Nelson Ledges Campground: Camping Fees and Where to Stay Nearby

There is no campground inside Nelson-Kennedy Ledges State Park. The park is open from dawn to dusk for hiking, so when people search for a “Nelson Ledges campground,” they usually mean Nelson Ledges Quarry Park. It’s a private campground just down Nelson Ledge Road from the state park. The other option is a campground a short drive away, such as Ridge Ranch Campground in Newton Falls (about 10 minutes) or one of the nearby state park campgrounds. Each sets its own fees, so what you pay depends on where you stay, not on the state park.

Below we cover how camping works at each option, what the fees look like, and how Nelson Ledges compares with Cuyahoga Valley National Park if you’re trying to fit both into one trip.

Can you camp at Nelson-Kennedy Ledges State Park?

No. Nelson-Kennedy Ledges is a small day-use state park in Portage County, near Garrettsville. People come for the sandstone ledges: Old Maid’s Kitchen, Devil’s Icebox, Cascade Falls, and the narrow passages along the color-coded trails (white, yellow, blue and red, with red the most difficult). The Falls Edge Walkway, a glass-bottomed walkway over the gorge, opened in 2025 and has become a popular stop. The park doesn’t charge an entry or camping fee, and there are no overnight sites. If you want to camp near the ledges, you’ll be staying at a campground nearby.

Many locals feel Nelson Ledges has the most striking rock formations in this part of Ohio. Plan on a few hours on the trails, and wear shoes with good grip, since the rock stays damp in the shaded slots.

Nelson Ledges Quarry Park camping

Nelson Ledges Quarry Park is a privately owned park of about 250 acres that has operated since 1972. It’s the campground most people mean when they search for “Nelson Ledges camping.” Its main draw is a spring-fed swimming quarry with sandstone cliffs. The park also has fishing lakes, trails, scuba diving in the quarry, and a full calendar of music festivals.

• Camping style: the park describes itself as “primitive by choice.” There are wooded and meadow tent sites with fire rings, a limited number of quarry-edge sites with water views, and a separate RV and pop-up area with a dump station. There are no water hookups, and quiet generators are allowed.
• Booking: on regular (non-festival) weekends, camping is walk-up. You pay at the gate when you arrive. Festival weekends are ticketed, and tickets are sold through the park’s online store.
• Who it suits: campers who want a rustic tent site, a quarry to swim in, and the ledges right down the road.

Rules, rates and the festival schedule change from season to season, so check the Quarry Park’s own website before you go.

What are the Nelson Ledges campground fees?

Since the state park has no camping, there’s no single Nelson Ledges camping fee. Here’s how pricing works at each nearby option:

• Nelson Ledges Quarry Park: sets its own camping fees, and they can differ on regular and festival weekends. Festival tickets are priced separately from non-festival camping. Current pricing is posted on the park’s website.
• Ohio state park campgrounds (West Branch, Punderson and others): booked through Reserve Ohio. Site prices vary by park and site type, and every reservation carries a non-refundable $6.50 reservation fee plus tax. Our Reserve Ohio guide covers the booking window and cancellation rules.
• Ridge Ranch Campground: nightly tent and RV sites start in the low $40s. The base rate covers two adults and two children, and each additional person is charged per night. Rates vary by site and date, and lakefront and full-hookup sites cost more. Day passes are available if you only want the beach. See the rates page for current pricing and the cancellation policy.

When comparing prices, look at what comes with the site. A primitive tent site and a 50-amp full-hookup site with beach access are different things, and the cheapest nightly rate isn’t always the better deal for a family.

Campgrounds near Nelson Ledges

For more options in the region, see our guide to campgrounds near Northeast Ohio state parks.

Ridge Ranch: a family campground 10 minutes from Nelson Ledges

Ridge Ranch is a 76-acre campground on State Route 303 in Newton Falls, about 10 minutes from Nelson-Kennedy Ledges State Park and close to I-80 and the Ohio Turnpike. Families who want the ledges by day and a beach, a campfire and kids’ activities in the evening often stay here.

• The lake: the 17-acre lake is mostly 2 to 6 feet deep and calm, so it’s good for kayaks and canoes. Bring your own, since there are no rentals. The swim area was dredged to 8 to 10 feet, and several springs feed it, which keeps the water cool on hot days. The new beach has sand that extends out into the water, so you step onto sand, not mud.
• The Wibit: an inflatable water park anchored in the swim area. It runs Thursday through Sunday in summer, closes after Labor Day and returns each season. Life jackets are required.
• Sites: lakefront sites 138–156 are the most requested. Sites 22–26 are 50-amp gravel pull-throughs for big rigs. Tent campers can pick sites up front near the Kangaroo Jumper bounce pillow, or a quieter wooded area by the creek. Every site has a fire pit and a picnic table.
• Weekends: food trucks, bingo, DJs, crafts and family events at the Amish-built lakeside pavilion. Halloween weekends at the end of September usually sell out by late August. See the events page for this season’s schedule.
• Arrival: you give your license plate when you book, and the gate reads it on arrival, so you drive straight to your site without stopping at the store.

Since GatherGrounds took over in 2025, the park has added a new beach, new restrooms and bathhouses, a new playground, an arcade and the Wibit, with a focus on families. See the full amenities list.

Nelson Ledges vs. Cuyahoga Valley: where to camp for each

Cuyahoga Valley National Park doesn’t allow camping either. The National Park Service says no camping is permitted in the park, including backcountry camping and overnight parking. Visitors stay at private campgrounds and metro parks around the valley, and the park’s camping page lists options by distance.

• Nelson-Kennedy Ledges: a compact park for a half-day of rock scrambling and waterfalls. The camping nearby ranges from rustic (the Quarry Park) to full-amenity (Ridge Ranch).
• Cuyahoga Valley: a much larger park with the Towpath Trail for biking and walking, Brandywine Falls, and its own ledges area. Plan on a full day or more.

If you want to see both, Ridge Ranch works as one base. It’s about 10 minutes to Nelson Ledges and about 35 minutes to Cuyahoga Valley National Park. Garrettsville, with its riverside downtown and local restaurants, is on the way to the ledges. For more day trips, see things to do at Nelson Ledges and activities near Ridge Ranch.

Nelson Ledges camping FAQ

Is there camping at Nelson Ledges State Park?

No. Nelson-Kennedy Ledges State Park is day-use only. The closest camping is at Nelson Ledges Quarry Park, a private campground down the road, and Ridge Ranch Campground is about 10 minutes away.

Do you need tickets to camp at Nelson Ledges Quarry Park?

Only on festival weekends, when tickets are sold through the park’s online store. On regular weekends, camping is walk-up and you pay at the gate.

Can you swim at Nelson Ledges?

Swimming is at Nelson Ledges Quarry Park’s spring-fed quarry, not in the state park. Ridge Ranch has a sandy beach and spring-fed swim area on its 17-acre lake.

Can you camp in Cuyahoga Valley National Park?

No. The park doesn’t allow camping, so visitors stay at campgrounds nearby. Ridge Ranch is about 35 minutes from the park.