COLUMBUS – New this summer, Ohioans will have the option to stay at more than 200 full-service campsites at select Ohio State Parks statewide. These new full-service campsites are now open at 10 state parks for the 2016 summer camping season, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR).
All newly improved campsites are now available for reservation by calling 800-OHIOPARKS (644-6727) or by visiting ohiostateparks.org. Reservations may be made up to six months in advance. The list of Ohio State Parks offering more full-service campsites are below:
- Alum Creek State Park
- Findley State Park
- Grand Lake St. Marys State Park
- Hocking Hills State Park
- Indian Lake State Park
- Lake Alma State Park
- Mt. Gilead State Park
- Mohican State Park
- Punderson State Park
- Salt Fork State Park
Additionally, Mary Jane Thurston State Park added 23 electric sites, and South Bass Island State Park added 53 electric sites.
The Ohio State Parks capital improvement projects, and others like them around the state, are made possible through the support of Governor John Kasich, Senate President Keith Faber and the Ohio General Assembly. Ohio State Parks received an unprecedented $88.5 million for capital improvements to strengthen the infrastructure and modernize facilities in the 2014 capital budget. An additional $38 million has been awarded to the Ohio State Parks for the 2016 capital budget, and that funding will continue to be invested in Ohio’s state parks.
Ohio has 74 state parks, 56 with campgrounds and nine with lodge and conference centers. The Buckeye State is one of only seven states in the nation where admission and parking at state parks are free. Many Ohio families and out-of-state residents turn to Ohio State Parks for hiking, fishing, swimming, boating, camping, biking, disc golf, horseback riding and much more. Last year, there were a total of 2.4 million overnight stays in Ohio’s state park campgrounds, cabins and lodges.
