25 Best Camping Spots in Ohio

By VI Staff on February 10, 2020

Home to spectacular natural scenery, tranquil lakes, rugged mountains, and deep, forested valleys, Ohio is the perfect place to spend the weekend camping, hiking, biking, and soaking up the state’s natural scenery. Home to hundreds of campgrounds and campsites, Ohio has a camping spot for every taste.

1.Alum Creek State Park

Alum Creek State Park is a 4,630-acre park in Delaware County with a gently rolling span of fields and woodlands that offers an array of outdoor recreation and activities, including camping. Home to the Alum Creek Reservoir, which is a favorite spot for boating, fishing, and swimming, Alum Creek State Park has a large campground that features a boat launch ramp, a campers’ beach, a nature center, a dog park and dedicated dog beach, and playground equipment for children. Alum Creek Campground offers 24 full-service campsites with water, electricity, and sewerage hookups, as well as restrooms with flush toilets, showers, and a dump station. Activities in the area include swimming, fishing, boating, hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, and naturalist programs.

Alum Creek State Park, Lewis Center Rd, Lewis Center, OH 43035

2.Barkcamp State Park

Barkcamp State Park is a public recreation area near the village of Belmont in Belmont County. The rugged hills of the country provide a picturesque backdrop for this family-friendly state park, which features excellent recreational facilities and beautiful natural landscapes of rolling meadows, dense woodlands, a scenic lake, and abundant wildlife. Resting at the heart of the coal mining region of Ohio, this secluded 1,005-acre park offers camping, boating, fishing, swimming, and picnicking, with the campground featuring many electric sites, restrooms with showers, and a dump station. Other recreational activities to enjoy in the area include volleyball, basketball, horseshoes, and miniature golf, while attractions range from the Belmont County Museum and Friends Meeting House to the Dysart Woods.

65330 Barkcamp Park Rd, Belmont, OH 43718, Phone: 740-484-4064

3.Countryside Campground

Countryside Campground is a quaint, family-oriented campground situated next to the Mogadore Reservoir. Surrounded by spectacular countryside in a quiet secluded location, the campground offers both tent and RV camping with 95 RV sites, complete with full hook-up sites and water and electricity hook-ups as well as a propane filling station. Primitive tent camping is available in a beautiful setting with picnic tables and fire rings on each site, and campground amenities include restrooms with hot showers, laundry facilities, complimentary wireless Internet access, a camp store that sells essentials, and a dump station. Countryside Campground also offers rental cabins.

2687 OH-43, Mogadore, OH 44260, Phone: 330-628-1212

4.Cuyahoga Valley National Park

Resting along the Cuyahoga River between Akron and Cleveland, Cuyahoga Valley National Park is a was established to preserve the land along the river. Administered by the National Park Service, the park is home to the Ohio and Erie Canal Towpath Trails, which offer excellent hiking and mountain biking, and the Canal Exploration Center, which tells the story of the 19th century waterway’s history. Other attractions in the park include the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad and the towering Brandywine Falls, and the park features plenty of campgrounds with a variety of amenities.

5.Dillon State Park

Dillon State Park is located near Zanesville in Muskingum County and offers a range of outdoor and recreational activities, from scenic hiking and mountain biking trails to gorgeously picturesque settings for boating, fishing, picnicking, and camping. The 2,285 acres of Dillon State Park contain rental cabins and camping sites with water and electricity hookups, modern restrooms with showers and flushing toilets, laundry facilities, and a dump station. Other recreational activities in the park include archery, basketball, canoeing, fishing, kayaking, swimming, tennis, volleyball, and stargazing.

5265 Dillon Hills Drive, Nashport, OH 43830, Phone: 740-453-0442

6.Findley State Park

Once a state forest, 838-acre Findley State Park boasts beautiful woodlands of hardwoods and stately pines and has a network of scenic hiking trails that wind through meadows of spectacular wildflowers. The fields, forests, and quiet waters are abundant with wildlife and offer a peaceful refuge for visitors wanting to camp or rent a cabin. The campground offers RV and tent camping with electricity and water hookups, as well as three rental cabins, and features restrooms with showers and flush toilets, a dump station, a boat launching ramp, laundry facilities, a comfort station, picnic tables, fire rings, and potable water. Activities in the area include boating, swimming, basketball, volleyball, mountain biking, hiking, and naturalist programs.

