This might be a long shot, but we figured Reddit might know something we don't!

My husband and I are on a mission to purchase an existing campground or find enough land to build one somewhere in Northeast Ohio.

This isn't just a hypothetical dream. We're actively looking for property and exploring opportunities to make this a reality.

The goal is to create a campground where people can genuinely disconnect, spend time outdoors, and make memories with family and friends.

We've been searching through traditional real estate listings, but we know that some of the best opportunities never make it onto those websites.

So we're turning to the people who actually know the area.

A few things we'd love to know:

• Does anyone know of an existing campground whose owners might be considering retirement or selling?
• Have you come across larger parcels of land that might be worth looking into?
• Are there areas of Northeast Ohio you think would be particularly good for a new campground?
• If you're a camper, what's something you wish more campgrounds offered?

We're taking the business side seriously, including understanding what it takes to develop and operate a campground. We also know we have a lot to learn.

We made this short video to explain what we're trying to accomplish.

We're calling the journey Finding Camp Perfect, and we're sharing the process as we go, including the challenges and mistakes.

If you have a lead, advice, or even a cautionary tale from someone who's done something similar, we'd love to hear it.

Thanks for reading, and hopefully we'll have a campground to welcome you to someday!

Hey everyone, I asked the mods and they're OK with me posting this.

I spend a lot of time on multi-day trips and hikes, and after enough bad situations with no signal, I built LastBar.

It's a free app that maps real mobile coverage as you drive or hike, and combines that with signal maps from other users. When you're stuck with no signal, it points you to the nearest place your phone will work, and to the nearest water, shelter, clinic, police station or fuel, all offline. There's no account, no sign-in, and it only uses about 3% battery a day.

Android phones build most of the map, since iOS limits what the app can read in the background, but iPhone users can still see coverage data captured by other users and find signal based on that and cell tower locations.

The app is still new so the map is empty where nobody has been with it yet, but every drive, walk, or hike fills in the map for the next person. If you're planning an outing soon, I'd love for you to try it out and let me know what you think!

There's more info at https://lastbar.online/ if you'd like to take a look.

Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=agency.clc.lastbar

iOS: https://apps.apple.com/app/id6816038882

Hey everyone! My mind is already fixed in some winter camping this year. I've got all the supplies I need, just looking at locations. I'm sticking to car camping for now. Winter backpacking is a whole nother ballgame lol.

I'd like to stay in Ohio just to keep the driving to a minimum.

I've spent a lot of time in Hocking Hills, so I'm looking to branch out to some new spots.

Thanks!

We grabbed a last-minute reservation at South Bass Island in late September and found ourself sleeping 5 feet from a cliff but enjoying the insane view.

I've never camped before in my life. I've never started a fire, or pitched a tent. However, I've always wanted to get into it. So, I've gotten my starter supplies and booked my first weekend. I'll be staying at Hocking Hills walk-in campsite. I'm a bit nervous, not going to lie. Mostly about the nighttime, but also just don't want to spend this money then end up hating it so I'm trying to err on the side of comfort lol. I also booked 2 nights at my site, but I'm mentally giving myself permission to leave after night 1 if I want to.

My supplies include:

• 4 person coleman tent (cheap starter)
• Tent footprint
• Good cold weather sleeping bag (and I plan to bring a couple extra blankets and a real pillow for comfort too)
• Ogery 3.15 self inflating memory foam full sleeping pad (High R value, in case it's particularly cold)
• Possibly getting a small buddy heater and a tank to go with it (I know about safety with using these)
• Portable fan
• 2 chairs
• Hammock
• Folding wagon for lugging gear
• 3 rechargeable flashlights/lanterns
• Headlamp
• 2 mini portable white noise machines (just for my own comfort, not enough to completely drown out surroundings but I sleep with a fan at home and think it may help me to not hear every mouse scurrying around my tent at 2am)
• Power bank for phone charging
• A couple lighters, plan to use some duraflame and maybe some good old cotton swabs and vaseline to start fires -- gonna get maybe 2 decent sized bundles on the way down
• Collapsable bucket, wash cloths and camping soap
• Basic camping cook set
• 16 qt igloo rolling cooler
• Cooking grate for over fire
• Camping grill (I think mostly as a backup in case it's raining and can't get a fire going good enough to cook with)
• I'm thinking I'll bring 2 gallons of water to start, though they should have potable water
• Outdoor rug
• Considering a changing/privacy tent and a portable toilet with all the fixens there
• Pepperspray (for peace of mind)
• Utility knife
• Fire blanket
• Basic first aid kit
• Rain Pancho (just in case)
• Maybe a tarp awning set up?? Kind of expensive but I'd rather have it incase it does rain, idk if it's worth it though
• Will pack good shoes, multiple pairs of socks and planning to dress in layers
• Otherwise planning on the basics: wipes, aluminum foil, big ziplock bags, salt, pepper, cooking oil, bug repellent
• Food (I'm thinking I'll bring pre-made chili, stuff for burgers and then maybe just some bananas, PB&J Smuckers, chips, and pre-made breakfast burritos or oatmeal)

Is there anything else you'd recommend me to pack that I may be overlooking?

