9 Best Overnight Summer Camps Near Columbus for 2027

Looking for an unforgettable overnight summer camp for your kids or teens near Columbus for 2027? From traditional camps to thrilling faith-based camps, we hand-picked nine Ohio’s most incredible sleepaway camps within driving distance of Columbus that are sure to give your kids the best summer ever. Want more options? Browse all overnight camps in Ohio. 🏕️

Camp	Location	Age Range
Falcon Camp	Carrollton, OH	6-16
YMCA Camp Kern	Oregonia, OH	7-17
Wanake Camp	Beach City, OH	6-18
YMCA Camp Tippecanoe	Tippecanoe, OH	6-17
YMCA Camp Y-Noah	Green, OH	6-17
Flying Horse Farms	Mt Gilead, OH	8-15
ExploreAg	Columbus, OH	13-18
Woodland Lakes Christian Camp	Amelia, OH	8-14
Camp Akita	Logan, OH	6-18

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Falcon Camp – Carrollton, OH

Falcon Camp is often called “Ohio’s premier overnight camp,” offering 2-, 4-, and 6-week sessions for boys and girls ages 6–16. With a balanced program of sports, arts, horseback riding, sailing, and wilderness trips, campers thrive in a supportive, unplugged environment. Falcon emphasizes independence, friendship, and fun, helping kids grow in confidence and character while enjoying a classic camp experience.

📍 ~2.5 hours from Columbus

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YMCA Camp Kern – Oregonia, OH

YMCA Camp Kern, founded in 1910, is one of the Midwest’s premier overnight camps. Campers ages 5–16 spend their days horseback riding, ziplining, swimming, creating art, and exploring the outdoors alongside new friends. With specialty programs, strong traditions, and a focus on character and leadership, Camp Kern blends high-energy fun with YMCA values to create transformative summer experiences.

📍 ~1 hour from Columbus

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Wanake Camp – Beach City, OH

Wanake Camp is a Christian overnight camp in Northeast Ohio known for its welcoming community, energetic counselors, and strong emphasis on faith. Campers spend their days swimming, tackling ropes courses, hiking wooded trails, and gathering around campfires with new friends. Wanake blends outdoor adventure with discipleship, creating a supportive environment where kids build confidence, deepen their faith, and make lasting memories.

📍 ~2 hours from Columbus

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YMCA Camp Tippecanoe – Tippecanoe, OH

YMCA Camp Tippecanoe is a traditional overnight camp surrounded by rolling hills, forests, and lakes in Eastern Ohio. Campers enjoy swimming, boating, horseback riding, ropes courses, arts, and evening campfires while making friends and building confidence and independence. With specialty camps and traditional sessions, Tippecanoe offers something for every interest and creates the king of comradery and memories that keep campers coming back year after year.

📍 ~2 hours from Columbus

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YMCA Camp Y-Noah – Green, OH

Founded in 1936, YMCA Camp Y-Noah is a traditional overnight camp that offers weeklong sessions filled with horseback riding, climbing, archery, swimming, and sports. Known for its strong equestrian program and family-friendly atmosphere, Y-Noah blends adventure, skill-building, and YMCA values in a supportive environment where kids gain confidence, independence, and lifelong friendships.

📍 ~2 hours from Columbus

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Flying Horse Farms – Mt Gilead, OH

Flying Horse Farms is a free medical specialty camp for kids with serious illnesses and their families. FHF offers overnight residential sessions by diagnoses (including a sibling session) where campers can enjoy boating, arts and crafts, archery, zipline, and much more in a fully accessible environment staffed by medical professionals. Families often describe the experience as “camp magic,” thanks to the sense of belonging, joy, and hope that comes when kids can simply be kids.

📍 ~1 hour from Columbus

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ExploreAg – Columbus, OH

ExploreAg is a free, hands-on STEM agricultural sleepaway program hosted by the Ohio Farm Bureau Foundation at The Ohio State University campus. Open to high school students, this immersive 1-week experience introduces teens to high-demand career pathways across food science, animal care, agronomy, precision technology, and environmental research. Led by university educators and industry experts, campers tour labs, complete team challenges, and explore the science behind modern food production while getting a taste of college life.

📍 Located in Columbus

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Woodland Lakes Christian Camp – Amelia, OH

Woodland Lakes Christian Camp is a faith-based overnight camp near Cincinnati where campers spend their days horseback riding, swimming, boating, tackling ropes courses, and building lifelong friendships. Weeklong sessions blend outdoor adventure with Christian discipleship, creating an encouraging environment where kids grow in confidence, leadership, and faith.

📍 ~2 hours from Columbus

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Camp Akita – Logan, OH

Camp Akita is a Christian overnight camp nestled in the heart of Ohio’s Hocking Hills. With weeklong sessions, campers spend their days hiking scenic trails, swimming, tackling ropes courses, creating art, and gathering around campfires with new friends. Owned and operated by First Community Church of Columbus, Akita emphasizes acceptance, community, and spiritual growth while creating a joyful, screen-free environment where kids can explore, build confidence, and thrive.

📍 ~1 hour from Columbus

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