“It’s crazy out here in the summertime,” said Virgil Goodwine, the regional park manager at Buck Creek. Still, “our camping is definitely up,” he said.
Camping at one of Ohio’s state parks is popular because it’s a cheap weekend of family fun. Most reservations costs less than $25 per night for the entire family. It often beats a long vacation of traveling.
“People are staying closer to home with gas prices,” Goodwine said. When they do that, “people are finding out that we have a nice facility out here at Buck Creek.”
Here’s a breakdown of sites and prices at area state parks:
• Buck Creek has 89 electric and 22 non-electric sites. The nightly cost is $26 for electric and $22 non-electric.
• Indian Lake has 405 electric, 35 premium electric and 12 full-service sites. The nightly cost is $25 for electric, $27 for premium electric and $35 for full-service. A full-service site has electric, sewer and water hookups.
• John Bryan has 10 electric and 50 non-electric sites. The nightly cost is $22 for electric and $18 for non-electric.
• Kiser Lake has 10 electric and 108 non-electric sites. The nightly cost is $22 for electric and $18 for non-electric.
Rates are discounted $1 Sunday through Thursday nights, and go up $1 on holidays.
Because sites fill up fast, reservations are a good idea for weekend camping. Call ahead at (866) 644-6727, or register at ohiodnr.com. The campgrounds are usually full by Thursday.
Ways to be a conscientious camper
Thinking of camping this summer? Here are some tips to go green while you camp:
Set up camp in a designated area. This protects undisturbed habitat.
Don't feed the wildlife. Make sure all food items are disposed of properly.
Don't throw away plastic forks. Reusable utensils and dishes can be a part of your gear for years.
Wash dishes with biodegradable soap at least 100 feet from water sources.
Make fires only in designated areas. Also check for fire bans. Many area parks are in an emerald ash borer quarantine zone, so do not remove firewood from those parks.
Prepare food that requires little preparation. If you must cook, use a solar cooker or ethanol stove. You can find camper-friendly food at backcountryfood.org.
Use natural insect repellent. Different brands are available at most retail stores.
Source: thebackpacker.com
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