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Best Campgrounds near Vandalia, OH

575 Reviews

The western Ohio landscape surrounding Vandalia offers diverse camping experiences within a 30-mile radius. State parks, metropolitan parks, and private campgrounds provide options ranging from primitive tent sites to full-service RV accommodations. Dayton KOA Holiday in nearby Brookville features over 200 sites with tent camping, RV hookups, and cabin rentals, while John Bryan State Park in Yellow Springs offers year-round camping with hiking and mountain biking trails. Five Rivers MetroParks maintains several campgrounds with varying levels of amenities, including Possum Creek Metro Park which provides tent and RV sites in a more natural setting. Buck Creek State Park north of Springfield offers lakeside camping with boat access, fishing opportunities, and both tent and RV sites.

Reservations are essential at most campgrounds in the region, particularly during summer weekends and fall color season. According to camper Dave B., "Autumn is the best time to camp in Ohio," a sentiment echoed by many visitors who appreciate the moderate temperatures and colorful foliage. Most state parks maintain shower facilities and restrooms, though quality varies by location. Five Rivers MetroParks provides complimentary firewood with campsite reservations, a unique amenity noted by several reviewers. Weather conditions can change rapidly, with summer thunderstorms and occasional flooding in spring. Winter camping is available at select locations like John Bryan State Park, though facilities may be limited during colder months.

Lakeside camping experiences receive consistently positive reviews from visitors to the area. Buck Creek State Park campers mention the well-maintained trails along the lake and beach access, though some note increased crowds during summer months. One reviewer cautioned, "There is a large influx of rowdy locals who don't quite respect the peace and quiet" during peak summer weekends. John Bryan State Park receives praise for its mountain biking trails, with one visitor noting they are "easy, so for all levels." Wildlife encounters are common throughout the region, with raccoons particularly active at John Bryan State Park. Campers seeking more privacy often recommend weekday visits when campgrounds are less crowded and quieter.

Map showing campgrounds near Vandalia, OhioExplore the Map

Best Camping Sites Near Vandalia, Ohio (99)

    1. Dayton KOA Holiday

    21 Reviews
    Brookville, OH
    10 miles
    Website
    +1 (937) 833-3888

    "They have a short path in the woods which is a nice little loop. Great location with lots to do!"

    "Best tent sites are 320 and the ones next to the creek. Quietest tent sites are 408, 409 and 410, but those are also furthest from the bathroom. Very clean showerhouses."

    2. John Bryan State Park Campground

    42 Reviews
    Yellow Springs, OH
    19 miles
    Website
    +1 (937) 767-1274

    "The campsite is next to the 12 mile set of mountain bike trails.  It is a great mountain biking/camping getaway.  The trails are easy, so for all levels.  Nice camping for families.  "

    "Great place to visit has three parks in one John Bryant and Glen Helen nature preserve and Clifton Gorge are some of the best hiking trails in south west Ohio."

    3. Caesar Creek State Park Campground

    52 Reviews
    Arkansas River - Pool 5, OH
    27 miles
    Website
    +1 (937) 488-4595

    $17 - $75 / night

    "There is a little store, but note that the firewood is in huge, unburnable pieces, (as most Ohio state park firewood is), so you'll need tons of kindling and several firestarters, or an ax and some way"

    "We stayed in Site 12, which was huge and conveniently located close to a fairly new shower house. That facility was among the very best I've seen! Amazingly clean!"

    4. Buck Creek State Park Campground

    33 Reviews
    Clarence J. Brown Dam and Reservoir, OH
    26 miles
    Website
    +1 (937) 322-5284

    $23 - $35 / night

    "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."

    5. Sycamore State Park Campground

    3 Reviews
    Brookville, OH
    9 miles
    Website

    "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."

    6. Wright-Patterson FamCamp

    2 Reviews
    Medway, OH
    8 miles
    Website
    +1 (937) 271-2535

    "If you are retired or active duty military, you have access to recreation sites maintained adjacent to many bases."

    7. Dayton Metro Parks (Five Rivers Metroparks)

    8 Reviews
    Germantown, OH
    19 miles
    Website

    $15 - $28 / night

    "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"

    8. Possum Creek Metro park (Five Rivers Dayton Metro Park)

    1 Review
    Liberty, OH
    11 miles
    Website
    +1 (937) 275-7275

    $15 / night

    "I spent my time at Argonne Lake but you will notice folks fishing at that lake and the other smaller lakes onsite. "

    9. On Cedar Pond

    1 Review
    Tipp City, OH
    11 miles
    +1 (937) 825-2626

    $45 - $50 / night

    10. Poor Farmer's Campground

    6 Reviews
    Fletcher, OH
    18 miles
    Website
    +1 (937) 368-2449
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Recent Camping Photos near Vandalia, OH

171 Photos of 99 Vandalia Campgrounds

Recent Reviews near Vandalia, OH

575 Reviews of 99 Vandalia Campgrounds

  • Rebecca H.
    Sep. 9, 2025

    Wapakoneta KOA

    Out Standing

    Wonderful facility! Pool, pool table, games for kids and adults. The grounds are beautiful and the staff is super friendly and helpful! Oh and in the laundry room they even have a sink for washing dishes! Great for tent campers ar those with small units that don't have kitchens.

