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Camping near Paint Creek Lake

709 Reviews

Paint Creek State Park Campground serves as the primary camping destination near Paint Creek Lake in southwestern Ohio. The state park features a mix of accommodations with sites for tents, RVs, and cabins, most with electric hookups and access to modern amenities. Several nearby alternatives expand camping options in the region, including Rocky Fork State Park Campground and Pike Lake State Park Campground, both offering similar amenities within 20 miles. Long's Retreat Family Resort provides a private camping alternative with cabin rentals and glamping options available from April through October.

Most campgrounds in the area maintain year-round accessibility, though facilities and services may be limited during winter months. Heated bathrooms with showers remain available at Paint Creek even in colder seasons. "A winter camping gem! Heated bathroom with showers are available for winter campers at Paint Creek State Park," notes one visitor who appreciated the off-season accommodations. Sites vary in levelness across the region, with campers reporting some challenging terrain at certain locations. Reservations are strongly recommended, particularly for summer weekends and holidays when waterfront sites fill quickly. The campground layout at Paint Creek features a mix of open and wooded sites, though some visitors note the density of campsites during peak periods.

Campers frequently mention the family-friendly atmosphere and recreational opportunities at Paint Creek. The park offers disc golf, hiking trails, fishing access, and a swimming beach. One reviewer highlighted that "Staff is very friendly and lots to keep the kids entertained." Wildlife viewing opportunities exist throughout the area, with several hiking trails showcasing local flora and fauna. Bathroom and shower facilities generally receive positive reviews for cleanliness, though quality varies by location and season. Premium sites with decks are available at Paint Creek, though reviews suggest researching specific site characteristics before booking, as some locations have significant grade changes or limited space for equipment setup. The region experiences typical midwestern seasonal patterns with humid summers and cold winters.

Map showing campgrounds near Paint Creek Lake, OhioExplore the Map

Best Camping Sites Near Paint Creek Lake (88)

    1. Paint Creek State Park Campground

    21 Reviews
    Paint Creek Lake, OH
    2 miles
    Website
    +1 (937) 981-7061

    "Cute, charming Ohio State Park. Enjoy 4 lovely hiking trails that showcase the parks features by taking you through the woods and fields. Fish is offered and their is boat dock ."

    "An excellent disc golf course, hiking and beautiful lake views. Just past the town of Bainbridge, Ohio is Seip Mound to explore and hike the trails."

    2. Rocky Fork State Park Campground

    18 Reviews
    Hillsboro, OH
    10 miles
    Website
    +1 (937) 393-4284

    "The camp grounds we stayed in was nearly full and had every conceivable form of camping from tents to full size motor coaches."

    "Camp sites available next to the lake. Beautiful lake for kayaking, boating and swimming. Only downfall is that you have to drive a few miles to get to the beach."

    3. Long's Retreat Family Resort

    13 Reviews
    Sinking Spring, OH
    11 miles
    Website
    +1 (937) 588-3725

    "We have been going here for the last 6 summers with a big group (nearly 30 kids with us). Everyone always has such a great time and it is the highlight of all the kids summers."

    4. Pike Lake State Park Campground

    11 Reviews
    Latham, OH
    9 miles
    Website
    +1 (740) 493-2212

    "Ranger Review: Morsel Spork at Pike Lake State Park Campground Review:

    We stayed at site 67 next to the camp host. The camp site was nicely shaded with a small creek behind it."

    "The lake is smaller, but nice beach area and pedal boats are fun. We hiked the Greenbriar and CCC Trails. They are not too challenging but beautiful."

    5. Lizzy’s Acres

    1 Review
    Bainbridge, OH
    7 miles
    +1 (740) 438-2678

    $25 - $35 / night

    "Lizzy's Acres is a new listing on the Dyrt, but they offer a great location for those looking to explore the area.  Check them out and show them some love!"

    6. Shady Trails Campground

    2 Reviews
    Hillsboro, OH
    9 miles
    Website
    +1 (937) 393-5618

    "Right across from the North Beach of Rocky Fork Lake"

    7. Scioto Trail State Park Campground

    10 Reviews
    Waverly, OH
    21 miles
    Website
    +1 (740) 663-2125

    $25 - $30 / night

    "We chose to camp at Scioto Trail State Park because of it's proximity to Salt Creek Kayak Adventures. While I had hiked at Scioto Trail in the past, this was our first visit to the campground."

    "Walk-in sites with pit toilets and potable water. The map of how the sites are laid out online is extremely inaccurate, I would not have picked my site if it had been accurate."

    8. Hocking Hills State Park Campground

    109 Reviews
    South Bloomingville, OH
    45 miles
    Website

    $29 - $46 / night

    "There are lots of caves, trails, camping options and activities in the area. Be careful, however, every year someone is injured or dies going off trail, often falling from a cliff."

    "If you stay away from the main roads, you might feel like you're in a smaller campground."

