A Columbus Dad’s Weekend Radius: 6 Camp Destinations Close Enough to Test Gear for Real

I drove it so you don’t have to guess

Here’s the thing about being a camping dad in Columbus: you don’t have time for a six-hour drive to “get away.” Between soccer games, Saturday morning chores, and the general chaos of life with a 7- and 9-year-old, the perfect campsite is one that’s close enough that you still have energy to set up when you get there.

I’ve spent the last couple seasons testing what I call the “Columbus Weekend Radius”—places within about 90 minutes of home where I can run real gear tests without burning a whole tank of gas. These aren’t just spots I found on a map. They’re places I’ve dragged my family, weighed my gear, and taken notes on what actually works.

Here are six spots worth the drive, ranked by what they’re good for.

1. Alum Creek State Park — Closest Beach Escape

Drive time: 30 minutes north

Why it works for gear testing: Ohio’s largest inland beach gives you a controlled environment for testing anything water-adjacent . Want to know which camp shoes handle wet sand? Which quick-dry towel actually dries? This is your spot.

Family bonus: Clean beach, two playgrounds, volleyball courts, and food trucks on weekends. My kids don’t complain about the drive because they know we’re going to the beach .

Gear to test here:

• Camp chairs on sand vs. grass

• Water shoes and quick-dry towels

• Sun shelters that actually block Ohio sun

  

2. Deer Creek State Park — The Reliable All-Rounder

Drive time: 45–50 minutes south, near New Holland

Why it works: It’s got everything—swimming beach, camping, hiking, fishing—without being so crowded that you can’t think . The campground facilities are well-maintained, and the beach area is calm enough for kids.

Family bonus: Free beach access, picnic shelters, and nearby lodge if someone decides camping isn’t their thing mid-trip .

Gear to test here:

• Sleeping pads on different ground surfaces

• Family-sized tents in open vs. shaded sites

• Cooler performance in real Ohio summer heat

3. Hocking Hills State Park — The Classic

Drive time: About an hour southeast

Why it works: If you haven’t camped here, you’re missing out. The trails are incredible—caves, waterfalls, the whole deal—and the campground is well-maintained with clean bathhouses and a pool .

Family warning: The tent section is hilly and sites can be close together. My site had standing water after rain, which gave me a perfect chance to test tent flooring, but maybe not the ideal first impression for the kids . There’s also limited cell service with Verizon, which I honestly consider a feature, not a bug .

Gear to test here:

• Rainfly performance in actual rain

• Waterproof footwear for wet trails

• Headlamp brightness in cave environments

4. Campbell Cove Camping — The Kid Magnet

Drive time: About an hour southeast, near Hocking Hills

Why it works: This place is built for families. Huge bounce pad, playground, swimming hole, kayak rentals, and a game room . The bathrooms are remarkably clean—multiple reviewers mention them as the cleanest they’ve seen at a campground .

Heads up: Lakefront sites can get road noise from a nearby uphill section where people like to rev engines . So if you’re testing sleep gear, maybe grab a site further from the road.

Gear to test here:

• Headlamps for kids who will lose them immediately

• Camp chairs that survive playground-adjacent chaos

• Stove efficiency when you’re cooking between activities

5. Jellystone Park Hocking Hills — The All-Inclusive Option

Drive time: About an hour southeast

Why it works: This is the “leave your wallet at the site” experience. Swimming, fishing, pedal boats, corcls (those donut-shaped sled things?), inflatable slide, disc golf—all included . The floating obstacle course costs extra, but my kids didn’t care because they were too busy on the snowless tubing hill.

Family bonus: Themed weekends keep kids entertained while you take notes. Or nap. No judgment.

Gear to test here:

• Multi-tools and camp repair kits (with all those activities, something breaks)

• Portable fans for Ohio humidity

• Stove setups when you’re cooking for hungry kids

6. Buckeye Lake / Columbus East KOA — The Easy Button

Drive time: 30 minutes east

Why it works: It’s the closest KOA to Columbus, easy on and off I-70 without highway noise . Shady pull-through sites, cabins if you want to ease into camping, and a KampK9 for the dog .

Family bonus: Mini putt-putt, shuffleboard, and inflatable games on weekends . Also an easy day trip to Columbus Zoo if you want to mix things up.

Gear to test here:

• Camp kitchen setups on level ground

• Lighting systems for evening hangouts

• Anything you need to test near home base

What I Pack for a Weekend Radius Trip

Here’s what I bring when I’m testing gear within 90 minutes of home:

• Two stoves minimum: One to test, one to actually cook dinner

• The kitchen scale: I weigh everything before and after

• Notebook: I’ve learned the hard way that “I’ll remember this” is a lie

• Extra food: Testing takes time; hungry kids don’t care about your dataset

• Patience: Something will go wrong. That’s data, not failure.

The Bottom Line

You don’t need to drive four hours to test gear or make memories. These six spots are close enough that you can pack light, drive short, and still get real-world data about what works.

If I had to pick one for a first trip? Campbell Cove if you want the kids entertained, Deer Creek if you want a classic state park experience, Alum Creek if you just want to get out for the day without the overnight commitment.

Good spec, mediocre experience? Sometimes the closest option is also the best one for your family. And that’s worth testing.

— Tom