Delaware State Park Campground offers furnished yurts from May through October across 2,000 acres just north of Delaware, Ohio. The campground features a pod layout with 212 electric sites, some extending over 90 feet in length to accommodate larger RVs. Most cabin options around New Albany provide year-round accommodations with varying levels of amenities depending on location, price point, and seasonal restrictions.
What to do
Fishing opportunities: Alum Creek State Park Campground features a campground beach and boat launch area specifically for campers. "There is a campground beach and boat launch. Lots of hiking paths in the campground and in the park area. A great dog park with lake entrance for the pups," notes reviewer Jill B.
Mountain biking: Trails for mountain biking exist within several parks. "Beautiful walking trails. There's also a great mountain biking trail in the vicinity," reports Catherine about Alum Creek, while Jill B. adds that "there are some mountain bike trails" that provide additional recreation options beyond hiking.
Winter activities: For off-season camping, Cardinal Center Campground maintains year-round operation with indoor amenities. "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," shares Andrea F.
What campers like
Privacy between sites: Delaware State Park Campground receives consistently positive reviews for site separation. "The best thing about this campground is the fact that all the sites have privacy," writes Maddy B., while Joshua E. explains, "They have sites that are all grass, sites with grass and woods and sites that are all woods."
Weekend activities: Many parks organize scheduled events for families. Reviewer Scott W. at Lazy River at Granville notes, "The kids stayed entertained with all of the themed events that took place," while Ryan H. confirms it's a "great park for families" with "lots for the kids to do with the pool, playground, gaga ball court, activities, etc."
Water recreation: Swimming options vary widely across parks. Ashley R. at Delaware State Park Campground observes, "We did not swim due to it being in the 60s and rainy during most of our stay but we did go look at the beach it was very clean and appears well cared for." Some campgrounds offer both traditional and alternative swimming facilities.
What you should know
Seasonal operations: Operating schedules vary significantly between parks. At Buckeye Lake-Columbus East KOA, their season runs "Apr 1 to Oct 31" while Sunbury/Columbus North KOA operates "May 1 to Nov 1." By contrast, Cross Creek Camping Resort remains open year-round.
Site conditions: Terrain and setup can present challenges. "The site is not level and our leveling system has the front wheels off the ground," reports Brenda M. about Cross Creek. Another camper notes that "sites are spaced fairly well but fully open to each other," indicating privacy varies by location.
Bathroom access: Facilities differ widely between campgrounds. At Jackson Lake Park, Jess N. explains the difficulties: "They were VERY far from the camp area (the one in the arcade room was close but it was closed after 11pm) and the bathrooms they did have only typically had one working stall."
Tips for camping with families
Look for dedicated kid activities: Sunbury/Columbus North KOA Holiday offers numerous amenities for children. "Kids aged 3-13 all had a blast in the heated pool, on the jump pad and on the zip line swing!" reports Jennifer K., who adds they "struggled to keep the kids at our site as they were constantly out and about having fun."
Check for themed weekends: Seasonal events can enhance family stays. Catherine from Cross Creek shares that "they also have themed-event weekends, which are really fun!" while Jennifer K. notes a "Christmas in July weekend, including seeing Santa" at Sunbury/Columbus North KOA.
Consider cabin spacing: Family cabins provide different layouts for larger groups. Amanda D. at Lazy River at Granville explains, "We spent a weekend here with two other families (9 kids total) and had a wonderful time! The kids loved the swimming pools and splash pads, the awesome play ground and lots of playing in the creek."
Tips from RVers
Check utility access points: Water connections can present challenges at some parks. Chris C. notes at Jackson Lake Park, "The water hook ups were accessible through a hole/pipe and we had to 'fish' down to connect our hose."
Site dimensions matter: At Cross Creek Camping Resort, an RVer advises, "Good mix of pull through and back in and is big rig friendly. Plenty to do for the kids." Malcolm adds that these are "normal size lots for an RV park" but it gets "super crowded on a summer weekend."
Check Wi-Fi availability: Internet access varies significantly between parks. One camper at Jackson Lake Park notes "the Wi-Fi was good but not free and was worth the $2/day," while at Sunbury/Columbus KOA, Gary G. reports the "best Wi-Fi I've ever had at a campground. They have Wi-Fi repeater towers everywhere you look."
