Best Campgrounds near Mount Sterling, OH

Campgrounds surrounding Mount Sterling, Ohio range from established state parks to privately managed camping areas, offering a variety of accommodations for outdoor enthusiasts. Deer Creek State Park Campground provides electric hookups, showers, and reservable sites for both tent and RV camping, while Deer Creek Camping Resort adds cabin and glamping options. Several additional state parks within driving distance include A.W. Marion, Buck Creek, and Hocking Hills, each offering developed campgrounds with varying amenities and natural settings. The concentration of water-based recreation opportunities distinguishes many of these camping destinations.

Access to camping facilities remains available year-round at several locations, though some state parks like A.W. Marion operate seasonally from early April through late October. Most campgrounds require reservations, particularly during summer weekends when sites fill quickly. "We made a last minute decision to camp for one night so most sites were taken. By the photo on the website Site 25 looked good," noted one visitor about Deer Creek State Park. Weather conditions can significantly impact site quality, with some campers reporting flooding issues after rainfall. The terrain varies across the region, with some campgrounds offering heavily wooded sites while others feature more open settings with limited shade.

Campers frequently mention wildlife viewing opportunities as a highlight of the region's camping experience. One visitor at Deer Creek State Park shared, "We had a lot of fun. Spot was big. Shared open space but that family stayed on their side and we stayed on ours. We had woods behind us and raccoons and even a deer came to visit us." Campsite size and privacy levels vary considerably between locations and within individual campgrounds. Some sites provide secluded settings with natural buffers, while others are better suited for social camping experiences. Water access represents a significant draw for many visitors, with fishing spots available at several campgrounds. Facilities typically include modern bathhouses with flush toilets and hot showers, though some campers note these can become busy during peak periods when campgrounds reach capacity.

Best Camping Sites Near Mount Sterling, Ohio (93)

    1. Deer Creek Camping Resort

    6 Reviews
    Mount Sterling, OH
    1 mile

    "Not only one but was using 4 buckets at a time before dumping keeping in her camper before caught dumping behind camper and trying to fit it down a small hole where the honey pots go that you are suppose"

    "The lake was pretty. Watching the herons was relaxing. The people in our section were courteous. All seemed to obey the quiet hours."

    2. A.W. Marion State Park Campground

    33 Reviews
    Circleville, OH
    22 miles
    Website
    +1 (740) 869-3124

    $21 - $25 / night

    "They had a scavenger hunt which made us really experience the nature around us, going through the woods off trail, going to the lakeside, walking around looking for different things on a list."

    "October weekends in Ohio State Park campgrounds are super popular so we weren’t able to make a reservation here. "

    3. Scioto-Grove Metro Park

    8 Reviews
    Grove City, OH
    16 miles
    Website
    +1 (614) 949-1078

    "No driving your vehicle any further than the bottom of the hill. Great location, very beautiful. Spacious in between 5 campgrounds and right next to the Scioto River."

    "Got lucky and found an opening for site 5 which was right on river and away from the busier parts of park - didn’t see a single person. Nice tent pads, campfire ring, and provided wood."

    4. Hocking Hills State Park Campground

    109 Reviews
    South Bloomingville, OH
    43 miles
    Website

    $29 - $46 / night

    "There are lots of caves, trails, camping options and activities in the area. Be careful, however, every year someone is injured or dies going off trail, often falling from a cliff."

    "If you stay away from the main roads, you might feel like you're in a smaller campground."

    5. Alum Creek State Park Campground

    80 Reviews
    Lewis Center, OH
    39 miles
    Website
    +1 (740) 548-4039

    "Happened to be next to the park host. No choice of where to locate my large tent.  Showers/bathrooms were OK--older facilities.  "

    "First off we have to say that Ohio State Park campgrounds are some of the best we’ve ever stayed in."

    6. Buck Creek State Park Campground

    33 Reviews
    Clarence J. Brown Dam and Reservoir, OH
    30 miles
    Website
    +1 (937) 322-5284

    $23 - $35 / 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."

    7. John Bryan State Park Campground

    42 Reviews
    Yellow Springs, OH
    32 miles
    Website
    +1 (937) 767-1274

    "The campsite is next to the 12 mile set of mountain bike trails.  It is a great mountain biking/camping getaway.  The trails are easy, so for all levels.  Nice camping for families.  "

    "Great place to visit has three parks in one John Bryant and Glen Helen nature preserve and Clifton Gorge are some of the best hiking trails in south west Ohio."

    8. Alton RV Park

    4 Reviews
    Galloway, OH
    17 miles
    Website
    +1 (614) 878-9127

    "Not a sightseeing destination, but very convenient place to stop for the night if you’re on a road trip doing a lot of driving. Safe neighborhood with a kroger right down the street."

