We stayed at Guilford Lake State Park Campground and really enjoyed it. It's a small, peaceful, and very clean campground with great shade and a friendly atmosphere. Even though the lake is currently drained for dam maintenance until 2027, the campground itself is still a solid place to stay.
The bathrooms and showers were super clean, which we appreciated. The only funny/odd part was that you need a passcode to get in, which made us feel like we were entering a secret bunker. Water pressure was okay, and the hot water did come on--it just took a minute.
The campground has a basketball hoop court, an outdoor dish‑washing sink, and plenty of space to walk around. Even without the lake, it's a relaxing spot with good amenities.
We met several friendly campers, including a little girl who petted our dog Cooper and told us she had a cousin named Cooper. When we asked if he was as cute as our Cooper, she said, "Um... he's a human, not a dog," which made our day. We offered her a Camping With Cooper sticker, and she replied, "I can't, my damn parents are coming by," which made our day even more.
One note for fellow campers: we were next to a site with two very vocal dogs who barked at everything that moved. Not every camper has dogs or wants to hear them nonstop, so hopefully their owners work on that. Otherwise, the campground was quiet and enjoyable.
We're giving it 4 stars for now, only because the lake is currently gone. Once the water returns in 2027, this will easily be a 5‑star hidden gem in Ohio, and we absolutely plan to come back. read more