11 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Sycamore State Park Campground offers 15 miles of horse trails that wind through wooded areas and open meadows near Springboro. Trail riders encounter varied terrain with challenging hills and water crossings throughout the designated bridle paths. The park maintains hitching posts at several trailheads and provides separate parking areas for horse trailers. Camping with horses at Sycamore requires advance reservations for the dedicated equestrian camping area, which features level ground and basic amenities. Great horse trails with moderate difficulty levels attract riders from across southwestern Ohio to this accessible camping location.
Located approximately 25 miles from Springboro, Cowan Lake State Park Campground offers additional horse-friendly camping options with access to multiple trail systems. The campground features spacious sites that can accommodate both camping equipment and horse trailers with ample parking areas. While the park does not offer permanent corrals or stalls, temporary containment systems are permitted in designated areas. Water access points for horses are available at several locations throughout the property. Riders appreciate the well-maintained trails that connect to neighboring properties, providing extended riding opportunities during daylight hours. The relatively flat terrain around Cowan Lake makes this an ideal location for less experienced riders and horses who prefer gentler terrain.
"This meant with two little ones we wouldn't have to constantly remind them to socially distance or put on masks. We were alone but had plenty of park supports."
"There's a great backpacking trail that's challenging and an easy middle meeting place for friends/family from Columbus and Cincinnati that can meet in Dayton Metroparks/Five Rivers - Germantown and take"
from $15 - $28 / night
Check Availability"Autumn is the best time to camp in Ohio. Lots of small bathrooms. Lake access. Only reason I didn't give it 5 stars was due to the fact there was no quick reentry."
"Cowan Lake State Park is near Wilmington, Ohio and they have been making a lot of improvements to the park. It is a great location between Cincinnati and Columbus with easy access from the highway. "
from $29 - $160 / night
Check Availability"The park is about 3000 acres with a beautiful sailing / fishing lake. There is a beautiful lodge and golf course, archery range, and plenty of hiking paths and equestrian paths."
"This camp ground is pretty standard for Ohio State Parks. It does have a cool new sleeping option. Yurts! We enjoyed our time in the yurt. "
from $27 - $100 / night
Check Availability"Tent/RV sites were level and had lots of Shade and trees for Hammocks. 1.7 mile paved walking trail is great for walking, running and biking. A short 18 hole Disc Golf course is close by."
"The location is located on the lake with access to put in a kayak or canoe. The bathrooms are clean, with private combined shower/dressing stalls."
"One loop is for equestrian camping but when we were there, I only saw one horse trailer, and the rest were occupied by RV campers. "
"This is your standard Ohio State Park campground. It has the usual parking, water, restrooms, camp store, and activities. East Fork is rather nice as it has the lake and long trails. "
from $39 - $52 / night
Check Availability"This park has such a variety of things to do. there’s a great disc golf course, really nice trails to hike with challenging hills and nice areas with shelters for grilling and parties and such."
from $23 - $200 / night
Check Availability"A well manicured campground just outside Dayton, easy to get to, back in pavement site with 30A electric, picnic table and fire pit. Plenty of potable water spigots around, just not at the site."
"I did not spend enough time here to give a thorough review, but what I will say is that this site is nice if you need a campsite for a couple nights while passing through Ohio."
from $29 - $160 / night
Check Availability"I came here and stayed in my tent (family had their horse trailer with camper) for a night during the chilly nights of October. I wish all campsites were like these - very, very spread out! "
"Short hike to the lake. Great beach area and shower facilities. Pet friendly, horse trails, camp store. Liberty is a short drive and has all essentials plus J’s Dairy Inn 🤤"
from $20 - $33 / night
Check Availability"I may be biased, with it being close to home, but they have a lot for the kids to do. Beach, volleyball net, playground. Plenty of water locations. For me the bathrooms are unusable."
