Camping opportunities around Radnor, Ohio extend throughout Delaware County where the terrain consists primarily of gently rolling hills and farmland at an average elevation of 935 feet. Most campgrounds in this area maintain year-round water levels due to dam-controlled reservoirs, though spring camping often encounters muddy conditions when rainfall averages 3-4 inches monthly. Several campgrounds offer distinct camping experiences within a 20-mile radius of Radnor's rural setting.
What to do
Disc golf courses: Delaware State Park Campground offers an 18-hole course that weaves through wooded sections. "Great disc golf courses, archery ranges, boat launches, and hiking trails connected to many campgrounds," notes one visitor. Mt. Gilead State Park Campground has a particularly challenging course where one camper reported, "This was laid out to be a crazy course and included repelling ropes!"
Fishing opportunities: Alum Creek State Park Campground provides multiple fishing spots with shoreline access. "Great fishing and a playground, and it is a good place for a cookout," mentions one reviewer. The fishing pond at Cardinal Center Campground is stocked and operates on a catch-and-release basis, with one camper noting, "They have a nice fishing pond, stocked fishing lake, and a gazebo overlooking the pond."
Hiking trails: Delaware State Park Campground offers several interconnected paths. According to a visitor, "There are nice trails to walk and the bathrooms are the best I've seen at a campground." The variety allows hikers to customize route lengths based on available time and difficulty preferences. Berkshire Campgrounds features extensive walking trails, with one camper reporting, "This place is huge, tons of paths for walking and exploring."
What campers like
Privacy between sites: Campers consistently rate site layout and spacing as major benefits at several locations. At Alum Creek State Park Campground, one visitor noted, "The camp sites are spacious and private, surrounded by trees and brush." Another camper appreciated that "Each camping space is separated by trees and brush. And there is plenty of room!"
Clean facilities: Mt. Gilead State Park Campground receives praise for its bathroom cleanliness. "The showers were nice, you get your own shower room which was quite large," reports one camper. Others note that Delaware State Park Campground has "clean restrooms" and is "very well run" with "great facilities."
Pod-style campground layouts: Several campgrounds use a design that creates natural separation between camping areas. One camper at Mt. Gilead commented on the layout: "Our site had a deck right behind the camping pad because the site has a descent slope. The fire pit was down the slope which was cool being out of site from walkers." This arrangement allows for a balance between community and privacy.
What you should know
Site conditions after rain: Many campgrounds in the area have drainage challenges. A camper at Alum Creek State Park Campground advised, "Be careful with rainy weather, some sites have flooded in poor weather." Another noted, "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."
Seasonal closures and limitations: Not all facilities remain fully operational year-round. One camper at Delaware State Park mentioned, "During the winter only a select amount of sites are available," while amenities like water hookups may be winterized at several locations between November and April.
Cell service variations: Cross Creek Camping Resort and other area campgrounds have inconsistent coverage. A visitor noted, "T-Mobile signal was good, got plenty of TV channels out of Columbus," while at another campground, "Verizon not so much but at night when people are sleeping Verizon gets a little better." Service strength often depends on campsite location within each property.
Tips for camping with families
Playgrounds and activities: Sunbury/Columbus North KOA Holiday offers extensive children's facilities. "Kids aged 3-13 all had a blast in the heated pool, on the jump pad and on the zip line swing!" reports one family. The campground also provides organized activities like "Christmas in July weekend, including seeing Santa!"
Family-friendly campsites: Look for sites with natural exploration areas. At Delaware State Park, one parent shared, "My daughter had tons of fun exploring the woods connected to our site." This allows children supervised freedom while remaining within the campground boundaries.
Weekend event planning: Many campgrounds host special weekend activities. Cross Creek Camping Resort offers themed weekends with one camper noting, "We were there for the Halloween weekend and it was amazing." Cardinal Center Campground has similar programming: "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
Pad levelness: Cardinal Center Campground has well-maintained sites but some require adjustment. A recent visitor noted, "Level site, partially shaded in afternoon," while others mention that some sites may need "to use your levelers and maybe some blocks." Most established campgrounds have concrete or gravel pads that help with leveling.
Full hookup availability: Several area campgrounds offer complete services, though availability varies seasonally. At Cross Creek Camping Resort, one RVer noted, "We stayed two nights here on our tour of Ohio. The narrow sites are close with no privacy. Our pull through site was on the (inner) road, so lots of golf carts, cars and campers passing by."
Sewer connections: Bring necessary adapters for the area's campgrounds. One RVer at Sunbury/Columbus North KOA advised, "Didn't see any sewer pipes that had threads on the inside, so you may need a donut or at least a weight to hold your elbow into the sewer." This preparation prevents issues with connections during setup.
