Best Campgrounds near Spencerville, OH

The rural landscape surrounding Spencerville, Ohio accommodates various camping styles across several established campgrounds. Grand Lake St. Marys State Park, located approximately 15 miles southwest of Spencerville, provides year-round camping with tent sites, RV hookups, and cabin rentals along Ohio's largest inland lake. Within a 25-mile radius, campers can access multiple state park facilities including Indian Lake State Park and Lake Loramie State Park, both offering electric hookups, sanitary facilities, and water access. Ottawa Metro Park Campground, situated north of Spencerville, maintains first-come, first-served sites with water and electric hookups suitable for both tent and RV camping.

Most established campgrounds in the region operate seasonally, with many sites open from April through October. State parks typically accept reservations up to 6 months in advance, while county parks like Ottawa Metro Park operate on a first-come basis with no reservations required. The terrain throughout the area remains relatively flat, making most campsites accessible without specialized vehicles. Summer camping often requires advance planning due to popularity, especially for waterfront sites at Grand Lake St. Marys and Indian Lake. Winter camping options are limited primarily to Lake Loramie and Grand Lake St. Marys, which maintain year-round operations. One visitor noted, "The campground was clean and well maintained. There are sites that have access to get out on the water via a small canal."

Waterfront camping represents a significant draw throughout the region, particularly at state parks with lake access. Many campgrounds feature swimming areas, boat launches, and fishing opportunities. Several campers highlight the family-friendly amenities at these locations, with one review mentioning "a nice well maintained pool with lifeguards" at Indian Lake State Park. Sites at Grand Lake St. Marys receive positive feedback for their proximity to playgrounds, making them suitable for families with children. Bathroom and shower facilities vary considerably between locations, with most state parks offering modern restrooms while county parks may have more basic amenities. Reviews indicate that privacy can be limited at some locations, particularly in the full-hookup sections which often feature open fields with minimal shade or separation between sites.

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Best Camping Sites Near Spencerville, Ohio (69)

    1. Grand Lake St. Marys State Park — Grand Lake St Marys State Park

    14 Reviews
    St. Marys, OH
    12 miles
    Website
    +1 (419) 394-3611

    "great like campground on Ohio’s biggest inland lake"

    "friendly staff, very clean restrooms, playground, could not swim in the water due to contamination which they have spent millions to repair and is slowly on the up and up, not too far from town, surrounded"

    2. River Trail Campground II

    6 Reviews
    Celina, OH
    11 miles
    Website
    +1 (419) 795-1400

    $45 - $100 / night

    "Nice lake, you can bring golf carts nice size camping lots. We will go back again great experience beautiful place."

    3. Wapakoneta KOA

    7 Reviews
    Jackson Center, OH
    14 miles
    Website
    +1 (419) 738-6016

    $42 - $55 / night

    "We stay here while visiting family nearby Ohio. Lots of shade and quiet even with families and usually pretty full, hosts are extremely nice and accommodating. Swimming pool is clean."

    "Great service and help getting the trailer positioned correctly. A few food options on site are nice. The actual sites are very small. Not much room to fit the trailer and vehicle."

    4. Indian Lake State Park Campground

    34 Reviews
    Lakeview, OH
    27 miles
    Website
    +1 (937) 843-3553

    "This Ohio State Park is in a small quaint town. Good sites, nice beach + a real swimming pool. Many places for fishing from shore OR launching your boat !"

    "The campground was nearly empty so that was nice but the surrounding area was very crowded. There was nearly no area on the lake that didn’t have houses. The campground was clean and well maintained."

    5. Ottawa Metro Park Campground

    6 Reviews
    Lima, OH
    16 miles
    Website
    +1 (419) 221-1232

    $25 - $30 / night

    "Beautiful park with bike and walking paths. Camp hosts are very helpful. Bathrooms and showers are very clean."

    "The bath house has men's and women's bathrooms as well as a largish entry room with water fountains (one accessible to those in a wheelchair or child), a vending machine, information about the park, an"

    6. Huggy Bear Campground

    3 Reviews
    Van Wert, OH
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (419) 968-2211

    "If you you’re going for family friendly fun where you can sit around a fire wIth friends and family, this is the place. There is swimming and family activities to keep everyone busy."

