Mohican State Park Campground provides extensive opportunities for outdoor recreation 40 miles southeast of Oberlin. The 4,525-acre forested area features multiple camping options including tent sites, RV hookups, and primitive camping along the riverfront. Winter camping remains available with limited facilities and operates on a first-come basis during colder months.
What to do
Hiking trails: Mohican State Park offers numerous hiking paths through hemlock forests and alongside rivers. Nicole K. reports "lots of hiking trails and waterfalls" with free hike-in camping available at the park.
Enjoy water recreation: The nearby Pleasant Hill Lake Park Campground provides multiple water activities during summer months. According to Karrie Kat W., "Big campground. Boat docking is available. I just love love the beach lake. Great entertainment too. New shower houses by the beach."
Visit working farms: Malabar Farm State Park Campground offers a different experience from traditional camping. Shelly S. notes it's "Not your typical going hiking kinda campground (there are trails but they are not 'major') you come here to step away from city life and tour a working farm. Ohio countryside at its best."
What campers like
Spacious campsites: Mohican State Park Campground receives high marks for site spacing. Wesley S. states the park has a "Well maintained campground with roomy camp sites. Nice heated pool and many activities in the area. Hiking, canoeing, biking, etc."
Riverside camping: Many campers appreciate the waterfront sites. Marci P. describes the primitive campground: "It is right alongside the river and at the bottom of the gorge. I always try to go to the end of the long campground where I feel it is quieter... Listening to the river is what makes this place peaceful."
Quiet winter camping: For equestrians wanting less crowded trails near Oberlin, off-season visits offer advantages. Andrea F. notes, "Camping in the off season is our favorite time of year. 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."
What you should know
First-come primitive sites: Mohican offers free backcountry camping options away from the main campground. John H. explains, "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."
Fairground camping option: Ashland Fairgrounds provides an alternative with fewer amenities but convenient location. Charles K. reports, "Ashland fairgrounds has $20 tent sites or $35 full hookups. You may need an extension cord. All back in sites. Bathrooms are open and close by. No showers. Very clean and quiet."
Seasonal campers at some locations: Pleasant Hill Lake Park has a large percentage of permanent seasonal sites. Chris K. cautions, "Well over half of the camper sites are 'seasonal,' and some of those folks seem to resent transient campers."
Tips for camping with families
Beginner-friendly sites: Mohican State Park offers accessible camping for those new to outdoor experiences. Jenny K. states, "As far as tent camping goes, it does not get any easier than this. Everything is clean and well organized. Perfect for first time campers."
Beach and water activities: Pleasant Hill Lake Park provides family-friendly water recreation options. Tina D. reports, "The bike/walking paths for kids/adults is a great addition for campers with young kids. The shower houses are clean as well as the grounds. The lake was high this weekend and the beach was a bit under water, but still fun."
Educational farm experiences: Malabar Farm offers unique educational opportunities for families visiting horse campgrounds near Oberlin. Shelly S. recommends it as "an excellent home schoolers camping trip" where children can learn about organic farming practices and conservation.
Tips from RVers
Full hookup availability: Pleasant Hill Lake Park Campground has upgraded its facilities for recreational vehicles. Andrea F. notes, "Large landscape sites that are full hookup with large concrete pads. Each with its own picnic table and fire pit. They also have a boat dock for the campers to use."
Site selection considerations: When booking at Pleasant Hill, consider the different campground sections. Michelle H. advises, "We have stayed mostly in area E and the new F side of the campground. The new F sites have concrete pads and plenty of space. Only lacking in mature trees to offer shade. Area E has plenty of room and mature trees, but are electric only."
Generator rules: For RVers visiting horse campgrounds near Oberlin without full hookups, check generator policies. At Malabar Farm, Andrea F. reports, "We did run our generator during that day but kept it off at night so we didn't disturb other campers. Only 15 sites and most are very sloped but we had site 3 and it was okay."