Glamping in Mount Sterling, Ohio offers camping experiences at the geographic center of Ohio, approximately 25 miles southwest of Columbus. With average summer temperatures in the mid-80s and lows in the 60s, the area's rolling terrain creates natural drainage for campsites. Seasonal considerations include potential flooding in spring near Deer Creek and heavier weekend occupancy during summer months at most parks.
What to do
Fishing at Alum Creek Lake: Crappie fishing can be excellent, particularly in early spring. "Really high quality tent camping two nights. Very well run park. Great facilities," notes Greg W. about Alum Creek State Park Campground.
Visit Hocking Hills trails: About 60 minutes southeast of Mount Sterling, these trails connect to Top O' The Caves Campground. A camper shared: "This campground offers awesome views for the sunsets/sunrises, trails on the property that leads to beautiful scenery in the heart of hocking hills. You can walk to Ash Cave from your campsite! There is a connecting trail right at the front of the campground."
Disc golf courses: Several parks near Mount Sterling feature disc golf. According to a Buck Creek visitor: "A nice 'weekender' type of campground. The sites are clean and level for the most part. The reservoir provides ample opportunity for swimming, fishing and there is great space to fly a kite if that's in your book of tricks."
Hunting opportunities: For seasonal hunters, Delaware State Park provides designated hunting areas. As Michael P. notes, "What I liked most about this park is that there are hunting areas. Great pheasant hunting."
Mountain biking: Delaware State Park Campground has a dedicated trail system. Catherine mentioned, "There's also a great mountain biking trail in the vicinity. The camp sites are spacious and private, surrounded by trees and brush. Beautiful walking trails."
What campers like
Secluded tent sites: Tar Hollow offers walk-in tent camping on a hillside. "The north ridge campground is in an entirely separate area of the park than the RVs and there aren't many campsites, so in that way it feels a little more remote and secluded," reports Sydney from Tar Hollow State Park Campground.
Family activities: Jackson Lake Park features numerous recreational options. One visitor noted, "I was pretty impressed with the park. Lots of fun for kids with the swimming pond and arcade. My #1 complaint was the bathroom situation. They were VERY far from the camp area."
Camping without cell service: Some campers appreciate disconnecting. At Long's Retreat, Rocky B. shared: "Long's Retreat is the perfect place to unplug and unwind. No cell service at all which is good and bad. My wife and kids want to live there for the summer, and I sure can't argue."
Storm shelters: Safety features at some parks provide peace of mind. Marshall P. observed at Delaware State Park: "I also noticed that they had a nice storm shelter on the property that was well marked and easy to get to from any of the campground areas."
Level camping pads: Buck Creek State Park Campground offers well-maintained sites. "A nice medium size campground. Camp spots were decently sized but no cover between camp spots and little shade. Bathrooms were clean but not spotless and in need of a little repair," according to Mike & Deb L.
What you should know
Water quality varies: Some campgrounds have water treatment issues. At Tar Hollow, Jennifer R. reported: "The water spigots were well, of course, but you better let it run for a long bit! I've never seen such brown water at camp."
Bathroom distances: Several parks have bathrooms located far from certain campsites. At Jackson Lake Park, a camper mentioned: "My #1 complaint was the bathroom situation. They were VERY far from the camp area (the one in the arcade room was close but it was closed after 11pm)."
Site privacy concerns: Some campgrounds offer minimal separation between sites. At Rocky Fork, Shelby I. noted: "Camp sites are very tightly packed together and feels like I'm in someone's backyard that is having trouble growing grass."
Seasonal closures: Many amenities shut down after October. Aaron S. observed at Rocky Fork: "Not a bad place to camp but has the feel of a commercial campground. There's a distinct lack of charm. It's geared more toward those who own boats and like fishing over hiking."
Limited trail markings: Hikers should bring maps. At Tar Hollow, a reviewer cautioned: "Trails are not marked well. Thankfully we were not doing a backpacking trip. Beware if you are. We have heard some frustrating on the trail markings. Part of the Buckeye Trail runs through the park."
Tips for camping with families
Kid-friendly water features: Cowan Lake State Park Campground offers swimming and shoreline activities. Kim H. reports: "The campground was filled with parents and kids riding bikes, playing, and having fun. Nobody was out of control or obnoxious. Plenty of dogs were present."
Playground accessibility: Check distance to playgrounds when booking. "The campground is setup in a nice layout with each of the separate sections having a spoke and wheel layout with a bathhouse in the middle. Sites are roomy and we like the wooded feel," notes Marshall P. about Delaware State Park.
Arcade options: For rainy days, Top O' The Caves Campground has indoor activities. "There is a large barn with a few arcade games that the kids seemed to like. The best part about this Campground?? DOGS ARE ALLOWED!!" reports Fred J.
Weekend activities: Some parks offer organized events. Melissa M. shared about Buck Creek: "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."
Biking loops: Many campgrounds have bike-friendly paths. At Buck Creek, Jason M. observed: "The sites are clean and level for the most part. I recommend taking one on the outside of the loop - near the trees. A nice 'weekender' type of campground."
Tips from RVers
Water hookup challenges: Some parks have unusual hookup designs. Chris C. noted at Jackson Lake Park: "We appreciated the full hook-ups and pull through site. But, the water hook ups were accessible through a hole/pipe and we had to 'fish' down to connect our hose."
Limited dump stations: Plan ahead for sanitation. Kimberly B. cautioned about one resort: "They do nothing to the lots. And have a half ass dump station (hole)."
Pull-through availability: At Long's Retreat Family Resort, Dustin C. advised: "Great place to bring your kids lots of activities for them. Rv sites could use some solid level pads to set up your rv on the place can get muddy fast bring your 4x4."
Electric reliability: Most parks offer 30-amp service, but some provide 50-amp. At Cowan Lake, Johnothan R. mentioned: "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."
Cell service variations: Coverage differs significantly between parks. Jarrod M. at Rocky Fork reported: "This is a very nice campground. Nice lake, boating, playgrounds, bath houses, some full hook up sites. There are more good sites than bad. 4,5,9,10, 147-165 those were my favorites."
