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Van Buren State Park Campground offers equestrian facilities with recently built horse pens where visitors can keep their horses instead of tying them up. The campground contains two loops of sites, one designated specifically for equestrian use. Most sites provide electric hookups, and the campground features centralized well water and clean pit toilets. The park is easily accessible from I-75 and accommodates tent camping, RVs, and horses. Sites are level, shaded, and situated on flat terrain. The camp host is noted for being friendly and helpful. RV campers should be aware that the sanitary dump station is located in a separate area of the park.
Numerous trails throughout Van Buren State Park provide opportunities for horseback riding. The park maintains a separate equestrian camping section with designated horse facilities. Trails are suitable for riders of various skill levels, with terrain described as simple enough for beginners. The park requires reservations for camping, which can be made online or by phone. Some equestrian campers note that the horse pens are a significant improvement from previous years. The park is open year-round, making it accessible for winter trail riding. The campground remains well-maintained with staff keeping the grounds clean and facilities in good condition. Visitors will find a playground near the camping area and firewood available for purchase at the check-in cabin.
"Since Van Buren State park is an easy 20 minutes away from home for me, i visit there often. it is clean and quiet, they dont get too busy and loud."
"It’s a small campground with one side as equestrian and the other side not. All sites had electric and water, no full hookup. There were only drop toilets and no showers."
from $35 / night
Check Availability"Friendly staff, clean park, close to supermarkets and other food locations. RV repair and sales nearby. I got lucky and woke up to a horse and dog competition at no extra cost to me."
"Nice campgrounds easy to get around and my children loved it"
TravelerFriendly staff, clean park, close to supermarkets and other food locations. RV repair and sales nearby. I got lucky and woke up to a horse and dog competition at no extra cost to me.
ScoutSince Van Buren State park is an easy 20 minutes away from home for me, i visit there often. it is clean and quiet, they dont get too busy and loud. the horse camp is nice with some new pens to keep your horse instead of them having to be tied up. They keep the restrooms clean, but no flush toilets, which dont bother me. My only complaint about Van Buren State park is that there are no shower facilities.
LegendThis is a typical fairground campground with open grassy areas for campsites surrounded by barns and tracks. The fairgrounds is located just off I-94 which makes for easy entrance and exit to the campground, but, means there is lots of road noise. Close by are plenty of stores, restaurants, gas stations, etc. In fact, there is a gap in the fence that runs around the fairgrounds allowing you to walk to a Walmart, McDonalds, Dunkin Donuts, and more.
We arrived without a reservation and the women in the office was very helpful providing a map with all available sites during our stay and letting us choose which one we wanted. One of the first things you notice is that a number of people are here long-term so we went to the back area hoping it would be quieter and less crowded. A number of the campsites are “buddy” sites meaning your patio opens to your neighbors so be careful which one you pick. This is pretty undesirable when the neighbor is a total stranger so we chose a site where we didn’t have anyone next to us.
They offer 50 amp full hook-up sites, 50 amp/water, and 30 amp/water sites with pull-thru and back-in options. There is a dump station located in the middle of the park which is easy to get to. The roads are wide and a lack of trees makes this campground accessible for any size RV. The sites are level but some lack grassy making the patio pretty dusty or muddy. Unfortunately, where we were was pretty muddy just after a light rain. This campground works best for RV’s and not tents. For tenters there is a designated section that is set in a corner of the park with large trees for shade but not much privacy between you and others. A water spigot is in the tent area and there was one picnic table. The camp office sells firewood but we only saw two fire pits in the whole park. Be aware that noise from the interstate and nearby train tracks may make for a restless night. Bathrooms are centrally located in the campground and were old and tired but relatively clean. On-site laundry is available.
Apparently, management is having some issues with campers not obeying some of the rules. One of the sad things about this campground is that campers have to be reminded to clean up after their dogs. Apparently, it is such an issue that we got a letter stating that if you don’t pick up your dogs poop you would be asked to leave. How sad is that? There is free WiFi which worked pretty well. Upon checking in, we had to sign a piece of paper stating that we would not download copyrighted material or stream movies or we would be asked to leave.
My favorite aspect of this campground is that they had a community garden that you were welcome to pick from. We got tomatoes, Swiss chard, peppers, broccoli, and more. Overall, this campground was fine for the few nights we were here and close to the attractions we wanted to visit. We never felt unsafe even though it was close to major cities. We chose this campground because we wanted to go to Ann Arbor and Dearborn and it was a very convenient location.
Pros:
· Good location if you want to visit Ann Arbor and Dearborn
· Close to interstate for easy access
· Long, level sites that will fit any RV
· Community garden you can pick from vegetables
· Stores and restaurants are nearby (some within walking distance)
Cons:
· Lots of road noise from I-94
· No trees for shade or privacy
· Would not recommend for tent camping
· Many campers are long-term
· “Buddy” campsites with patios facing each other
LegendWe stayed one night on our way to IN. We’ve never been here before and wanted to check it off our list. It’s a small campground with one side as equestrian and the other side not. All sites had electric and water, no full hookup. There were only drop toilets and no showers. They were clean but I don’t think I’d want to do more than a weekend there. It had a nice playground for kids and plenty of trails to hike or go horseback riding. They also had a dog park and small wildflower garden. The check in cabin had ice and wood for sale but no store. Our site was really nice. The pads were recently paved and had a huge bumper at the end. The fire ring was nice and the site had plenty of space for tents.
