Situated in central Ohio approximately 25 miles north of Columbus, Ostrander offers campers access to multiple lakes and reservoirs across diverse terrain. The area experiences warm summers with high humidity and cold winters, making late spring through early fall the prime camping season. Campgrounds near Ostrander range from basic tent sites to elaborate glamping accommodations with varying levels of privacy and natural surroundings.
What to do
Explore disc golf courses: Buck Creek State Park Campground provides recreational options beyond water activities. "The camp sites are spacious and private, surrounded by trees and brush. Beautiful walking trails. There's also a great mountain biking trail in the vicinity," notes Catherine in her review.
Visit nearby attractions: Central Ohio offers several points of interest within driving distance of glamping sites. One camper at Alum Creek State Park Campground shares, "A great dog park with lake entrance for the pups. There is also some mountain bike trails. Plenty to do for everyone."
Enjoy water recreation: Boat rentals and launches are available at most park locations. "There are numerous boat launches, fully equipped marina, and swimming area. We launched our kayaks and had a great time paddling around the lake," writes a visitor at Delaware State Park.
What campers like
Spacious, private sites: Many campgrounds feature wooded sites with good separation between neighbors. A guest at Delaware State Park Campground mentioned, "We had a site that was set back in the woods. My daughter had tons of fun exploring the woods connected to our site."
Family-friendly activities: Organized events keep children entertained throughout their stay. "They had a pizza party at night and gave our family an entire box. The KOA was what one expects of the KOA lots of features," reports a visitor at Buckeye Lake-Columbus East KOA.
Clean facilities: Bathrooms and shower facilities at most locations receive positive reviews. A camper at Delaware State Park noted, "The bathrooms are the best I've seen at a campground," while another said, "This summer my family has went to many campgrounds and by far Delaware has been our favorite."
What you should know
Seasonal availability: While some parks operate year-round, certain amenities have limited seasons. At Indian Lake State Park Campground, reviews indicate, "This parks has a lot to offer if you like water sports. There is a camper beach area, swimming pool and boat launch within the campground."
Site selection matters: Research campsite maps before booking. "The 'pod' layout of the campground made for large campsites with good separation between sites. There are 212 sites that have 50 amp electric," explains a reviewer describing Delaware State Park.
Weather considerations: Ohio's unpredictable weather can impact camping experiences. One camper at Indian Lake mentioned, "Our experience with Indian Lake was tough, unfortunately we suffered a pretty severe thunderstorm while we were tent camping, it looked like a tsunami coming in."
Tips for camping with families
Pool access: Several campgrounds offer swimming options beyond lake beaches. At Jackson Lake Park, "The little lake was so much fun. My children were upset we had to leave early due to the storm coming in," reports a camper.
Playground proximity: Select sites near play areas for convenience. A visitor at Delaware State Park commented, "The site we were on was set back in the woods. There is a path to the playground which the occasional kid will run down into your campsite by accident."
Weekend activities: Many glamping options near Ostrander offer structured entertainment. A camper at Delaware State Park mentioned, "They have pancake breakfast on Saturday mornings through summer and doughnuts on Sunday. Helpful camphost."
Tips from RVers
Hookup availability: Full service sites book quickly during peak season. "We appreciated the full hook-ups and pull through site. The staff came through every morning to pick up the trash," notes a visitor at Cardinal Center Campground.
Site leveling: Some campsites require adjustment for comfortable parking. "Our pad was not level front to back so we had to adjust a little bit," reports a camper at Indian Lake State Park.
Storm shelter access: Weather safety facilities are available at some locations. "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," mentioned a Delaware State Park visitor.