    9. Alder Farm

    1 Review
    Lockbourne, OH
    15 miles
    Website
    +1 (614) 414-2029

    $30 / night

    10. Caesar Creek State Park Campground

    52 Reviews
    Arkansas River - Pool 5, AR
    40 miles
    Website
    +1 (937) 488-4595

    $17 - $75 / night

    "There is a little store, but note that the firewood is in huge, unburnable pieces, (as most Ohio state park firewood is), so you'll need tons of kindling and several firestarters, or an ax and some way"

    "We stayed in Site 12, which was huge and conveniently located close to a fairly new shower house. That facility was among the very best I've seen! Amazingly clean!"

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Recent Reviews near Mount Sterling, OH

796 Reviews of 93 Mount Sterling Campgrounds


  • Angie F.
    Oct. 12, 2025

    Palmerosa Horse & Hike Campground

    Picturesque Hocking HIlls retreat

    While we are not horsemen, my husband and I so enjoyed our stay at this remote and picturesque campground. The property reflects great pride and financial investment: nicely-appointed and immaculate bathroom facilities; well-spaced campsites; classy equine stalls; and accommodating service second to none. Highly recommended!

  • Byron S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 4, 2025

    Wright-Patterson FamCamp

    Nice RV park

    The sites are paved and level, had full hook ups, WIFI, cellular, shower house. Surprisingly it was not noisy being near the flight line. The site is clean and well maintained. There is a lot to do and visit on and off post. Unfortunately the Air Museum was closed because of the budget shut down but all other services were available (commissary, BX, etc). I would recommend staying here if you are active duty or Veteran.

  • Shelby I.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 29, 2025

    Rocky Fork State Park Campground

    A place to sleep

    Camp sites are very tightly packed together and feels like I'm in someone's backyard that is having trouble growing grass.

  • J
    Sep. 7, 2025

    Delaware State Park Campground

    Great peaceful campground

    This is our second time coming here really enjoy this place it's typically more of a quiet relaxed camp there is a playground in each of the 4 sections for kids to play with a remodel shower house at each one. Att works good here verizion not so much but at night when people are sleeping verizion gets a little better.

  • Lisa M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 4, 2025

    Alum Creek State Park Campground

    Nice park but some traffic noise

    Spent three nights here while we were visiting friends in Lewis Center. We stayed in F09 and it was a great spot. Lots of protection on both sides so it was very secluded. And close to the shower house. Only reason I didn’t give this five stars was there was still quite a bit of traffic noise around the park that you could hear. Some nice hiking trails as well. Campsite was nice and level. Showers were super clean and awesome water pressure.

  • Lisa M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 30, 2025

    Buck Creek State Park Campground

    Quiet park with level spaces

    This park was pretty packed over Labor Day weekend, but it still felt like it wasn’t super crowded. Our space was nice and level. Nice hiking trails in the area. Showers were very nice and clean. Several water spickets throughout the park if you needed to access them. It was a bit of a drive back into the campground, probably 3 1/2 miles.

  • Joe B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 25, 2025

    Campbell Cove Camping

    Nice campground

    We stayed at site 63 , on the water. Big site, water view and plenty of space. The road across the lake has an uphill section and people like to race up it. Trucks, motorcycles and cars. Really loud. I know the campground doesn’t control the road, so it’s just a note about the noise. The site is amazing, and I would come back.

  • Evan C.
    Aug. 18, 2025

    Rocky Fork State Park Campground

    Fine tenting, poorly kept

    8/13/2025

    Got here after dark, but navigated to a pretty secluded loop that's just for tenting (site 61 - see map). Stakes went in fine. Seemed to be a lot of different types of spiders, which was cool to see and even cooler that they didn't bug me. Less cool - the site wasn't very clean - bits of trash that a park attendant/ranger definitely should've been picking up. Moreover, there were stray cats living in that section (I saw three), which were very cute but I'm sure they're not living their best life and the wildlife probably don't appreciate them being around either. I called later to let the park know (nobody was around during my stay) and they said they'd get maintenance on it. If you stay here and see them, I'd urge you to let the park know again, or maybe call animal control.

  • JThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 16, 2025

    Cross Creek Camping Resort

    A Very Pleasant and Quiet Campground

    This campground is clean and we'll maintained. They have a pool, and activities on the weekends. Must sure have a tree and grass with fire pits and a table.


Guide to Mount Sterling

Camping near Mount Sterling, Ohio provides access to a mix of state parks and private campgrounds across central Ohio's terrain. The area sits within Ohio's Till Plains region at approximately 900 feet elevation, characterized by gently rolling landscapes. Seasonal camping conditions vary significantly, with summer temperatures typically reaching 80-90°F and moderate humidity levels affecting comfort at non-electric sites.

