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Best Campgrounds near Pickerington, OH

753 Reviews

Several campgrounds surrounding Pickerington, Ohio offer varying accommodation options within an hour's drive. The region includes established campgrounds like Jackson Lake Park, which provides tent sites, RV hookups, and cabin rentals about 15 miles south of Pickerington. Alum Creek State Park Campground, located approximately 20 miles north, features similar amenities with the addition of glamping options. A.W. Marion State Park Campground offers more primitive camping experiences with tent and RV sites available from early April through late October. Most developed campgrounds in the area provide electric hookups, drinking water, and sanitary facilities.

Camping availability near Pickerington follows seasonal patterns, with most campgrounds operating from spring through fall. Full-service sites with water hookups typically close during winter months to prevent freezing. Reservations are strongly recommended, especially for weekend stays during summer when many campgrounds reach capacity. Scioto Grove Metro Park offers backpacking sites with a more primitive experience but restricts camping to weekends only. Facilities vary significantly between locations, with some providing full hookups while others offer more basic amenities. A camper reviewing Scioto Grove noted, "Free reserve ahead weekend backpacking campsites. All sites have 2 tent pads, a fire ring and firewood provided."

The camping experience around Pickerington ranges from family-oriented facilities to more secluded options. Jackson Lake Park receives mixed reviews for its amenities but is noted for its family-friendly atmosphere with a swimming area and arcade. Many campers mention the park's lake activities as highlights for families with children. Korbel Campgrounds at Ohio Expo Center provides convenient urban camping primarily for event attendees but offers little in terms of natural surroundings. For those seeking a more natural setting, several reviewers recommend Scioto Grove Metro Park's backpacking sites along the river trail, describing them as "a great site for new backpackers" with each site having "its own personality." Most campgrounds in the region permit pets and fires, though regulations vary by location and season.

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Best Camping Sites Near Pickerington, Ohio (107)

    1. Alum Creek State Park Campground

    80 Reviews
    Lewis Center, OH
    26 miles
    Website
    +1 (740) 548-4039

    "Happened to be next to the park host. No choice of where to locate my large tent.  Showers/bathrooms were OK--older facilities.  "

    "First off we have to say that Ohio State Park campgrounds are some of the best we’ve ever stayed in."

    2. A.W. Marion State Park Campground

    33 Reviews
    Circleville, OH
    19 miles
    Website
    +1 (740) 869-3124

    $21 - $25 / night

    "They had a scavenger hunt which made us really experience the nature around us, going through the woods off trail, going to the lakeside, walking around looking for different things on a list."

    "October weekends in Ohio State Park campgrounds are super popular so we weren’t able to make a reservation here. "

    3. Jackson Lake Park

    7 Reviews
    Lithopolis, OH
    8 miles
    Website
    +1 (614) 837-2656

    $40 - $139 / night

    "As a moto camper, we really lucked out with a flat plot and didn’t have anyone in the spots next to us. My #1 complaint was the bathroom situation."

    "Easy access to sites. Staff could take a lesson in hospitality and giving directions on park."

    4. Buckeye Lake-Columbus East KOA

    12 Reviews
    Heath, OH
    15 miles
    Website
    +1 (740) 928-0706

    "Then outside is the picnic table.  Due to health code rules you have to cook and do food outside of the cabin.  "

    "Not as close to the lake as we first thought but close enough. Will probably be back."

    5. Hocking Hills State Park Campground

    109 Reviews
    South Bloomingville, OH
    34 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."

    6. Scioto-Grove Metro Park

    8 Reviews
    Grove City, OH
    14 miles
    Website
    +1 (614) 949-1078

    "No driving your vehicle any further than the bottom of the hill. Great location, very beautiful. Spacious in between 5 campgrounds and right next to the Scioto River."

    "Got lucky and found an opening for site 5 which was right on river and away from the busier parts of park - didn’t see a single person. Nice tent pads, campfire ring, and provided wood."

    7. Korbel Campgrounds at Ohio Expo Center

    5 Reviews
    Columbus, OH
    14 miles
    Website
    +1 (888) 646-3976

    $60 / night

    8. Tree Haven Campground

    7 Reviews
    New Albany, OH
    18 miles
    Website
    +1 (740) 965-3469

    "They have a nice walking trail, potlucks, holiday events, live entertainment and are putting in a new, bigger pool! They also redid the driveway."

