RV campgrounds near New Albany, Ohio offer camping options within 30-45 minutes of the city. Located in central Ohio with elevations between 950-1,100 feet, the area experiences hot summers with daytime temperatures reaching 85-90°F and cool nights around 60-65°F. Most campgrounds in this region operate between April and October, with limited wintertime accommodations.
What to do
Fishing opportunities: Kokosing River Campground provides access to a lake with abundant waterfowl. "Beautiful lake, nice a quiet. Lots of waterfowl," reports camper Shelly S., who visited in September when the campground wasn't crowded.
Floating and paddling: Tubing and kayaking are popular at Hocking River RV Park, which sits directly on the river. "This small and cost effective campground is so awesome! The river is small and is perfect to have a fire right next to. We also just went up the highway a little to a rafting rental place called murrys landing to raft down the river," says Aysia C.
Swimming options: Several campgrounds maintain dedicated swimming areas during summer months. Jackson Lake Park features a swimming pond and arcade for kids, though one camper noted the pool may not always be operational: "I was pretty impressed with the park. Lots of fun for kids with the swimming pond and arcade."
What campers like
Spacious sites: Lazy River at Granville maintains larger campsites, particularly in creek-side locations. According to Libby W., "This is a small, family owned campground that is perfect for families with kids of all ages! Beautiful creek that runs along side some nice deep sites!"
Recreational variety: Multiple campgrounds offer diverse activity options. "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," writes Amanda D. about Lazy River at Granville.
Riverside camping: Waterfront sites are available at several campgrounds. One reviewer at River Trail Crossing noted, "We reserved spot 32, farthest site to the right on the river. We loved it. The river was only about knee to hip deep. Most family's floated with tubes and saw some kayaks."
What you should know
Bathroom facilities: Quality varies significantly between campgrounds. At Jackson Lake Park, a camper reported: "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) and the bathrooms they did have only typically had one working stall."
Site proximity: Some campgrounds have tightly spaced sites. At Alton RV Park, a camper observed, "Sites are close but we had plenty of room for what we needed. We could have put out awnings if we had wanted to."
Management styles: Campground rules and enforcement vary considerably. "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.) as a result it is quiet, grass all in good shape, etc," noted Sharon J. about Alton RV Park.
Tips for camping with families
Water activities: Tomorrow's Stars RV Resort provides family-friendly amenities. "Fun location just off the highway. Perfect for a family, has swimming pool, putt putt, and other child friendly activities... also has small fishing pond," states Buck B.
Seasonal activities: Many RV campgrounds near New Albany schedule themed events during peak season. At Lazy River at Granville, one camper noted, "The kids stayed entertained with all of the themed events that took place."
Activity centers: Multiple campgrounds maintain indoor recreation spaces for rainy days. At Jackson Lake Park, a visitor mentioned, "There was a great arcade room for hanging out," though they expressed concerns about cleanliness elsewhere in the facility.
Tips from RVers
Site selection: When booking at River Trail Crossing, understand the campground layout. "State route 95 runs to the right of the campsite so if you reserve any sites on the river (right side) you will have some traffic noise from the bridge," advises a camper who stayed at site 32.
Utility connections: Some campgrounds have unusual hookup placements. At Jackson Lake Park, a camper observed, "We appreciated the full hook-ups and pull through site. The staff came through every morning to pick up the trash. But, the water hook ups were accessible through a hole/pipe and we had to 'fish' down to connect our hose."
Level sites: Not all RV pads are perfectly level. "There are a few sites are unlevel so you may need to use your levelers and maybe some blocks, we did," notes Gary G. about Sunbury/Columbus North KOA.
