Getting out of town is a necessary right of passage in the warmer months of the year. Here are some of our favorite outdoorsy Ohio spots all within a couple hour driving distance of Cleveland.
Some photos courtesy of Yelp and Wikipedia
Ash Cave, Hocking Hills State Park – Ash Cave is named after the huge pile of ashes found under the shelter by early settlers. The largest pile was recorded as being 100 feet long, 30 feet wide and 3 feet deep. The source of the ashes is unknown but is believed to be from Indian campfires built up over hundreds of years. 19852 Ohio 664, Logan, OH 43138, (740) 385-6842.Buckeye Lake – You can camp for free at Buckeye Lake, where there’s 40 acres worth of campground. It’s located in Fairfield, Licking and Perry Counties. 2905 Liebs Island Road, (740) 467-2690. Photo via heyhar/InstagramGeneva State Park – Located on Ohio’s northeastern shoreline, 698-acre Geneva State Park rests on the shores of Lake Erie where campers can go boating, fishing or check out the freshwater marshes. 4499 Padanarum Rd, Geneva, OH 44041. (440) 466-8400. Photo via eedevore/InstagramCuyahoga Valley National Park – Of course, a national park in our own background would be a top choice for camping. The features winding hiking and cycling trails, including the Ohio and Erie Canal Towpath Trail. There’s also the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad, Hale Farm & Village and other attractions you tackle in-between exploring. 15610 Vaughn Road, Brecksville, OH 44141, (330) 657-2752. Photo via cuyahogavalleynationalpark/InstagramBeaver Creek State Park – The park includes Little Beaver Creek, a state and national wild and scenic river, and 2,722 acres of forest wilderness. The site is located in Columbiana County. 12021 Echo Dell Rd, East Liverpool, OH 43920, (330) 385-3091. Photo via irkcha/InstagramGreat Seal State Park is a 1,862-acre green area with biking, hiking & equestrian trails, plus campsites, hunting spots & more located in Chillicothe, Ohio. 4908 Marietta Rd, Chillicothe, OH 45601. (740) 887-4818.Guilford Lake State Park is a 396-acre is a quiet fishing lake located in northeastern Ohio on the west fork of the Little Beaver Creek. 6835 East Lake Road, Lisbon, OH 44432, (330) 222-1712.John Bryan State Park, part of the Buck Creek/John Bryan State Park Region, is a 752-acre Ohio state park in Greene County, Ohio. The park surrounds Clifton Gorge, a deep cut of the Little Miami River between Yellow Springs and Clifton. 3790 State Route 370, Yellow Springs, OH 45387, (937) 767-1274.Kelleys Island State Park is a 676-acre Ohio, United States, state park established in 1956 that makes up almost all of the northern third of Kelleys Island in Lake Erie. 920 Division St, Kelleys Island, OH 43438, (419) 746-2546.Lake Loramie State Park is a 407-acre Ohio State Park in Minster, Ohio. It is located around 1,655-acre Lake Loramie and is one of the original canal feeder lakes. 4401 Ft. Loramie Swanders Road, (937) 295-2011.Maumee Bay State Park offers 1,336 acres of land to play on and a lodge, cottages and golf course. 1400 State Park Rd, Oregon, OH 43616, (419) 836-7758.Middle Bass Island is one of Ohio’s newest state parks and is located in the western basin of Lake Erie. If you’re into boating, it offers a 190-slip marina. Photo via reb_beckee/InstagramMosquito Lake State Park is one of the largest lakes in Ohio and perfect for fishing and boating along with camping. 1439 OH-305, Cortland, OH 44410, (330) 637-2856.Oak Openings Preserve Metropark is the largest of the Toledo Area Metroparks. It is a nature preserve located between Whitehouse, Ohio and Swanton, Ohio and is part of the Toledo Metroparks. 4139 Girdham Rd, Swanton, OH 43558, (419) 407-9700.Strouds Run State Park is an Ohio state park located primarily in Canaan Township, Athens County, Ohio, with a small part in Ames Township. It’s 2,606 acres of wildlife and camping grounds to explore. 11661 State Park Rd, Athens, OH 45701, (740) 384-4474.West Branch State Park’s large 2,650-acre lake with its many forks and coves is extremely popular with fishermen, boaters and swimmers. The park itself is more than 5,352 acres of land, plenty of room to be outdoorsy. 5570 Esworthy Rd, Ravenna, OH 44266, (330) 296-3239.