25381 Ohio 58, Wellington, OH 44090, Phone: 440-647-4490

7.Grand Lake St. Marys State Park

Grand Lake St. Marys State Park is a state park and public recreation area in the Auglaize and Mercer counties that is open for year-round recreation. Set on the shores of 13,500-acre Grand Lake, which was initially constructed as a feeder reservoir for the Miami-Erie Canal and is the largest inland lake in Ohio today, Grand Lake St. Marys State Park offers an array of outdoor and recreational pursuits, boating, fishing, swimming, hunting, and camping. Facilities in the park’s campground include an amphitheater, bicycle rentals, picnic tables and a children’s playground, mini-golf, basketball courts, a boat launching ramp, a camp store that sells essentials, a dog park, modern restrooms with showers, a swimming pool, and naturalist programs.

834 Edgewater Drive, Saint Mary’s OH 45885, Phone: 419-394-3611

8.Great Seal State Park

Great Seal Park is a 1,862-acre green area that offers camping, hunting, and an array of recreational activities, including hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding. Dedicated to the wilderness spirit of Ohio and depicted in the Great Seal of the State of Ohio, Great Seal State Park offers non-electric tent and equestrian camping as well as a network of challenging trails through the rugged hills that were once home to the Shawnee nation. Facilities include a restroom, picnic sites with tables, a comfort station, potable water, bike and bridle trails, and disk golf.

4908 Marietta Rd, Chillicothe, OH 45601, Phone: 740-887-4818

9.Hocking Hills Adventures

Based along the banks of the Hocking River in Logan, Hocking Hills Adventures offers three different camping locations depending on the camper’s needs, including the Riverside, Canoe Livery, and Fun Center Campgrounds, each of which boasting its own unique characteristics. The Riverside and Canoe Livery Campgrounds are ideal for those who prefer to camp in a pristine natural setting with basic camping sites, picnic tables, and fire rings, while the Family Fun Center offers campsite with electricity and water hookups. The Riverside Campground has 80 large spacious primitive sites overlooking the Hocking River, with showers and flushing toilets a short walk away. Recreational activities include swimming, boating, canoeing, a games arcade, driving range, mini-golf, and go-karting, which are all located close to the campgrounds.

31251 Chieftain Drive, Logan, OH 43138, Phone: 740-385-8685

10.Indian Lake State Park

Indian Lake State Park is an 800-acre multi-use park set around a 5,800-acre lake that offers a variety of water-related recreational opportunities, such as boating, fishing, and skiing as well as camping. The park features a scenic campground on the northwest section of the lakeshore, with 441 family campsites with electric hookups, restrooms with heated showers houses and flush toilets, laundry facilities, and a camp commissary. Additional amenities include a private beach, a boat launching ramp, 20 spaces for boat docking, and rental cabin or trailers furnished with convertible futon bunks and sofas, refrigerators, gas stoves, microwaves, and outdoor gas grills. Recreational activities include hiking and biking along the 3-mile Cherokee Trail or the 1-mile Pew Island Trail, which encircles Pew Island and boasts spectacular views of Indian Lake.

12774 OH-235, Lakeview, OH 43331, Phone: 937-843-2717

11.John Bryan State Park Campground

John Bryan State Park is a 752-acre Ohio state park in Greene County and is one of the most scenic state parks in western Ohio. The park is set around the magnificent Clifton Gorge, a deep chasm cut of the Little Miami River between Yellow Springs and Clifton, which is designated as a State Scenic River with a portion of the gorge itself designated as a National Natural Landmark. The park contains a campground with electric and non-electric campsites, restrooms with pit latrines, picnic tables and fire rings, and a dump station. The park also features a network of hiking and mountain biking trails and is an excellent location for cross-country skiing and sledding in the winter.

