Boasting Ohio’s largest inland beach, Alum Creek State Park encompasses 4,630 acres of magnificent natural landscape for you to explore. Located in Central Ohio, the park has many forms of nature to showcase, including a freshwater lake, coastal beach, delightful coves, and rolling hills. The park is named after Alum Creek Lake, which is a large water reservoir that was established between 1970 and 1974 as a part of the Flood Act Control. Alum Creek Lake encompasses 3,387 acres and offers fishing, boating, swimming, and ice fishing. There are also some historical aspects to Alum Creek State Park as it's home to remnants of a North Carolina community of freed slaves that came to live in Ohio. Animals are abundant inside the park, and it is a natural habitat for many wild birds and animals. If you want to do some exploring within the forests, there are many picturesque trails to enjoy that are perfect for hiking and biking during the warmer months. The trail activity doesn't stop with the peak season; however, in the winter, the trails transform into ultimate snowmobiling terrain. The park also offers a campground that is great for beginner or experienced RV lovers, with 286 sites tucked in the woods. Sites range from electric-only to full hookup, so you will be able to enjoy a comfortable stay during your visit. The park is usually open for camping and other recreation throughout the year with summer, spring, and fall, bringing in the most visitors. The peak season at Alum Creek State Park is from April to October.
Alum Creek State Park is located 20 miles from the city center of Columbus, Ohio. You will have no trouble finding the park as it is heavily signed, and there are two direct routes you can take from either the I-71 or the Columbus Pike. All of the roads in and around the park are nicely paved, so you will have no problem driving from one location to another. Since the campgrounds are large enough to accommodate big rigs and trailers, the roads are designed for wider vehicles. The adequate space means that you won't have to worry about tight bends or switchbacks that could make driving difficult. During the wintertime, the park is known to have significant snowfalls, so you may have trouble accessing some of the roads if they have not been cleared. We recommend you call ahead to the park office if you are traveling during this time to ensure that you can still have some fun at Alum Creek State Park. Once you bring your rig to the park, you will find numerous parking options. There are parking lots outside the main entrance, outside each RV campground, and at trailheads.
If you want to stay outside of the park during your visit, you should consider checking out the Sunbury / Columbus North KOA. The campground has over 40 acres of woods and a five-acre fishing lake for you to enjoy. This KOA is known as a quiet campground, so it's the ideal place to stay if you like more peaceful camping locations.
The sites at Sunbury / Columbus North KOA are packed gravel and level so that you will have no issues setting up your camp. There are over 70 sites for you to call home, including some that offer full hookups. Other park amenities include very fast Wi-Fi, cable television, a petting zoo, a splash pad, and a gem mine. You can also take a dip in the heated swimming pool or exercise in the workout area. The campground is open from mid-April through mid-October, and reservations are highly encouraged as it is a popular campground.
Alum Creek State Park’s campground has reserved a spot for group campers in its large campground area. Scouts, large families, and groups of friends can reserve this area during the peak camping season. The group camping is only available via reservation, and you must book your site in advance. We recommend calling the park staff for more information about group camping if you are interested in an organized get together.
The Alum Creek Campground also offers an equestrian camping experience. If you are a horse lover, bring your horses and pitch a tent or park your camper in one of the park’s 30 equestrian campsites. These sites combine the delights of primitive and equestrian camping. Drinking water for horses is available, and there are restrooms, hot showers, and dumping stations for campers’ convenience. These sites can also be pre-booked, and they are large enough for up to six people.
Alum Creek State Park offers first-class RV camping amenities and facilities for campers year-round. The campground is located in the park’s wooded area and provides finely paved, widely spaced campsites. The campground offers a variety of camping sites, each having different facilities. You can pick whatever goes with your taste and comfort level. In total, 286 campsites have electric hookups, 24 of which also have full-hookups with 50-amp electric, water, and sewer hookups. Most of the sites are pet-friendly, and a maximum of six people are allowed on each site. The sites are spacious enough for RVs as large as 80 feet. The campground features modern restrooms, pit toilets, dump stations, and hot showers, all for your comfort and convenience. Complimentary free Wi-Fi is also available. There is a playground nearby as well as game courts and horseshoe pits for the family and kids to enjoy. Whether this is your first time on an RV holiday or you are a seasoned traveler, Alum Creek State Park Campground will take care of you and your needs.