"This park is know for the lake that is kayak and canoe friendly since it doesn’t allow any kind of boat with a motor. It also features a beach , 2 playgrounds and several hiking trails."
from $25 - $55 / night
Check Availability"Overnighted here with my horses on my way south for the winter, but will definitely be coming back and spending more time. Stall accommodations are excellent, even include bedding."
"Amazing place for the price and proximity to the city!! Just wish there was more hiking trails"
GuideAutumn is the best time to camp in Ohio. Lots of small bathrooms. Lake access. Only reason I didn't give it 5 stars was due to the fact there was no quick reentry. Had to wait for rvs in front of me to register.
LegendThis is part of the Dayton Metro Parks (Five Rivers Metro Parks) and it is at the Twin Creek metro park. This is an old boy scout camp (Camp Hook) back in the day.
During these COVID-19 times we wanted a place to park that wasn't the traditional Ohio State Parks camp site. We didn't want to share a common bathroom/bath house or playground area. We picked this as the Twin Creek camp site only has 3 camp sites within the park. Even then they are out of side from each other. You can somewhat hear the other two camp sites (rarely). This meant with two little ones we wouldn't have to constantly remind them to socially distance or put on masks. We were alone but had plenty of park supports. We had two great park volunteers/security stop by to make sure we had everything we need.
The nice thing about the Dayton metro parks is that each night in the front county camp sites they include a bundle of fire wood. This is not the small sad bundle that you often buy at gas stations or other markets. This is a huge bundle. It is dry and cut in an easy to use manner. It is also kept in a little box so it is dry even if you do have weather while camping. If you wish to add an additional bundle of firewood the price is very reasonable at $10.00. I do this every time I camp there to support their campsites/metro parks. I have yet to use up their firewood in the box when I camp for a whole weekend. It is also nice that we don't have to put it in our cars so less clean up after camping. It also helps with the whole burn local fire wood so you are not transporting bugs. Or you don't have to cross your fingers and hope someone close by sells firewood.
The nice thing about their site is the additional tables made it easy for us to socially distance. When I camp at local state parks and we only have one table it can be tricky to keep coolers, food, and people separated. We also were able to have kids do craft at one of the tables while we were preparing meals. This camp site is listed as a 10 person camp site. There is no water on site so make sure you bring all the water that you will need.
We also were able to hike the easy trails around the camp site. No need to put the kids in the car unless we wanted to. Which we still did:)
We drove into town and discovered a covered bridge that I had missed on an earlier camping trip. (Germantown). This town also has the Florentine which is one of the oldest inns in Ohio. It was closed while we were in town but it is well worth a stop. The town also has a community pool as well that you can buy a day pool pass.
The campsite does have two spots that would be neat for a wedding. You can reserve an amphitheater.
The campsites during peak season are $20 during week days and $28 for weekends. I still find this to be one of the best values for camping in Ohio. Especially, when you consider the level of privacy that you have on these sites. The vault toilets are one of the best as they are always clean. We have hand sanitizer and toilet paper. We didn't have to share our vault toilet with any other family units.
All of these small touches really made COVID-19 camping with kids much easier. We look forward to being back at this camp site in the fall.
Here is the website to make a reservation https://www.metroparks.org/rentals-permits/reserve-a-campsite/?id=786190&api=facilities&type=camp
GuideExpensive for what it has to offer. At 48.00 bucks a night yes they do have WIFI in the RV section. They do have concrete pads. It’s a shame they are worthless they are to small to park the average RV on an are on the wrong side of most rigs unless you pull in 1/2 the sites the electric is on the wrong side. The sites are gravel and not level the rest rooms are new and nice. The horse stalks are very nice. If you have a large horse trailer type camper your screwed the sites are small so that only leaves you with the RV sites that are a few 100 feet away from the stables If you want to walk threw the drainage ditch add about 300 ft if you don’t want to walk threw the muck. It’s a shame when they paved the entry road they didn’t spend a little more. “Grant money “ or tax money an do it properly. The main play ground is extremely nice. About 1/3 Mile walk. They do have a small playground in the rv section. For horses again they have a nice setup for big RVs it Sux they have a dump station. Situated in between the entry road to the Fkatwood rv section and equestrian area The main lake is nice you can rent kayaks canoes. Or use your own boat. The boat ramp is nice the other end of the lake at the flat wood rv section. Is t really a lake it’s a back water shallow mud hole depending on the time of the year. Mosquitoes the size of jet fighters. Will rather eat you alive or carry you off. “Lol sorry could t resist “ it gets bad the park is clean and well maintained Except for the camp sites
LegendCowan Lake State Park is near Wilmington, Ohio and they have been making a lot of improvements to the park. It is a great location between Cincinnati and Columbus with easy access from the highway. This is good if you want to meet with friends somewhat in between. It isn't too close to the highway so you don't hear the road noise as it is a few miles away but it is an easy drive to the park.
