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Van Buren State Park Campground provides equestrian camping facilities 20 minutes from Ottawa Hills. The horse camp features newly installed pens where horses can be kept instead of being tied up. Electric hookups are available at most sites, though some sites report electrical issues. The campground is organized into two loops, with one side designated for equestrians. The camp maintains clean pit toilets but offers no shower facilities. Some users report the quiet, shaded atmosphere creates a comfortable camping experience for both riders and horses. The campground offers tent sites, RV spaces, and cabin options with level, recently paved pads.
Trail riders access multiple paths directly from the campground, with the terrain suitable for both experienced and novice horseback riders. The park grounds are well-maintained with centralized well water available for campers and horses. The campground requires reservations made online or by phone with no walk-ins permitted. An RV dump station is located in a separate area of the park. The camp office sells firewood and ice but has no store. Sites include fire rings and picnic tables, and many campsites are spacious enough for tents alongside horse trailers. The playground, swings, basketball court, and tether court provide recreation options for families camping with horses.
"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 provides horseback riding options approximately 20 minutes from Ottawa Hills, Ohio. The campground features designated equestrian camping areas with newly installed horse pens replacing traditional tie-ups. Trails connect directly to the campground with terrain suitable for both beginner and experienced riders. Winter visitors can experience cross-country skiing when conditions permit, utilizing the same trail system that serves equestrians during warmer months.
Winter recreation: Van Buren State Park offers seasonal activities beyond horseback riding. "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. from Van Buren State Park Campground.
Hiking opportunities: The trail system provides options for non-equestrians as well. "Hiking is great. Probably better for people with horses," reports Alysha W. The network of paths offers varying difficulty levels with access points throughout the park.
Visit nearby attractions: The campground's location provides convenient access to regional points of interest. "Van Buren State Park is very easy to access from I-75. It has tons of trails and a pond," mentions Lindsay B., who appreciates the park's accessibility for day trips.
Quiet atmosphere: The campground maintains a peaceful environment even during busy periods. "Campground was clean and quiet, had electric hookups at most sites. Host was very friendly," shares Nicole G. about her experience at Van Buren.
Family-friendly amenities: The campground includes recreational options for younger visitors. "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," explains Brendan V. from Wayne County Fairgrounds RV Park.
Spacious sites: Many campsites provide ample room for equipment and activities. "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," notes Shannon G.
Limited facilities: The campground provides basic amenities only. "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.
Electrical considerations: Visitors report inconsistent power access at some sites. "Electric did not work at all sites. Pit toilets did not seem sufficient for all camp sites," cautions Alysha W. about Van Buren State Park Campground.
RV dump location: The sanitary station requires traveling to another area. "Only criticism is you have to drive to another area of the park for an RV dump," mentions Nicole G., noting this minor inconvenience for recreational vehicle users.
Playground access: Request sites near recreational amenities when traveling with children. "Kids loved having the playground so close to the camper. Will be back soon," shares Scott F. about his family's experience.
Site selection strategy: Choose locations strategically based on your camping style. "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.
Flexibility benefits: Campground staff may accommodate unexpected circumstances. "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," explains Monica S. about her experience at Van Buren State Park Campground.
Level sites available: The campground provides suitable surfaces for recreational vehicles. "It's flat, shaded, and comfortable. No showers, but clean and sturdy pit toilets with centralized well water," notes Joseph N. about the camping conditions.
Noise considerations: The campground's location affects the ambient sound environment. "The park is also just off a country road so traffic can occasionally be heard but it's not excessive," mentions Brendan V., providing useful information about potential disturbances.
Reservation requirements: The campground operates on a reservation-only basis with no walk-in availability. Campers must book sites through official channels before arrival, as spontaneous visits cannot be accommodated.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Ottawa Hills, OH?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Ottawa Hills, OH is Van Buren State Park Campground with a 4-star rating from 12 reviews.
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