This recreation area is part of Michael J Kirwan Lake

West Branch State Park Campground

West Branch is one of the best-known family campgrounds in NE Ohio. And it's not hard to understand why. Full amenities, clean facilities, and a nice lake round out the picture of a great place to get some family R&amp;R.

  

Here's what you can expect:

1\. It's Busy. 

Like, really busy. Be sure to book early as spots fill up often. Sites are fairly close to each other, but most people seem respectful of space and limits. 

  

2\. It's Accessible.

West Branch is a quick drive from Akron, Canton, Cleveland, and Youngstown - hence the draw. if you live anywhere close, there's no reason NOT to check this place out!  

  

3\. It's Fun (but a bit loud) 

If you're looking for quiet, West Branch might not be the place for you. Since the lake has not real HP limits, you'll hear boats motoring quite a bit throughout the day. 

  

4\. It's got everything :) 

Seriously. There's nothing else you could want. Hiking trails, swimming, a fully stocked office for the essentials you forgot. 

  

Quick tip: Bring swimsuits. There are plenty of places to swim in the well-kept beaches or off a boat. West Branch is a great family getaway for summer swimming!

Nice, but busy!

Here's what's great about this campground situated at an easy drive from major cities like Columbus and Cleveland...its scenic, a fully loaded campground with bathhouses, parks, hiking paths, swimming resivoir with boat rental...we highly recommend renting a pontoon for the day and hanging out in the resivoir for swimming and lounging!  It's both relaxing and nice to get away from the beach crowd!

Great Find!

This state park has a lot to offer with the highlight being a large 2,650-lake that appeals to fishermen, boaters, and swimmers. The park is over 5,000 acres and not only has camping but hiking, volleyball, fishing, playgrounds, picnicking, hunting, horseback riding, and more.

The campground is divided into three loops with nearly 200 sites. Campsites include those with full hook-up (50 amp), electric only (50 amp), and some with no electric. This campground is suitable for everything from large RVs to tents. Sites and roads are paved and each site has a picnic table and fire pit. In loops where there is no water directly at the site, water spigots are scattered throughout. The restroom/bathhouses in our loop were really nice, modern, clean, and had laundry facilities which is a real plus at a state park campground. Campsites can be reserved online up to six months in advance. Since we were here in April, the campground was practically empty and getting a site was no problem. But, if you want one of the 29 full hook-up sites in the summer, you better book early.

We really enjoyed the hiking trails and being able to leave our campsite and be right on the trails. There are approximately 12 miles of hiking trails and an additional 20 miles that are open to horses and snowmobiles. (Be aware that hunting is permitted in certain areas.)

The park is about 15 miles from Cuyahoga Valley National Park which is a fantastic place to explore with a lot going on for the whole family! If you are interested in football, the National Football Hall of Fame is just down the road in Canton. The town of Hudson has a pretty, historic downtown with a fun old soda fountain.

We would definitely stay at this campground again. It was a perfect place to stay while visiting family in the nearby town of Hudson. Loved having a paved site with full hook-ups especially since there was a lot of rain while we were there. The lake was perfect for kayaking and had we been able to stay longer we would have spent more time on the water.

Love the Lake!

We’ve counted West Branch as one of our favorite places to camp. Year round park access with heated bathrooms and showers. Nearby is Nelson Ledges for fantastic hiking.

Reported UFO sightings from the Park......yes, we saw something!?!?

Year round fun.

Pros:

Clean Bathrooms

Larhe wooded campsites

Great hiking trails

Cons

some pads can be very uneven

Great family campground 

I really wish this place was back in Illinois. We stopped here on our way back from Virginia Beach. it was the most affordable stop we made and had amenities that we usually have to pay top dollar for. They had a fantastic shower house with individual locking rooms, bathrooms were very clean and they even had Laundry on site. The front desk was very helpful and gave us some ideas of things to do. I was surprised they had a decent camp store with affordable pricing. The night we arrived they had an Ice Cream social with huge cups overfilled which made the kids super happy and only $1. I believe this was set up by a volunteer committee which also had an outside movie planned for the evening.  Nice quiet sites, (ours was lakeaIde vIew) which were wooded and very dark at night. They also had a modern play set area and volleyball which was utilized the entire visit. AND they had a beach with wonderful trails all through out.  If I end up traveling East again, this will be on our list of stops for sure.

