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Camping near Alum Creek Lake

557 Reviews

The Alum Creek Lake area in Ohio features a mix of state park and private campgrounds catering to different camping preferences. Alum Creek State Park Campground provides wooded sites with electric hookups for tent and RV campers, while Cross Creek Camping Resort offers full-hookup options including cabins. Delaware State Park Campground, located north of Alum Creek Lake, adds to the regional camping inventory with year-round availability. Most developed campgrounds in this region maintain reasonable proximity to Columbus, making them popular weekend destinations for city residents seeking outdoor recreation with lakeside access.

Reservations are strongly recommended at most developed campgrounds in the area, particularly during summer months when waterfront activities draw larger crowds. The camping season generally runs from spring through fall, though some campgrounds like Delaware State Park and Cardinal Center remain open year-round. Most sites offer electric hookups with 30 or 50-amp service, while primitive tent camping is available at select locations. Winter camping is limited but possible at year-round facilities, though water services may be restricted during freezing temperatures. One camper noted, "Alum Creek State Park is a beautiful park and great campground just outside the hustle and bustle of downtown Columbus and minutes away from attractions such as the Columbus Zoo."

Visitors consistently highlight the wooded privacy between campsites at Alum Creek State Park, with several reviewers mentioning the ample space and natural screening. The park's proximity to the lake provides opportunities for fishing, boating and swimming, while still maintaining a peaceful atmosphere. For those seeking more amenities, private campgrounds like Cross Creek Camping Resort feature swimming pools, playgrounds and organized activities on weekends. Many campers appreciate the balance of natural settings with convenient access to urban amenities. "Large, private sites, good electric service, reasonable distance to Columbus. Lake is beautiful," shared one visitor about Alum Creek State Park. The region's mix of state park and private facilities ensures options for both rustic camping experiences and more developed resort-style stays.

Map showing campgrounds near Alum Creek Lake, OhioExplore the Map

Best Camping Sites Near Alum Creek Lake (90)

    1. Alum Creek State Park Campground

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

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

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

    2. Delaware State Park Campground

    37 Reviews
    Radnor, OH
    16 miles
    Website

    "Delaware State Park is a gem in the Ohio state park system. What is amazing to us is how few people seem to know it exists!"

    "This is another of our favorite Ohio State Parks.  The campground is setup in a nice layout with each of the separate sections having a spoke and wheel layout with a bathhouse in the middle.  "

    3. Cross Creek Camping Resort

    13 Reviews
    Lewis Center, OH
    4 miles
    Website
    +1 (740) 549-2267

    $35 - $95 / night

    "We stayed two nights here on our tour of Ohio. After staying in state parks, the narrow sites are close with no privacy."

    "Cross Creek Camping Resort in Delaware, Ohio is a very nice campground with friendly staff and lots of amenities!"

    4. Tree Haven Campground

    7 Reviews
    New Albany, OH
    7 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!"

    5. Berkshire Campgrounds

    5 Reviews
    Galena, OH
    5 miles
    Website
    +1 (740) 965-2321

    $38 / night

    "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."

    "This place is huge, tons of paths for walking and exploring. Also features mini golf, volleyball, basketball, an in-ground pool and a pond."

    6. Cardinal Center Campground

    8 Reviews
    Kilbourne, OH
    15 miles
    Website
    +1 (419) 253-0800

    $47 - $53 / night

    "Our site was on a cul de sac and was close to the pool. The sites and road were gravel. They have an indoor pool, stocked fishing pond, and an indoor clubhouse with a pool table."

    "from our garden as we had way too much for just us and asked the welcome center to tell people to help themselves to what ever they wanted. we then toured the campgroundand found the stocked fishing lake"

    7. Sunbury/Columbus North KOA Holiday

    5 Reviews
    Centerburg, OH
    14 miles
    Website
    +1 (740) 625-6600

    "The campground is tucked away in a suburb of Columbus next to a soybean field, very quiet area. Only a 15-20 minute drive into town to go shopping if need be."

