Whether you're an RVer or tent camper, Salem, OH is a great place to post up for the weekend—or longer. There are tons of hikes and other fun activities to partake in, as well as sights to see and explore. At The Dyrt, campers like you share their favorite spots, plus tips and photos. No matter where you're headed in Salem, you'll find the best spot for you and your camping crew.
This recreation area is part of Michael J Kirwan Lake
Mill Creek Recreation Area is an ideal family campground located on Berlin Lake in northeastern Ohio. Visitors enjoy boating, fishing, hunting, picnicking and camping.
The lake is a popular location for boating, swimming, and fishing. Berlin Lake is renowned for its excellent walleye fishing. It is one of the few area lakes where natural reproduction of the species occurs. Anglers will also find largemouth and smallmouth bass, muskie, crappie and bluegill. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources manages over 6,800 acres of project lands for public hunting and wildlife management purposes. Small game species are found in abundance and hunting areas can be easily accessed.
Berlin Lake is situated on the Mahoning River, where it covers 3,590 acres and offers 70 miles of shoreline. The banks of the lake are gently to moderately sloped, allowing for easy access. Beech and maple trees cover the area, offering shade and beautiful fall color. A variety of wildlife makes its home around the lake. Visitors delight in viewing nesting ospreys. Bald eagles can occasionally be seen in the area as well.
Noah's Lost Ark Animal Sanctuary is just one mile south. The sanctuary is home to a large variety of big and small cats, including lions, tigers, cougars, leopards, bobcats and lynx. Wolves, coyotes, fox, bears, camels, zebras and primates also live in Noah's Lost Ark. Children love the sanctuary's petting zoo and educational tours.
$50 / night
Raccoon Creek State Park is one of Pennsylvania’s largest and most visited state parks. It began as a Recreational Demonstration Area operated by the National Park Service in the 1930s during the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) era.
The park encompasses 7,572 acres and features the beautiful 101-acre Raccoon Lake. Facilities are a mix of modern and rustic with group camps from the CCC era.
The 172 modern tent and trailer campsites have access to flush facilities, warm showers, and the option of electricity. Each site also has a picnic table and fire ring. Pets are permitted in C and F campsite loops.
The wooded campground offers:
Selection of secluded or adjoining sites Playground Five central washhouses Sanitary dump station Camping seasons:
E and F loops open early April and close in mid-October. A, B, C, and D loops open late May and close mid-September
$25 - $40 / night
Campground Closed for Renovation: The campground on Leslie Road will be completely unavailable during renovations beginning October 20, 2019. NOTE: A one-lane bridge on Echo Dell Road CANNOT accommodate vehicles with trailers or RVs. You must approach the Park Office, Wildlife Education Center, Gaston's Mill, and Pioneer Village from the south if you are traveling in a large vehicle.
$18 - $50 / night
Silver Springs Campground is owned by the City of Stow, and operated by the Parks and Recreation Department since 1976. Nestled in Silver Springs Park in the Northeast corner of Stow, it is one of only a few municipally-operated campgrounds in Ohio. The City has been providing outdoor recreational opportunities at this site for over four decades, and the public has really taken advantage of it. They appreciate being able to enjoy the outdoor camping experience so close to home. Campers have access to many amenities throughout Silver Springs Park while camping, including fishing at Heritage Lake, hiking on the trails in the woods, tot lot fun at SOAR playground, dog exercise at Bow Wow Beach, active recreation at the tennis and basketball courts, and throw-together games and activities in the many open fields. The campground is also adjacent to the Metro Parks’ Bike and Hike Trail. The facility has 27 campsites, some open and some shaded.
$15 - $22 / night
$28 - $40 / night
This recreation area is part of Mosquito Creek Lake
Mill Creek Recreation Area is an ideal family campground located on Berlin Lake in northeastern Ohio. Visitors enjoy boating, fishing, hunting, picnicking and camping.
The lake is a popular location for boating, swimming, and fishing. Berlin Lake is renowned for its excellent walleye fishing. It is one of the few area lakes where natural reproduction of the species occurs. Anglers will also find largemouth and smallmouth bass, muskie, crappie and bluegill. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources manages over 6,800 acres of project lands for public hunting and wildlife management purposes. Small game species are found in abundance and hunting areas can be easily accessed.
Berlin Lake is situated on the Mahoning River, where it covers 3,590 acres and offers 70 miles of shoreline. The banks of the lake are gently to moderately sloped, allowing for easy access. Beech and maple trees cover the area, offering shade and beautiful fall color. A variety of wildlife makes its home around the lake. Visitors delight in viewing nesting ospreys. Bald eagles can occasionally be seen in the area as well.
