Don't forget to read our free monthly magazine

Click here to sign-up for your free subscription

RESORTS WITH LODGE, INCLUDING RESTAURANT, POOL, GUEST ROOMS, ETC.

Burr Oak State Park

Admission is Free 
Open daily dawn to dusk
Location: On State Route 78, just north of Glouster, Ohio
Phone: 740-767-3570

Located in southeast Ohio, quiet and remote Burr Oak State Park has a rustic country charm in its scenery of wooded hills and valley farms. As one of Ohio's resort parks, Burr Oak offers a wide array of overnight accommodations with its lodge, cottages and campground. Burr Oak blends modern conveniences with the wilderness spirit of Ohio. Burr Oak Lodge, overlooking the lake from the east, offers sixty guest rooms, five meeting rooms, a dining room, full-service lounge and gift shop. Facilities for lodge and cottage guests include a swimming beach, tennis courts and an indoor swimming pool. There are 30 family cottages with air conditioning and cable TV situated near the lodge in the wooded hills overlooking the lake. Each cottage sleeps six and has a bath, with shower, living room, complete kitchen, dining area and screened porch. Linens, towels and cooking and eating utensils are furnished. There are 100 non-electric campsites to accommodate campers in the campground. Thirteen primitive sites are offered at Dock #2 and eight primitive sites at Dock #3. A public swimming beach offers enjoyment for swimmers and sunbathers. A bathhouse, showers, changing booths and a snack bar are provided. Twenty-eight miles of hiking trails, including a portion of the Buckeye Trail, take hikers to scenic vistas and unique rock outcroppings. Backpackers will find the Burr Oak Backpack Trail challenging and enjoyable. This eighteen-mile loop trail winds around the lake shore and offers primitive campsites and water at several locations along the route.
 

Deer Creek State Park

Admission is Free 
Open daily dawn to dusk
Location: On State Route 207, just south of Mt. Sterling, Ohio
Phone: 740-869-3124 

Located in the heart of Ohio's agricultural country, Deer Creek State Park is central Ohio's vacation showplace. A collage of meadows and woodlands surround the scenic reservoir. This resort park features a modern lodge, cottages, campground, golf course, swimming beach and boating for outdoor enthusiasts. The lodge at Deer Creek has 110 guest rooms, many with a panoramic view of the lake. Lodge features include indoor and outdoor pools, sauna, whirlpool and exercise room. A restaurant, lounge and meeting rooms provide additional accommodations. Twenty-five cottages offer overnight accommodations. The cottages have two bedrooms, bath with a shower, living room with a sofa bed, complete kitchen, dining area and screened porch. The cottages sleep six people. The historic Harding Cabin offers a unique lakeside setting and sleeps 7-9. The campground at Deer Creek has 227 electric sites. The campground features showers, flush toilets and a dump station. Five Rent-A-Camp units consisting of a tent, dining fly, cooler, cook stove and other equipment can be rented during the summer months by reservation. Unlimited horsepower boating is permitted on the 1,277-acre Deer Creek reservoir. Two launch ramps provide access to the lake. A fully equipped marina offers fuel, boat rental and seasonal dock rentals. Nine miles of hiking trails take the visitor through meadows and scattered woodlands. Fourteen miles of bridle trails can accommodate riders with their own horses. A fitness trail near the lodge offers an opportunity for exercise in a wooded setting.
 

Geneva State Park

Admission is Free 
Open daily dawn to dusk
Location: On State Route 534, just north of Geneva, Ohio
Phone: 440-466-8400 

Located on Ohio's northeastern shoreline, Geneva State Park reflects the character and charisma of Lake Erie. The shimmering expanse of the lake lures vacationers who enjoy fishing and boating. Swimmers rejoice in the beautiful sand beach while nature enthusiasts retreat to the park's freshwater marshes and estuaries associated with the lake. The Lodge and Conference Center at Geneva is Ohio's ninth state park resort lodge. The lodge was constructed and is managed through a unique state/local partnership with Ashtabula County. In addition to beautiful views of Lake Erie, the lodge offers 109 guest rooms, a full-service restaurant, and conference facilities. A full facility campground with electricity, showers and flush toilets offers shaded and sunny campsites. Deluxe Cedar Cabins on the Lake Erie lakefront sleep four adults or a family of six. Each cabin features a kitchen, private bathroom with shower, furnished dining and living area, A/C and a screened porch and deck. Cookware, dishes, and bed, bath and kitchen linens are provided. Cabin guests also have access to an enclosed picnic pavilion for outdoor gatherings. Lake Erie provides unlimited opportunities for boaters with a six-lane boat ramp providing easy access. The marina features a canteen and concession area which supplies gasoline, boating essentials and bait, along with 383 docks for rental. A 300-foot guarded swimming beach adorns the shoreline of Lake Erie. The east breakwall of the marina is capped with a sidewalk providing park visitors with a scenic panorama of the Lake Erie shoreline.
 