They have been revamping the Nature Center to make it more accessible to folks as they have recently added a ramp. The Nature Center actually has two buildings side by side used for different purposes. Then behind the Nature Center they have a location where several birds are located in cages. Then next to where the birds are kept you will notice a new paw print trail that is a short but informative hike.
The commissary has great pizza and ice cream. We also bought our firewood and ice from them as well. We didn't need to leave the park. We had a few trails to pick from and picked two of the shorter ones for members in our group.
The cabins have been revamped as well. They are all close to each other so if you wanted to have a family reunion or a get together this would be a great spot to do so. At the end of the main road it will lead you to the lake. You can use the dock to put your boat out (kayak and certain motor boats). Folks are fishing at the lake or simply enjoying the beauty of the lake.
The beach is simple but that is part of the charm. It is clean and we were able to swim on the hot days that we had while camping.
GuideCampgrounds we’re designed for pop up campers limited sites for RVs an Travel Trailers electric was dependable water at most sites plenty of tent sites. They have some equestrian sites and one or two trails For what it is a the location it’s not a bad place. We have camped there. Many many times. Really a good campground for new campers. Close to what ever you may have forgotten or need
GuideHueston Wood, a real gem. The park is about 3000 acres with a beautiful sailing / fishing lake. There is a beautiful lodge and golf course, archery range, and plenty of hiking paths and equestrian paths.
The biggest issue for us was the description of the site at C36 was nothing like the description. We approached the staff in the office and they expressed no concern in helping us. One camping family left due to the office staff's attitude.
Ok, now for the positive! We met one of the volunteers, Gary, who was able to find us a site to hold our 34 foot motorhome. He made our July 4th weekend, couldn't have been more accomodating.
Sites have 30A electric and there is plenty of potable water available around the campground, just not at the site. Each site has a fire ring and a picnic table. At the A and B loop there was plenty of space around the site to spread out.
The dump station is fairly new and can accommodate 2 RV's. Though most site are grass, some have gravel, but the A loop sites are full hookup and concrete or paved (but not all flat). When setting reservation and with an RV over 20ft, shoot for A or B loop.
The grounds are just beautiful, hiking trails great but not all marked well. A place we will return.
ScoutTHIS IS A GREAT PLACE TO JUST GET AWAY FROM EVERYTHING AND RELAX. IT IS BEAUTIFUL TERRAIN TO RIDE ATV'S, HORSES, YOU CAN HIKE, FLY KITES, BRING THE KIDS POWER WHEELS OR BIKES YOU CAN EXPLORE THE CREEK OR JUST SIT IN THE SHADE OR NEXT TO THE FIRE AND TAKE IT ALL IN. ITS STILL ONLY 10-15 MINS FROM TOWN IF YOU FORGOT SOME SUPPLIES.