3790 Ohio 370, Yellow Springs, OH 45387, Phone: 937-767-1274

12.Kelleys Island State Park

Kelleys Island State Park is a 676-acre state park that makes up almost all of the northern third of Kelleys Island in Lake Erie. Established in 1956, Kelleys Island, also known as Lake Erie's Emerald Isle, has unique geological, ecological, and archaeological features and is a prime destination for nature lovers and outdoor adventurers. It also provides a relaxing escape for visitors wanting a quiet retreat with picturesque landscapes. The 677 acres of Kelleys Island State Park feature a campground with electric and non-electric campsites, restrooms with flushing toilets and hot showers, picnic tables and fire rings, and a dump station. Other facilities include an amphitheater, a beach, boat launching ramp, fish cleaning station, comfort station, children’s playground, and activities such as swimming, boating, and fishing.

920 Division St, Kelleys Island, OH 43438, Phone: 419-746-2546

13.Lake Hope State Park

Lake Hope State Park is a 2,983-acre state park surrounded by the magnificent 26,824-acre Zaleski State Forest in Vinton County and centered around the 120-acre Lake Hope on Big Sandy Run. Located about 5 miles northeast of Zaleski, the park features a large campground with both electric and non-electric campsites, rentable cottages, and a rentable lodge that can sleep up to 22 people. The park also boasts a variety of outdoor and recreational activities including boating, fishing, swimming, canoeing, and kayaking as well as plenty of hiking and mountain biking trails, a gift shop, and a full-service restaurant.

27331 OH-278, McArthur, OH 45651, Phone: 740-596-4938

14.Mary Jane Thurston State Park

Named for a local school teacher from Grand Rapids, Ohio, who bequeathed 14 acres of land for the establishment of a park, Mary Jane Thurston State Park is a 591-acre area of land in Henry and Wood counties that offers a wealth of outdoor and recreational activities. Running along the banks of the Maumee River near the remains of the historic Erie and Miami Canal, the 105-acre park offers boating, stream fishing, canoeing and kayaking, picnicking, hiking, and camping. The campground has electric and non-electric campsites, restrooms with flushing toilets and hot showers, picnic tables and fire rings, and a dump station.

1466 State Rte 65, McClure, OH 43534, Phone: 419-832-7662

15.Mohican State Park

Mohican State Park is a 1,110-acre state park on the south shores of Pleasant Hill Lake in Ashland County. Located a few miles south of downtown Loudonville, the park is surrounded by the 4,525-acre Mohican-Memorial State Forest with the Clear Fork of the Mohican River flowing through the park to create a narrow gorge and some spectacular natural scenery. The park is open year round for recreational activities, including boating, fishing, hiking, mountain biking, picnicking, and camping with both electric and non-electric campsites, restrooms, rental cabins and cottages, and group camping.

3116 OH-3, Loudonville, OH 44842, Phone: 419-994-4290

16.Portage Lakes State Park

Portage Lakes State Park is set around the eight Portage Lakes in New Franklin, encompassing 2,034 acres that are popular for outdoor recreational activities. The 411 acres of Portage Lakes State Park offer visitors a variety of outdoor recreational experiences from boating, fishing, canoeing, kayaking, and swimming to birding and wildlife watching in the wetlands. A campground boasts electric and non-electric campsites and cabin rentals, restrooms with flushing toilets and hot showers, picnic tables and fire rings, and a dump station. Additional amenities include an amphitheater for special events, a basketball hoop, a children’s playground, picnic shelters, and horseshoes.

5031 Manchester Rd, Akron, OH 44319, Phone: 330-644-2220

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17.Ridge Ranch Campground

Ridge Ranch Campground is a 76-acre campground on the shores of a beautiful lake in Newton Falls, Ohio, that features plenty of shaded and sunny electric and non-electric campsites, rental cabins and cottages, and an array of activities. The fun, family-oriented campground has a sandy beach and a large swimming deck on the lakeshore as well as a wealth of facilities including paddleboat and canoe rentals, mini-golf, volleyball and basketball courts, playgrounds for children, hayrides, fishing, a games room with pool tables and video games, horseshoes, and pavilion rentals for special events. The campground also has a store with essentials such as propane, firewood, ice, and fresh produce.

