Best Cabin Camping near Dover, OH

This was a Fall camping experience in a cabin as we knew it would be cold in the evenings.  We also had a non-camper with us so this was a nice compromise.  We had a cozy cabin with 2 bathrooms.  We also had a small kitchen where we could cook when we didn't want to cook over the fire.  This was another way for us to social distance as COVID-19 was still an issue. 

I also took photos of the camping bathrooms as each KOA does it a little differently. You will notice that the bathroom is unisex.  It is a single bathroom (toilet and shower).  This is in the center of the campground.  The bathroom photos below are not of the cabin. 

The cabin you see here is the Deluxe. "Deluxe Cabin(More than two Bathrooms), Patio Deluxe Cabin(w/ Bathroom)- Evergreen KL8-9-10 Perfect for large family or two couples with two queen bedrooms, sleeping loft, 1 1/2 baths, kitchenette, 3 tvs located in quiet corner with shade trees. Sorry, Not Pet Friendly! Linens are included in all seasons except Winter. Please bring pool towels." Taken from Reservation Email. 

For 2 nights it totaled $153.00 which is a good price compared to other cabins we were looking at within the region.  We could have had others camping in the tent section of the campground so it is an easy way to have a mixed crowd for a camping outing. 

I did type in some information into the Special Requests within my reservation booking online, as I had a question about who had to pick up the key as a friend lived closer.  No one responded and I had to call them. 

Cabins Check in is at 3PM and Check out is at 12 PM

We were able to buy firewood from the KOA camp office. They bring it to your campsite and we were able to grill hotdogs and other food items on our camp fire.  Do read the general information closely and look at number 15 for a free scoop of ice cream. 

https://www.whitehousefruitfarm.com/donuts  We did a donut run and explored the farm for our outing for the day. 

We also spent the day checking out a local mill https://www.millcreekmetroparks.org/visit/places/mill-creek-park/lantermans-mill/

Great campground with lots to do! RV sites are a little small and close together, but comes with a picnic table and fire pit. There are back in and pull through RV spots - along with nice shady spots for rent camping. Cabins are also available. Great spot to camp if interested in tubing/canoeing/kayaking down Mohican river. When you arrive everyone in the vehicle checks in, and then someone on a golf cart takes you to your spot. Campground has an indoor pool and hot tub. Also has pond with paddle boards and paddle boats that need to be reserved at additional cost. Quite a few playgrounds available and mountain bike trails. Small creek runs along the campground. All guests are given a wrist band that gives you a discount at the Trails End restaurant and at Mohican Adventures across the street.

We stayed on a full hook up site (turned off for the season) that had a nice concrete level pad. There was also a nice side pad that kept our chairs clean. A little further back in the campground to be close to the shower house that was open. Then found out that comfort station next to us was open - nice! Also close the water which was full and rushing all weekend.

The camp store was open on the weekend and the staff was nice to chat with. They had wood, but it was slab cut which doesn’t burn very well. We decided against it. Lots of snacks and other items still available.

Some sites were really close to the water, almost too close as the water flooded a few spots. The campground is nice to walk if you like to get in a little workout. They also have small camper cabins and them much bigger cabins which a few are pet friendly.

We went on a hike by the covered bridge to one of the waterfalls. Lots of trials to choose from.

Each campsite in on a leveled cement pad and comes with a fire ring a picnic table. There is plenty of room around your site and you don't feel crowded. Most sites offer nice tree coverage for shade. The restrooms and showers are very clean and well taken care of. There is also a laundry facility and sink outside each one for washing dishes and water fountains throughout the park. There is a nice beachfront for swimming and then a dock that be reached from outside the park. A beautiful lake for kayaking or boating. The store has most camping needs in it and once a week they host an ice cream social. Has a very nice playground and a sand volleyball court. There are some hiking trails, but nothing extensive.

As part of a nearly 200-mile bikepacking ride, this was our last stop! We spent 2 nights in their "Class B" area down in the Mohican River Valley and loved it.

The oddly named “Class A” camping area offers everything from full-hook up camping slots for campers large and small, as well as just electric sites and 10 “walk-in” primitive sites, and cabins -- all of which are reservable. This area has all the bells and whistles of a modern campground with an environmental learning center, a nice outdoor pool, clean showers and bathrooms, an extensive playground and hiking and mountain biking trails right out the front door.