    7. Venture Out Resorts Arrowhead Lakes Resort

    4 Reviews
    Jackson Center, OH
    14 miles
    Website
    +1 (419) 738-5000

    "No hiking, significant highway noise, yes a couple big ponds, but a truck stop and truck storage is behind both - so no views. Most of the campers we saw were elderly or had young kids."

    "Therefore no pool or other water amenities except for the lakes. It seems that the 50 amp sights are very spread out and randomly located."

    8. Lake Cody

    1 Review
    Lima, OH
    15 miles
    Website
    +1 (419) 641-3782

    $35 - $40 / night

    9. Lake Loramie State Park Campground

    9 Reviews
    Fort Loramie, OH
    24 miles
    Website
    +1 (937) 295-2011

    "Relax on the waters edge in shear tranquility. Perfect beach for swimming, excellent trails for hiking, and awesome lake to boat. Multiple launch ramps provide ease and convenience."

    "Love being so close to the lake we can fish all the time. The beach is a bit of a walk from the campground but not to far. They offer canoe rentals, and bike rentals."

    10. Blue Water Campground

    3 Reviews
    Grover Hill, OH
    22 miles
    Website
    +1 (419) 587-3186

    "The pool, ponds, playground and pavillion are all within walking distance from almost any site."

    "Pool, lakes, very dog friendly, activities, food, washer and dryer, showers!"

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Recent Reviews near Spencerville, OH

206 Reviews of 69 Spencerville Campgrounds


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

    Indian Lake State Park Campground

    Lots of sites

    Our pad was not level front to back so we had to adjust a little bit. The fire ring was nice but our picnic table was beat up. I went to move it and the seat pulled right off. We stayed on a Sunday night so it wasn’t packed. There are a ton of sites. Some had great shade and others didn’t have any at all. The bathrooms were flush toilets and they did have shower houses too. The camp store is really big and it’s right next to their pool. They have a dog park, place to dock your boat and a small beach. I would imagine this would be a pretty busy during the summer.

  • Shannon G.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 2, 2025

    Van Buren State Park Campground

    Small and peaceful

    We stayed one night on our way to IN. We’ve never been here before and wanted to check it off our list. It’s a small campground with one side as equestrian and the other side not. All sites had electric and water, no full hookup. There were only drop toilets and no showers. They were clean but I don’t think I’d want to do more than a weekend there. It had a nice playground for kids and plenty of trails to hike or go horseback riding. They also had a dog park and small wildflower garden. The check in cabin had ice and wood for sale but no store. Our site was really nice. The pads were recently paved and had a huge bumper at the end. The fire ring was nice and the site had plenty of space for tents.

  • 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.

  • Megan M.
    Aug. 27, 2025

    Grand Lake St. Marys State Park — Grand Lake St Marys State Park

    Campground is fine but the lake reeks of POO

    First the good: the campground is big and spacious. Some areas were like RV parking lots- no trees, no shade, but there was a grassy area in the middle with nice big trees and shade. There is a nice pool and splash pad. Weirdly, the pool closed from 4 to 5, leaving us with nowhere to go on a 90+ degree day. 

    Now, the not-so-good: we stayed in a camper cabin and it was very shabby and dirty. It had bunkbeds, a full size fridge, and a folding table and folding chairs, which was nice (and rare in Ohio state park camper cabins). The bathrooms were average. Not new, not especially sparkling clean, but fine. Not gross, at least.

    Now, the terrible: the entire lake stinks of pig poop. All the air smells like poo. You feel like you are breathing feces when you approach the water. We were right on the water so we couldn't escape the smell. 

    This lake is notorious for having algae blooms that prohibit swimming. So I did a google search before our trip and the Ohio Department of Health reports that the bacteria level in this lake is dangerously high, and no one should swim in this lake. However, when we walked to the campground beach, there was no sign or warning or anything indicating the bacteria in the water- and people were letting their children and dogs swim in it!! 

