Sawmill (Campground D) — Jesse Owens State Park
Reviewed Aug. 16, 2020

Campsite with Covered Bridge (Nice surprise)

This is an easy find but be careful as the address can lead you astray. It is easy to see from the main road as they have a good sign up to alert you to the campground.  This was one of our favorite AEP ReCreation campgrounds. It has it's own covered bridge. How special is that:) 

I also liked this campsite as you could be by the cattails, grassy area, pine tree area, on a small island behind the covered bridge. Plenty of shallow water for the kids to play in if they wanted to go exploring. 

Cell phone signals are almost a non thing out here. I did get a signal at times on my Verizon phone. Any other carrier you were out of luck. There is no camp store here but there is a camp host.  This is not part of the Jesse Owens purchase (new Ohio State Park) so this should continue to be free for a long time as part of the AEP ReCreation camp sites. You will want to print a permit from the AEP website and have it ready just in case. https://www.aep.com/recreation/areas/recreationland

Plenty of space here and the best thing is that the camping here is free. It is an easy drive from Columbus. It is also fairly close to the Wilds.

 https://thewilds.columbuszoo.org/  AEP actually gave the Wilds the land (Columbus Zoo).  For a 2.5 hour tour it is $30.00 for nonmembers. They will also add on a $1.00 fee for conservation for each ticket sold as well. Don't forget that parking is $6.00 unless you are a member of the zoo which means it is free then.  They are asking folks to show up 30 minutes early before their tour (reservations required these days) and I suspect that is new due to COVID-19.

Vault toilets and it wouldn't be ADA accessible. They have water here but I bring my own water. 

Lots to do if you look and do your research in advance.  It isn't like a State park but that really is part of the charm.

Month of VisitAugust
  • Review photo of Sawmill (Campground D) — Jesse Owens State Park by Kenpocentaur K., August 16, 2020
  • Review photo of Sawmill (Campground D) — Jesse Owens State Park by Kenpocentaur K., August 16, 2020
  • Review photo of Sawmill (Campground D) — Jesse Owens State Park by Kenpocentaur K., August 16, 2020
  • Review photo of Sawmill (Campground D) — Jesse Owens State Park by Kenpocentaur K., August 16, 2020
  • Review photo of Sawmill (Campground D) — Jesse Owens State Park by Kenpocentaur K., August 16, 2020
  • Review photo of Sawmill (Campground D) — Jesse Owens State Park by Kenpocentaur K., August 16, 2020
  • Review photo of Sawmill (Campground D) — Jesse Owens State Park by Kenpocentaur K., August 16, 2020
  • Review photo of Sawmill (Campground D) — Jesse Owens State Park by Kenpocentaur K., August 16, 2020
  • Review photo of Sawmill (Campground D) — Jesse Owens State Park by Kenpocentaur K., August 16, 2020
  • Review photo of Sawmill (Campground D) — Jesse Owens State Park by Kenpocentaur K., August 16, 2020