Alum Creek State Park Campground welcomes pets at all campsites, RV spaces, and cabin accommodations. This popular destination maintains dedicated pet areas with waste disposal stations and offers spacious sites where dogs can remain with their owners during outdoor activities. Cross Creek Camping Resort provides similar pet-friendly options with the addition of a small, clean dog park for off-leash exercise. Most campgrounds in the area require pets to be leashed when outside vehicles or tents, with leashes typically limited to 6 feet in length. Common restrictions include a maximum of 2-3 pets per site, and campers must present proof of current vaccinations upon request. While tent camping with dogs remains popular, many visitors prefer the pet-friendly cabins during cooler months or inclement weather. The roads are tight and sites somewhat close together at several campgrounds, requiring careful management of excitable dogs. Campgrounds near Worthington, Ohio are listed with photos on The Dyrt.
Hiking trails surrounding Alum Creek State Park provide excellent exercise opportunities for dogs, with most requiring leashes no longer than 6 feet. The park's unique dog beach allows supervised water access, a feature frequently mentioned in visitor reviews. Campers should note that extreme weather conditions can impact pet comfort, particularly during summer months when temperatures can rise quickly inside tents or vehicles. Most campgrounds enforce quiet hours that apply to barking dogs, and owners are expected to clean up immediately after their pets. Basic pet supplies can be purchased at camp stores, though selection is limited primarily to essentials like waste bags and basic treats. Wildlife encounters are possible, so owners should maintain control of pets at all times, especially during dawn and dusk hours when animal activity increases. The fenced dog areas at several locations provide secure spaces for pets to run off-leash after long car journeys.
$23 - $70 / night
"This was the only park we’ve gone to this uear with both a large dog park AND a fenced in dog beach! Folks were friendly at the dog park with bunches of chairs set around like a conversation pit."
"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."
$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."
"Small dog park. Normal size lots for an RV park. Super crowded on a summer weekend. All size rvs and also tent campers. Easy to find."
$39 - $40 / night
"Lots of hiking trails, stocked fishing pond for kids, disc golf, dog park and the lake itself.
Site 187 this trip.""It’s close to home, but more importantly it has great trails and wooded sites. Winter camping has several sections of the park closed, only 1 shower house open and no camp hosts or camp store."
$60 / night
$38 / night
"This place is huge, tons of paths for walking and exploring. Also features mini golf, volleyball, basketball, an in-ground pool and a pond."
"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."
"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!"
"Conveniently located to Columbus. Lots of seasonal campers. Only gray water hook up available."
"No driving your vehicle any further than the bottom of the hill. Great location, very beautiful. Spacious in between 5 campgrounds and right next to the Scioto River."
"Got lucky and found an opening for site 5 which was right on river and away from the busier parts of park - didn’t see a single person. Nice tent pads, campfire ring, and provided wood."
$15 - $38 / night
"Walking path and playground are adjacent to the campground. There is a nice swimming pool at the south end of the village park. Campers get a discounted admission."
"Not a sightseeing destination, but very convenient place to stop for the night if you’re on a road trip doing a lot of driving. Safe neighborhood with a kroger right down the street."
$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"
TravelerOnly weekend stays and it ends in wintertime. I’m sure it’s pretty and all, but it’s hard to find legit, free dispersed camping in Ohio! Oh well, rest stops always work for car camping.
GuideThis was the only park we’ve gone to this uear with both a large dog park AND a fenced in dog beach! Folks were friendly at the dog park with bunches of chairs set around like a conversation pit. Lots of water and dog tennis balls were available.
The dog beach was fenced so your dog can be off leash. There is even a fenced in area out in the water to keep the pooches from swimming across the Lake chasing geese.
The campground itself was quite nice and spacious. Some of the most private camping sites I’ve seen in Ohio. Shower facilities we a bit above average mad seemed to be looked after at least once a day (we were there in the off season).
IMHO, one of the nicest campgrounds in the state.
ScoutWe stayed two nights here on our tour of Ohio. After staying in state parks, the narrow sites are close with no privacy. Our pull through site was on the (inner) road, so lots of golf carts, cars and campers passing by. All pull through sites are on the road side. The site is not level and our leveling system has the front wheels off the ground. Many full time units here beautiful patios and decor. Staff is nice and friendly. Trash pickup isn’t offered and the walk to dumpster would be excessive for unfit or handicapped. We would stay again. Amenities are clean, as described and dog Park is immaculate but small.
GuideAlum 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.
The campground has good sized sites and is wooded throughout with clean bath houses, well maintained roads, and easy access for big rigs.
There is also a very nice dog park in the park including dog beaches with lake access for your pups to swim.
We love this campground and the beautiful lake and appreciate the easy access to local attractions, shopping, and more.