Noah's Lost Ark Animal Sanctuary is just one mile south. The sanctuary is home to a large variety of big and small cats, including lions, tigers, cougars, leopards, bobcats and lynx. Wolves, coyotes, fox, bears, camels, zebras and primates also live in Noah's Lost Ark. Children love the sanctuary's petting zoo and educational tours.
$50 / night
Raccoon Creek State Park is one of Pennsylvania’s largest and most visited state parks. It began as a Recreational Demonstration Area operated by the National Park Service in the 1930s during the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) era.
The park encompasses 7,572 acres and features the beautiful 101-acre Raccoon Lake. Facilities are a mix of modern and rustic with group camps from the CCC era.
The 172 modern tent and trailer campsites have access to flush facilities, warm showers, and the option of electricity. Each site also has a picnic table and fire ring. Pets are permitted in C and F campsite loops.
The wooded campground offers:
Selection of secluded or adjoining sites Playground Five central washhouses Sanitary dump station Camping seasons:
E and F loops open early April and close in mid-October. A, B, C, and D loops open late May and close mid-September
$25 - $40 / night
Campground Closed for Renovation: The campground on Leslie Road will be completely unavailable during renovations beginning October 20, 2019. NOTE: A one-lane bridge on Echo Dell Road CANNOT accommodate vehicles with trailers or RVs. You must approach the Park Office, Wildlife Education Center, Gaston's Mill, and Pioneer Village from the south if you are traveling in a large vehicle.
$18 - $50 / night
Silver Springs Campground is owned by the City of Stow, and operated by the Parks and Recreation Department since 1976. Nestled in Silver Springs Park in the Northeast corner of Stow, it is one of only a few municipally-operated campgrounds in Ohio. The City has been providing outdoor recreational opportunities at this site for over four decades, and the public has really taken advantage of it. They appreciate being able to enjoy the outdoor camping experience so close to home. Campers have access to many amenities throughout Silver Springs Park while camping, including fishing at Heritage Lake, hiking on the trails in the woods, tot lot fun at SOAR playground, dog exercise at Bow Wow Beach, active recreation at the tennis and basketball courts, and throw-together games and activities in the many open fields. The campground is also adjacent to the Metro Parks’ Bike and Hike Trail. The facility has 27 campsites, some open and some shaded.
$15 - $22 / night
$28 - $40 / night
Guide
First time at this park I can see why it's always booked up. It seems like the sites are good sized but some are on slopes even the pads so make sure to bring stuff to level. Bathrooms were clean separate showers verizon works well here.
Ranger
Review in a previous post.
RangerStayed here while visiting Cuyahoga NP although was 15-20 minute drive to park. But is close to quaint beautiful towns such as Stow Silver and Hudson. Close to a golf course. I felt the road noise was bothersome at night. Most of the sites are simple, treeless but grassy. The power station was several feet from the driveway but the camp host encouraged me to drive on the grass to access power. The price is very reasonable.
Guide
TL:DR-This is a really nice, well-kept campground, though there may be some noise.
Pros: very clean, well-kept grounds and bathrooms; there's a nice-looking playground, two lakes, trails.
Considerations: the entire time we were here, the wind was 10-15 mph and all of our neighbors were very quiet, friendly, and respectful. So the majority of what we heard was October winds blowing leaves off the trees (nice!!), but the few times the wind died down, or when motorcycles or large trucks were on the highway, the sound came thru loud and clear.
The only other thing I can say that I don't think others did, is that some of the sites, like ours, while more or less level where you'd put an RV, might require going up or down an incline to get to the picnic table. A bit of a problem if you have trouble with knees or hips. ;)
Scout
Beautiful place. Host was very accommodating. Great time.
Scout
I came up for an event at the farm show grounds(yes the event you’re thinking of). I made a reservation and paid in full the day after it was announced 6 days beforehand. I got a call the day before Friday stating that I wasn’t able to check in until 1PM and the latest was 8PM. I asked if I could park there before the event and deal with it later. The owner reluctantly agreed, however said that my vehicle would be towed if I came after 8. He also stated that I couldn’t check in early or wait a little. Gates closed at 1; and was over at 8 and couldn’t leave the parking lot until 10. Needless to say I just drove home 3 hours instead. Mind you the“campground” is a quarter mile from the farm show grounds. I honestly just wanted somewhere to rest my eyes for a couple of hours in my car before I left early on the morning. I understand that places like this have policies, however this was probably the largest congregation of people Butler and the Farm Show has ever hosted. There was 10s of thousands of people in town and as a bonus the rounds were closed to due construction. If you lean even a little right, caveat emptor. The guy knew exactly what was doing. This will be the most expensive$35 this guy ever stole.
Traveler
It’s nothing much, there isn’t much in the way of activity save a few trails. However if you like adding trails to your list or you’re fine with driving a little bit to Harrison or Salt Fork, they aren’t far away at all. The overall reason I gave 5 stars though, is because it’s free.