  • Kara S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 6, 2025

    Stonelick State Park Campground

    Big sites but can be loud and crowded

    Nice big sites, fairly level. We camped at site 35 and it was very slopey, our levelers only helped a little. First night the shower house STUNK but then the next day it smelled fine while our closest bathrooms were out of order. The trail to the lake was right next to the sit and that was lovely.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • Evan C.
    Aug. 18, 2025

    Jim Terrell Park

    Looks Good!

    8/13/2025

    NOTE: I did NOT stay here. I was going to, but decided to drive a little farther than I had initially planned. I did want to check it out though because there aren't many reviews. 

    This looks like a solid option to tent for a night though. The town looks very nice and quiet, and the park seems well-kempt. If the sites are on the river, just know there's a restaurant on the opposite bank that might be a source of noise/light at night, and the park itself is kind of close to the road. I'm not exactly sure where one would tent, but there did seem to be some flat space behind a rafting/kayaking shack to the left as you pull in.

  • Kim H.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 10, 2025

    Cowan Lake State Park Campground

    Sizeable Site, Good for Families

    We stayed in Site 78. The lot was VERY large and well maintained. The asphalt pad was decently level; a picnic table and fire ring were included.

    There was significant variety in the types of sites: some were quite wooded while others were full sun. Some sites were much larger than others.

    The restrooms were decent. They weren't new; however, they were very clean. I didn't check out any bath houses.

    The campground was filled with parents and kids riding bikes, playing, and having fun. Nobody was out of control or obnoxious. Plenty of dogs were present.

    We'll return next summer.

  • K
    Aug. 8, 2025

    Cedarbrook Campground

    Wonderful stay w one hiccup

    This is a very well managed and maintain campground except the laundry facility. Washers are old and bed bugs were found. If you stick to your own camper you will be safe. Any campground that has cabins will have bedbugs. That’s a fact!

Guide to Vandalia

Camping near Vandalia, Ohio, offers a variety of experiences for outdoor enthusiasts. From spacious campgrounds to beautiful lakes, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.

What to do

What campers like

  • Clean Facilities: Campers appreciate the well-maintained restrooms and showers. A visitor at Caesar Creek State Park Campground said, "The showers are clean and the staff is friendly."
  • Spacious Sites: Many campgrounds offer plenty of space between sites. A reviewer at East Fork State Park Campground mentioned, "Neighbors weren’t sitting on top of one another."
  • Friendly Staff: Campers often highlight the helpfulness of campground staff. One camper at Cowan Lake State Park Campground said, "Campground staff and volunteers are amazing! Friendly atmosphere beautiful scenery."

What you should know

  • Reservation Fees: Some campgrounds charge a reservation fee. A camper at Indian Lake State Park Campground noted, "The online reservation system is clumsy to use at best."
  • Noise Levels: Be prepared for noise, especially on weekends. A visitor at Deer Creek State Park Campground mentioned, "It was busy & loud like you'd expect."
  • Wildlife: Raccoons can be a nuisance at some campgrounds. One camper at John Bryan State Park Campground warned, "The sheer number and boldness of raccoons...freaked the kids out."

Tips for camping with families

  • Choose Family-Friendly Campgrounds: Look for campgrounds with playgrounds and activities. A camper at Winton Woods Campground said, "The park is clean, neat, with lots of wooded sites!"
  • Plan for Activities: Bring bikes for the trails. A visitor at Hueston Woods State Park Campground mentioned, "Great recreational activities."
  • Pack Snacks: Keep snacks handy for the kids. A camper at East Fork State Park Campground noted, "Watch out for the yellow jackets!"

Tips from RVers

  • Check Site Lengths: Make sure your RV fits the site. A reviewer at Stonelick State Park Campground advised, "Some sites are really short. Be sure to check the pad length."
  • Use Electric Hookups: Many campgrounds offer electric sites. A camper at Buck Creek State Park Campground mentioned, "The non-electric sites don't have a lot of space or privacy."
  • Be Mindful of Dump Stations: Know where the dump stations are located. A visitor at Cowan Lake State Park Campground noted, "Dump station is conveniently located in the center loop."

Camping near Vandalia, Ohio, provides a great mix of nature and community. Whether you're tent camping or RVing, there's a spot waiting for you!

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular campground near Vandalia, OH?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Vandalia, OH is Dayton KOA Holiday with a 4.2-star rating from 21 reviews.

What parks are near Vandalia, OH?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 15 parks near Vandalia, OH that allow camping, notably Clarence J. Brown Dam and Reservoir and West Fork of Mill Creek Lake.

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