LegendLots of room! Privacy, some sites have accommodations for several tents as well as full hook up for campers. Some are adjacent to the playground There are tons of things to do: Miniature golf Disc golf BMX trails Small dog park Golf course Horse camp
TravelerAlum Creek is just beautiful, nice sites, most of them are at least partially shaded, lots of woods, hiking trails, the lake, it is what I think of when I think of State Park campground camping in Ohio. There are a couple problems. 1. Only ONE little dump station. This is a big campground, so if you're leaving Sunday, you better get up at the crack of dawn to get to the station, otherwise be prepared to wait in a long long line of RV's. We by-passed the long line and stopped at a different State Park campground on the way home and paid 10.00 to use their dump station. 2. They never answer their phone at the campground office. I mean NEVER. If you have a question you will just have to deal with the reserveamerica people who really know nothing other than what they read on the campground website. So basically you know as much as they do. It's maddening. We will go back, but it's a 2 hour drive so it won't be anytime soon.
Scoutgreat state park campground. There are some full hook ups but mostly just electric. They have pancake breakfast on Saturday mornings through summer and doughnuts on Sunday. Helpful camphost. There is a campground beach and boat launch. Lost of hiking paths in the campground and in the park area. A great dog park with lake entrance for the pups. tmThere is also some mountain bike trails. Plenty to do for everyone.
ScoutIn addition to having a pretty lake, lovely campsites that are spread apart nicely, clean facilities, lots of shade, boat ramps, etc.. this park is unique for it's Dog Park facility.
2 large fenced in field areas. One for small dogs, and one for large. There is enough room for several games of dog frisbee to happen at once. Then, there are 2 large fenced in areas for lake access. Balls, dog doo bags, trash bins.. all there. Lots of shade, water fountains, and plenty of running room. I can't rave about this park enough!
The only downside is there is poison ivy lacing the trail from the campsite down to the water, and the Dog Park portion is about 2 miles from the campsites.
Alum Creek State Park
Campground details
ScoutVery clean, well maintained. A lot of nearby activity, private and open sites, lake, beach, trails, marina, bikes, putt putt, dog park, playground, laundry, water close, electric at sites, many "comfort stations" "wash houses" so not far from one.
Campgrounds near Worthington, Ohio offer varied terrain with rolling hills and wooded areas across central Ohio's moderate climate zone. The area sees warm summers with average July highs of 85°F and cold winters with January lows near 20°F. Most campgrounds sit at elevations between 800-1000 feet above sea level, creating natural drainage that helps sites dry quickly after rainfall.
Hiking trails: The 5-mile loop trail at A.W. Marion State Park Campground provides both hiking and mountain biking opportunities beside the lake. "Plenty of space and shade in non-electrical campsite for a hot summer day... Clean well lit vault toilets," notes Karen K., who found the campground convenient for Columbus access.
Fishing access: Fish at the stocked pond at Cardinal Center Campground where you can enjoy catch-and-release fishing alongside other activities. "They have a nice fishing pond, stocked with fish that has gazebo overlooking the pond," reports Kelly L., who visited during Fall Fest weekend when special activities were available.
Backpacking practice: Reserve one of five backpacking sites along the river trail at Scioto Grove Metro Park to test gear before bigger adventures. "Great if you're looking to test out some new backpacking gear... they all have tent pads and a fire pit, besides that they're totally primitive," explains Zach, highlighting the park's utility for gear testing.
Privacy between sites: Alum Creek State Park Campground offers natural separation between camping spots. "The camp sites are spacious and private, surrounded by trees and brush," says Catherine, who noted that "beautiful walking trails" add to the appeal but popular lakefront sites are typically taken by seasonal campers.
Indoor pool access: Families appreciate the year-round indoor pool at Cardinal Center Campground. "They have a nice indoor pool and shower rooms attached," shares Andrea F., who visited during Thanksgiving when they "practically had the park to ourselves" and found the shower facilities particularly clean and convenient.
Easy site selection: The primitive section at A.W. Marion State Park includes standout sites for tent campers. "Site #9 is probably the biggest in the primitive section... has plenty of room for a few small tents and it's also close to the flush toilets," reports Cassandra C., who appreciated the flush toilets as "a nice change from pit toilets."
Site spacing considerations: Cross Creek Camping Resort is popular but sites can feel close together. "Sites are spaced fairly well but fully open to each other," notes Bruce K., who appreciated the "nice grass for your tent and plenty of shade" but found traffic noise bothersome.
Weather impacts: Rainy weather can affect some camping areas in the region. At Alum Creek, "Be careful with rainy weather, some sites have flooded in poor weather," warns Katelyn P., suggesting campers check weather forecasts and select elevated sites when possible.
Reservation challenges: Popular backpacking sites at Scioto Grove Metro Park fill quickly. "Need to reserve online, books up very fast. Got lucky and found an opening for site 5 which was right on river and away from the busier parts of park," shares Anna S., who appreciated not seeing "a single person" during her stay.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Worthington, OH?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Worthington, OH is Alum Creek State Park Campground with a 4.4-star rating from 80 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Worthington, OH?
TheDyrt.com has all 76 dog-friendly camping locations near Worthington, OH, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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