St. Clairsville, Ohio sits within the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains at approximately 1,250 feet elevation. The region features rolling hills with abundant woodland and multiple lakes, creating varied terrain for camping. Fall camping season typically runs from September through early November with overnight temperatures ranging from 40-55°F.
What to Do
Horseback riding trails: Barkcamp State Park Campground offers dedicated bridle trails with specialized camping areas for horse owners. "This is set up with a whole section for horse camping with tie outs and trailer/truck sites. Lots of bridle trails and a really quiet park," notes reviewer Andrea F.
Zipline adventures: Grand Vue Park features an extensive adventure park highlighted by a 2,000+ foot zipline system. "GrandVue has many things to do including games, climbing, and of course those huge zip lines (the longest over 2000 feet)," according to a reviewer.
Lake activities: Tappan Lake Park Campground provides multiple water recreation options on its sizeable reservoir. "There's volleyball courts, and basketball courts were all in good condition. Plenty of hiking trails throughout the park. They also had a nice place to launch boats in the campground," writes reviewer Andrea F.
What Campers Like
Fishing access: Clendening Lake Marina & Campground features boat rentals and productive fishing spots. "We love to kayak and they are set up with very nice kayak launches, the lake is amazing fishing spot with 9.9 hp boat restrictions," mentions Tanner G.
Privacy between sites: Several campgrounds offer varying levels of site isolation. At Zion Retreat & RV Park, "All sites are amongst the very tall trees. There are several ponds around the campground for fishing and bird watching," notes Kathryn P.
Wildlife viewing: Multiple reviewers mention seeing animals. At Shadow Lake RV Resort, "We see deer almost every evening. There are a couple hiking trails nearby (Piatt Park and Raven's Rock) which have incredible rock formations in the gorges," according to Darla.
What You Should Know
Seasonal water access: Water systems shut down during colder months at many campgrounds. At Tomlinson Run State Park Campground, "Have to go up to entrance as the water spouts are still shut off" during shoulder season, notes Shannon G.
Site leveling challenges: Several campgrounds have sites built on hillsides. At Salt Fork State Park Campground, "Many area RV spots are unlevel up a hill, so backing in would be a hassle," writes Connor M.
Cell reception limitations: Connectivity varies significantly. At Clendening Lake Marina, "There is ZERO cell phone reception (we have gone there with both ATT & Verizon) but we weren't there to play on cell phones," mentions Andy F.
Tips for Camping with Families
Playground accessibility: Some campgrounds feature multiple play areas. At Atwood Lake Park Campground, "Kids love the playgrounds and being able to bike or scoot all around. Shower house's are superb," writes Fred R.
Swimming options: Salt Fork State Park Campground offers both lake swimming and pool facilities. "Has large campground only beach and plenty of hiking trails/destinations," reports Jay B.
Educational programs: Select parks feature nature programs. "Oglebay comes out and has star gazing when it's in season," at Barkcamp State Park Campground according to Fred R.
Tips from RVers
Hookup availability: Full-service sites can be limited at certain parks. At Rocky Fork Ranch, "Wonderful pull-thru sites. Two parts to the campground - normal and then more private on top of hill behind captain's club," explains Laura B.
Access road considerations: Some glamping close to St. Clairsville, Ohio requires navigating challenging terrain. At Zion Retreat & RV Park, "Make sure you have a good tow vehicle as there is a steep hill at the entrance/exit of the camp ground," advises Robert T.
Seasonal considerations: RV camping in the region often requires timing adjustments. "We stayed here November 21, 2020. The campground had no water hookups," reports Connor M. about Barkcamp State Park Campground.
