Campers at Patriot, Ohio access remote recreational lakes and forested campgrounds across Shawnee State Forest and Wayne National Forest at elevations ranging from 600-1300 feet. The area features hardwood ridges with steep terrain that creates natural seclusion for tent and RV camping spots. Primitive glamping close to Patriot, Ohio offers campers direct access to wildlife observation with seasonal fishing opportunities from April through October.
What to do
Swimming at Pine Lake: The lake at Tar Hollow State Park Campground features a sand beach and designated swim area with a wooden dock for shallow diving. "Pine Lake is nice, but the beach is a bit small. Overall, this has been a lovely place to relax and decompress," notes one camper who visited in 2021.
Paddling options: Rental boats provide water access for visitors without their own equipment. "We rented canoes, but there is also a rowboat and several kayaks. The main lake is large enough that an hour's rental is just fine for your canoe time," shares a camper at Tar Hollow.
Cave exploration: Carter Caves State Resort Park Campground offers guided underground tours through their network of caves. "The park has a lot to do, not just the caves. There's tons of waterfalls off the trails, and other things to see. The caves are great to explore as well. Grab a ranger-guided tour and learn something," recommends a repeat visitor.
Disc golf course: Forked Run State Park maintains an 18-hole disc golf course winding through woodland terrain. "Lake. Disc golf. Fishing. Swimming. Hiking. I would go camping here again," states a satisfied guest.
What campers like
Secluded tent sites: Shawnee State Park Campground offers tent-only spots with extra privacy. "This campground has some features that are nicer than what is found in many state campgrounds. There are some secluded sites back in the woods, so you don't feel like you are camping in a parking lot in a few places," reports a camper who stayed in 2024.
Luxury glamping accommodations: Ashland Huntington West KOA provides upscale camping options beyond traditional tents. "KOA staff was very friendly and accommodating. We were able to stay extra days without any problems. The campground has miniature golf, a playground, a fenced area for dogs, a pond and a swimming pool," notes a first-time camper.
Natural surroundings: The wooded settings create a true forest experience at many campgrounds. At Oak Hill - Lake Vesuvius, one camper shared, "Paved, well maintained sites but a bit close together. Don't expect privacy if it's booked. Each site has a picnic table, fire ring with grill, and water & electric hookups."
Hiking trail networks: Multiple trail systems connect throughout the area's state forests. "The trails are superb... tall canopies, fern ground cover, a wild assortment of fungi and wildlife at every turn. The terrain is undulating but very doable," explains a camper at Lake Hope State Park.
What you should know
Cell service limitations: Many campgrounds have limited or no cellular coverage. "There is no cell service. Be sure to give anyone who may need to contact you a heads up," advises a Tar Hollow visitor, while another notes of Lake Hope State Park Campground, "There is no cell service. Enjoy the outdoors! You are off the grid!"
Water pressure variations: Some sites have unusual plumbing conditions to note. "Beautiful place to camp. Some sites are more difficult for parking a camper than others. We stayed at site 6 which wasn't too difficult to park but the water pressure was extremely high," warns an Iron Ridge camper.
Variable site conditions: Terrain affects campsite quality differently across parks. "Campsites are very small and very unlevel, had to raise back of camper and put front about a 1/4" off ground to get close to level. Site around is sloped in all directions," reports a Lake Hope visitor.
Booking windows: Reservation policies vary by location. "Reservations close 4 days prior, after that it's first come, first serve," explains a camper at Oak Hill.
Tips for camping with families
Kid-friendly activities: Huntington / Fox Fire KOA offers specialized entertainment options for children. "They had so much for kids to do: a swimming pond with inflatables, gem mining, banana bikes, and more. They showed a movie at 9pm on a big inflatable movie screen outside. Lots of other families there to hang out with," shares one visitor.
Nature education: Several parks provide wildlife learning opportunities. "The naturalists feed hummingbirds at the nature center. They pull the feeders for awhile leading up to a 'Feed the Hummingbirds' program. So cool! The birds come right to you!" explains an enthusiastic Lake Hope visitor.
Group camping sites: Dedicated areas for larger family gatherings exist at Tar Hollow. "This was such a great place to book a group site. The shelter was perfect for group lunch/dinner area and a nice place to put gear that we didn't want to get wet. The site is far away from other campers and so peaceful," notes a group camper.
Holiday events: Seasonal programming adds extra fun for families. "We went to the campground during the Halloween festivities in October. There are a lot of activities to do while at the state park, caving, hiking, kayaking, mini golf, golf, etc," reports a Carter Caves visitor.
Tips from RVers
Site selection guidance: Choose your site carefully based on your RV size. At Shawnee State Park, "We were told that the site we'd been assigned was room enough for 52'. Our RV is only 34' so that would be more than enough. We got there and it was maybe 20-24" in length, with no wiggle room because one end was the park road/driveway, the other end a hill."
Hookup locations: The placement of utilities can require extra equipment. At Carter Caves, "You will need extra water hose and extension cords to get hooked up in a lot of the sites," advises an experienced camper.
Year-round access: Some locations maintain winter operations. "We stayed for two nights and had a great time. The staff was very friendly and helpful. The RV sites were a bit narrow, but otherwise nice and shaded," reports a Lake Hope visitor, where camping is available throughout all seasons.
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