    "Great walking trail back through the woods. Pet friendly and the bathrooms were very nice. Well....I guess we did! We are now in a search for a Diesel pusher to go full-time!"

    9. Lazy River at Granville

    8 Reviews
    Granville, OH
    21 miles
    Website
    +1 (740) 366-4385

    "I probably wouldn't select site 20 again, as it is close to the pool and the basketball court, alot of youth noise, but understand."

    "There was a huge thunderstorm one of the nights, where we initially retreated to our vans; but then decided to drive up to the store and got ice cream which made the kids super excited about the rain ("

    10. Alder Farm

    1 Review
    Lockbourne, OH
    14 miles
    Website
    +1 (614) 414-2029

    $30 / night

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Recent Camping Photos near Pickerington, OH

320 Photos of 107 Pickerington Campgrounds

Recent Reviews near Pickerington, OH

753 Reviews of 107 Pickerington Campgrounds

  • J
    Sep. 7, 2025

    Delaware State Park Campground

    Great peaceful campground

    This is our second time coming here really enjoy this place it's typically more of a quiet relaxed camp there is a playground in each of the 4 sections for kids to play with a remodel shower house at each one. Att works good here verizion not so much but at night when people are sleeping verizion gets a little better.

  • Lisa M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 4, 2025

    Alum Creek State Park Campground

    Nice park but some traffic noise

    Spent three nights here while we were visiting friends in Lewis Center. We stayed in F09 and it was a great spot. Lots of protection on both sides so it was very secluded. And close to the shower house. Only reason I didn’t give this five stars was there was still quite a bit of traffic noise around the park that you could hear. Some nice hiking trails as well. Campsite was nice and level. Showers were super clean and awesome water pressure.

  • Shannon G.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 3, 2025

    Mt Gilead State Park Campground

    Small, quiet campground

    We like this small campground, it works well for us. Our pad was pretty level and not hard to back into with a small camper. however, a lot of the pads are at 90° angles instead of 45° so it can be harder for a larger camper back in. The full hook up side the sites are really tight together. The electric only sits are spread out a little more. Some have decent shade while others have none at all. Our site was really nice and had space for a tent or you could hang from a hammock. Great camp store, playgrounds, frisbee golf, hiking paths and small lake.

  • Alex A.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 28, 2025

    Baileys Trail Tent Camping

    Peaceful Stay

    Wonderful little location. We drove for about 3 hours to get from where we are. Nice wide open space surrounded by woods. There were other campers but very friendly and had plenty of space to ourselves. Very nice bathroom/shower compared to what we expected. Will visit again.

  • Joe B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 25, 2025

    Campbell Cove Camping

    Nice campground

    We stayed at site 63 , on the water. Big site, water view and plenty of space. The road across the lake has an uphill section and people like to race up it. Trucks, motorcycles and cars. Really loud. I know the campground doesn’t control the road, so it’s just a note about the noise. The site is amazing, and I would come back.

  • JThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 16, 2025

    Cross Creek Camping Resort

    A Very Pleasant and Quiet Campground

    This campground is clean and we'll maintained. They have a pool, and activities on the weekends. Must sure have a tree and grass with fire pits and a table.

  • 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.

  • Jenny C.
    Jul. 25, 2025

    Alum Creek State Park Campground

    Family Fun For Everyone!

    We had an absolute blast at the campsite! We stayed in L and the kids loved being close to the water. The campground beach is an absolute must and we even got close to wildlife (aka some pesky raccoons). We love that electric is included and was helpful for plugging in fans during the hot night.

Guide to Pickerington

Camping sites near Pickerington, Ohio range from primitive backpacking sites to full-service RV hookups, located within a 40-mile radius of town. The area sits at approximately 900 feet above sea level in Ohio's glaciated region, creating rolling terrain with wooded areas surrounding several lakes and rivers. Winter camping options remain limited, with most water systems winterized from November through March.

What to do

Hiking trails and water activities: At Scioto Grove Metro Park, backpackers can access five reservable sites along the river trail. "Scioto Grove is great if you're looking to test out some new backpacking gear. There are 5 reservable sites along the river trail and they all have tent pads and a fire pit," notes Zach, who appreciated the primitive setup for gear testing.