What to do

Fossil hunting at Caesar Creek: Visitors can collect fossils with a permit at designated areas. "There is a nice lake, good hiking, close to waynseville. Family friendly, good nature center and ability to look for fossils," notes a camper at Caesar Creek State Park Campground.

Mountain biking on dedicated trails: Several parks offer mountain biking opportunities on maintained trail systems. One visitor at Alum Creek State Park Campground mentioned "There's also a great mountain biking trail in the vicinity," making it ideal for combining camping with cycling activities.

Disc golf courses: Play a round at the established courses within some park systems. A camper who visited John Bryan State Park Campground reported "There is a disc golf course lots of mountain bike trails and hiking trails! As well as some other great amenities."

Backpacking for beginners: Test backpacking skills on shorter trails designed for new hikers. At Scioto Grove Metro Park, a reviewer explained "The backpacking site was a great site for new backpackers. It isn't too long but doing the full loop does let you know if your gear is working or going to be an issue."

What campers like

Private tent camping areas: Some parks offer secluded tent-only sections apart from RV areas. A visitor at A.W. Marion State Park Campground shared "This was our second weekend in a row at this campground. While we were here the weekend before, we decided that we wanted to camp on site #9. This site is probably the biggest in the primitive section."

Walkable trail access: Campers appreciate sites with direct trail connections. At Buck Creek State Park Campground, visitors find "easy walk to fish or to campers beach... my sons love camping here for the trails and large areas to ride their bikes."

Community activities: Organized events enhance the camping experience. One Buck Creek State Park visitor noted, "Camp host on I think lot 71 or there about were great at keeping the activities going. Every night there was a movie and you could buy root beer floats for $1!! And the kids loved it."

Level parking pads: Properly graded sites simplify setup. A camper at Deer Creek Camping Resort commented "We stayed two nights in #184. Our site was HUGE! The pad was very level, so setting up the TT was quick and easy."

What you should know

Seasonal bathroom limitations: Winter camping comes with reduced facilities. As one A.W. Marion camper explained, "Only electric and vault toilets are available in the winter. You might scrunch your nose about the vault toilet, but they were kept very clean."

Water access points: Locations for filling water tanks are inconsistently placed. A reviewer at Deer Creek Camping Resort noted "The only negative was the lack of a central fresh water fill station. Spigots are dispersed throughout the camp, which means sitting in the road for as long as it takes to fill your tank."

Reservation systems: Some parks operate differently in off-seasons. "You register on your own in the winter and it's walk-ins only at this time," explained an A.W. Marion camper about winter camping protocols.

Site privacy varies: Open fields versus wooded sites affect the camping experience. A John Bryan camper mentioned "We were very disappointed with the campground. They had cut down the few trees that were there, and there was no sense of privacy or feeling of seclusion. You literally camped on top of each other."

Tips for camping with families

Playground proximity: Sites near play areas offer convenience but come with trade-offs. At A.W. Marion, a camper advised about site 41: "It has shade almost all day and it only has a camper on one side plus is close to the bathroom. There is a path to the playground which the occasional kid will run down into your campsite by accident."

Swimming options: Some campgrounds offer multiple swimming locations. At Buck Creek, "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."

Kid-friendly scheduled events: Check for organized activities during summer months. At Hocking Hills State Park Campground, "The rangers and naturalists have many activities going on and are very knowledgeable."

Campground quiet hours: Most parks enforce noise restrictions. One Buck Creek visitor noted, "The campground was quiet by 10pm every night we were there and most people seemed to be in bed early."

Tips from RVers

Site leveling challenges: Check site descriptions for leveling information. A camper at Hocking Hills mentioned "Ironically, we stayed at the worst campsite there, it was downslope, and they had recently cut down many trees and the site was a muddy mess. Every single other campsite (and we drove the whole thing) they were perfect."

Weather impact on sites: Rain can significantly affect site conditions. One A.W. Marion visitor advised about timing: "A cold but sunny weekend in February at site #32. No other campers there for the weekend, but a lot of foot traffic."

Long-term reservation strategies: Some prime spots require advance planning. According to an Alum Creek camper, "From what I've been told you might be able to get into one [lakefront site] if you book the whole season a year in advance."

Campground rules enforcement: Management styles vary significantly between parks. A visitor at Alton RV Park noted "This is a small, maybe 35 sites, clean well maintained campground. The owners have rules and they DO enforce 'em. (They will guide you to your spot and likely oversee your parking and check set up.)"

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular campground near Mount Sterling, OH?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Mount Sterling, OH is Deer Creek Camping Resort with a 3.8-star rating from 6 reviews.

What parks are near Mount Sterling, OH?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 15 parks near Mount Sterling, OH that allow camping, notably Deer Creek Lake and Clarence J. Brown Dam and Reservoir.