    We opted to not kayak or paddleboard in the lake because it was clear that it was full of poop. So we had nothing to do at the park except go to the pool (it was too hot to do anything else). We ended up driving around the country roads and seeing the sights so we could escape the smelly lake and hot poo fumes. Neil Armstrong was born in nearby Wapakoneta so there are some sights to see there, and the towns of Celina and ? one other are cute too. 

    Overall, I will not return to this lake or this part of the state. If you can't get in the water, paddle board or kayak, the only thing left to do is ride around in a boat and hope the water doesn't get anywhere near your mouth or your skin. No thanks.

  • d
    Aug. 19, 2025

    River Trail Campground II

    Just So-SO

    We stayed 3 nights. Our site was a dirt pads. There are mostly full-time residents. There is the smell of a massive Chicken coup at our site. THERE ARE A TON OF FLIES!!!!! We had flies for days!. We kill 3 and 5 more would pop-up in our trailer. I was so happy to leave this fly infested site. 

    It's very hard for me to give them less than 5 stairs because, everyone was so nice. We had them filled up our propane tanks and they actually brought them to us and hooked them up while we were gone. Someone even brought us wood planks for stabilizing our trailer. However, truth be told…. our spot was horrible-right next to the laundry room in direct sun and it stunk! The women's shower was gross too. ( I ended up, not using their shower room.)

    We never used their pool.

  • Shawna T.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 18, 2025

    chainolakes

    Camp out

    I loved how neighborly and extremely kind our camping neighbors were. Even though we were close in proximity to eachother, everyone remained respectful of the noise and helped eachother as much as we could. Good little camping trip community. Had a great experience

  • L
    Aug. 18, 2025

    Johnny Appleseed Campground

    Great location, but no privacy

    The campground is almost in the middle of Fort Wayne. Most of the sites are very close and no vegetation to allow any privacy. On the positive side, the bathrooms were very nice and clean. The staff was also very helpful.

  • Paula  S.
    Aug. 11, 2025

    Blue Water Campground

    Our stay at bluewater

    The staff is extremely friendly, and try to accomadate with anything you could need. The campesites are fairly large with gravel pads. They offer water and electric hook-up for 30&50 amps. There is not a sewer hook up but they do offer a weekly pump out for a small fee and a dump station on the way out. The pool, ponds, playground and pavillion are all within walking distance from almost any site.

  • Don H.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 6, 2025

    Ottawa Metro Park Campground

    Most Excellent Municipal Campground

    This is a beautiful, peaceful campground that's not a parking lot like many city campgrounds. It's clean as clean can be, including the bathrooms. The bath house has men's and women's bathrooms as well as a largish entry room with water fountains (one accessible to those in a wheelchair or child), a vending machine, information about the park, an event calendar, and brochures. While we were there, there was a Blue Grass music event scheduled at the nearby amphitheater.

    I was very impressed with the design of the restrooms regarding accessibility. I don't have a physical disability, but I always consider what the experience would be for someone who does. Everything in the bathrooms was intentionally designed for accessibility, not a thoughtless retrofit. The accessible shower is amazing.

    The campground is first-come first serve, but don't worry about getting a site. There are plenty. Pick up a registration envelope from the mailbox at the entrance sign, complete the triplicate form and follow the instructions. Money and form goes into an envelope and is dropped into the payment slot at the bathhouse.

    If you need firewood, there is an open shed to get some, and instructions on how to pay for it. This is so smart to keep people from bringing in and using their own possibly infested firewood.

    There is a dumpster and water available between sites. Each site comes with a picnic. And the fields around the park are filled with bunnies!

    The sites are well spaced and beautifully maintained. We picked site 30 because it had ample trees on its west side to create nice shade in the afternoon.

    A very relaxed, nice park host lives onsite. The entire vibe is chill. It seems to be run more like in an honor system, but they do have rules. Honor the rules to keep this campground special.

