The region surrounding Windsor Heights sits in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains at elevations ranging from 900-1,200 feet. Camping options span both free primitive sites and full-service campgrounds across eastern Ohio, northern West Virginia, and western Pennsylvania. Most public campgrounds operate seasonally from April through October with restrictions on access during winter months.
What to do
Fishing opportunities: Jefferson Lake State Park Campground offers a small lake for fishing with easy shoreline access. "We enjoyed fairly level pads, very clean vault toilets, beautiful grounds and walking trails," notes William Y. about the facilities.
Hiking trail systems: Raccoon Creek State Park provides over 40 miles of maintained trails with varying difficulties. "Very beautiful, secluded area! I enjoyed my stay at this park. We had a tent site for the weekend. It was a beautiful area and I really enjoyed exploring," shares Alice M. about the extensive trail network.
Water recreation: Austin Lake RV Park features multiple lake activities beyond standard swimming. "TONS of stuff to do here. Very big campground, all kinds of sites. Inflatable slides and such in the lake, hiking trials, playgrounds, all sorts of stuff," explains Mathew H., highlighting the diverse recreation options.
Equestrian camping: Barkcamp State Park Campground includes dedicated facilities for horse campers. "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," writes Andrea F., describing the specialized equestrian camping section.
What campers like
Free camping options: Hidden Hollow Campground at Fernwood State Forest offers no-cost camping with basic amenities. "Self-register with cards located at pit latrine building. 14 days every 30. No problem getting 40' skoolie in and parked in mostly level spots. Camp fire rings and picnic tables at most sites," explains Donald F. about the free camping setup.
Quiet, secluded sites: Ronsheim Campground in Harrison State Forest provides peaceful camping with minimal facilities. "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," states Joshua B., emphasizing its seclusion.
Modern RV facilities: Grand Vue Park features newly developed camping areas with full hookups. "Grand Vue has a brand new rv camping park. 40 spots with full hookups. A gated campground with a paved main road running through. The lots are gravel and somewhat level," notes one reviewer about the improved facilities.
Well-maintained bathrooms: Tomlinson Run State Park maintains clean bathroom facilities despite being an older campground. "Its a quiet little campground. Very pretty area. The hiking trails are very well kept. The guy the runs the store and check-in was very nice guy," reports Theodore C.
What you should know
Sound considerations: Many campgrounds in the area have noise factors to consider. At Hidden Hollow Campground, "Gun range 5 mins away or so. Bees are ridiculous.(they love sugar) oh yeah, Harvest Spiders all over the place so be cautious. Bathrooms are disgusting but they have toilet paper," warns Jaysha L.
Water availability varies: Several sites require bringing your own drinking water. At Ronsheim Campground, campers note "Quiet, no Verizon cell service. Pond," but no potable water on site.
Site terrain challenges: Many campgrounds feature uneven camping pads. At Washington-Pittsburgh SW KOA, "A dozen or so of the sites are not level, not only that but they are narrow and where you sit is a slope making it very uncomfortable," explains Kevin D. about the terrain issues.
Seasonal facility changes: Several campgrounds reduce services during off-seasons. At Jefferson Lake State Park, "They also advertise a water filling station but neglected to mention that it is non-potable water so that's something you're looking for then keep that in mind," cautions Alex S.
Tips for camping with families
Swimming options: Tomlinson Run State Park offers swimming facilities for children. "Nice simple, small campground sites are for everyone, RV to tent, older bathhouses but clean. Swimming pool and lake for fishing and boating," shares David A. about the family-friendly water options.
Playground access: Multiple campgrounds feature playground equipment. At Austin Lake, "Great camp ground! Lake and scenery was beautiful! Very clean and friendly help! Very kid oriented!" mentions Shawn L.
Recreation alternatives: Barkcamp State Park includes additional activities beyond standard camping. "They have a putt putt course but it's really dated and not kept up. This didn't bother us but some might use it. They also had a nice place to launch boats in the campground," notes Andrea F.
Budget-friendly options: For families watching costs, Ronsheim Campground provides free camping with basic facilities. "Well maintained campground with a handful of sites. Pit toilets. Nice fishing pond. Gun range nearby," explains Peter H.
Tips from RVers
Access considerations: Several campgrounds have challenging approaches. At Austin Lake RV Park, "Be advised it will seem a little sketchy getting in. The road dead-ends into the campground and it is all downhill getting there. Take your time and all will be just fine. Our rig is 39' & 16K. 4wd low helps, not cause you need 4wd just for the lower gears," advises Mathew H.
Hookup availability: Electrical service varies widely between campgrounds. At Jefferson Lake State Park, "Only 5 electric sites. Very clean pit toilets. Well maintained campground. A few equine sites. Only 2 electric eq sites. Electric is a little far behind pad. We almost needed extension cord," notes Eddie about the limited electrical options.
Cell service gaps: Many of the best places to camp near Windsor Heights, West Virginia have limited connectivity. At Austin Lake, one camper mentions "No phone service at all, no matter the carrier," which affects planning and communication during stays.
Dump station locations: Not all campgrounds offer on-site sanitary facilities. At Grand Vue Park, "A gated campground with a paved main road running through. The lots are gravel and somewhat level. A cute restaurant is close by along with restrooms and showers that are also brand new. Firewood is for sale at the main office for $20 and they deliver to you," explains a reviewer about the amenities.
