4 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Van Buren State Park Campground features horse camping facilities with recently added pens for horse containment, eliminating the need for tying horses. The campground provides electric hookups at most sites, though some may not have functioning electricity. Clean pit toilets are available, but the campground lacks shower facilities. The camping area includes two loops of sites situated on flat, shaded terrain. A playground is located near the campsites, making it convenient for families with children. The horse camp area is separate from the main camping loops. Sites must be reserved in advance online or by phone, as walk-ins are not accepted. The RV dump station is located in a different section of the park from the campground.
Waterloo Recreation Area's Sugarloaf Modern Campground offers additional horse camping opportunities within driving distance. The park contains dirt trails suitable for riding and hiking. Most campsites receive full sun exposure, though some sites offer more shade and tree cover. The campground features grassy sites with electrical hookups and allows alcohol. Sites are relatively close together, particularly in the 60-72 range, which are more suitable for tents than RVs due to uneven terrain. The camp includes a sandy beach area with clear water for swimming, plus a playground and volleyball net. Mosquitoes can be problematic in the evenings, particularly during summer months. The modern bathhouse provides clean facilities for campers.
"Since Van Buren State park is an easy 20 minutes away from home for me, i visit there often. it is clean and quiet, they dont get too busy and loud."
"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."
from $35 / night
Check Availability"Lots of trails within reach and a horse riding stable if that is your thing. Heard lots of wolves, saw lots of tracks but no animals. I’d like to go back in the spring and hike around some more!"
"It is usually easy to get multiple sites next to each other with reservations.
There is a decent sandy beach here with a playground and volleyball net."
"Friendly staff, clean park, close to supermarkets and other food locations. RV repair and sales nearby. I got lucky and woke up to a horse and dog competition at no extra cost to me."
"Nice campgrounds easy to get around and my children loved it"
TravelerFriendly staff, clean park, close to supermarkets and other food locations. RV repair and sales nearby. I got lucky and woke up to a horse and dog competition at no extra cost to me.
ScoutSince Van Buren State park is an easy 20 minutes away from home for me, i visit there often. it is clean and quiet, they dont get too busy and loud. the horse camp is nice with some new pens to keep your horse instead of them having to be tied up. They keep the restrooms clean, but no flush toilets, which dont bother me. My only complaint about Van Buren State park is that there are no shower facilities.
LegendThis is a typical fairground campground with open grassy areas for campsites surrounded by barns and tracks. The fairgrounds is located just off I-94 which makes for easy entrance and exit to the campground, but, means there is lots of road noise. Close by are plenty of stores, restaurants, gas stations, etc. In fact, there is a gap in the fence that runs around the fairgrounds allowing you to walk to a Walmart, McDonalds, Dunkin Donuts, and more.
We arrived without a reservation and the women in the office was very helpful providing a map with all available sites during our stay and letting us choose which one we wanted. One of the first things you notice is that a number of people are here long-term so we went to the back area hoping it would be quieter and less crowded. A number of the campsites are “buddy” sites meaning your patio opens to your neighbors so be careful which one you pick. This is pretty undesirable when the neighbor is a total stranger so we chose a site where we didn’t have anyone next to us.
They offer 50 amp full hook-up sites, 50 amp/water, and 30 amp/water sites with pull-thru and back-in options. There is a dump station located in the middle of the park which is easy to get to. The roads are wide and a lack of trees makes this campground accessible for any size RV. The sites are level but some lack grassy making the patio pretty dusty or muddy. Unfortunately, where we were was pretty muddy just after a light rain. This campground works best for RV’s and not tents. For tenters there is a designated section that is set in a corner of the park with large trees for shade but not much privacy between you and others. A water spigot is in the tent area and there was one picnic table. The camp office sells firewood but we only saw two fire pits in the whole park. Be aware that noise from the interstate and nearby train tracks may make for a restless night. Bathrooms are centrally located in the campground and were old and tired but relatively clean. On-site laundry is available.
Apparently, management is having some issues with campers not obeying some of the rules. One of the sad things about this campground is that campers have to be reminded to clean up after their dogs. Apparently, it is such an issue that we got a letter stating that if you don’t pick up your dogs poop you would be asked to leave. How sad is that? There is free WiFi which worked pretty well. Upon checking in, we had to sign a piece of paper stating that we would not download copyrighted material or stream movies or we would be asked to leave.
My favorite aspect of this campground is that they had a community garden that you were welcome to pick from. We got tomatoes, Swiss chard, peppers, broccoli, and more. Overall, this campground was fine for the few nights we were here and close to the attractions we wanted to visit. We never felt unsafe even though it was close to major cities. We chose this campground because we wanted to go to Ann Arbor and Dearborn and it was a very convenient location.
Pros:
· Good location if you want to visit Ann Arbor and Dearborn
· Close to interstate for easy access
· Long, level sites that will fit any RV
· Community garden you can pick from vegetables
· Stores and restaurants are nearby (some within walking distance)
Cons:
· Lots of road noise from I-94
· No trees for shade or privacy
· Would not recommend for tent camping
· Many campers are long-term
· “Buddy” campsites with patios facing each other
LegendWe 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.
