Portsmouth has a complex history dating back thousands of years to when the Hopewell people first made Ohio their home. There is evidence of these distant ancestors scattered throughout southern Ohio, in places like Chillicothe where the great earthen mounds represent ancient cultures that researchers still know very little about. Continuous native occupation of Portsmouth ended just after the Revolutionary War when European settlers began to head for Ohio in large numbers. Portsmouth was established after several other local towns were flooded, becoming the largest city in the immediate area.

Portsmouth went on to become an industrial powerhouse, before later losing many of its jobs to factory closings. This caused a great deal of hardship for residents until a concerted revitalization effort took effect. Now you can book an RV in Portsmouth and enjoy a freshly reconfigured downtown area full of beautiful old buildings, city parks, and landmarks. The Ohio River is lined with walking paths and grassy parks. Both Cincinnati and Columbus are within two hours’ drive of Portsmouth, so you can easily reach either large city with your Portsmouth RV rental.