Camping sites near Mount Vernon, Ohio offer recreational opportunities along the Kokosing River and surrounding forestland. The area sits within Knox County's rolling hills at approximately 1,000 feet elevation, creating a mix of riverside and wooded camping environments. Winter temperatures typically drop below freezing from December through February, limiting most camping operations to the April through October season.
What to do
Fishing and paddling opportunities: Kokosing River Campground within Kokosing Lake Wildlife Area provides catch-and-release fishing. "Kayaking on the lake is great. Camp staff very friendly and helpful," notes one visitor who stayed during Labor Day weekend.
Hiking trail access: Mohican State Park Campground features multiple trail options with varying difficulty levels. "Beautiful campsites on the water and near it. Absolutely beautiful & great trails. There is nice several mile through trail that goes from the dam area following the river to the primitive camping area and then to the camper/rv camping area," reports a reviewer.
Disc golf courses: Mt Gilead State Park Campground maintains a developed disc golf course on property. A camper mentioned, "The camp has nice trails, a fishing lake and disc golf course along with other activities. The store was closed due to Covid-19 but restrooms and showers were open."
What campers like
Free primitive sites: Mohican State Park Campground offers no-cost backpacking options. "There are 10 free camp sites for backpackers in Mohican, each is about a mile hike in, no vehicles can reach these sites. There are 4 on the mountain bike trail and 6 on the horse trails, first come first serve, no reservations," explains one backpacker.
Swimming amenities: Rustic Knolls Campground provides water recreation beyond river activities. "Nice swimming pond with inflatable attractions. Well stocked camp store. Lots of activities for the whole family," mentions a satisfied camper.
River proximity: Mohican Wilderness features sites directly adjacent to the water. "We tent camped at one of the primitive riverfront sites. Site 810 in the Narrows. Our site was a little muddy and a little smaller than other sites but overall we were very happy with the campground and would camp there again!" reports a tent camper.
What you should know
Cell service limitations: Some campgrounds have limited connectivity. One visitor to Mohican State Park Campground noted, "No cell service with Verizon at this park." Similarly, another camper stated about Mohican Wilderness: "We didn't have any cell service but I was not expecting it. It was great to be screen free for a couple days."
Site selection considerations: Campground layouts vary significantly. "The campground was quiet and peaceful. Our site was a concrete pad and our grassy area was on a hill," reports a camper at Mt Gilead State Park. Another visitor noted about Cardinal Center Campground: "The sites in the middle tend to be more like your normal site with grass and fire rings. The outside sites are mostly gravel with not every site having a fire ring."
Off-season availability: Some campgrounds remain open year-round with reduced services. A visitor to Mohican State Park noted, "First come first serve in the winter. One heated bathroom with a shower is open in the winter. Beautiful area to see in the winter & not as busy."
Tips for camping with families
Swimming options for kids: Cardinal Center Campground offers indoor swimming facilities. "Lots of amenities: indoor swimming pool, stocked lake (catch & release), corn hole, bouncy pad, basketball court & playground," reports a family that visited.
Seasonal activities: Many campgrounds schedule themed events. One camper shared about Lazy River at Granville: "It was a little chilly this weekend for Memorial Day weekend, so we did not use the pool, but the kids stayed entertained with all of the themed events that took place."
Weather contingency plans: Heavy rainfall can affect tent camping experiences. A visitor to Lazy River at Granville noted, "There was a huge thunderstorm one of the nights, where we initially retreated to our vans; but then decided to drive up to the store and got ice cream which made the kids super excited about the rain. And they let all the tent dwellers use the game room to relax in and ride out the worst of the storm."
Tips from RVers
Site leveling requirements: Mt Gilead State Park Campground presents challenges for larger units. One RVer cautioned, "A lot of the pads are at 90° angles instead of 45° so it can be harder for a larger camper back in. The full hook up side the sites are really tight together."
Off-season water access: Winter camping requires preparation for limited services. A visitor to Mohican State Park reported, "This particular park has potable water on by the dump station and the dump station is open. The water at the full hook up sites are turned off."
Site spacing considerations: Mohican Adventures Campground and Cabins has variable site layouts. "Many sites were set up as buddy sites so we had to share our outside space with our neighbors. It was tight and awkward," noted one RVer who visited during peak season.