TravelerWe stayed during the week for one night. Campground was clean and quiet, had electric hookups at most sites. Host was very friendly. They also have a camp area for horses. Only criticism is you have to drive to another area of the park for an RV dump.
TravelerCampground is small but well maintained. Hiking is great. Probably better for people with horses. Electric did not work at all sites. Pit toilets did not seem sufficient for all camp sites.
GuideHad the pleasure of visiting first weekend in February, on the coldest weekend of the year! Nice little cabin set in about 800’ from where you park. It has a table, wood stove, and 4 sets of bunks in a back room. Lots of trails within reach and a horse riding stable if that is your thing. Heard lots of wolves, saw lots of tracks but no animals. I’d like to go back in the spring and hike around some more! Pro tip for cold nights is to block the back room and sleep in the main area-
RangerVan Buren State Park is very easy to access from I-75. It has tons of trails and a pond. There are a few places to car camp or RV camp nearby. I love getting out of town and visiting Van Buren State Park, and I have lots of good memories. It gets 4 stars because I now live in Montana and Montana camping outshines Ohio, but I can't bash on Van Buren State Park at all.
RangerThis is a nice place to camp if you dont mind the bigger parks. There is electrical on each site and is mostly a place for campers and RVs. There are fire pits and picnic tables at each site. It is usually easy to get multiple sites next to each other with reservations.
There is a decent sandy beach here with a playground and volleyball net. Also in the park are some small dirt trails for hiking and biking. There are enough loops here to go for walks as well.
Most of the sites are in the sun, but there are a few sites with more shade and tree cover.
Van Buren State Park Campground and Waterloo Recreation Area's Sugarloaf Modern Campground provide notable horse camping facilities near Sylvania, Ohio. Both locations offer specific accommodations for riders seeking equestrian-friendly camping options in northwest Ohio. The parks maintain trail systems suitable for horseback riding through various terrain types including woodlands and open fields.
Winter recreation opportunities: Van Buren State Park remains open year-round with seasonal activities. As Kevin T. notes, "I came cross country skiing here in early January and it was absolutely amazing. It is cold but the terrain is simple for first time skiers."
Hiking and riding trails: The park system features dirt trails for both hiking and horseback riding. These trails wind through wooded areas and open spaces, providing varied terrain for outdoor activities.
Swimming and water activities: Waterloo Recreation Area offers water recreation at its beach area. According to Kevin C., the park has "a nice swimming area in crystal clear water," making it ideal for summer visitors looking to cool off.
Playground amenities: Families appreciate the accessible recreation facilities. Scott F. mentions, "Kids loved having the playground so close to the camper," making it convenient for parents to supervise children while at camp.
Site layout and accessibility: Many campers value the practical arrangement of the camping areas. As Jonah H. notes, "The property is very well maintained with a nice park and clean bathrooms. The campground has some nice full-grown trees, but isn't extremely wooded."
Privacy options: Some sites offer more seclusion than others. Brendan V. advises, "Some of the sites are small so you have to be careful which you site you reserve if you're a tent camper. The outside of the circle is your best bet and there's a few scattered in the middle."
Seasonal considerations: Operating seasons vary by location. Wayne County Fairgrounds RV Park closes during winter months as one camper discovered: "I arrived for a 2 week stay in the area on 11/12. I discovered this campground was closed for the season."
Bathroom facilities: Restroom options differ between parks. At Van Buren, Angie B. points out, "They keep the restrooms clean, but no flush toilets, which dont bother me. My only complaint about Van Buren State park is that there are no shower facilities."
Electrical connections: Hookups may not be reliable at all sites. As Alysha W. notes, "Electric did not work at all sites. Pit toilets did not seem sufficient for all camp sites."
Beach activities: Waterloo Recreation Area offers water recreation suitable for children. Kim S. reports, "Spent 4 nights and 5 days camping with my husband and 2 kids. We had fun and the kids had a blast. They rode bikes around the loop and loved swimming and the playground."
Playground proximity: Consider requesting sites near play areas when traveling with children. Sites positioned around the central playground area provide convenient supervision while still enjoying your campsite.
Loop riding: Paved camping loops provide safe areas for children to ride bikes away from vehicle traffic. The layout enables parents to monitor activity from their sites while children enjoy independent play.
Site dimensions: Van Buren State Park Campground has recently improved some sites. Shannon G. mentions, "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."
Dump station location: Plan ahead for sanitation needs. Nicole G. advises, "Only criticism is you have to drive to another area of the park for an RV dump."
Site selection for larger vehicles: Some areas present challenges for bigger rigs. Beth G. cautions, "Site was a little small for our 38foot - we had to go sideways which opened us up to other campers. Not my favorite."
Utilities availability: Most sites provide electric only. As Martin W. notes about Waterloo, "Absolutely love this place. Only downfall is no water hookups on site."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Sylvania, OH?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Sylvania, OH is Van Buren State Park Campground with a 4-star rating from 12 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Sylvania, OH?
TheDyrt.com has all 4 equestrian camping locations near Sylvania, OH, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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