Road Trips Starting from Akron, OH
Best National Parks Near Akron, OH
Cuyahoga Valley National Park is only 7 miles from downtown Akron, Ohio. You can hike many trails within the park, but there are five main trails that range in length from half a mile to 5.5 miles. Bring your binoculars, too, for some fantastic birding and wildlife viewing.
A little bit more than 200 miles away, around the lake, you'll find Point Pelee National Park, which is the southernmost point of mainland Canada. Because you have to cross a national border to get there, you'll have to bring passports for each member of the family. The spot is one of the most important bird-watching locations in all of Canada, so bring your camera. You can also take the ferry to Pelee Island and explore on a golf cart that's legal to drive on the road. The Pelee Island Winery is also a popular destination.
About 275 miles due south of Akron, Ohio, you'll find New River Gorge National Park. The 70,000 acres of this national park surround the gorge itself, which is anything but new. The park is open 24 hours a day, so bring your telescope for some Class-4 stargazing on the Bortle Scale. There are also 66 well-marked hiking trails of varying difficulties, so you can enjoy the fabulous scenery right up close.
Popular State Parks Near Akron, OH
Punderson State Park lies 43 miles north-northeast of Akron, Ohio. Throughout the 741 acres of the park, you can hike two easy trails. You can also play golf, swim, and fish. Check the hours before you go as the park is closed for renovations until the end of July 2024.
If you're a wildlife and flora enthusiast, then Findley State Park, which is 46 miles from Akron, Ohio, is a great place to explore. The 838 acres of the park contain many species of trees, flowers, and animals that are suitable for photographing. There is challenging hiking available, and the 435-foot beachfront is a good place to cool off on hot days.
If riding horses is your thing, then taking a 60-mile drive southwest from Akron, Ohio, to Mohican State Park is a good idea. There are 35 miles of bridle trails throughout the park and the adjoining state forest, so you and your equine friends will be able to have an enjoyable ride. There are also fantastic places to have picnics in Mohican State Park, and you can cook up something that you catch out of the river in the park.
Must-see Monuments and Landmarks Near Akron, OH
The James A. Garfield National Historic Site is about 47 miles north of Akron, Ohio. The site of the former president's home, where he greeted people on his large veranda, sits in the middle of 160 acres of what used to be his farm. Public Wi-Fi is available. There is no RV campground at the site, but there are places to park in the city of Mentor if you cannot find one at the site. Public transportation is available.
It's 110 miles to Perry's Victory and International Peace Memorial on Put-In-Bay. You have to take the Miller Ferry to the island. According to the Miller Ferry website, they are usually unable to book round-trip passage for vehicles of any kind on weekends. There are no reservations for this ferry trip, so arriving early in the day would be wise. As far as the memorial itself is concerned, it contains what was once the tallest Doric column in the world. Three American and three British sailors are buried there to commemorate Oliver Perry's victory at the Battle of Lake Erie during the War of 1812.
RVshare’s Top Picks for Nearby RV Parks & Campgrounds
Countryside Campground is just 13 miles from Akron, Ohio. The free public Wi-Fi and on-site dump station make it a popular choice among people who rent RVs. The campground provides showers, laundry facilities, and a heated pool. You can even go on hayrides during the right season. Some of the campground's 95 RV-specific sites have full hookups.
Cherokee Park Family Campground is only 12 miles from Akron, Ohio. The 120 RV-specific campsites don't have full hookups, but they do offer both 30-amp and 50-amp electrical connections. There is no pool, but there are hot showers and public restrooms available. The campground also offers both back-in and pull-through sites, and there is public Wi-Fi throughout the campground. Pets are allowed as well.
Akron Canton Jellystone Park is a family-friendly campground that lies a little less than 16 miles from Akron, Ohio. The 75 RV-specific campsites of Akron Canton Jellystone Park all have full hookups, and there are activities for children of all ages that take place at the campground all year. The pool, water park, and well-equipped playground are all popular with visitors' children and their parents who are young at heart too. You may also bring your pets to Akron Canton Jellystone Park.
Clay's Park Resort is one of the largest in the area and provides 334 RV-specific campsites with full hookups. The park is 25 miles from Akron, Ohio. It's a family-friendly park, too, with many activities for children of all ages in every season the park is open. There's a pool, showers, and waterslides to go along with laundry facilities and a camp convenience store. Also, if you're a music lover, take advantage of the music festivals and other events that take place at Clay's Park Resort every summer.
The name "Kampground of America" is synonymous with RV camping, and Homerville KOA, which is 36 miles west of Akron, Ohio, provides 240 RV-specific campgrounds with full hookups. The campground provides access to both propane and safe firewood. You can swim in the pool, sit in the hot tub, and have fun with your children at the on-site playground. If you're an angler, then you can fish in either of the two private lakes or in Clear Creek for rainbow trout, which is stocked every year, along with bass, crappie, and perch.
RV Dump Stations Near Akron, OH
Aside from the dump station at Countryside Campground, there are others nearby. The one at Streetsboro KOA costs $10 to use if you're not a guest, and it's open from May through October. This campground is well-known for celebrating eclipses when they happen. The dump station at All Seasons RV Dealership costs only $5, and it's available year-round. Brady's Leap is at mile marker 197 on the Ohio Turnpike eastbound. The rest stop gets its name from Samuel Brady, who jumped 22 feet across the Cuyahoga River to escape pursuing First Nations soldiers. Brady was known as "The Daniel Boone of Ohio."
