Jesse Owens State Park offers free dispersed camping across several campgrounds near Caldwell, Ohio. The park spans former reclaimed strip mining lands rehabilitated by American Electric Power. Sites at these campgrounds can accommodate multiple camping setups across variable terrain, from lakefront spots to wooded areas, with most requiring a printed permit for stays up to 14 days.
What to do
Fishing at the lake: Multiple ponds and lakes throughout the recreation areas provide fishing opportunities. At Hook Lake (Campground A) — Jesse Owens State Park, children under 15 can fish without a license. "Archery range and lots of fishing spots. Great for families with pets too," notes Theresa Tittle R.
Visit nearby attractions: The Miner's Memorial Park features the Big Muskie Bucket, a massive mining artifact from the area's coal mining past. "Travel to nearby Mcconnellville and get some small town flavor and sights. Miners memorial is nearby. Go check out Big Muskie Bucket and learn a bit about Coal and power," writes Karen K. about Sawmill (Campground D) — Jesse Owens State Park.
Stargazing: Minimal light pollution creates ideal conditions for night sky viewing. "No cell service and very little light pollution at night so perfect for looking at stars," reports Greg K. about the Sand Hollow (Campground C) — Jesse Owens State Park area.
What campers like
Free camping access: Most Jesse Owens State Park campgrounds offer no-cost camping. "This is a free campsite that was part of the AEP reclamation lands. If you are unfamiliar with these lands then go to https://www.aep.com/recreation/areas/recreationland," explains a reviewer of Hook Lake (Campground A) — Jesse Owens State Park.
Spacious campsites: The campgrounds feature generous site dimensions. "Campsite was large. We had 5 people in 3 tents, and a pretty good size trailer with 5 kayaks loaded and still had more than enough room for everyone," says Derek C. about camping at Sand Hollow.
Secluded environment: Many sites offer privacy from neighboring campers. "We had the whole back section to ourself! Not a soul on site but a few boats out fishing... The seclusion and the view were top notch," notes Jessica R. about Wolf Run State Park Campground.
What you should know
Limited cell service: Prepare for minimal connectivity throughout the area. "Cell phone coverage is extremely limited out here. Verizon got service in most of the areas. It wasn't 100%. If you do need coverage the Mining Memorial is the main spot to go. Other carriers never seemed to have a signal," advises a reviewer about Maple Grove (Campground G) — Jesse Owens State Park.
Rustic toilet facilities: Vault toilets are standard at most campgrounds. "The bathrooms are Vault toilets. They do have hand sanitizer outside of the bathrooms. It would not be handicapped or Mobility accessible for those that have limited Mobility," reports a camper at Sawmill Campground.
Water availability: Some campgrounds lack reliable water sources. "The water station was broken at our site so we had to travel to another location to get more. No service and no electric hookup," notes Kelly L. about Sand Hollow.
Tips for camping with families
Check site terrain: Many sites have variable ground conditions. "We were in the non electric site area. It was pretty quiet, a great place to chill. The showers are older but well kept up," reports cyndy F. about Wolf Run State Park Campground.
Consider covered bridge sites: The historic covered bridge at Sawmill (Campground D) — Jesse Owens State Park offers a unique camping experience. "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," shares a reviewer.
Wildlife awareness: The area has abundant wildlife including raccoons. "The raccoons were a little to close for comfort in the evening make sure you lock your food and trash in your car at night," advises Devin C. at Hook Lake.
Tips from RVers
Check site length and slope: Many sites require careful positioning for larger vehicles. "Our first visit to this campground with a whim on picking a site. The pad was level and not bad in length. It had a tree on site for a little shade and some grass. A lot was dirt so watch out for the rain," explains Shannon G. about Wolf Run State Park Campground.
Select the best dog-friendly campgrounds near Caldwell: For pet owners with larger RVs, certain areas have better accommodations. "Stayed in site 27 with a 33ft travel trailer and we're able to get level without and blocks," reports a reviewer about Hook Lake, one of several dog friendly campgrounds near Caldwell.
Limited hookups: Most campgrounds offer primitive camping with few amenities. "I am here in October and there are very few other campers, two at the moment. I chose a site on a hill that I was able to get my 40+ rig into, I was all by myself with a great view," shares James D. about Hook Lake, adding "They have trash, but no water."