Wonderful State Park

best barhrooms around! showers great. bathrooms great. lots of “lakefront” spots. dog park is pretty great, too! good spot to camp for cayahoga falls national park. 

water, water everywhere

I love the bathrooms and dish washing stations. Some sites are a little small but all in all a great place to camp. Love to fish here. Lots of room for boats. We stay here every year!

Love it here! 

The tent sites were nicely separated from the RV sites. Free showers. Set on a lake with a nice beach. Great for boaters.

Found this while road tripping. Great for water lovers. 

Very nice sites and very well maintained!  The only real downside to the park is that the sites can be a bit tricky to get into with your camper and the pads can have a decent grade. The bath houses are big and clean with big sinks outside to do dishes. The lake is nice for boating and swimming.   

One of the best!!!

Beautiful area for a get away in Ohio. The beach is never too packed. You can take kayaks out and venture off around the shores.

A little Secret in Ohio

I have never been here before but were looking for a last minute place on Labor Day weekend and they happened to have a spot available. I am so glad they did! This is such a nice campground with so much to do. The sites are spacious, well maintained and clean. The facilities were all modern and clean as well as the beach area. This particular weekend they had guided hikes, movie night for the kids and an ice cream social. There was also a presentation for the kids showing all the animals and birds of the park. We are going back again in a few weeks with the dog. 

Great campground!

Beautiful sites!  Plenty of room  

Plenty of electric and water sites

And full hook- up sites.

Rustic a whole lot of fun! Great sites Beautiful Lake It our Favorite !

Nice campground! Some sites were very muddy, but too be expected in the early spring! Plenty of sites to choose from day of and ended up with a loop nearly to ourselves. Though the other people who did come in were partying loud into the early morning hours. Still overall pleasant experience. Expensive but has a fun little disc golf course which always makes my boyfriend happy! 

It's Ohio 

You need to make reservations well in advance for the “primo” sites. The bathrooms are clean and include a laundry and sinks outside to wash your dishes. Campground hosts and staff are friendly and helpful. Sites are roomy and clean. Lots of variety. If you’re into hiking, disc golf, kayaking, fishing, equestrian pursuits, etc, this is the park for you.

Camper friendly 

Always a great time at West Branch.  The staff are very friendly and care a great deal about the quality of everyone's experience - they inspect and clean each site after the sites are vacated. The quiet hours are truly quiet, the bathrooms are very clean and fresh. Decided to rent a pontoon for the day - the boats were also very clean and well kept - they also have the option of an inner tube or jet skis if you want to rent those as well!  

A ++

We stayed in site 169 for just one night. We’ve been before and have enjoyed the two other sites we had. This site was chosen for convenience more than what site it was. The campground was packed with tents and campers. Our site was near a small beach so there was a lot of foot and bicycle traffic. You could tell there had been a lot rain as they threw down mulch to cover mud at our site. The drainage ditch stunk a bit and the mosquitoes were alive and hungry. On a happier note, there are great bathrooms with flush toilets, shower rooms, washer and dryers and outside sinks to wash your dishes. We walked around to check out other sites and the ones by the lake were very nice. We marked a few to remember for another time. You really need to know your sites or you may be very close to your neighbors. 

Just a place to sleep...hot and stinky  

Make reservations! (6 months in advance).  Waterside sites fill up quickly! Check in is very easy as you pass the camp store on your way in. All campsites have a fire ring and picnic table.  West Branch has private, spacious, shady sites. We can launch our kayaks right from our campsite. The shower house and bathrooms are large and clean. There is even a book exchange shelf at the shower house in case of rainy days. The park office loans games and sports equipment to campers. Washers and dryers are also at the shower house. There is an outside sink to wash up dishes. Bring your boat or kayak. There are many inlets to explore or fish. There is a small beach at the campground but a larger one on the other side of the lake. There is a boat launch at the campground.  There are playgrounds for the children. An ice cream social is held on Saturday evenings that my children always love to attend. There is a newer dog park near the intersection of Rock Spring  and Esworthy roads. There are many scenic hiking trails at West Branch. Bridal trails are located on Esworthy Rd. West Branch is our favorite campground and we make sure to visit every year.

Wooded Waterside Sites

Pros: It was very easy and fast to check in. We stayed at site #14 and had such a nice view of the lake. There were many sites there that had lovely views. The shower houses were kept pretty clean. They had many shower houses and dumpsters around the campground. Our campsite was also clean upon arrival. There wasn't any trash left behind from previous campers.