    "At least three ponds all fairly nice with ducks and geese hanging around. There's a few sites are unlevel so you may need to use your levelers and maybe some blocks, we did."

    8. Korbel Campgrounds at Ohio Expo Center

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

    $60 / night

    9. Mt Gilead State Park Campground

    24 Reviews
    Mount Gilead, OH
    27 miles
    Website
    +1 (419) 946-1961

    "This is one of the smaller campgrounds in the Ohio State Parks system but it’s a little hidden gem."

    "The "Camp Host" came around a few times a day to ensure trash was picked up and needs were met. Site 8 has full hookups and a concrete parking pad."

    10. Grins & Pickin's CampFarm

    3 Reviews
    Centerburg, OH
    15 miles
    Website

    $25 - $35 / night

    "Sites are around a manicured field but with a high “pollinators maze” in the middle that creates too privacy and sound barrier. Only outhouses but they were very clean."

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Recent Camping Photos near Alum Creek Lake

210 Photos of 90 Alum Creek Lake Campgrounds

Recent Reviews near Alum Creek Lake

557 Reviews of 90 Alum Creek Lake Campgrounds

  • Brandon S.
    Oct. 9, 2025

    Sunset Springs Campground & Event Center

    Add pricing information

    My experience here was awesome! It's literally less than 15 minutes drive to loudenville, there are a lot of amenities for guests, and the sights to see are to die for! The only thing left to desire is on the description page it should have a list of prices for each camping style, (i.e. trying, rving, pull behinds and so on n so forth.)

  • Evan H.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 22, 2025

    Grins & Pickin's CampFarm

    Great area away from the busy park campsites

    G&P is exceptionally well maintained with 31 sites of varying sizes. Owner is extremely welcoming and prices are good. Front and rear Porto bathrooms for use.

  • 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.

  • Lisa M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 30, 2025

    Resting Roost

    Okay for one night I guess

    We were kind of stuck, looking for a place to stay as we didn’t have reservations during Labor Day weekend so found this place that was listed on Hip Camp. Near Belle Center. PROS- was relatively cheap, $24,out in the middle of fields so pretty quiet, host seems pretty nice. CONS- had to back up a 100 yard driveway, lots of bugs, smells as they just fertilized the fields (not the owners fault). Okay for setting up a tent or a small rig but wouldn’t advise for trailers. Electric was an extension cord. I think water is available. Owner could have mowed the place a bit.

  • Lisa M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 30, 2025

    Buck Creek State Park Campground

    Quiet park with level spaces

    This park was pretty packed over Labor Day weekend, but it still felt like it wasn’t super crowded. Our space was nice and level. Nice hiking trails in the area. Showers were very nice and clean. Several water spickets throughout the park if you needed to access them. It was a bit of a drive back into the campground, probably 3 1/2 miles.

  • 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.

Guide to Alum Creek Lake

Camping near Alum Creek Lake, Ohio, offers a variety of experiences for outdoor enthusiasts. Whether you're looking for a peaceful retreat or a fun-filled family adventure, there are several campgrounds to choose from.

What to do:

  • Boating and Fishing: Alum Creek State Park Campground has a lovely boat launch for easy access to the lake. One visitor mentioned, "The boat launch to lake access is very nice with plenty of parking and space" while enjoying their time there.
  • Disc Golf and Trails: Delaware State Park Campground features disc golf and mountain biking trails. A camper noted, "They put in a putt-putt course recently, had disc golf. We were in section C, and it had upgraded single-person shower houses."
  • Wildlife Watching: At Mt Gilead State Park Campground, you can enjoy nature trails and spot local wildlife. A reviewer shared, "The tall trees provide good shade, hammock hanging, and entertainment with birds and squirrels."