    9. Sun Valley Campground

    4 Reviews
    Chillicothe, OH
    17 miles
    Website
    +1 (740) 775-3490

    "We were able to reserve a drive-thru site on the same day we wanted it.  It looks like there are quite a few seasonal campers there.  Sites have space between them, many are shaded. "

    10. Cowan Lake State Park Campground

    28 Reviews
    Wilmington, OH
    30 miles
    Website
    +1 (937) 382-1096

    "Autumn is the best time to camp in Ohio. Lots of small bathrooms. Lake access. Only reason I didn't give it 5 stars was due to the fact there was no quick reentry."

    "Cowan Lake State Park is near Wilmington, Ohio and they have been making a lot of improvements to the park.  It is a great location between Cincinnati and Columbus with easy access from the highway. "

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Recent Camping Photos near Paint Creek Lake

279 Photos of 88 Paint Creek Lake Campgrounds

Recent Reviews near Paint Creek Lake

709 Reviews of 88 Paint Creek Lake Campgrounds

  • Zach L.
    Oct. 17, 2025

    Hocking Hills KOA Holiday

    Fall trip

    Big property with every site type. Complete with KOA amenities. EV chargers on-site. Bathrooms were excellent individually separated rooms with showers and toilets. We were escorted to our site upon arrival. Very poor Verizon coverage but the Wi-Fi on site worked fine. Plenty of food spots just north on the highway exit we stopped at Milstone BBQ. Plenty of fun hikes in Hocking Hills State park.

  • Angie F.
    Oct. 12, 2025

    Palmerosa Horse & Hike Campground

    Picturesque Hocking HIlls retreat

    While we are not horsemen, my husband and I so enjoyed our stay at this remote and picturesque campground. The property reflects great pride and financial investment: nicely-appointed and immaculate bathroom facilities; well-spaced campsites; classy equine stalls; and accommodating service second to none. Highly recommended!

  • RThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 30, 2025

    Jackson Lake State Park Campground

    A day a life in the office

    I drove an hour and a half to get here because dyrt showed that we had full AT&T service here that is not the trucks we have between one and two bars of AT&T service so we’ll see if we drove here for me to be able to work for a couple days and be out in God’s creation

  • Shelby I.
    Sep. 29, 2025

    Rocky Fork State Park Campground

    A place to sleep

    Camp sites are very tightly packed together and feels like I'm in someone's backyard that is having trouble growing grass.

  • John M.
    Sep. 17, 2025

    Sandy Springs Campground

    A Wonderful Campground!

    We had a wonderful weekend stay at this campground; we were fortunate to get a river view site which was amazing. It is so peaceful to watch the river and see the occasional boat or barge go by. The campground is a very nice facility with unique cabins and nice full hook up sites. They have a nice store, restroom and shower facilities and they even have a small menu that they can prepare and bring to your site including a delicious chocolate chip cookie desert!

    The owners are the real gem here; they are so friendly and accommodating and go out of their way to make you feel at home! We had a grandchild visit and we forgot a jacket and Julie(owner) went out of her way to find a hoodie out of her Halloween stock, so he would have something for the weekend. 

    We will be back!

  • RThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 12, 2025

    Sandy Springs Campground

    Nice spots on the Ohio River

    We had a riverfront site. The camp hosts are very nice and attentive to your needs. We will return

  • Kara S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 6, 2025

    Stonelick State Park Campground

    Big sites but can be loud and crowded

    Nice big sites, fairly level. We camped at site 35 and it was very slopey, our levelers only helped a little. First night the shower house STUNK but then the next day it smelled fine while our closest bathrooms were out of order. The trail to the lake was right next to the sit and that was lovely.

  • Evan C.
    Aug. 18, 2025

    Rocky Fork State Park Campground

    Fine tenting, poorly kept

    8/13/2025

    Got here after dark, but navigated to a pretty secluded loop that's just for tenting (site 61 - see map). Stakes went in fine. Seemed to be a lot of different types of spiders, which was cool to see and even cooler that they didn't bug me. Less cool - the site wasn't very clean - bits of trash that a park attendant/ranger definitely should've been picking up. Moreover, there were stray cats living in that section (I saw three), which were very cute but I'm sure they're not living their best life and the wildlife probably don't appreciate them being around either. I called later to let the park know (nobody was around during my stay) and they said they'd get maintenance on it. If you stay here and see them, I'd urge you to let the park know again, or maybe call animal control.

  • Reb S.
    Aug. 11, 2025

    A.W. Marion State Park Campground

    Horrible

    Really disgusted with out last stay here. We ended up next to some tent campers who were homeless which isn't the issue because things in life happen it was the way they acted that just grossed me out. I spent the first few days listening to them arguing and fighting amongst each other about their welfare checks being spent on their cigarettes beer and weed. They had 2 kids one that was autistic that they called a retard the other one they called stupid and it was just heartbreaking. I ended up having to go inside my camper and turning my ac on to escape their screaming and yelling and fighting that went into the midnight hour. My dog has a heart murmur and it made him anxious. I felt like I was camping in the bottoms of Columbus Ohio. The camp host said they are there all the time which is disturbing that they condone this behavior and makes me question the integrity of this location. Luckily after contacting ODNR we were able to move to a location far from them and given a gift card for our troubles. This was after they moved their camp stuff practically across the front bumper of my 100,000 RV. My husband and I pay way to much for our RV and for our stays to put up with this trash. We'd be hard pressed to come back here and be exposed to this kind of drama again.

