exist at dog friendly campgrounds near Centerburg. "We camped here off season and really enjoyed it. Our site was on a cul de sac and was close to the pool. The sites and road were gravel," explains Renee L.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Centerburg, OH?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Centerburg, OH is Alum Creek State Park Campground with a 4.4-star rating from 80 reviews.
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TheDyrt.com has all 78 dog-friendly camping locations near Centerburg, OH, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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