Camping options near New Concord, Ohio extend beyond the larger state parks, with several smaller facilities offering distinct experiences across Noble, Muskingum, and Guernsey counties. The area's rolling terrain ranges from 800 to 1,200 feet elevation, creating diverse camping environments from lakeside settings to wooded hillsides. Winter temperatures regularly drop below freezing from December through February, while summer highs typically range from 80-90°F with moderate humidity.
What to do
Fishing in stocked ponds: Fish Farm Camp offers excellent fishing in their lake stocked with various species. "Beautiful lake to take a swim in, nice ground for the tent and a pleasant toilet. This is brilliant for the price, definitely recommended!" notes Axel A.
Trail exploration: Blue Rock State Park Campground offers extensive hiking options. "The hiking was wonderful, the equestrian trails looked very nice, and the fire tower was a fun climb," shares Ryan W., who visited with family.
Wildlife viewing: The camping areas around New Concord provide excellent bird and deer watching opportunities. "We drove in saw turkeys and 'turkets' and two 6 point bucks. You can hike, swim, boat, bike and horseback ride," notes Shelly S. about her experience at Salt Fork State Park.
Night sky observation: Bicentennial Campground offers minimal light pollution for stargazing. According to Greg K., the campground is "very secluded, perfect for those nature lovers looking to get away from it all. No cell service and very little light pollution at night so perfect for looking at stars."
What campers like
Waterfront camping sites: Sand Hollow Campground at Jesse Owens State Park features numerous sites adjacent to water. Greg K. explains, "Many waterfront sites, picnic tables, fire pits and bathrooms. Also a very generous amount of room for parking right on your site."
Budget-friendly options: Free camping permits at several locations offer economical alternatives to paid campgrounds. Madison S. shares about Sand Hollow: "This campground is wonderful for tents, hammocks or RV. It always has spots available and they are completely free. You have to fill out a permit online."
Clean facilities: Many campers appreciate well-maintained bathrooms and shower facilities. "Bathroom houses not a big deal, but more basic amenities elsewhere," notes Andrea H. about her stay at Dillon State Park Campground, adding that "everyone has been friendly or keeps to themselves."
Water recreation: Wolf Run State Park Campground offers a smaller, quieter lake setting. Rachel H. recommends: "Choose one of the 'premium' sites for beautiful lakeside views! It's pretty quiet and usually not busy."
What you should know
Site selection matters: Campground topography varies significantly. Jay B. advises about Wolf Run: "Would advise to visually check the sites, due to terrain which is rolling."
Facility variations: Bathroom quality differs between campgrounds and seasons. At Blue Rock State Park, Nicole C. found that "the only negative was no flush toilets, only pits and no sink to wash hands, but there was hand sanitizer at least."
Water quality concerns: Some campers report water issues at certain sites. Joey Z. warns about Sand Hollow: "From up on the hill looking down on the lake, it looked quite clear. I was excited to grab my canoe and jump in... As I was going to put my canoe into the water, I noticed some really nasty stuff in the water."
Road conditions: Access roads to campgrounds may be challenging during certain seasons. Tanner G. reports about Bicentennial, "NO water available. NO cell service (even with booster antenna). Outhouse or ports johns available."
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: National Road Campground offers family-friendly amenities. Jordan N. shares: "Nice place to stay! We enjoyed fishing as well as watching our child on the playground and splash pad!"
Activity planning: Finding campgrounds with multiple recreation options helps keep children engaged. Terry F. notes about National Road Campground: "Clean and comfortable. There are plenty of things to do. The ponds are stocked with fish and because it is private land no fishing license is required. Basketball courts and a playground."
Swimming options: Several campgrounds offer swimming areas for children. Jenny G. describes Wolfie's Campground: "Small 5ft deep pool, very nice playground. Kids and I spent many quarters playing pool in the game room, which also has a 90's Sega arcade game."
Safety considerations: Some campground water features require extra caution. Jacqueline F. observed at Salt Fork State Park: "The beach was a little dirty from the geese, but that didn't slow anyone down on swimming."
Tips from RVers
Site leveling: Many RV sites require careful positioning. Brian B. notes about Dillon State Park: "There is reasonable space between the sites to allow for some privacy and to allow you to spread out. Area C is the most secluded area. All RV sites have 50A/30A electric."
Hookup availability: Wolfie's Campground provides various hookup options but has size constraints. Steve E. explains: "The only challenge is you don't want to meet a rig going out while you're coming in. We are a 38 foot class A and met a 36' 5th wheel on the curve at the entrance. We literally passed with less than an inch between us."
Seasonal considerations: Campground accessibility varies throughout the year. Rob G. shares about Dillon State Park: "Huge park with lots of options (electric, water, etc.). Very well maintained, and showers better than the one I have at home."
Water access: Some campgrounds have limited water hookups. Dave B. from Spring Valley Campground notes: "Family oriented campground. Fairly large sites with full hookups. Good mix of seasonal and overnight. Roads in the campground are very rough with large potholes."