Mountain biking opportunities: Alum Creek State Park Campground offers dedicated mountain biking trails near the camping areas. One camper mentioned, "There's a great mountain biking trail in the vicinity. There's a small beach within the campground, a bigger public beach a short drive away, hiking trails and campground events to enjoy."

Fishing spots: Multiple campgrounds provide fishing access, with Jackson Lake Park offering a dedicated fishing pond. Matt T. described his experience at Buckeye Lake-Columbus East KOA: "Great cabins and amazing fishing," noting that the nearby lake provides good catches for anglers without requiring a boat.

What campers like

Private, wooded sites: Many campers praise the natural separation between sites at Alum Creek State Park Campground. Sandy O. specifically noted the "Space and Privacy...the two things that bring me back to this campground year after year. We have never had a 'bad' campsite at the Alum Creek State Park Campground. Each camping space is separated by trees and brush."

Free amenities: Some campgrounds offer unexpected complimentary services. At Tree Haven Campground, campers appreciate the cost-saving perks. One reviewer stated, "Laundry is free. Internet works well and is free. We'll be coming back to this park every year now."

Seasonal activities: Lazy River at Granville offers themed weekends throughout the camping season. Scott W. shared, "Always something for family and dog to do. It was a little chilly this weekend for Memorial Day weekend, so we did not use the pool, but the kids stayed entertained with all of the themed events that took place."

What you should know

Bathroom facilities vary significantly: Campground bathrooms range from basic vault toilets to modern facilities. At A.W. Marion State Park Campground, Cassandra C. noted, "There are no showers in this campground of which I am aware, but the flush toilets and sinks are a nice change from pit toilets."

Reservation requirements: Most campgrounds require advance booking, especially for weekend stays. Scioto Grove Metro Park has limited availability as one camper explained: "Need to reserve online, books up very fast. Got lucky and found an opening for site 5 which was right on river and away from the busier parts of park."

Urban camping options: For those attending events in Columbus, the Ohio Expo Center provides basic RV camping. Linda G. shared her experience: "Over 300 sites, first come basis. Full hookups. Park on grass site, level. We like this kind of basic camping as we have a motorhome and use our own facilities."

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does camping cost near Pickerington?

Camping costs near Pickerington vary by amenities and location. Alum Creek State Park Campground offers economical state park rates with most sites partially shaded, ideal for budget-conscious campers. For free options, Scioto-Grove Metro Park provides weekend camping at no cost, though availability is seasonal and ends during winter months. Commercial campgrounds like Buckeye Lake-Columbus East KOA and Tree Haven Campground typically charge $30-50 per night for basic sites, while full-hookup RV sites can range from $45-75 nightly. Most public campgrounds offer discounted rates for Ohio residents, and many have additional fees for premium waterfront locations or extra vehicles.

What camping amenities are available at Pickerington campsites?

Campgrounds near Pickerington offer varied amenities. Tar Hollow State Park Campground features secluded tent-only sites with basic facilities including pit latrines, perfect for nature immersion. For more conveniences, Cross Creek Camping Resort provides pull-through sites ideal for RVs, though they're situated along roadways with moderate traffic from golf carts and vehicles. Many sites aren't perfectly level, so bring leveling blocks. Delaware State Park Campground offers shower facilities and water access, while Lazy River at Granville provides full hookups, water, and restroom facilities. Most campgrounds in the region feature fire rings, picnic tables, and access to hiking trails, though laundry facilities are less common – only select campgrounds offer this amenity.

What are the best campgrounds near Pickerington, Ohio?

For outdoor enthusiasts near Pickerington, Hocking Hills State Park Campground is widely considered one of Ohio's most scenic camping destinations, offering numerous trails, caves, and natural features. The park provides various camping options, though staying away from main roads creates a more intimate experience. Closer to Pickerington, A.W. Marion State Park Campground offers a quieter alternative with lake access. For those seeking luxury camping, Campbell Cove Camping provides excellent full hookups near Hocking Hills attractions with modern restroom facilities throughout the grounds. Jackson Lake Park near Canal Winchester is another convenient option with reservable sites and water access.

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