Willow Lake Park is a long-running family campground and swim park in Champion Township, Trumbull County, on Mahoning Avenue (State Route 45) on the northwest side of Warren, Ohio. It’s best known locally for its big swimming pool, which has been a summer spot for Warren-area families for decades, and it offers RV and tent camping, seasonal sites and picnic space. For current hours, pool passes and campsite availability, the park’s own Facebook page is the most up-to-date source.
We’re Ridge Ranch Campground, a separate campground about 20 minutes from Warren in Newton Falls. We aren’t affiliated with Willow Lake Park. This guide covers what Willow Lake is known for, how to plan a visit, and when a nearby lake campground like ours might suit your family too.
Where is Willow Lake Park?
Willow Lake Park’s mailing address is 6863 Mahoning Avenue NW, Warren, OH 44481, in Champion Township just north of the city of Warren. That puts it within easy reach of Warren, Niles, Cortland and the rest of Trumbull County. Most people who search for “Willow Lake Champion Ohio” or “Willow Lake campground Warren Ohio” are looking for this park.
Which Willow Lake are you looking for?
Ohio has more than one campground with “Willow Lake” in the name, which is why searches get mixed up:
- Willow Lake Park, Champion/Warren (Trumbull County): the swim park and campground on Mahoning Avenue covered in this guide.
- Willow Lake Park & Campground, Brunswick/Medina area (Medina County): a family-owned campground off Substation Road with a swimming pool, a fishing lake and nightly through seasonal camping.
- Willow Lake Campground, Geneva (Ashtabula County): on State Route 534 near Geneva-on-the-Lake, popular with Lake Erie visitors.
Double-check the town before you book or drive out, since the three are in different corners of Northeast Ohio.
What Willow Lake Park is known for
The swimming pool and swim park
The pool is the heart of Willow Lake Park. It’s a large outdoor pool that local families have treated as their summer swimming spot for generations, and plenty of visitors come just for the day to swim and picnic rather than to camp. If you’re searching for “Willow Lake Park & Swim Park,” this is it. The pool is a summer operation, and hours and day-pass prices can change from year to year, so check the park’s Facebook page before you go.
Camping and seasonal sites
Willow Lake has sites for RVs, campers and tents, and it offers seasonal camping for families who want to keep a camper in one spot all summer. Being minutes from Warren makes it convenient for local families who want a summer home base close to work and school activities. Ask the park directly about hookups, site sizes and seasonal availability, since those details aren’t published consistently online.
Picnics and easy day trips
Between the pool and the picnic areas, Willow Lake works well for an easy summer day close to home: a family swim, a cookout, a birthday or a small reunion. Its spot on Route 45 also makes it simple to combine with errands or a dinner out in Warren.
Planning a visit to Willow Lake Park
- Check current information first. The park posts updates, hours and availability on its Facebook page (search “Willow Lake Campground”). Online directories often list older details.
- Call ahead for camping. Ask about the site type you need (tent, electric, water), rig length and whether pets are allowed on your site.
- Looking for photos? The park’s Facebook page is also the best place to see recent photos of the pool and campground.
- Plan for summer weekends. Like any pool or beach in Northeast Ohio, hot Saturdays are the busiest days.
Nearby alternative: Ridge Ranch Campground in Newton Falls
If you like the idea of a campground with a place to swim but would rather swim in a lake than a pool, Ridge Ranch Campground is a short drive from Warren in Newton Falls, just off I-80 and the Ohio Turnpike. Like Willow Lake, Ridge Ranch started as a local swimming spot: families have been coming to cool off in its lake since the 1960s. Here’s what it offers today:
- A 17-acre lake with a sand beach. The beach was rebuilt for 2026 with more than 1,000 tons of new sand laid over fabric, carried out into the water so you step onto sand instead of mud. It has a shallow kids’ section that gets deeper farther out.
- A spring-fed swim area. The swimming area was dredged to 8–10 feet through most of it, and springs feed it, which keeps the water cool on hot days. The rest of the lake is calm and shallow (about 2–6 feet), good for your own kayaks, canoes and tubes.
- A Wibit inflatable water park on the lake (open Thursday through Sunday in summer; it closes after Labor Day and returns in 2027), plus a Kangaroo Jumper bounce pillow, a new playground, an arcade, basketball and volleyball.
- Something going on most summer weekends: themed weekends with food trucks, bingo, DJs, crafts and family events at a lakeside pavilion built by local Amish craftsmen, plus a Halloween weekend at the end of September. See the events page.
- RV, tent and seasonal sites. Lakefront sites, 50-amp gravel pull-throughs for big rigs, a quiet wooded full-hookup area, and two tent areas. Seasonal sites run May through October.
You don’t have to camp to enjoy it. Beach day passes and park visitor passes let local families spend a day at the beach and the Wibit. Some lounge chairs are available, but they fill quickly, so bring your own chairs and an umbrella on hot days. Current pricing is on the rates page.
Willow Lake Park or Ridge Ranch: how to choose
| If you want… | Good fit |
|---|---|
| A big outdoor swimming pool close to Warren and Champion | Willow Lake Park |
| A quick summer swim or picnic on the north side of Warren | Willow Lake Park |
| Lake swimming, a sand beach and an inflatable water park | Ridge Ranch |
| Bringing your own kayak or canoe, or catch-and-release fishing | Ridge Ranch |
| Planned weekend events and food trucks | Ridge Ranch |
| An easy stop just off I-80 and the Ohio Turnpike | Ridge Ranch |
Plenty of Trumbull County families enjoy both: a pool afternoon close to home and a lake weekend at a campground. If you’re comparing other options in the area, our guide to campgrounds near Warren and our look at Woodside Lake Park may help.
Willow Lake Park FAQ
Where is Willow Lake Park in Ohio?
Willow Lake Park is at 6863 Mahoning Avenue NW in Champion Township, on the northwest side of Warren in Trumbull County. Other Ohio campgrounds named Willow Lake are in the Brunswick/Medina area and in Geneva.
Does Willow Lake Park have a swimming pool?
Yes. Its large outdoor pool is what the park is best known for, and day visitors come to swim as well as campers. Check the park’s Facebook page for this season’s hours and passes.
Does Willow Lake Park have camping?
Yes. It has RV, camper and tent sites and offers seasonal camping. Contact the park for current site types and availability.
Is Ridge Ranch Campground part of Willow Lake Park?
No. Ridge Ranch is a separate campground in Newton Falls, about 20 minutes from Warren, with a 17-acre lake, sand beach and Wibit water park.