Guide
I had a tent site and it wasn't bad. The site next to me was blasting music but turned it off around 8 so I won't dock points. The bathrooms were clean and it was easy to get to from the highway. There was a lot of road noise though. The tent platform was level and clean. I would stay again.
Guide
When you pull into Beaver Creek Family Campground you pretty much have two choices: either you go left into multiple Pine tree sites or right into two cabins and more RV friendly open sites. A few of the RV sites have electric, but no water for their tanks. I suggest the pine sites for any tent or hammock campers. I stayed in one of the first set of 3 pine sites numbered 43, 44, and 45. There is some brush and cover between these sites, but each has a pull in parking pad. If 45 was occupied with a RV, 44 would not be as nice as it was. Backing into 44 and 45 would be tricky as well. To be fair any larger RV that came in better know how to get through tight quarters.
The back area of each of those 3 sites looked best to get even ground for a tent. My buddy hung his hammock between the tree to the left of the picnic bench and to a tree back and left in the picture of site 44. Site was fairly clean, but be sure to move the pine tree duff away from the fire pits to be safe.
Probably the nicest pit toilets I have experienced and while we didn't use, it the sun shower building would give anyone privacy if they had packed a portable shower. Lots of trails to choose from and the pioneer village in the state park gives you many options to spend the day. Had some luck fishing at the Canoe/Kayak area in the South East area of the park close to the Group Camp Sites.
Scout
Very nice campground, convenient and clean. A lot of lake front camp sites
Guide
Paved, free, self register, FF, pit toilet, cell service 3 bars. Only negative to some maybe gunfire at nearby range during day. Fernwood state forest.
GuideI don’t have much to say about this campground but to start off on a high note the pool was nice. Now the reasons for our low rating. WiFi was nonexistent, everything was dirty and run down. Our RV site was ok. Family rented a cabin and it was disgusting. Dirty furniture-dishes-run down. Toilet looked like someone died in it. For $250 a night our recommendation is get a hotel-cheaper and cleaner (which is what our family ended up doing). Oh and letting permanent sites fly all sorts of political flags makes this KOA unwelcoming and honestly a little scary. Do not waste your money here.
Traveler
I'm bicycle touring across the United States. First time user of dyrt. My first camping location and review. Camping in a tree farm has been cool!
I called the number listed and left a message. See the friendly manager walking the farm. He says they no longer offer the camping service due to low guest attendence. Since I've got no place else to camp, I offer to pay for the spot. Weather was a factor. So he let me stay.
Clean bathroom. Office to charge electronics and a campsite with firepit was great. Nice and quiet here also.
I do hope more people find a use for this location. The camping service needs to return. 🚲
If not, come here during the holiday season and purchase a tree! 🌲
Thank you!
Scout
Great staff great place.
Scout
Truly a quiet, nice, meticulously cared for, and perfect place to stay. This place will be a regular destination from now on.
Guide
We recently stayed at the Yogi Bear Campground and, while the overall experience was fun, the condition of our cabin was absolutely unacceptable, especially considering the$900 we paid for just two nights. Upon arrival, we were shocked by the state of the cabin. There was hair all over the sink, toilet, and shower. The floors were filthy, with dog hair everywhere. It was clear that the silverware hadn't been properly cleaned, and the fans were caked with about a quarter-inch of dust. To make matters worse, we found trash and wrappers lying around, and there was a huge stain on the mattress protector. Crumbs were scattered throughout, indicating that the cabin had not been cleaned prior to our stay. I tried to clean the futon myself after realizing how dirty everything was, and the amount of dog hair and dirt I collected was appalling. When I spilled something on the floor and wiped it up with a paper towel, the towel turned black, showing that the floors likely hadn't been scrubbed in ages.
The water situation was equally disturbing. The water smelled horrible, and both the shower head and faucet were caked with scum. My kids begged not to have to take a shower because of the smell. While I understand that water softeners and filters can be expensive, this was simply unacceptable, especially given how much we paid for the higher-end cabins. At the very least, the website should mention that guests might want to bring a shower head filter or be prepared for the poor water quality.
To add to our frustration, unlike the other cabins, ours didn't have a WiFi access code panel. Some of our friends stayed in nearby cabins, and only a few of them had the WiFi password. When we called to ask for the password, nobody ever called us back. This was especially concerning for our friends who had babies with them and needed WiFi to set up their baby monitors.
This level of cleanliness might be expected in a$50/night cabin, but for the price we paid, it is beyond ridiculous and incredibly disappointing.
Traveler
Nice Campground with many amenities. Clean bathrooms and showers. Was surprisingly quiet at night despite a large number of people.
GuideGets loud and crowded on the weekend as usual, the shower house is pretty nice. There are fire rings and electrics and nonelectric sites. Swimming and boating is nearby.