TravelerI've stayed here in the past and Cowan Lake does not disappoint. The B site campground is all non-electric tent camping, and far enough away from the larger RV pads that it's a quiet little campsite! Also, these sites are super close to the bathrooms on the beach, which were very clean during our stay. I was incredibly impressed, because the beach gets pretty busy during the day. The beach itself was clean (for a lakeside beach- there are geese, it's Ohio) and the lake was gorgeous! I will say, the only MILD annoyance is that some of the other campers would drive to the parking lot in front of our campsite and park there into the evening hours to fish or head down to the docks. I'm an early riser, so the headlights and car doors slamming were mildly annoying after about 10p. Not enough to make me choose a different campsite, but worth noting. We rented a tandem kayak and explored the lake, and the equipment was all in good condition. The Commisary is pretty limited but they do have a small kitchen and ice cream, as well as the basics like firewood and ice, as well as the boat rentals. Overall, one of my favorite lakeside campgrounds!
LegendGeneral: Huge state park with over 400 sites. All are pet-friendly and electric. About 20 are FHU. While tent camping is permitted, certain sites are not recommended for it as there would be no place to pitch a tent. One loop is for equestrian camping but when we were there, I only saw one horse trailer, and the rest were occupied by RV campers.
Site Quality: All camper pads are paved and most appeared level or just very slightly sloped. A picnic table and fire ring complete the site. Some sites have more trees to provide privacy while others are closer together with little separation.
Bath/Shower House: Not all loops have their own bath house and the I loop where we stayed was one of them. We used the one in the H Loop. The bathhouses were clean, and the shower had nice hot water, however, it doesn’t seem like there were sufficient facilities for how large the campground was (H Loop had two showers, two toilets, and three sinks). Hooks or shelves would have been appreciated.
Activities/Amenities: Many activities can be enjoyed here including mini golf (small nine-hole course), soccer, basketball, tennis, volleyball, corn hole, boating, and bicycling. Playgrounds are in several loops (I saw them in C and G). Rentals are available but most are only in season (ended September 30). There is a nature center and several hiking or paved biking/walking trails. There is also a camper beach for boating and swimming.
When we reserved months earlier, we knew that our first night (a Saturday) was 100% full as we got the very last site. What we did not know is that there was a HUGE Halloween celebration complete with 30-40 decorated golf carts parading through the campground. The road was closed until 6:45 pm (we arrived around 7 pm) and cars lined both sides of the approximately two-mile road! If that's your thing, great but it wasn't necessarily ours!
I appreciate that this park encourages so much outdoor activity, but it is not very pedestrian-friendly. I walked the road from one end to the other and there was no shoulder and, in many spots, no place to safely step off into the grass. I’m guessing it is assumed you will either have a car or golf cart to get around.
One final note: for a park so close to a large city (Cincinnati), I was surprised the cell service was so lacking (on Verizon). We eked out one and occasionally two bars of 4G.
Equestrian camping near Springboro, Ohio provides access to diverse trail systems through rolling terrain with elevation changes between 700-900 feet above sea level. The Miami Valley region experiences moderate seasonal changes, with summer temperatures averaging 75-85°F and spring/fall offering ideal riding conditions in the 60-70°F range. Most horse-friendly campgrounds in the area remain open from April through November, with some limiting trail access during wet conditions.
Trail riding through wooded forests: Five Rivers Metropark offers extensive trail systems with varying difficulty levels. "This was a lovely backpacking trail that is both challenging while not being too hard for new backpackers. They provided a common cooking area between the backpacking sites. Logs to sit on and cooking surface," notes a camper at Dayton Metro Parks (Five Rivers Metroparks).
Fishing from horseback-accessible spots: Several parks allow fishing access near bridle trails. At Kiser Lake State Park Campground, "Super quiet, good fishing," reports a camper who appreciates the peaceful atmosphere while enjoying time on the water.
Seasonal equestrian events: Check park calendars for special riding events. "Outdoor expo," mentions a Five Rivers visitor who attended one of the many organized activities that occur throughout the season.
Explore historic features: Many trails pass notable landmarks. "We drove into town and discovered a covered bridge that I had missed on an earlier camping trip," explains a camper at Hueston Woods State Park Campground, highlighting how riders can incorporate historical points of interest into their trail routes.
