Camping spots near Deersville, Ohio sit among the foothills of Appalachia in east-central Ohio, with elevations ranging from 900-1,200 feet. The region features multiple recreational lakes controlled by the Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District, with horsepower limits that create quieter camping environments. Most campgrounds in this area close between October and April due to weather conditions.
What to do
Lake activities without crowds: Harrison State Forest's Ronsheim Campground offers a small fishing pond with minimal development. "It's nothing much, there isn't much in the way of activity save a few trails. However if you like adding trails to your list or you're fine with driving a little bit to Harrison or Salt Fork, they aren't far away at all," notes one visitor.
Boating with restrictions: Clendening Lake Marina & Campground limits boats to 9.9 horsepower engines, creating a quieter lake experience. A camper reports, "We love to kayak and they are are setup with very nice kayak launches, the lake is amazing fishing spot with 9.9 hp boat restrictions."
Hiking network: Barkcamp State Park Campground contains a system of interconnected bridle trails that circle the entire park. "There's trails for horseback riding (your own), fishing areas, kayak area, with nice padded sites," according to a visitor. The park also features a beach and playground facilities.
What campers like
Modern section improvements: Tappan Lake Park Campground has undergone significant renovations, particularly in Section 5. As one camper noted, "Section 5 is the bomb!! We stayed in the 5-520-531 section. Sites are new, clean, full hookups, with plenty of paved surfaces to park. Camper sites are level and the hookups are new and easy to use."
Year-round availability: Salt Fork State Park maintains camping access throughout winter months. A visitor mentions, "We stayed here again on the way home. It is a very good birding hotspot in the spring!" This makes it one of few options in the area for cold-weather camping.
Privacy in primitive sites: Woods Tall Timber Resort offers more secluded camping among tall trees. A camper stated, "We have never experienced so much fun all in one place, from the clean swimming lake, to ziplining, to rv camping, and well kept bath houses."
What you should know
Connectivity challenges: Cell service across the region is extremely limited, particularly at Clendening Lake. As one camper noted, "There is ZERO cell phone reception (we have gone there with both ATT & Verizon) but we weren't there to play on cell phones."
Seasonal site management: Many campgrounds change site numbering or configurations between seasons. At Atwood Lake Park Campground, a visitor warned about reservation confusion: "Upon getting to our sites the numbers listed on the site posts did not match the numbers on the site map used for booking... Seasonal campers verified the campground constantly changes site numbers around."
Terrain challenges: The region's hilly landscape creates sites with significant elevation changes. At Barkcamp State Park, a visitor noted, "The campground had no water hookups, about 90% of the sites were not level (and....I mean by A LOT)."
Tips for camping with families
Swimming options: Piedmont Lake Marina & Campground provides clean beaches for children. "Piedmont lake campground is one of the nicest, most convenient, and cleanest campgrounds ever. This is going to a lot of recent updates including: nicely poured pads for all the campsites," a visitor reported.
Playground facilities: Sally Buffalo Park offers family-friendly amenities. One long-time visitor simply stated, "I have been camping here for 19 years it is a great spot," highlighting its reliability for family camping.
Budget considerations: Tent camping prices vary significantly across the region. At Tappan Lake, a camper noted, "$45/Night to sleep in a tent 🤔 Awesome camp ground, despite the price and puddles. Close enough to the lake for a decent hike."
Tips from RVers
Site selection for larger rigs: Zion Retreat & RV Park accommodates big rigs but requires careful navigation. One RVer warned, "Make sure you have a good tow vehicle as there is a steep hill at the entrance/exit of the camp ground."
Full hookup availability: Salt Fork State Park offers complete service sites. A visitor reported, "This is an awsome state park. Personally, it is definitely a favorite and I think it is one of the best in the state. Large lake allows for all types of boating. Has large campground only beach and plenty of hiking trails/destinations."
Water and electricity access: Seasonal limitations affect utility access at many campgrounds. At Barkcamp State Park, a November camper reported, "The campground had no water hookups," highlighting the need to check utility availability during off-season visits.
