Iron Ridge
Iron Ridge is one of two campgrounds in the Vesuvius Recreation Area in southeastern Ohio's Wayne National Forest. Iron Ridge offers a great location for outdoor recreation, with activities like boating, swimming and fishing on Lake Vesuvius. Horseback riding and hiking are also available in the rolling hills surrounding the campground.
Some sites take reservations on Recreation.gov. Others are first-come, first-served.
More like this: electric hookups in Ohio · full hookups in Ohio · first-come in Ohio · reservable in Ohio · big rigs in Ohio · pets allowed in Ohio
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Standard with electric | 17 |
| Walk-in | 4 |
| Tent-only | 4 |
| Standard, no hookups | 4 |
| tent only electric | 3 |
| Host/management | 2 |
Site guide
Will my RV fit
The longest site here provides 58 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.
32 sites. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Type | Entry | Fits, ft | Surface | Shade | Power | Water / sewer | People / vehicles | Fires |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 002 | Electric | Back-in | 45 | Paved | Partial | 50/30 amp | Yes / – | 8 / 2 | Yes |
| 003 | Electric | Back-in | 45 | Paved | Partial | 50/30 amp | Yes / – | 8 / 2 | Yes |
| 004 | Electric | Back-in | 45 | Paved | Partial | 30 amp | Yes / – | 8 / 2 | Yes |
| 005 | Electric | Back-in | 45 | Paved | Partial | 30 amp | Yes / – | 8 / 2 | Yes |
| 006 | Electric | Back-in | 45 | Paved | Partial | 30 amp | Yes / – | 8 / 2 | Yes |
| 007 | Electric | Back-in | 45 | Paved | Partial | 30 amp | Yes / – | 8 / 2 | Yes |
| 008 | Electric | Back-in | 45 | Paved | Partial | 30 amp | Yes / – | 8 / 2 | Yes |
| 009 | Tent only | Partial | No | No / – | 8 / 2 | Yes | |||
| 010 | Electric | Back-in | 45 | Paved | Partial | 30 amp | Yes / – | 8 / 2 | Yes |
| 011 | Electric | Back-in | 45 | Paved | Partial | 30 amp | Yes / – | 8 / 2 | Yes |
Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 1:00 PM.
Amenities & rules
| Hookups | Electric, water, sewer |
| Max vehicle length | 58 ft |
| Equipment | RVs & trailers, Tents |
| Pets | Allowed |
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
| Tent pads | Yes |
| Fees | There is a $5 electric hookup fee. The total fee of electric site is composed of $15 basic camping fee and $5 electric fee. |
The campground offers multiple sites for RV camping, many of which have electric hookups. Some first-come, first-serve sites are also available. Each campsite can accommodate up to eight individuals. Each site is equipped with a picnic table and campfire ring with grill. The campground has accessible flush toilets, showers and drinking water. Campsites 9, 19, 20, 21, 23, 24, 25, 26, and 27 all have access to shared water spigots, while all other campsites have their own individual water-hookups. A dump station is located on-site.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Season & status
| Status | Open |
| Season | April 23 |
| Forest | Wayne National Forest |
| Booking | Reservations must be made 4 days prior to arrival. Any unreserved campsites within the 4-day cut-off window are no longer reservable and only available on a… |
| Fees | Camping fees: $20/night for sites with electric and water. $15/night for sites with water only. Senior Pass and Access Pass are accepted at this campground. |
Weather by month
Getting there
From U.S. Highway 52 at Ironton, Take State Route 93 north for 6 miles to the Lake Vesuvius Road (County Road 29). Turn east toward Lake Vesuvius and travel 1 mile to the recreation area.
| Nearest town | Pedro, Ohio |
| Coordinates | 38.6108° N, 82.6151° W · Directions ↗ |
Supplies & services
| Outdoor gear | River City Adventure Company ↗ | 22.8 mi |
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 25.4 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
Camping at Lake Vesuvius: Iron Ridge Campground
Worth a stop
The closest town is Ironton, Ohio, less than 10 miles from the campground.