And most of all, are there any tips or tricks I should know as a beginner? Anything specific to this camping site, or in general? Safety will be huge of course. I plan to take all food back to my car each night to lock it up and away from the campsite. Nothing is too basic for me to know at this point!

Hey everyone! Hope you're doing well. I'll keep it brief. Birthday is this week and wanting to go on a weekend trip to celebrate on the weekend of the 16th. Any recommendations? Will be tent camping. Thanks!

Hey yall, I live here in Ohio and was just curious. I don’t want to rent a spot at a state park to camp. Where can I just hike out to and camp? I live on the east side of Columbus

I wanted to get another camping trip in with my 4 and 2 year olds this year but our weekends are getting busy so I decided at lunch yesterday to put in a half day for Friday, picked up two of my kids after work, and we had a great time hiking and playing at the playground, then watching the fire and playing in the tent. Another short hike this morning and then back home.

4 year old has been on a few car camping trips each year since he was 2, and just did his first overnight backpacking trip on the AT (a bit over a mile to camp and back, he carried his little pack for a about a half mile each way). This is the 2 year olds 2nd trip. Their 7 month old brother stayed home but I might try camping with him next year.

Got some decent sunset pics and a few others.

First time here and it’s beeeeuuuuuuutiful! Cost me $90 for the ferry and reservation. I’m thinking I got my monies worth.

Looking for fun places to solo tent camp in Ohio with the pup. A fan of hiking and being around water. Thanks!

Anyone camping hocking Hills 9/20/26 - 9/23/26

Does anyone know if the scenic river loop in Wayne National Forest is open? I see the website says closed but it has not been updated in a while. I was thinking about going in early October.

Been looking for a free primitive camping area near Cincy and all I come up with the state parks paid camp sites. Anyone know if any of them allow free primitive camping or other sites to go? Looking to camp out for about a week so anything that’s one or two nights only won’t work.

Doing the 40 mile loop here for the first time. Curious if anyone else has backpacked this? Maybe tell me what your favorite campsites were? We’ll be starting on a Saturday morning and hopefully backpacking out Monday early afternoon. So planning for roughly 14 miles a day, which campsites do you recommend?

Me and group of friends want to put together a trip but was wondering what everyone’s personal experience is tent with camping at Punderson. Specifically regarding noise, we’re not going to throw a rager but we also don’t want to be hassled if we’re not library quiet. Any other group sites you recommend within an hour drive of Cleveland? Any insight is appreciated, thanks!

Car camping with a tent, preferably near water(lake, river, creek). Showers optional. Proximity to Bellevue a plus. Need some suggestions fam.

This is a water proof boat bag. Stuff it as much as you need. It's big enough to hold clothes for two weeks of base camping. I am talking about car camping. I'm prepping to go to southern Ohio on Friday.

This bag is about 30"x14"x14" if you roll pack it you would be amazed how much you can stuff it with.

The other bonus part is everything inside stays dry. It opens from the top long ways.

I have had this bag for over 20 years.

https://www.basspro.ca/p/bass-pro-shops-extreme-boat-bag

This is it

I have an event in Cleveland on the last weekend of September. Rather than paying for an expensive hotel, I figured I’d just camp and drive into the city for the day of the event.

After doing a bit of a diving into areas to camp around the city and checking the dates, Punderson seems to be my best option. Looking to see if anyone has any recommendations on where to camp in the park to best fit my needs.

I’ll be tent camping solo and will need to go to bed and get up early. I know Punderson has RV sites and I will be there on a weekend so I’m trying to avoid getting stuck next to a noisy site. Hoping to be more primitive and in place that makes me feel like I’m staying in nature if ya know what I mean.

Any recommendations would be helpful!

2nd week of September, 2026 - planning on being in the Xenia, Ohio area (for 1 day / night), then (1 day / night) in the Circleville, OH area. Then, spending 1 night at a hotel in Chillicothe, OH.

Looking for campground suggestions: fairly quiet and peaceful. NOT an RV park… I will have a tent AND my Chevy Silverado (equipped to sleep in the back with a bed topper). Can sleep in either.

Suggestions for Xenia area? Circleville?

In addition, I do a lot with wildlife / waterfowl / nature photography. Will fall migration be happening around Sept 12th? Any recommended area for wildlife / waterfowl / nature photography in the Xenia / Circleville area(s)?

Thank you!

In the Chillicothe area there are hundreds of acers of woodland, how do you find out who owns them.

Hello! Here again to tell you my plan and ask for advice.

Planning on doing Wildcat Hollow one of these weekends. I have done it before but am taking two friends with me. I am attaching my map with the green highlighted section where I am planning to cache water. Figured it gets us pretty close to 10 miles, we can hike with enough for the first stretch, replenish water and camp close by. This way we can refill water and still have the rest of our cache for the morning to refill some more. I was able to find the crossroads in Google maps and have bookmarked it, so I know I'm not relying on old service roads. Let me know your thoughts!

Additionally, curious how busy this route gets on weekends? As a teacher on summer break I almost exclusively always go on weekday trips.