TravelerWe stayed during the week for one night. Campground was clean and quiet, had electric hookups at most sites. Host was very friendly. They also have a camp area for horses. Only criticism is you have to drive to another area of the park for an RV dump.
TravelerCampground is small but well maintained. Hiking is great. Probably better for people with horses. Electric did not work at all sites. Pit toilets did not seem sufficient for all camp sites.
RangerVan Buren State Park is very easy to access from I-75. It has tons of trails and a pond. There are a few places to car camp or RV camp nearby. I love getting out of town and visiting Van Buren State Park, and I have lots of good memories. It gets 4 stars because I now live in Montana and Montana camping outshines Ohio, but I can't bash on Van Buren State Park at all.
TravelerVery nice, clean, people and staff very friendly. You must reserve a spot by phone or online only, no walk ins. I made my reservation while standing at the visitor cabin
TravelerTried it for the first time. It was quiet and relaxing. The camp host was nice and friendly. Kids loved having the playground so close to the camper. Will be back soon.
Van Buren State Park Campground near Northwood, Ohio provides specialized facilities for equestrian camping and trail riding. The park features recently renovated horse pens alongside camping areas designed specifically for visitors traveling with horses. Located in northwest Ohio with flat terrain throughout most of the park, this destination maintains clean facilities and offers year-round access for both casual campers and equestrian enthusiasts.
Trail riding opportunities: Van Buren State Park offers numerous trails suitable for beginning riders with simple terrain. "I came cross country skiing here in early January and it was absolutely amazing. It is cold but the terrain is simple for first time skiers," notes Kevin T. about Van Buren State Park Campground.
Winter activities: The park remains open during colder months, making it ideal for winter outdoor recreation. The relatively flat landscape provides excellent conditions for cross-country skiing when snow-covered. Lindsay B. mentions, "Van Buren State Park is very easy to access from I-75. It has tons of trails and a pond. There are a few places to car camp or RV camp nearby."
Playground access: Families appreciate the recreational facilities available within the campground. "Kids loved having the playground so close to the camper," shares Scott F., highlighting the convenient layout for families with children at Van Buren State Park.
Quiet atmosphere: Many visitors note the peaceful environment at Van Buren, making it ideal for relaxation. "We stayed during the week for one night. Campground was clean and quiet, had electric hookups at most sites. Host was very friendly," according to Nicole G. about Van Buren State Park Campground.
Level camping sites: The park's terrain provides comfortable camping conditions with flat, shaded sites. As Joseph N. describes, "I love this place. Its a smaller campground with only two loops of sites, but its flat, shaded, and comfortable. No showers, but clean and sturdy pit toilets with centralized well water."
Campground layout: The park features distinct camping sections with sites appropriate for different camping styles. "Some of the sites are small so you have to be careful which you site you reserve if you're a tent camper. The outside of the circle is your best bet and there's a few scattered in the middle," advises Brendan V.
Bathroom facilities: Van Buren operates with pit toilets rather than flush facilities, and lacks shower buildings. "They keep the restrooms clean, but no flush toilets, which dont bother me. My only complaint about Van Buren State park is that there are no shower facilities," explains Angie B.
Reservation requirements: The park requires advance booking for campsites, particularly important during peak seasons and for the specialized equestrian camping areas. "Our plans were changed so we lost our reservation. However they let us stay for free at the back of the campground. No power or anything. But it was nice of them to help us out," shares Monica S. about her experience at Van Buren State Park Campground.
Seasonal considerations: While open year-round, winter visitors should prepare for cold conditions and potentially limited facilities. The park's accessibility makes it popular for winter activities despite seasonal challenges.
Playground proximity: When camping with children, select sites near the central playground area for convenience. "If you can get a good middle spot it's nice if you have kids since there's a playground, swings, basketball, and tether court," recommends Brendan V. from Van Buren State Park Campground.
Site selection strategy: Families should consider site location carefully based on their equipment. Shannon G. notes, "Our site was really nice. The pads were recently paved and had a huge bumper at the end. The fire ring was nice and the site had plenty of space for tents."
Noise considerations: Some campers mention occasional road noise, which might affect light sleepers or young children. Sites further from the park entrance typically offer a quieter experience with reduced traffic sounds.
Electric hookup verification: RVers should confirm their site's electrical service is functioning properly upon arrival. Alysha W. cautions, "Electric did not work at all sites. Pit toilets did not seem sufficient for all camp sites."
Sanitation planning: RV campers need to plan for using the dump station, which requires a separate trip within the park. "Only criticism is you have to drive to another area of the park for an RV dump," mentions Nicole G. about Wayne County Fairgrounds RV Park, highlighting a common consideration for area campgrounds.
Supply availability: The check-in cabin sells firewood and ice, but there's no full camp store. Shannon G. notes, "The check in cabin had ice and wood for sale but no store." RVers should arrive with necessary supplies or know that nearby towns offer shopping opportunities.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Northwood, OH?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Northwood, OH is Van Buren State Park Campground with a 4-star rating from 12 reviews.
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