5219 OH-303, Newton Falls, OH 44444, Phone: 330-898-8080

18.Roundup Lake Campground

Roundup Lake Campground is a family-friendly camping resort in Mantua, Ohio, with over 350 camping sites, along with a selection of comfortable lodging including cottages and cabin rentals. Surrounded by beautiful natural scenery, including a spring-fed lake and a sandy lakeshore beach with safe swimming, the campground boasts a wealth of facilities including modern restrooms with hot showers and flushing toilets, four playgrounds for children, a swimming pool, pedal carts, and canoes and kayaks to use on the lake. It also offers rowboats, basketball and volleyball courts, a games room, horseshoe pits, and a propane filling station.

3392 OH-82, Mantua, OH 44255, Phone: 330-562-9100

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19.Scioto Trail State Park

Nestled in the beautiful 9,000-acre Scioto Trail State Forest, Scioto Trail State Park is a small, 218-acre state park just south of Chillicothe. The undisturbed wooded refuge offers a tranquil escape from the hustle and bustle of daily life with a variety of outdoor recreational activities to enjoy from hiking, picnicking, mountain biking, and wildlife watching to boating, fishing, canoeing and kayaking, swimming, and camping. The park campground features electric and non-electric campsites and rental cabins, along with modern restrooms with hot showers and flushing toilets, picnic tables and fire rings, a camp store selling essentials, and a children’s playground. Other activities include horseback riding, naturalist programs, a wading beach for swimming, and an amphitheater for special events.

144 Lake Rd, Chillicothe, OH 45601, Phone: 740-887-4818

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20.Shawnee State Park

Nestled in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains near the Ohio River in Scioto County, Shawnee State Park is surrounded by the 63,000-acre Shawnee State Forest and offers a wealth of recreational activities, including camping. Once the hunting grounds of the Shawnee Tribe, the region boasts beautiful landscapes, including erosion-carved valleys and wooded hills, and is one of the most picturesque areas in the state, earning its nickname of “the Little Smokies.” The state park features a campground with electric and non-electric campsites and cabin rentals, restrooms with flushing toilets and hot showers, picnic tables and fire rings, and a dump station. Other facilities include an amphitheater, an 18-hole golf course, a beach and boat launching ramp, fish cleaning station, a comfort station, a children’s playground, and activities such as swimming, boating, and fishing.

4404 OH-125, West Portsmouth, OH 45663, Phone: 740-858-6652

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21.South Bass Island State Park

South Bass Island is a small island in western Lake Erie and the third largest island in the Lake Erie Islands. Perched on top of the white cliffs of South Bass Island, 3 miles from the south shore of Lake Erie, South Bass Island State Park is a 33-acre park and favorite recreation spot with a variety of outdoor recreational activities on offer, including boating, sailing, fishing, canoeing, kayaking, golf, hiking, mountain biking, and camping. The wooded campground and scenic lakeside picnic area offer a quiet retreat from the bustling town of Put-In-Bay and provide electric and non-electric campsites and cabin rentals, restrooms with flushing toilets and hot showers, picnic tables, and fire rings.

1523 Catawba Ave, Put-In-Bay, OH 43456, Phone: 419-285-2112

22.Tappan Lake

Tappan Lake, also known as the Tappan Reservoir, is a vast reservoir in Harrison County that covers 2,350 acres and is surrounded by 5,000 acres of picturesque landscapes that form part of the Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District. The lake offers an array of water-based recreation such as boating, fishing, canoeing, kayaking, and swimming, while on land visitors can enjoy hiking, horseback riding, mountain biking, and camping. The quiet campground offers electric and non-electric campsites and cabin rentals, restrooms with flushing toilets and hot showers, picnic tables, and fire rings.

Harrison County, Ohio

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23.West Branch State Park

Located on the west branch of the Mahoning River, east of Ravenna, West Branch State Park is a state park that encompasses 5,352 acres of land and 2,650 acres of water and offers an array of recreational activities, including boating, fishing and swimming, and camping. The park includes a family-friendly campground with full-service sites with electric hook-ups and non-electric sites, as well as hot showers and flushing toilets, laundry facilities, and a dump station. Visitors can enjoy miles of hiking, bridle, and mountain trails as well as boating, fishing, swimming, hunting, and wildlife watching throughout the year.

5570 Esworthy Rd, Ravenna, OH 44266, Phone: 330-296-3239