The Ohio River region near West Portsmouth offers distinctive camping environments characterized by hills, forests, and river access. Seasonal temperature variations can be significant, with summer highs regularly exceeding 85°F and high humidity. Campgrounds in this area range from river frontage sites to forest settings, with many offering fishing opportunities in small lakes or along the Ohio River.
What to do
Explore cave systems nearby: Carter Caves State Resort Park Campground, about 45 minutes from West Portsmouth, features numerous natural bridges and cave formations. "The park is amazing and I have no idea how it took me 39yrs to find it so close to home. The caves are absolutely amazing and the park has some of the best natural bridges I have ever seen. Make sure to get a permit for Horn Hollow on a day of no rain or else you will not be able to enter it," advises Amanda S.
Water recreation options: Shawnee State Park-Ohio River Campground provides Ohio River access with splash pads for children. "There is river access and it is close to Shawnee State Lodge and Portsmouth, which had great flood wall murals," notes Jeremiah S. This newer campground provides both river recreation and walking paths.
Try disc golf and specialty activities: Some of the best places to camp near West Portsmouth include those with unique recreational options. "Paddle boats, marina, 18 hole disc golf, bike park, huge dog park, store, archery range, playground and trails," are available at Shawnee State Park Campground according to John R.
What campers like
Secluded tent sites: Shawnee State Park Campground offers tent sites with more privacy than typical state parks. "This campground has some features that are nicer than what is found in many state campgrounds. There are some secluded sites back in the woods, so you don't feel like you are camping in a parking lot in a few places. NOTE that most of these secluded sites (along the back edge of the campground) are up a flight of stairs," explains Megan M.
Riverfront camping views: Sandy Springs Campground provides direct Ohio River access with unobstructed views. "We stayed in site 10 right on the river and the views were great. Lots of green area to play. Huge open field as well by playground," reports Tiffani C. This campground is particularly noted for its river vistas.
Limited cell coverage: Some campers appreciate the digital disconnect at certain campgrounds. "Best part is there is no phone service... everyone has to actually spend time together and it's a great reset!" writes Kristi J. about Long's Retreat Family Resort. Shawnee State Park has similarly limited connectivity, with one reviewer noting "There is absolutely no cell service in the Campground."
What you should know
Electrical hookup challenges: Greenbo Lake State Resort Park requires sharing electrical hookups between sites. "They advertise the sites with 30 and 50 amp hookups. What they didn't say was that you had to share a post. The people beside me already had the 50 amp. I pulled everything to run on propane that I could and plugged into the 30 amp," warns Karen P.
Train noise considerations: Some riverside campgrounds experience railroad disturbances. At Wolford's Landing Campground, Gary M. reports, "Trains blowing their whistle every 20-30 minutes all night long. The crossing is right by the campground. If you can sleep through it, great. I couldn't."
Pack additional supplies: Limited nearby shopping options mean preparation is essential. "Not much access to a good town for supplies so bring what you need," advises Jarrod M. about Shawnee State Park. Several campgrounds in the area require campers to arrive with necessary provisions.
Tips for camping with families
Activity-focused campgrounds: Long's Retreat Family Resort offers extensive family entertainment options. "The kids can either swim up at the lake (with multiple water slides and a huge floating dock with diving board), the little kids can have fun in the splash pad right at the beach, go carts, rock wall climbing, basketball, arcade and so much more," describes Kristi J.
Special event weekends: Seasonal holiday activities provide additional entertainment. At Shawnee State Park, "We were there on their Halloween weekend, with a fun site-decorating contest and trick or treat in the afternoon," reports Megan M., though noting some temporary road closures during events.
Kid-friendly tent sites: Select sites carefully if camping with children. At Turkey Creek Campground, "This would be a very nice campground for families with kids as there are a lot of activity options," observes Lee D., who also mentions the multiple playgrounds available - "one a little dated and two more modern ones."
Tips from RVers
Site selection for larger rigs: Carter Caves State Resort Park Campground requires careful site selection. One camper notes, "We were told that the site we'd been assigned was room enough for 52'. Our RV is only 34' so that would be more than enough. We got there and it was maybe 20-24" in length, with no wiggle room because one end was the park road/driveway, the other end a hill."
Level pad considerations: Many campsites in the region have challenging terrain. At Turkey Creek Campground, "I would not recommend this site as it was decidedly not level and had a very short pad. Many of the other sites had even shorter pads," cautions Lee D., adding that "Sites 1-6, 15, 18-21, and 23-25, 28, 32, and 33 have longer pads."
Access road conditions: Some campgrounds have difficult approach roads. At Little Bear Island Campground, Jerry S. reports, "It was too muddy, it's a dirt road. I was nervous about getting stuck, and that was without my trailer attached."
