Buck Creek State Park RV & Campground Guide
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Glaciers from over 12,000 years ago helped carve the landscape of low hills, moraines and river valleys in Buck Creek State Park in Springfield, Ohio. In the surrounding area, these glacier melts also created springs. C.J. Brown Reservoir, a 2,120-acre man-made lake, is part of Buck Creek State Park and attracts many visitors for summer fun in the water. Native Americans and early pioneers once inhabited the land that is now part of the park. You can learn more about the region's history through educational events which occur throughout the year at the park. Nearby attractions that you may want to check out include Cedar Bog State Nature Preserve, Beaver Creek State Wildlife Area and Williamson Mound State Memorial.
Nearby Cities:
Springfield, Ohio
South Vienna, Ohio
Urbana, Ohio
Mechanicsburg, Ohio
Spring 28-72 F
Summer 58-83 F
Fall 32-77 F
Winter 17-40 F
RV Resorts & Campsites in Buck Creek State Park
Campground Accommodations
Buck Creek State Park Campground
Water hookup: No
Electrical hookup: Yes
Sewer hookup: No
Wi-Fi: No
Pet-friendly: Yes
Max RV length: 35 feet
Other amenities: Camp store, dump station, showers, flush toilets, picnic tables, fire rings
Buck Creek State Park Campground
Staying right at the park means that you won’t miss a moment of the action. Buck Creek State Park Campground has 88 electric sites and 22 non-electric sites. There's a dump station available on-site as well as flush toilets, showers, and its own beach. Pets are welcome at every site, and there's a camp store on the park grounds where you can even rent bicycles. The campground takes reservations, which is always a plus.
Tomorrow’s Stars RV Resort
With over 200 sites that include water, sewer, and electrical hookups, you can really spread out at Tomorrow’s Stars RV Resort. It offers everything an RVer could want after a long journey on the road: restroom facilities with showers, laundry facilities, free Wi-Fi, propane refills, a dog park, a swimming pool to relax by, and more. There are tons of organized activities and themed activities to keep the whole family entertained, as well as a mini-golf course, horseshoe pits, a fishing pond, and hiking trails. Tomorrow’s Stars is truly a luxury RV resort, and it’s conveniently located right down the road from Buck Creek State Park.
What to Do at
Buck Creek State Park
Top activities at Buck Creek State Park include swimming, fishing and boating. You can rent a boat at the marina from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Shelter houses with grills, electricity, water and proximity to restrooms are reservable if you want to have a large picnic. In the winter, you can enjoy sledding, cross-country skiing, ice fishing and snowmobiling. Hunting is also allowed at the park.
Buck Creek State Park allows horseback riding in designated areas and has an 18-hole golf course. Hiking trails, picnic areas and park events help keep your days at the park full.
Inside Buck Creek State Park
Because the large Clarence J. Brown Reservoir is on-site, water sports are extremely popular at Buck Creek State Park, and there's a four-lane boat launch, as well as a marina where you can purchase boating and fishing supplies and even dock space if you’re going to be staying awhile. Off the water, there are miles of hiking, biking, and horseback riding trails that take you through the rolling hills, wetlands, and forests of the Springfield area. Because of its biodiversity, several rare songbirds are found in the area, including dickcissels, bobolinks, and Henslow sparrows. The active crowd will love the volleyball and basketball courts at the park and the 18-hole disc golf course. Finally, there are plenty of picnic areas and open spaces to just relax and enjoy the serenity of the Ohio countryside.
Fishing
Cast a line in the C.J. Brown Reservoir for a chance at catching white bass, black bass, bluegill and catfish. Muskie and walleye also inhabit the lake. The Division of Wildlife stocks the lake with rainbow trout in the spring. In the winter, you can target northern pike and panfish during ice fishing. Those who are in wheelchairs can fish from a wheelchair-accessible pier at the marina. Mad River, on the western edge of the park, is another fishing area that's full of brown trout.
Nature Watching
See if you can spot the state-endangered spotted turtle at Buck Creek State. A prime location for observing waterfowl is the northern end of the park. In the meadows, you may see rare songbirds, such as Henslow's sparrows, dickcissels and bobolinks. Buck Creek Trail, a 7.5-mile trail in a dense forest, also offers wildlife viewing opportunities.
Flora and Fauna
Rare fauna that you may see at Buck Creek State Park include horned bladderwort and round-leaved sundew. The forest features hardwood trees and prairie grasses fill the nearby meadows. Woodland Ridge Pathway is a beautiful trail for admiring the region's flora. Take the Wildflower Walk in spring when the wildflowers are in full bloom.
Hiking
Buck Creek State Park has 18 miles of trails, including bridle trails. The Buck Creek Trail connects with many other trails, local parks and the Springfield Museum of Art. Check out an eagle nesting site by taking the Eagle's Nest Overlook Hike. For a relaxing creekside walk, take the Creekside Ramble Hike. If you want to view the wetlands, then include the Wetlands Exploration Route in your itinerary. Prairie Grass Loop, another beautiful trail, takes you around a meadow.
Boating
Unlimited-horsepower boats are permitted in the C.J. Brown Reservoir, though there may be speed restrictions on some sections of the lake. You can buy boat fuel at the marina if you need to stock up.
Swimming
Buck Creek State Park has a 2,400-foot beach with a concession stand. Swimming is only allowed in designated areas.
How to Get to
Buck Creek State Park
Buck Creek State Park is only a four-mile drive from the town of Springfield in Ohio. Travel along S. Limestone Street toward Spring Street. The road will turn into Spring Street and then N. Lime Street before you need to make a right turn onto E. McCreight Avenue. Continue onto Mitchell Boulevard, which turns into Old Lagonda Avenue. Continue onto Mechanicsburg Road, and turn right onto Croft Road. You'll arrive at the park within 0.4 miles.
Entering Buck Creek State Park
It's free to enter all Ohio state parks, so you don't need to buy a pass. There are places to park at the front entrance of Buck Creek State Park and the eastern side, next to the campground. If you want to use the marina, there are some parking spots there as well.
Buck Creek State Park Per Vehicle : $0.0
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Frequently Asked Questions About Buck Creek State Park
June through September is the best time of year to visit Buck Creek State Park because the temperature is the most comfortable for hiking, swimming, fishing and boating. If you want to engage in winter sports, then winter is the best season to visit as there will be adequate snow and ice on the ground.
You can find deer, frogs, waterfowl, songbirds and spotted turtles at the state park. There are many wildlife viewing areas to give you plenty of opportunities to spot wildlife during your stay while exploring the variety of terrain that the park has.
Yes, there are RV camping spots at Buck Creek State Park, although there are only electric hookups. The dump station also operates seasonally, so you want to check in advance if the dump station will be open or plan on using another dump station. Several other amenities, such as firewood, are only available seasonally.
Yes, you need to make a reservation to camp at Buck Creek State Park. You can make a reservation online or over the phone up to six months in advance. The average cost of camping at Buck Creek State Park is $31.
Pets are allowed at Buck Creek State Park. However, you can't take them to the swimming beach.