Campgrounds and RV parks near Lexington, OH

The Mohican area anchors most trip itineraries. Clear Fork Gorge, Lyons Falls, and the Mohican State Scenic River are among the standout natural features for hikers and paddlers. The 25-mile EPIC Mohican Mountain Bike Trail, also open to hikers, loops the gorge and passes through both the state park and state forest. Local liveries in Loudonville run canoe, kayak, tube, and raft trips on the Clear Fork. Malabar Farm State Park preserves the working farm of Pulitzer Prize-winning author and conservationist Louis Bromfield; visitors can stroll the barn area, tour the Big House, and join programs on agriculture, nature, and wildlife. On the water, Charles Mill Lake has a 10-horsepower limit and supports sailing, small-boat cruising, and fishing for bass, crappie, and channel catfish. Mansfield adds indoor attractions for rainy days, including the Ohio State Reformatory and Kingwood Center Gardens.

North-central Ohio has four distinct seasons. Summer is the busy period, with warm days and full programming; from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend, Mohican State Park runs daily naturalist activities including amphitheater movies on weekends, nature hikes, family games, and grist mill tours. Popular weekends fill quickly, so book several weeks out. Spring and fall bring cooler nights, fewer crowds, and strong fishing. The Mohican campground swimming pool is open from Memorial Day to Labor Day, so shoulder-season stays trade the pool for foliage and quieter trails. At Charles Mill Lake Park, the swim beach and peninsula are closed until summer 2026 for a major renovation of the beach area, though the rest of the park remains open. Winter camping is limited but possible. From mid-November to March 31, full hook-up sites at Mohican do not have water at the site and fees are reduced accordingly. In the Class A campground, sites 46-64, 86-108, and 133-153 are open all winter, and Class B sites 1-23 stay open until the first Monday after the second gun season closes in mid-December. Confirm dates with the park before arrival.

Sites vary widely by park. Mohican's main campground offers full hook-up, electric, and non-electric sites. All campsites have a picnic table and a fire ring, up to two pets are allowed per site, and visitors are not permitted to drive through the campground from Memorial Day through Labor Day. The site mix is 100 electric, 51 full hook-up, and 33 non-electric. At reservoir parks, expect a mix of seasonal and short-stay guests. Charles Mill Lake Park carries a large number of seasonal sites, and only a few areas of the two campgrounds are set aside for short-term campers. Some short-stay sites at Eagle Point are gravel and others are grass, and some may be difficult to level, so ask the office to match a site to your rig. Pets are generally welcome on leash across the area's public campgrounds, and cell coverage in the Mohican gorge can be limited. Firewood policies vary by park, so buy on site when in doubt.