- 0.9 miBalancing Rock Trailhead ↗Trailhead
- 1.2 miLongbow Archery Trailhead ↗Trailhead
- 6.1 miSuperior Ohv System ↗OHV / range
Trails nearby
- 0.3 miHungry Hollow Connector0.4 mi trail · hiking
- 0.3 miSandhill Connector0.05 mi trail · hiking
- 0.3 miVesuvius Main Loop ↗29.6 mi trail · hiking
- 0.7 miWhiskey Run0.7 mi trail · hiking
- 0.8 miBackpack ↗15.3 mi trail · hiking
- 0.8 miOld Beach0.6 mi trail · hiking
Trailheads within three miles
- 0.3 miSand Hill Trailhead ↗Wayne National Forest
- 0.9 miBalancing Rock Trailhead ↗Wayne National Forest
- 1.1 miRock House Trailhead ↗Wayne National Forest · Season January to December
- 1.2 miLongbow Archery Trailhead ↗Wayne National Forest
Trail and trailhead records are the Forest Service's. Distances are straight-line to the nearer trail end. Trail conditions are not tracked here.
Public land it sits in
This campground sits inside Wayne National Forest.
- inWayne National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 856,184 acres
Each unit is published as a centre point and an acreage rather than a boundary, so this section stands it in for a circle of the same area. Whether a campground is inside, and how far it is from one it is outside, are both approximate.
Other campgrounds nearby
On the National Register nearby
- Vesuvius FurnaceStructure · Ironton · 0.9 mi
- Vesuvius Furnace–Stone Bridge (Boundary Decrease)Structure · Ironton · 0.9 mi
- Grand Army of the Republic Memorial HallBuilding · Ironton · 6.3 mi
Natural features
Iron Ridge Campground is located on a wooded ridge above 143-acre Lake Vesuvius. A scenic forest of mature eastern hardwoods covers the area.
Recreation
Boating, fishing and swimming on Lake Vesuvius are the area's most popular activities. Anglers may catch bass, catfish, crappie or bluegill. More than 40 miles of trails exist in the area, with trailheads beginning at or near the campground. A 1/2-mile hiking trail connects the campground to Lake Vesuvius. Lake Shore Trail offers an 8-mile loop around the lake and shorter trails lead to Rock House Cave, a grand, tunnel-like sandstone cave that was once used by Native Americans for shelter.
Guidebooks for Ohio
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Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
Do I need a reservation at Iron Ridge?
For some sites. Some sites take reservations on Recreation.gov. Others are first-come, first-served.
Source: Recreation.gov
How much does it cost to camp at Iron Ridge?
There is a $5 electric hookup fee. The total fee of electric site is composed of $15 basic camping fee and $5 electric fee.
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Iron Ridge?
Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 1:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
Is Iron Ridge open right now?
Open as of Oct 16, 2026. Season April 23.
Source: Forest Service status
How many sites does Iron Ridge have?
34 sites, including 17 standard sites with power, 4 walk-in sites, 4 tent-only sites, and 4 standard sites without power.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Iron Ridge?
The longest site here provides 58 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter. The sidebar tool checks a trailer or motorhome length against every site.
Source: Will my RV fit
Does Iron Ridge have hookups?
Yes, electric, water, and sewer hookups at some sites.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are there showers or a dump station at Iron Ridge?
The campground has accessible flush toilets, showers and drinking water.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are pets allowed at Iron Ridge?
Yes, pets are allowed at Iron Ridge. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at Iron Ridge?
Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions.
Source: Recreation.gov
What is there to do at Iron Ridge?
Boating, fishing and swimming on Lake Vesuvius are the area's most popular activities. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Iron Ridge?
Pedro, Ohio. The closest town is Ironton, Ohio, less than 10 miles from the campground.
Source: Getting there