Guide to Paint Creek Lake

Camping near Paint Creek Lake, Ohio, offers a variety of experiences for outdoor lovers. From well-maintained campgrounds to beautiful natural scenery, there’s something for everyone.

What to do:

  • Hiking: Explore the trails at Cowan Lake State Park Campground. One visitor mentioned, “Great hiking trails and people are friendly,” making it a perfect spot for nature walks.
  • Fishing: If you’re into fishing, check out Deer Creek State Park Campground. A camper noted, “Fishing, well. It seems we didn't have the low down on good fishing spots,” indicating that while fishing is available, you might need to scout for the best locations.
  • Swimming: Enjoy a swim at Rocky Fork State Park Campground. One review said, “Beautiful lake for kayaking, boating and swimming,” highlighting the water activities available.

What campers like:

  • Clean facilities: Campers appreciate the cleanliness at Tar Hollow State Park Campground. A visitor remarked, “The bathrooms and bathhouse were clean,” which is always a plus when camping.
  • Spacious sites: Many enjoy the large sites at Paint Creek State Park Campground. One camper shared, “The campground is small, some sites too small for our 20’ trailer and truck,” indicating that while some sites are cozy, others offer more space.
  • Friendly atmosphere: Campers at Cowan Lake State Park Campground appreciate the welcoming vibe. A review stated, “Very engaged staff... Very friendly,” which adds to the overall experience.

What you should know:

  • Noise levels: Be prepared for some noise at Rocky Fork State Park Campground. One camper mentioned, “You can hear the street traffic and airport all day,” so if you’re looking for peace and quiet, this might not be the best choice.
  • Limited amenities: At Scioto Trail State Park Campground, some campers found the facilities lacking. A review noted, “The vault toilets there are bio hazards,” suggesting that cleanliness could be an issue.
  • Crowded weekends: Expect busy weekends at Pike Lake State Park Campground. One visitor said, “The campground was busy, lots of kids,” which might not be ideal for those seeking solitude.

Tips for camping with families:

  • Playgrounds: Look for campgrounds with playgrounds, like Shawnee State Park Campground. A camper noted, “The playground, putt putt course, small lake that you can kayak or paddleboard in,” making it a great spot for kids.
  • Family-friendly activities: Long's Retreat Family Resort offers plenty of activities. One review said, “There is so much to do here,” which is perfect for keeping the kids entertained.
  • Cabin rentals: Consider renting a cabin at Deer Creek Camping Resort. A family shared, “The cabin was lovely and fit our needs,” providing a comfortable option for families.

Tips from RVers:

  • Level sites: When camping at Tar Hollow State Park Campground, make sure to choose a level site. One RVer mentioned, “The site itself is big - it’s got a lot of room for tents,” which can also apply to RV setups.
  • Water access: Check for water access points at Cowan Lake State Park Campground. A camper noted, “The campground staff and volunteers are amazing!” which can help you find the best spots for filling up.
  • Quiet hours: Respect quiet hours at Rocky Fork State Park Campground. One visitor said, “All seemed to obey the quiet hours,” which is essential for a pleasant camping experience.

Camping near Paint Creek Lake, Ohio, has its ups and downs, but with the right preparation, you can have a great time enjoying the outdoors!

Frequently Asked Questions

What amenities are available at Paint Creek Lake campground?

Paint Creek State Park Campground offers standard amenities including water access, restroom facilities, and reservable campsites. For those seeking electric hookups, designated sites are available similar to what you'll find at Rocky Fork State Park Campground. The campground provides both RV and tent camping options with easy access to the lake. Facilities include clean restrooms, shower houses, and potable water. Many sites offer shade, though some are more open. The campground is well-maintained and typically quieter than some of the more popular Ohio state parks, making it ideal for those seeking a more relaxed camping experience.

What fishing opportunities are available at Paint Creek Lake?

Paint Creek Lake offers excellent fishing opportunities similar to Cowan Lake State Park Campground, with multiple shore fishing spots and boat launches. The lake is known for largemouth bass, saugeye, crappie, and catfish. For a different fishing experience, nearby Tar Hollow State Park Campground offers more secluded fishing spots. Paint Creek features several designated fishing areas accessible from the campground, and many campsites are situated close to the shoreline for convenient fishing access. Spring and fall typically provide the best fishing conditions. Remember that a valid Ohio fishing license is required, which can be purchased online through the Ohio Department of Natural Resources or at local bait shops.

How do I find a map of Paint Creek State Park campground?

To find a map of Paint Creek State Park campground, visit the official Ohio Department of Natural Resources website where you can download or view their official campground map. Similar to Hocking Hills State Park Campground, studying the campground map before arrival helps you choose the best site. You can also get physical maps at the park office upon check-in. For digital options, the Ohio State Parks app provides interactive maps, or you can find site layouts and trail maps on The Dyrt's campground page. If you're planning to visit during peak season, having a map beforehand helps identify quieter sections of the campground away from main roads.

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