What campers like:

  • Clean Facilities: Campers appreciate well-maintained restrooms and shower facilities. One visitor at the Delaware State Park Campground said, "Facilities are cleaned regularly. Staff are friendly and helpful."
  • Spacious Sites: Many campers enjoy the roomy sites available. A review for Alum Creek State Park Campground mentioned, "The sites are well placed and a good size."
  • Friendly Atmosphere: Campgrounds like Cross Creek Camping Resort are known for their welcoming vibe. One camper remarked, "These folks run a beautiful campground and are just amazing."

What you should know:

  • Road Noise: If you're sensitive to noise, be aware that some campgrounds, like Alum Creek State Park Campground, are near busy roads. A visitor noted, "Quiet except for the road noise due to nearby busy roads."
  • Limited Amenities: Some campgrounds may not have all the amenities you expect. A camper at Mt Gilead State Park Campground mentioned, "Bathrooms are older and could use updating but are decently clean for use."
  • Seasonal Access: Certain campgrounds, like Tree Haven Campground, are only open from May 1 to November 1, so plan your trip accordingly.

Tips for camping with families:

  • Kid-Friendly Activities: Look for campgrounds with playgrounds and organized events. A family at Lazy River at Granville enjoyed, "There was something for everyone. At the top of our list of favorites!"
  • Space for Kids to Play: Choose campgrounds with spacious sites. One reviewer at Jackson Lake Park said, "The staff came through every morning to pick up the trash. The people here were really nice."
  • Plan for Activities: Check if the campground offers planned activities. A visitor at Cardinal Center Campground mentioned, "They have a nice indoor pool and shower rooms attached."

Tips from RVers:

  • Check Site Size: Make sure your RV fits the site. A camper at Mt Gilead State Park Campground noted, "The sites can be tight to get in and out of with big campers."
  • Look for Full Hookups: Many RVers prefer campgrounds with full hookups. A review for Cross Creek Camping Resort highlighted, "They are 30/50 amp with FHU."
  • Be Prepared for Crowds: Some campgrounds can get busy, especially on weekends. A visitor at Buckeye Lake-Columbus East KOA mentioned, "It was super crowded on a summer weekend."

Camping near Alum Creek Lake, Ohio, has something for everyone, from families to solo adventurers. Just remember to plan ahead and enjoy the great outdoors!

Frequently Asked Questions

What types of camping are available at Alum Creek State Park?

Alum Creek State Park Campground offers traditional tent camping and RV sites with electric hookups. The campground is spacious with partially shaded sites set among wooded areas. Many sites provide privacy with trees and foliage between campsites. The park is well-equipped for both tent campers and RVers, though it has limited dump station facilities for its size. For those seeking alternative camping experiences near Alum Creek Lake, Scioto-Grove Metro Park offers weekend camping options during the warmer months.

Which campsites are considered the best at Alum Creek State Park?

The most desirable sites at Alum Creek State Park Campground are generally those offering partial shade and privacy from neighboring campers. Many campers prefer sites tucked among the trees that still provide enough clearing for comfortable setup. While specific site numbers aren't consistently mentioned as favorites, the campground is noted for its spacious layout that creates a feeling of being apart from other campers. For comparison, Delaware State Park Campground nearby offers a similar quality experience with less crowding and a spoke-and-wheel layout with roomy, wooded sites.

Where can I find a map of Alum Creek State Park?

Maps of Alum Creek State Park are available at the park office and campground check-in stations. You can also download official park maps from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources website prior to your visit. For interactive mapping on your mobile device, The Dyrt app offers campground maps and location details. If you're looking for detailed navigation of the park's features, Cross Creek Camping Resort and A.W. Marion State Park Campground visitors often recommend picking up physical maps at park entrances for the most reliable navigation around Ohio state parks.

Are cabins available for rent at Alum Creek State Park?

Alum Creek State Park does not offer cabin rentals within the campground. For cabin accommodations in the region, visitors might consider Mohican State Park Campground, which provides cabin options along with clean facilities about an hour away. Alternatively, Malabar Farm State Park Campground offers a unique historical experience with accommodations in a conservation-focused setting. Both parks provide more developed lodging options than what's available at Alum Creek.

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