Cons: We stayed for 2 nights. Our first night was loud. People were up yelling and listening to loud music until 11:30pm. Quiet time starts at 10:00pm and I dont believe that is strictly enforced. The second night was much better. 

Beautiful views!

Showed up and wasn’t sure to expect but wow! We had a water view site and it’s perfect! We were at site 58. It was long and skinny so our camper near the road and the fire was 20 yards away.  It was a perfect site for us. Some trees provides privacy between sites but also some sites were perfect for groups. Facilities were ideal and very well kept! The lake is busy and very peaceful at the same time. Beach was full so just know you won’t have it to yourself. Great campground! 

Perfect with a large P!

My wife, 2 dogs, and I came with no reservation. They gave us a temporary tag to drive around and see what site we wanted. We ended up going to site 190 which had a decent amount of space to tent camp. The amenities were great. Clean shower and toilets in a well lit building.  There is also a dog park with a pond 2 minutes up the road which was great to wear the dogs out at. The only complaint I have is the site was a little close to our neighbor for our liking but we would go back!

Great Site

**Ranger Review: Morsel Spork at West Branch State Park**

**Campground Review: **

This state park was very welcome after our first two unlucky Ohio state park experiences. We had no trouble pulling in at 3 pm on a Sunday after Labor Day with no reservations and snagging a very nice spot (Site 50 backs up to Kirwan Reservoir). There are two loops that are on Jay Lake where there is a beach; it was understandable that there weren’t any water view spots that had not been reserved here. A very quiet park that is well-maintained with lots of amenities. Even the rumbling of the nearby trains was on the quiet side! Nice playground with toy stocked sandpit, volleyball net, cheap laundry ($3 per load, wash and dry), dishwashing sinks, showers, and clean bathrooms. There was even a step stool for kids to be able to reach the sinks. A staffed store(9am-7pm on Sunday, 11am-7pm Monday– Thursday and 9 am– 8:30 pm on Saturday) with basic supplies and, of course, t-shirts and sweatshirts. Some of the sites have a slight grade so be cautious when selecting. Many trees that provide separation between sites. Several short hiking trails. A side note: I only saw one non-Ohio license plate besides ours in the entire park, almost like it is an Ohio secret (not anymore!)  

  

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**Product Review: **

As a Ranger for The Dyrt, I have the opportunity to test products. At this campground, I tested the large  [Morsel Spork from Outdoor Element](https://www.outdoorelement.com/). I have to admit that when I unpacked my box from Outdoor Elements, I was surprised at how LONG our morsel sporks were(we have other sporks that are much shorter so I was expecting these to be a similar size) but then I saw a photo of someone using it with their freeze-dried meal and it was an aha moment! No need to dirty another dish because this mighty spork can reach to the bottom of the pouch with no problem! These sporks are also sturdier than others we have used. The rubber scraper edge is a nice touch – would be great for getting the last delicious bits of meals from the freeze-dried meal pouches and I’m thinking also in glass or plastic containers. A very nice addition to our camping tools.

Awesome state park with many amenities

Camp here all the time.
Close to home and very convenient 
Park is always clean and there are many sites with a view of the reservoir.


A nice spot to enjoy a sunset 

I camp at West Branch often. I have a kayak so I tend to choose the sites  that allow easy access to a put in. The shower house and bathrooms are always clean. There is a double sink outside of the shower house to do dishes in. The lake accommodates jet skis, power boats, fishing boats, kayaks and SUPs. There are no wake zones available. Family friendly, safe environment.

Camper friendly. 

Camped at West Branch State Park for two nights while visiting Cuyahoga National Park (30-40min drive). Super spacious campground lots, great facilities and restrooms, and very private. Beautiful lake. If you have the opportunity to nab a lakefront spot camping you should take it.

Great campground and lake 

On first impression we were not impressed with this park.  First the water fill is on an incline so when our tank was “full” pulling away from fill station it was really only 2/3 full.   This was okay for a short weekend but not good planning from who ever designed the park.  Also our site was labeled slight slope.  That was a joke.  We were only off 2 inches side to side but front to back we had to lower the front 15 inches.  The jack was down as low as it would go and we were still off by 1.5 inches.  

Once the dynamics of filling and setting up were done. We set off to explore the park. It had some really nice hiking trails. We also played some disc golf and went geocaching. 