The “Class B” area offers 25 primitive sites on a first-come, first-served basis. It is almost 6 miles by road from the “A” services, but only a 2-mile flatish hike along the river trail. At these sites, there are only pit toilets and a water pump. Each site has a picnic table and a small fire ring. There is also a large group camping area just a few miles away from the primitive “Class B” area.

Tubing and canoeing are available within the park, but there are also several canoe outfitters in the area which provide rental / pick up services. The sheer number of these businesses makes me think that summer time can be crowded!!

Beautiful shaded trails meander all throughout the park and they boast some of the most challenging mountain biking in the mid-west, so read your trail maps. Hiking, equestrian and winter snowmobile trails also offer some great opportunities to get out and stretch your legs throughout the year. There is also a safe and convenient, bike lane / bike path into nearby Loudonville, which has a small grocery story and the usual fast-food restaurants.

Note: The only reason why this park didn't get a 5 star was due to their customer service. It was absolutely lousy, confusing, and the young folks working behind the counter acted as if they didn't want to be there and/or hadn't been trained. We almost left, but since we had cycled 42 miles to get there that day, we chose to stay and enjoyed our time in their Class B sites.

Make reservations! (6 months in advance).  Waterside sites fill up quickly! Check in is very easy as you pass the camp store on your way in. All campsites have a fire ring and picnic table.  West Branch has private, spacious, shady sites. We can launch our kayaks right from our campsite. The shower house and bathrooms are large and clean. There is even a book exchange shelf at the shower house in case of rainy days. The park office loans games and sports equipment to campers. Washers and dryers are also at the shower house. There is an outside sink to wash up dishes. Bring your boat or kayak. There are many inlets to explore or fish. There is a small beach at the campground but a larger one on the other side of the lake. There is a boat launch at the campground.  There are playgrounds for the children. An ice cream social is held on Saturday evenings that my children always love to attend. There is a newer dog park near the intersection of Rock Spring  and Esworthy roads. There are many scenic hiking trails at West Branch. Bridal trails are located on Esworthy Rd. West Branch is our favorite campground and we make sure to visit every year.

General: 50-site (all but six with electric hookups) campground plus two yurts and three cabins. Two sites are handicap accessible. 

Site Quality: The sites have gravel pads (except the handicap-accessible ones which were paved). The sites were completely covered with leaves when we were there which made it challenging to determine where the actual (narrow) pad was. Sites appeared to be level. A fire ring and wooden picnic table complete the site. 

Bathhouse: A little dated but clean. Two of the stall doors did not latch properly. Didn't use the shower so cannot comment but there was a sign indicating it took a while for the water to warm up.

Activities/Amenities: There is a small camper store, laundry, and a playground. In season, there is lake swimming and a boat dock. There is a fishing area, mini-golf and disc golf, and several short hiking trails. Unfortunately, since we arrived late afternoon and had to depart early the following day (and were camping off-season), we could not take advantage of any of these things. What we lose in activities, we gain in a quieter camping experience with fewer crowds, which is generally preferable for us!

PROS 

$3.50 Vet discount

Chelsea very friendly and helpful with phone reservation and texting confirmation 

Good overnight stay just 1 miles off of Interstate 70 

Wooden picnic table 

Toilet/shower house very clean 

Good night sky viewing 

Nice small lake and small splash pad 

Mostly quiet except for noise from National Road 

CONS 

Shore power breaker bad at assigned campsite so had no power at our site but park handyman arrived quickly and changed out the breaker 

Pull-thru site #18 was very unleveled from front-to-back; hitch was on ground and rear stabilizers were fully extended with blocks underneath

No one available at check-in office on a Friday afternoon and we had no idea what site we had been assigned by Chelsea

No mention of needing a code for toilet/shower building and was not provided one, so had to scurry to find it when nature called

Paid cash in order to avoid 3% credit card fee 

Had to return to office to get paid receipt 

No fire pit 

No WiFi 

1 bar Verizon

Saltfork is located about 45 minutes from my house, and makes for the perfect overnight trip. 

There are tons of things to do, and lots of space in which to do them. My favorites includes hiking trails, and the lakeside dog park. 

I stay in the primitive camping, it allows for more privacy and quiet. Although it also means you are relegated to the pit toilets. I personally don't mind them, but I know some campers will make the drive to the nicer shower house in the RV heavy side of the park. 

Each site has a picnic table and fire ring, the fire rings in the primitive section need some work, as the grates are very old and small.