I was impressed that this KOA had so many trees. Best tent sites are 320 and the ones next to the creek. Quietest tent sites are 408, 409 and 410, but those are also furthest from the bathroom. Very clean showerhouses. Great basecamp to explore the Dayton area.
We stayed here in order to visit both Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the Wheels Through Time museum. The deluxe cabin on the Raven Fork river was comfortable and the propane Weber grill worked well. The new swimming pool with spa is really nice, great pool area. There was a lot of construction going on while we were there, improving the roads and parking, but overall it was a good stay and great location. The tent sites were next to a busy road, but looked mostly level.
There are a lot of good things to say about this campground and one negative. We stayed in a camper cabin to break up a long drive and the mattress was so thin that we could easily feel the metal frame through the "mattress" (really a thin pallet--hence the 3 stars, rather than 5). This KOA really needs to upgrade their mattresses, especially if they're charging such a high price for a cabin without a bathroom. Now onto the good stuff: it's a clean campground with a nice pool area and good camp store. The bowling alley was great and the on-site cafe has really good pizza. Tent campers have good options: I liked the 3 sites near the camp store because they were grassy and roomy enough for both tent and canopy. Other tent sites at the back of the campground were smaller, level, and had gravel pads. RV sites to either side of the fishing pond were mostly level and looked easier to navigate than the ones at the back of the campground; however, RV sites at the back had more shade. Had the bed been comfortable, I would have given this place 5 stars. I would be happy to return again (but this time as a tent camper).
We stayed in a Ranger Smith Cabin in the upper campground. I give this 3 stars because I'm a state park camper at heart: I prefer more room between sites, more relaxation and nature when camping. But your kids will love it here: two pools, splashgrounds, fire truck rides, arcades, meeting Yogi and friends, nightly movies…the list goes on. Be prepared for an endless parade of golf carts during your stay. We were underwhelmed by the expensive cabin as it had dorm room furniture and uncomfortable beds. The walk-in tent sites were in a hilly area without pavilions, but reservable tent sites in the lower campground had pavilions and more level ground. This is a great base camp for exploring area attractions in the Laurel Highlands such as Idlewild, Fort Necessity and the beautiful Ohiopyle State Park. If you go to Idlewild, then stop by Gino's pizza in Ligonier; order the sampler pizza (includes pierogi, taco, white and margherita)--you won't be disappointed.
We tent-camped in well-shaded loop D, which is a non-electric tent area. Loop D is much smaller and more private than the larger non-electric area (loop A). If you're in a camper, then the area next to loop A (loop B) is your best bet for shade. We loved our stay here. It's a great base camp for exploring the area and the beach is just a short drive. I wish the bathrooms in the non-electric loop were updated, but they were cleaned on a daily basis. Daily nature programs for kids at the campground 's excellent nature center were great. Take the ferry to Put-in-Bay while you're at East Harbor, or take a road trip to the Mad River & NKP train museum in Bellevue.
The cabins at Mohican State Park are highly sought after for a reason--beautiful interiors, comfortable beds, and riverfront location. When there's been enough rain, then tubing down the river is excellent. The campground pool is unheated, but it does have a lifeguard on duty. Good campstore and a clean, well-maintained campground. The newer playground (complete with zipline) is very popular with the kids. Go hiking in the nearby Mohican-Memorial State Forest; visit the fire tower and the dam while you're there. if you go into Loudonville, then stop by Stela's for ice cream in a homemade, chocolate dipped waffle cone and visit the eclectic Cleo Redd Fisher Museum.
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&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.
We stayed in a Sherman cabin; it included two sets of bunk beds, a mini fridge, microwave and a/c. The pool was clean (tho' unheated) and showerhouses well-maintained. We were glad we stayed in the cabin because it rained heavily while we were there and many sites had standing water. The tent section is very hilly and you may need to be creative with your set-up. We loved the close location to fantastic hiking trails. Take your kids to the pencil sharpener museum while visiting Hocking Hills; it won't take long (it's only one room) and you can gather info at the visitors center next door while you're there.