The water is muddy and the shoreline is sharp rocks.
Peaceful when the early morning lawn mower brigade has gotten past and the dumpster work isn't at full force near my campsite (B18) at 7:30 AM.
Traveler
I took my 7yo son last year for his first time camping. He absolutely loved it!!! Everyone was very nice & the heated pool & campstore are great. He especially enjoyed the “rock mining”. He keeps wanting to go back to get the motherload bag to mine!
Ranger
Nice park with a quiet stay
Scout
The owners don’t care about camper safety at all. When a permanent camper starts slashing tires and threatening people with a knife they should act when called. Nope they came up two plus hours later and told her to get in her camper. Violence should never be exceptable. The women was arrested the next morning. The owners should have called the sheriff’s when they were called. They care zero about the campers or the kids that are there. Very unsafe. We won’t be back.
Traveler
Quiet park. Some road noise from campsite J100 but US route 322 is lightly traveled. Typical tent site with fire ring and picnic table. Across street from bath house with shower and toilet which was clean.
Guide
We live in Oregon and our son and family live in Zelienople. We have stayed here in 2019, 2021, 2023 and now 2024. The owners and staff are wonderful, right on top of things. We enjoy spending time with our son and his family in Zeli and Harmony as well as the other Villages around. Highly recommend IBCG to everyone (until we can't get a spot!)
Ranger
We've stayed here twice, and both times have been great. The only downside for us is that we're full-time and this is close to "home." We don't really use the amenities, so we can't validate having to pay for anyone to visit us only at our rv. We understand the policy as camp hosts ourselves. People abuse areas and will bring 30 people to a place like this. It is beautifully set up with a small lake for swimming, playgrounds, pavillions, games, events, music etc. Level gravel sites with really great grassy areas. We stayed memorial weekend and it was quiet by 9 every night. They do a great job keeping the park looking beautiful. Reasonable rates.
Guide
This campground was exactly what I was looking for, a quiet campground with a large campsite. I have very few complaints. We stayed over Memorial Day weekend and enjoyed our time there. Even with the holiday weekend, the campground was very quiet. Our site was lakeside and was probably the largest campsite I ever stayed in. Some areas where not as big, especially the pull through sites toward the front, but most of the sites on the back side were large. Most sites looked pretty level. Ours sloped up toward the road, but our trailer was not log enough for it to be an issue. The road are mostly dirt and dusty, but didn't bother me. I Site was large enough that there wasn't dust blowing and the traffic was pretty minimal. t was worse when it rained and everything was muddy when we were trying to leave. There are some seasonal campers with golf carts, but It wasn't overwhelming and we didn't feel like we were invading a private neighborhood. The larger lake was bigger than I anticipated and was big enough to paddleboard/kayak on. The pool as fine, nothing special, but good enough for a quick dip. We didn't' use the swimming lake, but it had a sand beach. The location is about 30 minutes from Geneva on the Lake. There are several wineries about 15-20 min away that we visited. My biggest complaint I had was the firewood rule. As another reviewer mentioned, they don't allow outside firewood and your have to pay$12 a bundle for theirs. This adds some cost to the stay, thought I'm not sure how much they enforce it. We saw some rather large fires going around the campground and I doubt they were burning that much wood at$12 a bundle. The other rules were reasonable and I think making people acknowledge them at booking and checking in reinforces it. It is nice to not have to hear your neighbor 3 sites away playing music at 10:00 at night. No sewer hookups that I saw, but the bathroom was clean. Only one main bathhouse with some port-johns in the back areas. Overall, we were happy and would consider going back.
Traveler
It was a nice location to the turnpike but the bathrooms are so out of date. We have a small TT and use the bathhouse frequently. The stall doors hit your knees and the well water stinks…couldn’t wash my hand in the sink. Only one shower stall in the one of 2 bathroom locations. It was nice to see an area designated for dog swimming area. The office closed at 6 PM so no late arrivals. Nice pond but it was a little murky.
ScoutWe will definitely be back. The sites are very level, so setup is a breeze. There's plenty of spots to go fishing and hang out by the lake, plus different things to do in the area.
Camping near Salem, Ohio, offers a variety of experiences for outdoor enthusiasts. From serene lakeside spots to family-friendly campgrounds, there’s something for everyone in this beautiful region.
Camping around Salem, Ohio, offers a mix of fun, relaxation, and adventure. Whether you’re with family or enjoying a solo trip, there’s a campground that fits your needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular campground near Salem, OH?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Salem, OH is West Branch State Park Campground with a 4.6-star rating from 67 reviews.
What parks are near Salem, OH?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 14 parks near Salem, OH that allow camping, notably Michael J Kirwan Lake and Cuyahoga Valley National Park.