Trail variety and difficulty options: Riders appreciate diverse terrain options. "There's a great backpacking trail that's challenging and an easy middle meeting place for friends/family from Columbus and Cincinnati that can meet in Dayton Metroparks/Five Rivers - Germantown and take on the TVT challenge, beautiful hike through hilly terrain, and great spots of overlooks," shares a rider about Five Rivers Metropark.
Well-maintained horse facilities: Quality accommodations for horses matter to equestrians. "Stall accommodations are excellent, even include bedding. The camp Ranger/host, Larry?, was incredibly helpful and kind," reports a visitor at A.J. Jolly Park & Campground.
Lake views from camping areas: Scenic water views enhance the camping experience. "I had spot 66 (non-electric standard) and I just had my tent and my car and I would definitely pick that spot again! It was absolutely stunning over looking the water with the trees turning colors," describes a Kiser Lake State Park Campground visitor.
Spacious sites for horse trailers: Room for equipment is essential. "I came here and stayed in my tent (family had their horse trailer with camper) for a night during the chilly nights of October. I wish all campsites were like these - very, very spread out!" explains a camper at Whitewater Memorial State Park Campground.
Water availability varies by campground: Plan accordingly for horse watering. "No water so bring your own and the latrine is an old one (cement blocks)," advises a camper at Dayton Metro Parks when discussing the backcountry sites.
Reservation requirements differ: Some parks require advance planning. "Must reserve online as they are still doing everything virtual," explains a camper at Buck Creek State Park Campground.
Seasonal trail conditions: Weather impacts trail access. "Heavy storms" and "heavy rains" are mentioned by several campers, indicating the need to check trail conditions before arrival.
Trail marking inconsistencies: Navigation challenges exist in some parks. "We did notice lots of downed trees on the poorly marked hiking trails. Some trails just started but no maps were around and no trails were blazed. It was hard to tell where we were headed or how long a trail was," reports a Kiser Lake visitor.
Playground proximity considerations: Choose sites near play areas. "The campground was filled with parents and kids riding bikes, playing, and having fun. Nobody was out of control or obnoxious," notes a visitor at Cowan Lake State Park Campground.
Bathroom facility assessment: Facility quality varies widely. "The new bathhouse is open year round," mentions a Kiser Lake camper, while another notes that "other bathrooms are pretty nasty," highlighting the importance of choosing sites near newer facilities when camping with children.
Organized activities for non-riders: Many parks offer alternatives for family members not horseback riding. "They do have activities throughout the day for kids on the weekends," shares a Kiser Lake visitor, mentioning the organized programming that keeps younger family members engaged.
Family-friendly equestrian loops: Some trail systems offer easier routes. "The relatively flat terrain makes this an ideal location for less experienced riders," notes a Buck Creek visitor discussing the beginner-friendly trail options.
Electric site selection for horse trailers: Choose appropriate hookup locations. "Site 60, 46 feet max length, ours 39. Just finished setting up. Internet here on t-moble 5G home is 90Mbps down and 6 to 20Mbps up," details a Cowan Lake camper, providing specific information about site dimensions and connectivity.
Equestrian campground road conditions: Access points vary in quality. "If you have a large horse trailer type camper your screwed the sites are small so that only leaves you with the RV sites that are a few 100 feet away from the stables," explains an A.J. Jolly camper, highlighting the practical challenges of navigating large rigs in some facilities.
Level site availability: Finding flat parking for large rigs matters. "Camp sites are all blacktop, level, and clean," reports a visitor to East Fork State Park Campground, noting the importance of proper surfaces for larger vehicles.
Hookup placement concerns: Utilities aren't always logically positioned. "Water hook ups are on the opposite side of electrical on several sites," warns an A.J. Jolly camper, reminding RVers to bring extra-length hoses and cords when visiting equestrian campgrounds.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Springboro, OH?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Springboro, OH is Dayton Metro Parks (Five Rivers Metroparks) with a 5-star rating from 8 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Springboro, OH?
TheDyrt.com has all 11 equestrian camping locations near Springboro, OH, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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