Campgrounds and RV parks near Pleasant Grove, OH

Dillon Lake anchors most water-based recreation in the area. A 1,360-foot swimming beach sits near the park office with a bath house, snack bar, and wading pool, boating with unlimited horsepower is permitted, and four boat ramps provide access to the lake. The park has 9 miles of nature trails, 12 miles of mountain biking trails, 13 miles of bridle trails, plus an archery range and disc golf course. South of Pleasant Grove, Jesse Owens State Park spreads across reclaimed mine land. Outdoor options include hiking and mountain biking trails, an archery range, and youth fishing ponds stocked for anglers 15 and under. The area also sits close to The Wilds, an open-air safari and conservation center that is one of the largest wildlife conservation centers in North America. Historic downtown Zanesville and the Muskingum River locks add rainy-day options.

Peak camping runs from Memorial Day through Labor Day, when Dillon Lake's beach is open and shoreline sites at the state parks book out for holiday weekends. Weekends in June, July, and August fill first, and reviewers at Dillon consistently note crowding during the summer stretch. Early booking is the norm for full-hookup sites. Shoulder seasons are strong here. Spring brings green-up along the Muskingum and lower crowds, though April can be wet and some rustic loops remain gated. Fall delivers reliable color through mid to late October, cool nights, and easier weekend availability at both Dillon and the Jesse Owens rustic areas. Winter camping is limited but possible. Dillon State Park offers RV camping year-round thanks to the large three-loop campground, though some facilities are reduced in the off-season. The Hook Lake, Sand Hollow, Maple Grove, and Sawmill areas at Jesse Owens run seasonally, generally April 1 to mid-December.

Sites at Dillon are set on rolling wooded terrain. Large sites spread across rolling hills make the campground a spacious base, with 183 electric sites divided into three sections, each with restrooms, shower houses, and playgrounds, and site spacing varies by section, with Area C offering the most seclusion. RVs up to 60 feet in length will be able to use the campground, and it is a good idea to bring leveling blocks since some sites aren't completely level. The rustic Jesse Owens loops are a different experience. Sites are primitive with no water, no electric, no pad, and each has a picnic table and fire ring; the campground features multiple latrines, shelter houses, and an archery range. Cell coverage is spotty in the hills, so download maps before leaving Zanesville.