4 Ohio state parks to visit this summer

A beach swim at Delaware State Park, a mountain bike ride at A.W. Marion State Park and a stroll down the "Storybook Trail" at Alum Creek State Park.

The best part? You can keep your wallet at home.

Why it matters: Other states charge you for the privilege of enjoying the great outdoors. Couldn't be us — Ohio's 76 state parks are always free to visit.

Driving the news: July is Parks and Recreation Month, and there's still plenty of summer left to enjoy one of these trip ideas:

🏞 For a relaxing afternoon: Head to Madison Lake State Park , about 14 miles from the I-270 outerbelt, near London.

• The park offers a sandy beach, a designated dog swim area and a one-mile trail loop.

🚗 For the traveling family: If the clan is headed to Cleveland, make a stop at Mohican State Park in Ashland County.

• The scenic river is especially known for tubing and canoeing.

💡 For something new: Visit Great Council State Park , which just debuted last month.

• The park, about an hour southwest of Columbus, near Xenia, pays homage to Native American settlers from the region.

🏝️ For a unique adventure: Take the ferry across Lake Erie to Kelleys Island State Park and make sure to check out the glacial grooves .

• We recommend finishing the day at any of the island's popular wineries .

More facts about Ohio state parks

Impress your fellow park-goers with some of these state park facts:

🤔 Say that again? You can find unusual plants, like the horned bladderwort, and rare songbirds like the dickcissel and bobolink at Buck Creek State Park , near Springfield.

👴 Old Man's Cave, a popular hiking spot in Hocking Hills State Park , is named for a real person who lived in the cave during the 1800s.

🔥 Lake Hope State Park in rural Vinton County is located in what was once the Hanging Rock iron region. You can still visit an abandoned iron furnace dating back to the 1850s.

🕯️ A COVID-19 Pandemic State Memorial Grove was dedicated in 2021 at Great Seal State Park near Chillicothe.

• It features 15 native Ohio trees planted by state officials, COVID-19 survivors, families of those who died, health care workers and others.