    This campground is only one part of a larger Metro park with lots to offer. Pick up a copy of the booklet (in the bath house) about the entire park system and what it offers.

    The price when we stayed was $30/night with a $5 discount for seniors, and a limit of 30 days (which is incredibly generous).

    We stayed for 11 nights and will return again next time we're traveling through this area.


Guide to Spencerville

Camping near Spencerville, Ohio, offers a mix of beautiful landscapes and fun activities for everyone. Whether you're looking for a peaceful getaway or an adventure-filled weekend, there are several campgrounds to choose from.

What to do

  • Fishing and boating: Many campers enjoy the water activities available at Grand Lake St. Marys State Park. One visitor mentioned, "The site has a large side and backyard with a great view of the lake." This makes it a perfect spot for fishing or just relaxing by the water.
  • Hiking: Trails are abundant in the area. A review for Kiser Lake State Park Campground highlights, "This park is known for the lake that is kayak and canoe friendly since it doesn’t allow any kind of boat with a motor."
  • Wildlife watching: Campers at Ouabache State Park Campground appreciate the natural surroundings. One camper noted, "The bison exhibit and ranger programs are great too."

What campers like

  • Clean facilities: Campers often mention the cleanliness of restrooms and shower facilities. A visitor at Indian Lake State Park Campground said, "The campground is nice, clean restrooms and showers. Plenty of shade."
  • Friendly staff: Many reviews highlight the helpfulness of campground staff. One camper at Buck Creek State Park Campground shared, "We were incredibly impressed with the kind staff."
  • Family-friendly activities: Campgrounds like Lake Loramie State Park Campground offer playgrounds and fun activities for kids. A visitor mentioned, "The kids loved the playground and had fun at the Fun Field Day activities!"

What you should know

  • Reservation requirements: Many campgrounds require reservations, especially during peak seasons. A camper at Indian Lake State Park Campground noted, "The online reservation system is clumsy to use at best."
  • Noise levels: Some campgrounds can get noisy, especially on weekends. A review for Indian Lake State Park Campground mentioned, "No one seemed to care about the 10 pm quiet time."
  • Limited amenities: Campgrounds like Van Buren State Park Campground may have fewer amenities. A visitor said, "Difficult to get potable water. Only electric on the sites."

Tips for camping with families

  • Choose the right campground: Look for family-friendly options like Kiser Lake State Park Campground, which has activities for kids. One camper shared, "My kids always loved fishing here; it was a great place to hike as well."
  • Plan for noise: If your family prefers quiet, consider visiting during the week. A camper at Indian Lake State Park Campground mentioned, "It was busy & loud like you'd expect, but it was so rowdy we left early."
  • Pack snacks and drinks: Having food on hand can help keep the kids happy. A visitor at Lake Loramie State Park Campground enjoyed the nearby ice cream shop, saying, "We love the little ice cream shop/bait shop across the street."

Tips from RVers

  • Check site sizes: Make sure your RV fits the site dimensions. A review for Dayton KOA Holiday noted, "Plenty of length for our 45’ fifth wheel and dually truck."
  • Look for electric hookups: Many RVers prefer sites with electric hookups. A camper at Buck Creek State Park Campground appreciated the availability of electric sites.
  • Be prepared for limited services: Some campgrounds may not have full amenities. A visitor at Van Buren State Park Campground mentioned, "No showers, but clean and sturdy pit toilets with centralized well water."

Camping near Spencerville, Ohio, has something for everyone, from families to RV enthusiasts. Just be sure to plan ahead and choose the right spot for your needs!

Frequently Asked Questions

What camping is available near Spencerville, OH?

According to TheDyrt.com, Spencerville, OH offers a wide range of camping options, with 69 campgrounds and RV parks near Spencerville, OH and 2 free dispersed camping spots.

Which is the most popular campground near Spencerville, OH?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Spencerville, OH is Grand Lake St. Marys State Park — Grand Lake St Marys State Park with a 4.4-star rating from 14 reviews.

Where can I find free dispersed camping near Spencerville, OH?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 2 free dispersed camping spots near Spencerville, OH.