The camper beach was small but nice and clean.  We also took the inflatable kayaks out on the lake twice and it was so smooth and clear.  

The only thing we were unable to do is have a camp fire. The fire ring was pushed so far down in the mud we were unable to get good air flow to start a fire. No campfire no worries the bugs were bad anyway.  

I will definitely come back but not to site 190.   To much hassle. 



Severe Sloping Site Won’t Keep Us From Having Fun

We are a family if four with two young kids and stayed in camp site 35. It was nice for one night. We set the tent up on the side of the driveway instead the back (as it looked like it was supposed to go) as that area was muddy. It was a short walk to the lake from our campsite but the lake entrance there was super muddy with trash around. Nice for the kids to throw rocks into but that’s about it. We were on a long drive and were only passing through for one night and we were pleased with the campgrounds for this. Campsite 35 was close to the restrooms and which were clean and well kept (while the showers could use a bit of an update but hey, it’s camping) One thing to note, one whole side of our campsite had poison ivy. But it was a good size site. We walked around a few loops and some sites were very spacious and some were very small. A lot of RV’s and very few tent campers. 

Solid Campgrounds for One Night

I’m there every chance I get!  I love going to the beach.   Swimming area is alright, a little muddy in areas, but the beach is kept clean.   There are little hideaway trails everywhere, making for a fun adventure!   The campgrounds were a bit crowded, but good grounds, tucked away from the noises of the busy world.  

Beautiful

The campground was nice, clean and had friendly faces. There is plenty to do-disc golf, sand volleyball, basketball, playground, dog park, not to mention the lake and beaches. There were a lot of dogs the weekend I went but nothing to complain about. Fire pit was nice and functional and the bathrooms were clean. The showers are private in your own “room”separate from the toilets.  My favorite feature of the campground is the wash basins outside of the bathrooms to wash your dishes. Very nice amenity when tent camping. Our site was private enough, good sized with close bathroom access. 

No Complaints

Friendly staff, beautiful lake. The shower facilities were clean.

Great camping 

We're at site 160. No electricity, no hook ups, but a HUGE lakefront site. We're in a self
 contained RV so it's not a problem for us. Beach is right next door too!

Great trails, clean facilities, no complaints

Lakefront living

Camp sites were large and spread out. Bathrooms were clean. Showers were lockable, laundry available. Outside of shower house we’re sinks that you can clean dishes. Most sites are shaded. 


Large camp sites

Site 28 was not very big, but with our small camper, it worked out great. There was a tree (masting at the time and dropping nuts, be prepared) to provide a little shade. The pad was short and if you had a slide out it may not get to open because of the tree. We were just a short ways from the playground and a shower house and not far from the camp store. The shower houses are great and kept clean. There are family showers and separate bathrooms. They even have laundry facilities and very nice outdoor sinks to use. It's a large campground and can be very busy, but everyone was polite and aware of the kids riding bikes around. They were getting ready for the Halloween - decorations were every where! Lots of places to walk around the campground and also has a beach where you can swim.

Full of spirit!

We camped here with our Littles for a chill birthday outing. We had a very nice secluded spot but I can't remember the site number. The kids loved that we were able to walk to the beach and the bathrooms were close but not too close. 

Nice Family Campground 

This beautiful, big site came open last night. First time camping here. It's only 30 mins from home. Very clean, private sites, great views at no extra charge. I love the large wash sinks. Will definitely come back. 

Relaxing 

The spots were decent size and lots of trees. It was right on a lake but you can't really see the lake from the campsites. They do have lake access. The bathhouse was very nice with own separate shower stalls.

Nice state park

#10 has a nice view of the water. Showers are hot, bathrooms are clean, and there are coin operated laundry machines. There is a park and a small beach near site 164 that was pretty busy. There is a boat launch area and plenty of day use areas to picnic near the water. Beautiful views! Would definitely recommend for solo campers and families alike. About 30 min from Cuyahoga Valley NP.

Fantastic campground

Many lakefront sites. Quiet, woodsy and very well-maintained state park  campground. Great showerhouses and very nice playground. We love the small campers beach near site 160. Not much hiking at West Branch, but both Cuyahoga Valley NP and Summit Metroparks are a short drive. Treat yourself to a meal at the A&amp;W Root Beer Stand in nearby Ravenna. Minor league Rubberducks play at Canal Park in Akron (approx 30 min. drive). There are also many free or low-cost concerts at Akron's Lock 3.