Comprising more than 7,000 acres of lake and surrounding lands, Senecaville Lake is one of the best lakes in Ohio that is suitable for your next RV getaway. Located in the Noble and Guernsey Counties, the lake was constructed by the U.S Corps of Engineers in 1938 to protect the surrounding towns from flood control and offer locals and tourists a new recreational destination. Senecaville Lake is under the Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District umbrella, which is a political subdivision of Ohio that maintains some of the dams and reservoirs in the state. This means that the lake is not managed by the U.S Corps of Engineers, or classified as a state park. Senecaville Lake is instead operated and maintained by the Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District with The Division of Wildlife leasing the public fishing and hunting rights annually.
There are plenty of great recreational activities you can do on the lake, including boating, fishing, swimming. Off the lake, you can go hunting, explore the trails, or try to find the geocaches hidden in the forest. Senecaville Lake has multiple RV camping options for experienced and first-time campers that want to stay at the lake. There are over 500 campsites suitable for RVs and tents spread over two different campgrounds, so you have lots of options as to what location to stay at. Peak season at Senecaville Lake begins in late May and ends in late September.
Getting to and from Senecaville Lake is very easy, thanks to the numerous public roads that surround the area. The most common way to reach the lake is to either take the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway and turn off at Clay Pike Road, or come down from the I-70 via Wintergreen Road. The entrance to Senecaville Lake Park is on the western side of the lake.
If you need to pick up any supplies before your trip to the lake, there are multiple towns located nearby, including Senecaville (around four miles away), Buffalo (around seven and a half miles away), and Byesville (around 11.5 miles away). The closest city to Senecaville Lake is Cambridge, which is 18 miles to the northeast.
Navigating the roads in and around Senecaville Lake shouldn't be too difficult as they are regularly maintained by the local counties and are free from overhanging branches, switchbacks, and sharp turns. During the wintertime, there will be plenty of snow once the winter sets in, so it's smart to call ahead to the park office to confirm the roads will be open and available for you to use.
There are plenty of parking lots around the lake and at the boat launch areas, so even if it is yourfirst RV trip you will have no trouble with parking your rig.
Marina Point is the largest of the two RV friendly campgrounds that are within the Senecaville Lake area. The campground features a mixture of seasonal and overnight RV lovers, and there are 321 electric equipped sites for you to choose from. Out of those 322, 16 also come with full hookups so you can enjoy a little bit of luxury during your stay. Due to the campground's large size, there are plenty of amenities available for you to enjoy, including water collection points, showers, toilets, picnic shelters, a basketball hoop, playground, volleyball court, easy access to the boat ramp, and a dump station. Pets are allowed within the campground, but the leash may not exceed six feet in length. You should also be able to get cell phone reception on all of the major network providers. Reservations have to be made a minimum of 48 hours in advance, and sites become available 340 days before the start of the peak season. You can book a reservation by emailing or calling the park office. Marina Point Campground is open all year round.
The Parkside Campground is the smaller of the two campgrounds available for visitors to call home at Senecaville Lake. Like Marina Point, the campground has both seasonal and overnight sites for RV travelers, but Parkside Campground is home to 201 sites. There are many more full hookup sites in this campground as over three-quarters of the total sites are equipped with these amenities.
Other features of the campground including water collection points, showers, toilets, a beach, and a dump station. Pets are allowed within the campground, but the leash can't be more than six feet in length. You should also get reception on all of the major cellphone network providers within the campground.
The reservation policy for the Parkside Campground is the same as Marina Point. Reservations must be made at least 48 hours in advance, and they become available 340 days before the start of the peak season. You can book a reservation by emailing or calling the park office. Parkside Campground is open all year round.
Swimming at Senecaville Lake is a little different than most lakes. During the peak summer period between Memorial Day and Labor Day, there are multiple inflatable pool toys set up on the lake for the kids to run on, jump over, and generally have a blast with. If you are a little too old for the obstacle course, the sandy beach is also great for sunbathing, or you could go for a dip. Please note that there is an entrance fee for those wanting to use the pool toys.
Senecaville Lake is an awesome place to go boating thanks to the 3,550 acres of water to explore. The lake has a 399 horsepower limit, but most watercraft will be well under that level. There are plenty of boat ramps and many areas that you can explore, with some of the popular watercrafts being jet skis, sailing boats, and motorboats. There are also guided kayak tours available for a fee throughout the year that we recommend you check out if you want to have some extra fun.
Throughout the peak season months, Senecaville Lake is home to many special events that attract people from far and wide to the lake. One of the most attended events on the calendar is the Memorial Day Weekend Celebration that features live music through the day and a movie at the lake, screening once the sun sets. Other events held throughout the year include Independence Day Weekend that features a fireworks display, Labor Day Weekend with live music, and Halloween Weekend in early October.
Unfortunately there are no public transport options that will take you to Senecaville Lake.
No sites in either campground are specially marked as being for first come, first served camping during the peak season. Once the offseason begins, no reservations are required, which means that all camping is done on a first-come, first-served basis. During this time, there may not be as many amenities available for you to use due to the cold weather conditions.
If you want to stay outside of your RV during your visit to Senecaville Lake, there are a small number of cabins available that you can spend a night or two at. The cabins are available to be rented nightly during the peak season and for a minimum of two nights during the off-peak season.
All of the cabins feature two bedrooms with full beds and a sofa sleeper for extra guests. You will also be able to make some delightful meals as there is a complete kitchen with everything you need. The cabins also have restrooms, screened-in porches, a picnic table, a grill, and a fire ring.
Please note that no pets are permitted near the cabins, and reservations made in under 15 days before your arrival will have to be paid in full when booked. Most of the cabins are not available during winter. However, you should call the park office to check if you plan on visiting during this time as there could be one or two available.
The 45 miles of shoreline and large surface area make Senecaville Lake one of the best fishing environments in all of Ohio. The wide variety of fish species available attracts people from all over who are trying to land a big one during their great outdoors adventures.
Some of the species that call the lake home include white crappie, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, black crappie, channel catfish, blue catfish, hybrid striped bass, bluegill, white bass, and saugeye. If you need any fishing gear, you can stock up at the marina. Don't forget that you will need an up to date Ohio fishing license before casting out.
If you love to hike, you will have to check out the trails that surround Senecaville Lake. Many different areas are available for you to explore, including parts of the Buckeye Trail and the two loops of hiking trails on the western side of the lake. If you are a fan of geocaching, there are also opportunities for you to do this and try to find a special prize. For more information on the geocaching within the Senecaville Lake, talk to a park staff member upon your arrival.
Located around 40 minutes' drive from the lake is a unique place that will be perfect for those wanting to encounter some local and foreign animals. There are 10,000 acres at the adventure park, offering visitors the chance to go on safari in Ohio, play a round of golf at the renowned course, or learn more about the conservation and environmental issues that are affecting the world and the park. The adventure park is open all year round, and ticket reservations can be made online at their website.