Hueston Woods State Park
 

Admission is Free 
Open daily dawn to dusk
Location: Just west of State Route 732, north of Oxford, Ohio
Phone:513-523-6347 

Hueston Woods State Park, located in Butler and Preble counties, is nearly 3,000 acres of natural resources for outdoor recreation, such as hiking, fishing, canoeing, and – unique to this region -- fossil hunting. The park surrounds Acton Lake, with campsites, cabins, and a resort lodge to entice the overnight visitor. Within the park is Hueston Woods State Nature Preserve and National Natural Landmark -- 200 acres of old-growth forest, with stately beech and sugar maple trees, an abundance of ferns, and wildflowers. The park offers over 40 miles of trails for your outdoor pleasure. The American Discovery Trail also passes through the park. The park has an 18-hole, 7,005-yard, par 72 golf course, as well as driving ranges that are open from March until November. On the grounds at Hueston Woods is a full paintball field and target range. You may bring your own equipment, and rent or buy it here. On tranquil Acton Lake, boating is restricted to 10-hp motors, with convenient launch ramps and public docks. The best fishing includes largemouth bass, crappie, channel catfish, and bluegill. A fishing pier on the west shore is wheelchair accessible. The 1,500-foot swimming beach with concession stand and bathhouse is open to the public. Other facilities include a volleyball court, horseshoes, miniature golf, playground and basketball court. At the Nature Center, you can attend various nature programs. Of course, the park is also a great place for a picnic at nine areas complete with tables and grills.

Maumee Bay State Park

Admission is Free 
Open daily dawn to dusk
Location: On North Curtice Road, north of State Route 2 and east of Oregon, Ohio
Phone: 419-836-7758 

Maumee Bay State Park offers not only the finest of recreational facilities in the Midwest, but also a unique natural environment created by the convergence of the land and Lake Erie. The lodge, cottages and golf course are nestled among meadows, woods and marshes teeming with wildlife. The balance of recreation with the natural world gives visitors a diverse experience in a coastal environment. The Quilter Lodge, Ohio's eighth state park lodge, opened in May of 1991, overlooks the Maumee Bay of Lake Erie and offers 120 guest rooms. The lodge features racquetball courts, game room, saunas, whirlpools, indoor and outdoor pools, conference and meeting rooms, dining room and lounge and snack bar. The deluxe cottages are equipped with gas fireplace, heat and A/C, equipped kitchen, living area, two bedrooms with a loft, or four bedrooms. The park boasts a modern family campground with 252 sites equipped with showerhouses, flush toilets and electricity. The campsites are open and spacious and border natural meadows and ponds which are open to fishing for campers only. Three Rent-A-Camp units consisting of a tent, dining fly, cooler, cook stove and other equipment can be rented during the summer. Rent-A-Yurt offers a microwave, stove and refrigerator, along with futon beds. Several miles of hiking trails in the park wind through meadows and young woodlands, with some paved combination trails for bicycling and cross-country skiing. A 2-mile boardwalk traversing swamp and marsh wetlands has interpretive signs, an observation blind and tower and wheelchair accessible loop. 

Printout: Maumee Bay Ohio
 

Mohican State Park

Admission is Free 
Open daily dawn to dusk
Location: On State Route 3, west of Loudonville, Ohio
Phone: 419-994-5125 

Mohican State Park and the adjacent state forest are outstanding in their beauty and offer limitless opportunities for visitors to explore one of Ohio's most unique regions. The Clearfork Gorge, hemlock forest and Mohican River offer a wilderness experience while the resort lodge and cottages provide luxurious accommodations. The lodge at Mohican offers 96 secluded air-conditioned rooms with resort accommodations. The lodge is equipped with banquet rooms for large groups, a dining room, sauna, gift shop, lounge and olympic-size indoor and outdoor pools. Twenty-five two-bedroom cottages accommodate 6 people and are located in a wooded area along the river. The heated cottages contain cooking utensils, towels, bed linens and blankets. The campground offers 120 electric campsites, fire rings and picnic tables. Full service hookups are available at 33 campsites. The main campground is equipped with showers, flush toilets, dump station and camp commissary. Twelve walk-in campsites are close to campground amenities. The Hemlock Grove campground offers 24 non-electric sites, pit latrines, tables and fire rings. Two Camper Cabins, equipped with bunk and double beds, a mini-refrigerator and fan, can be rented during the summer. Over 13 miles of trails take the visitor to the more interesting areas of the park and forest such as Lyons Falls, the Clear Fork Gorge, the scenic wooden bridge and beautiful views of Pleasant Hill lake. Mohican State Park offers an 8.5-mile mountain bike trail that also passes through Mohican State Forest. The scenic terrain is varied, offering something for riders of all skill levels.
 