An ideal way to explore all the nature in this magnificent state park is to check out the trail system. Alum Creek State Park offers nearly 10 miles of hiking trails, 38 miles of bridle trails, and 14.5 miles of mountain bike trails where you can explore park’s scenery while indulging in a recreational activity of your choice at the same time. The park’s terrains are meant for everyone, which includes hikers, walkers, mountain bikers, and horseback riders. Before hitting the multi-use trails, ensure you understand the right-of-way rules.
Alum Creek State Park has something to offer for RV lovers during every season. Once the snow starts to fall, you have the choice of many great winter recreational activities out on the lake as well as on land. The lake is an excellent place to do some ice fishing and ice skating, but make sure you check the ice depth levels before venturing out. There are also hiking trails that transform into cross country skiing and snowshoeing terrain once the snow is deep enough. You can even go snowmobiling, too, if you are a daredevil and like faster-moving activities.
Alum Creek State Park is home to many beautiful wild creatures. Visitors can expect to see white-tailed deer, raccoons, or some carefree squirrels hopping around the park. Many areas of the park are home to various bird species, including osprey, warblers, woodpeckers, sandpipers, herons, eastern wood peewees, king birds, and bald eagles. On the lake, you may get to catch glimpses of wood ducks, turtles, and water snakes. The park also offers hunting as part of its allowed recreational activities. Bring your naturalist's guide with you to see how many animals you can spot.
Fishing is a great option at Alum Creek Lake as the water is teeming with different fish species, such as bluegill, largemouth and smallmouth bass, crappie, sunfish, channel catfish, walleye, and muskellunge. Fishing can be done from the banks of the lake or on a boat if you want to escape the noise of the shoreline. We recommend fishing in a narrow cove as this is usually where the fish like to hang out. You will need a valid Ohio fishing license before you cast your line, so make sure to purchase one before you head to the water.
If you didn't get a reservation, the Alum Creek Campground has a few sites set aside as first-come, first-served spaces. Although these sites are available on a first-come, first-served basis, we wouldn't recommend trying your luck at securing one because of the park's popularity. If you have good luck, get to the park early to better your chances of finding availability. Any campsites not reserved roll over to first-come, first-served for same-day camping.
If you want a more luxurious stay, the park also offers five cabins in the woods. Known as unique getaway sites, there are three one-room cabins that can sleep up to three people in the bunk and single bed. Two of the cabins feature two rooms and can sleep up to four people thanks to the addition of another bed. All of the cabins have electricity, air conditioning, and heat. There is a refrigerator in the kitchen, but no other modern amenities like showers or toilets. The bathhouses aren't too far away, and those staying in the cabins can use the facilities in the campground. Reservations are a must if you want to secure one of these cabin sites, as they are always in high demand. Please note that housekeeping is not provided at the cabins, and you will have to bring your own cooking utensils.
Alum Creek State Park hosts many events and festivals all year long, with the most notable festivals coming during the park’s peak season. A few examples of the park’s colorful festivals are the Memorial Day Campout, Fall Fest, and the many fishing tournaments the park hosts. There are also many starry movie nights, night hikes, seminars, and themed decorations to enjoy during your stay. These festivals and events attract plenty of RV families from near and far and are considered to be the park’s highlight when it comes to recreation and entertainment.
If you are looking to take a relaxing picnic during your RV trip to Ohio, Alum Creek State Park has a few picnic tables laid out on the shores of the lake. The crystal waters of the lake and the sandy beach provide a perfect backdrop for this family-friendly picnic location. There are also three group day-use picnic shelters available for pre-booking in the Below Dam Area. While picnicking with friends or family in the shade of maple and beech trees and mesmerizing wildflowers, you can also indulge in a few fun sports. The beach has a beach volleyball court, a playground for kids, and horseshoe pits.
One of the best ways to spend your summer days at Alum Creek State Park is by going for a swim at the beach. The lake is home to the largest inland beach within the state park system in Ohio and features 3,000 feet of sand for you to relax at or sunbathe on. There are also some great amenities at the beach area, including volleyball courts, bathhouses, and snack stands. The beach is only open from dawn to dusk, and pets are not allowed.
The 3,387-acre Alum Creek Lake is also a fantastic destination for those looking to get out and explore the lake via watercraft. There are five boat ramps available for you to use that are perfect for launching boats of any size as there are no horsepower restrictions on the lake. If you want to leave your boat out on the lake, you can do so at one of the many mooring docks. Overnight boat camping is also allowed in some of the coves. If you need to rent anything, the marina rents both motorized and non-motorized boats.
