Camping near Powell, Ohio offers a mix of private and public options within central Ohio's rolling terrain. Most campgrounds in the area sit at elevations between 800-950 feet above sea level, creating modest temperature variations between day and night. Summer temperatures typically range from 65°F at night to 85°F during day with relatively high humidity levels.
What to do
Fishing access: Alum Creek State Park Campground provides multiple fishing opportunities beyond the main reservoir. "There's a campground beach and boat launch. Lost of hiking paths in the campground and in the park area. A great dog park with lake entrance for the pups. There is also some mountain bike trails. Plenty to do for everyone," notes camper Jill B.
Target shooting: Cardinal Center Campground combines camping with shooting sports. "Nice campground with it's own archery, pistol, and rifle range that you need to travel to, but not too far away. There are plenty of sites, the camp sites in the middle tend to be more like your normal site with grass and fire rings," reports Kelly L. This facility offers "the largest shooting center (clays, skeet, pistol, rifle, archery) in the state," according to JOHN T.
Swimming options: Most campgrounds offer swimming facilities, but with different approaches. "The pool is really nice. They also have a playground for the kids," says Catherine about Cross Creek Camping Resort. At Sunbury/Columbus North KOA, "Kids aged 3-13 all had a blast in the heated pool, on the jump pad and on the zip line swing!" according to Jennifer K.
What campers like
Private wooded sites: Delaware State Park Campground receives consistent praise for site separation. "What I liked most about this campground is that all the sites have privacy. There are nice trails to walk and the bathrooms are the best I've seen at a campground," states Maddy B. Another camper confirms, "The 'pod' layout of the campground made for large campsites (some sites are over 90 feet in length and well suited for large RV's) with good separation between sites."
Off-leash dog areas: Berkshire Campgrounds offers dedicated pet spaces. "This place is huge, tons of paths for walking and exploring. Also features mini golf, volleyball, basketball, an in-ground pool and a pond. Our favorite part was the off leash dog trails that were a perfect place to let the pup run," explains Jess. James C. adds: "There is a small lake that you can walk around. They also have a path through the woods where you can let the dogs run if you choose to."
Camp store amenities: Many campsites maintain well-stocked stores for necessities. At Sunbury/Columbus North KOA, "On site store had a good amount of stuff for a fairly decent price and they had so many activities through the whole Christmas in July weekend, including seeing Santa!" shares Jennifer K. Campers at Cross Creek note the convenience of essential supplies being available without leaving the grounds.
What you should know
Weather and site conditions: Spring camping can be challenging with flooding in some areas. "Sites are nice with some sites able to boat up to them. Be careful with rainy weather, some sites have flooded in poor weather," warns Katelyn P. about Alum Creek. Another camper reported: "First Campground site I went to had a large mud puddle full of hornets. I asked to move site and was accommodated. It was right after a heavy rain storm."
Reservation requirements: Tree Haven Campground and other sites fill up quickly during peak season. "This is our 5th year hear and we love it! The prices here are reasonable, however most sites are booked by seasonal campers who pay for the whole season and leave their RV/set-ups in one place the whole season, so all the choice sites (ie lakefront) are always taken," explains Tina M.
Wildlife encounters: Beyond typical woodland creatures, water-adjacent sites attract additional wildlife. "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)," reports Jenny C. from Alum Creek.
Tips for camping with families
Kid-friendly activities: Multiple campgrounds offer specialized areas for children. "There's a small beach within the campground, a bigger public beach a short drive away, hiking trails and campground events to enjoy," notes Catherine about Alum Creek. Sunbury KOA includes "multiple playgrounds. At least three ponds all fairly nice with ducks and geese hanging around," according to Gary G.
Spacious sites for play: Look for sites with room for equipment and games. "We had a nice site in loop M," reports Thomas M. about Alum Creek. At Delaware State Park, "Nice peaceful park. Spacious sites, clean restrooms. Great space for the kids to get it and play," says Lauri C.
Weekend events: Cross Creek Camping Resort offers themed weekends. "What a great campground. From the activities for the kids to the nice spacious sites. We were there for the Halloween weekend and it was amazing," shares Lauri C. Cardinal Center also offers family-focused activities: "We went the weekend it was Fall fest. Plenty of activities for the kids! Trick or treat, glow parade, decorate your own pumpkin, etc!"
Tips from RVers
Hookup variations: Electric service is standard, but other connections vary by campground. At Pastime Campground, "There are 38 grass sites that are a bit snug, but mostly pleasant. New in June 2019 are 18 gravel padded sites, with lots of space. All sites are W/E. All the new gravel sites and half the grass ones have 50/30/20A electric, the rest are 30/20A," reports Ron G.
Site leveling: Many sites require equipment adjustments. At Cardinal Center, campers report "wide, spacious, and level pull through and back-in gravel sites." However, at other locations like Sunbury KOA, "There's a few sites are unlevel so you may need to use your levelers and maybe some blocks, we did."
Wi-Fi availability: Sunbury/Columbus North KOA offers exceptional connectivity. "Wi-Fi (2.4 and 5G) seems good throughout the entire park. Best Wi-Fi I've ever had at a campground. They have Wi-Fi repeater towers everywhere you look," notes Gary G. This contrasts with more remote locations where connectivity may be limited.