Punderson State Park

Admission is Free 
Open daily dawn to dusk
Location: On State Route 87, just east of Newbury, Ohio
Phone: 440-564-2279 

Punderson State Park with its natural lake, resort manor house, family cottages, golf course and scenic campground, provides myriad recreational opportunities for visitors. Punderson is also Ohio's premier winter sports park. Sledding, snowmobiling and cross-country skiing are all at their best providing cold weather thrills for its visitors. Overnight accommodations are available in the manor house. Thirty-one guest rooms provide a warm, intimate atmosphere. The manor house features a dining room, meeting rooms and outdoor and indoor swimming pools. Twenty-six cottages sleep six persons each. They have two bedrooms, bath with a shower, living room, complete kitchen, dining area and screened porch. Situated on the site of a former Indian village, the 196-site campground offers showerhouses, flush toilets, electricity and pet camping. Five full hookup sites also include water and sewer service. A championship, 18-hole public golf course challenges even the expert golfer. Reservations are always advisable and required for weekend play. The pro shop stocks all necessary merchandise and has a snack bar. Fourteen miles of trails take the hiker to some of the more interesting and scenic areas of the park. The winter sports chalet is a unique heated facility that is available for daily rental spring through fall. The campground offers a nature center. Boat rentals are offered at the marina. Visitors can find volleyball and basketball courts, horseshoes and shuffleboard at the lodge. A tennis court is located at the chalet. Playgrounds, volleyball and basketball courts are also located in day-use areas.
 

Salt Fork State Park

Admission is Free 
Open daily dawn to dusk
Location: On U.S. Route 22, just northeast of Cambridge, Ohio
Phone: 740-439-3521 

The landscape of rural Guernsey County appears as a patchwork of forested hills, open meadows and misty valleys threaded by numerous streams. At the heart of this region is Salt Fork State Park, encompassing the woodlands and fields flanking Salt Fork Reservoir. As Ohio's largest state park, Salt Fork boasts recreational facilities to suit nearly every taste. The Salt Fork Lodge, overlooking the lake, features 148 guest rooms, dining room, coffee shop, snack bar, gift shop, lounge and lobby areas, indoor game area and meeting facilities for up to 450 people. Guests can also enjoy indoor and outdoor swimming pools, sauna, tennis, volleyball, basketball, and shuffleboard courts, a 400-foot swimming beach, as well as boat launching and docking facilities. Thirty-seven two-bedroom cottages offer fully furnished living and dining areas, kitchen equipped with cooking and eating utensils, bath with shower, and screened porch. Seventeen chalet cottages also feature gas log fireplaces and hot tubs. All cottages are available year-round. The modern campground has 192 sites with electricity. Each site has a 50-amp electric hookup. Twenty full-service campsites offer sewer and water hookups as well. Other features include heated shower houses, flush toilets, dump station, a separate beach, boat launching and docking facilities for campers. Eighteen sites are wheelchair accessible. A miniature golf course is offered at the beach, near the park's nature center. Basketball courts are located at the beach and near the park office. Playgrounds are offered in the campground and at the beach.
 

Shawnee State Park

Admission is Free 
Open daily dawn to dusk
Location: On State Route 125, west of Portsmouth, Ohio
Phone: 740-858-6652 

Located in the Appalachian foothills near the banks of the Ohio River, Shawnee State Park is nestled in the 63,000-acre Shawnee State Forest. Once the hunting grounds of the Shawnee Indians, the region is one of the most picturesque in the state, featuring erosion-carved valleys and wooded hills. The rugged beauty of the area has earned it the nickname, "The Little Smokies." The resort lodge at Shawnee offers a breathtaking view of the surrounding hill country. The lodge features fifty guest rooms, elegant dining room, meeting rooms, indoor and outdoor pools, game room, sauna, jacuzzi, tennis, basketball and shuffleboard courts. There are 25 family cottages at Shawnee. They sleep up to six, with two bedrooms, bath with a shower, living room, double-wide rollaway bed, complete kitchen, microwave, telephone, dining area, screened porch and charcoal grill. Two premium cottages also offer jacuzzis. The family campground at Shawnee has 103 sites suitable for tents or trailers. The campground features electric hookups, waste disposal, heated shower houses, flush toilets and laundry facilities. Two Rent-A-Camps and two Rent-A-Tepee units with basic camping gear may be reserved. The park and surrounding state forest invite hikers to discover the plant and animal life of Shawnee's forested hills. The 60-mile Shawnee backpack trail operated by the Division of Forestry takes hikers to some of the best wilderness areas in Ohio. The forest also offers 75 miles of bridle trails. There are several nature trails in the park, from one to two miles in length.