The Midwest doesn’t make many people’s bucket lists of places to visit. However, there are some beautiful landscapes, excellent museums, and exciting sporting events scattered throughout the region. One of those locations is Columbus, Ohio.
If you haven’t visited this city, it’s time to start making plans. Let’s look at five of the best RV parks and a handful of places you’ll want to visit before you leave the Buckeye State.
When Is the Best Time to Visit Columbus, Ohio?
Ohio can have harsh winters with heavy snow and frigid temperatures. Therefore, it’s best to avoid it from December through February if you’re not a fan of snow and cold. However, much of the rest of the year is mild and pleasant.
If you want to catch the excitement of a Buckeye football game, you’ll have to visit in the fall. If you’re hoping to experience the Ohio State Fair, you’ll have to stay in the summer. Annual attendance is near one million visitors every year.
What Is Columbus, Ohio Known for?
Columbus is the capital of Ohio and the state’s most populous city. It ranks in the top 15 in the country, with over 906,000 residents.
Many know the city for being the home of the Buckeyes. Ohio State University is one of the nation’s most competitive college programs in many sports, but football and basketball rank at the top.
Columbus is also home to the Columbus Blue Jackets, a professional hockey team, and the Columbus Crew, a professional soccer team. So if you’re a sports fan, Columbus is an ideal city.
The arts are also quite popular in Columbus, Ohio. Numerous galleries and festivals celebrate the arts. It has museums dedicated to educating visitors about art history and contemporary art.
The Columbus Symphony Orchestra, Opera Columbus, BalletMet Columbus, ProMusica Chamber Orchestra, CATCO, Columbus Children’s Theatre, Shadowbox Live, and the Columbus Jazz Orchestra are all performing arts institutions in the city.
5 Best RV Parks Near Columbus, Ohio
Now that you’re ready to visit, let’s check out a handful of RV parks around Columbus, Ohio. They are conveniently close to all of the area’s top attractions.
Whether you want to be near downtown or Ohio Stadium, there are several excellent options for RV camping.
Alton RV Park
Address: 6552 West Broad Street, Galloway, OH 43119
Cost: starts at $55
About: Only 11 miles from The Horseshoe on the Ohio State University campus, Alton RV Park is an ideal location to attend college football games. The park is also nine miles from downtown Columbus, where you can experience the history of the area and the excellent dining and shopping options.
The camp store has dry goods and local specialty items, and guests can access free WiFi, laundry facilities, and a bathhouse. All 35 sites offer full hookups.
Pastime Park
Address: 370 N. Chillicothe Street, Plain City, OH 43064
Cost: starts at $28
About: This city park offers eight grass campsites with water and electric, fifteen gravel pad campsites with water and electric, and three gravel sites with full hookups. They have a bathhouse with shower facilities, a 0.5-mile walking trail, a new playground, and two shelters with a grill.
There is also a dump station on-site. Unlike many city parks, there is no minimum or maximum stay at Pastime Park.
HOT TIP
If your home is on wheels and you’re looking for places to stay, find out if city parks offer a good refuge for nomads.
Cross Creek Camping Resort
Address: 3190 S Old State Rd, Delaware, OH 43015
Cost: starts at $45
About: At Cross Creek Camping Resort, all full hookup sites have a concrete or brick paver patio, and so do most of the partial hookup sites. Every campsite has a fire ring and picnic table.
Resort amenities include a swimming pool, volleyball court, basketball court, tennis court, playground, hiking trails, book exchange, and more. The campground has numerous year-round activities like scavenger hunts, train rides, and karaoke.
Buckeye Lake / Columbus East KOA Holiday
Address: 4460 Walnut Road, Buckeye Lake, OH 43008
Cost: starts at $46
About: Less than two miles from Interstate 70, the Buckeye Lake/Columbus East KOA Holiday is convenient yet far enough away that you don’t hear highway noise. Guests enjoy access to mini golf, a swimming pool, a basketball court, horseshoes, a gem mine, pedal carts, a jumping pillow, a dog park, and more.
Pull-through and back-in sites are available, and they can accommodate big rigs. Sites offer partial and full hookups.
Tree Haven Campground
Address: 4855 Miller Paul Road, Westerville, OH 43082
Cost: starts at $40
About: Tree Haven Campground provides a more rustic camping experience while offering amenities to make guests comfortable. Sites have electric and water hookups and access to a gray water drain. There is a dump station on-site. Each area also has a picnic table and a fire ring.
Guests have access to the swimming pool and free WiFi near the office. This campground also offers weekly, monthly, and seasonal rates.
Things to Do in Columbus, Ohio
Columbus, Ohio, has many things to do for all types of travelers. Whether you’re a sports fan, an outdoor enthusiast, or an art lover, there’s something for everyone in this Ohio city. Here are a handful of top things to do when you visit.
Attend an Ohio State Buckeyes Game
Ohio State University has had a long history of excellent football teams. There’s a culture of winning at OSU, and if you’re a college football fan, Ohio Stadium is probably on your short list of places to visit in the country.
Experiencing a college football game here, especially against a rival like Michigan or Michigan State, is unlike a game at any other stadium. So make plans to attend a Buckeyes game in Columbus, Ohio.
Walk Through Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Garden
If you want to connect with nature, the Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Garden is an excellent place to start. Rotating exhibits are on display during the year, like Harvest Blooms and Pumpkins Aglow.
The exhibition Diálogos features works by seven local Latinx artists representing Argentina, Colombia, Cuba, Ecuador, Mexico, and the United States. The conservatory and garden also host a Farmers Market to promote healthy eating and support local farmers and growers.
If you have kids, the Children’s Garden is a great place to encourage a love for nature during your visit to Columbus.
Explore the Center of Science and Industry
Whether you’re into dinosaurs, space, energy, anatomy, electricity, or more science fields, the Center of Science and Industry in Columbus, Ohio, is a must-stop for family fun. The planetarium is the largest in Ohio, with a 60-foot dome that transports guests to outer space or remote parts of the world.
Learn about the Pterosaurs, close cousins of dinosaurs, or try to pull yourself up in the Pulley Chair and learn about gravity and simple machines. Hours of fun are in store for visitors of all ages at the Center of Science and Industry.
Appreciate the Columbus Museum of Art
Open every day except Mondays, the Columbus Museum of Art rotates exhibits during the year. You’ll never know what you’ll see. Currently, six 17th Century tapestries from the painted compositions by Raphael are on loan from the Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister in Germany.
Visitors can also see art through contemporary photography, the world of Lego, and abstract paintings. The Wonder Room is a family-friendly space where they display art in unexpected ways. Parents and children can enjoy creative, hands-on activities.
Grab a Snack at North Market Farmers Market
For 145 years, North Market has been a public market for the Columbus community. More than 30 independently-owned small businesses gather in downtown Columbus every day of the week to sell pretzels, meats, spices, coffee, and more.
They have diverse global cuisines like Thai curries, Himalayan dumplings, and Vietnamese rice bowls. Grab a snack or a meal and visit downtown Columbus to support local small businesses.
Will Columbus, Ohio Be Your Next Adventure?
Columbus, Ohio, may have a population of approaching one million, but it can also feel like a small town. If you’re looking for a raucous crowd, you’ll find it at Ohio Stadium, but if you’re looking for charm, you’ll find it at North Market.
With so much to experience, it’s an ideal location to plan a family vacation. Stay busy or relax. Columbus, Ohio, has it all!
Will you be visiting the Buckeye State anytime soon?
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