Last Updated: July 2, 2026
Ohio was our first stop after enjoying some of Michigan’s natural beauty. We found an RV park near the Cuyahoga Valley National Park, which is located between Cleveland and Akron Ohio.
Streetsboro, Ohio
We stayed at the Streetsboro, Ohio KOA. They had full service and decent wifi, but we couldn’t get satellite because of the trees. It’s main attraction was it’s proximity to Cuyahoga National Park.
There were plenty of breweries in the Cleveland, Ohio area to choose from.
Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Ohio
Address: Canal Exploration Center, 7104 Canal Road, Valley View, Ohio 44125. Phone: (440) 717-3890. Hours: Park open daily year-round; visitor center generally open 10 am–4 pm seasonally — call ahead in winter. Admission: Free — Cuyahoga Valley has no entrance fee, making it one of the best-value national parks in the country. Website: nps.gov/cuva.
Cuyahoga NP started as a National Recreation Area in 1974. The park is all about the Cuyahoga River.
The Blue Hen Falls were beautiful and serene.
The Brandywine Falls is one of the most popular destinations in this part of Ohio.
There was a very nice dog friendly boardwalk to the falls.
Unfortunately, in 1986 the Environmental Protection Agency closed the park because of extremely toxic materials in the soil from factory waste and sewage. Companies including: Chevron, 3M, Ford, GM, Chrysler and others were responsible.
The contaminates were removed and the area was designated a National Park in 2000. Restoration of the land was completed in 2015. It’s the only National Park in Ohio.
The Ohio local residents we talked to are very proud of this park and many helped with its restoration.
From Ohio, we drove a couple of hours to the Chautauqua Lake KOA in New York.
They had full service, great satellite reception, and there was hardly anyone there.
Each night we had a beautiful sunset over Chautauqua Lake.
Jamestown, New York
Jamestown is the home of Lucille Ball. Their legacy is honored by the Lucy & Desi Museum.
Address: 2 W Third Street, Jamestown, New York 14701. Phone: (716) 484-0800. Hours: Open seasonally May through October; check website for current hours. Admission: Adults $15; children $8; children under 6 free. Website: lucylovesjamestown.org.
The museum was very well done with a lot of memorabilia including reproductions of the original stage sets from the “I Love Lucy” show.
We enjoyed walking around Jamestown searching for Lucy murals.
Panama Rocks, New York
Panama Rocks is a privately owned park in Chautauqua County. It was amazing to see the exposed tree roots meandering their way down over rocks to find soil and water. It felt like there should have been trolls or hobbits around.
Address: 11 Rock Hill Road, Panama, New York 14767. Phone: (716) 782-2845. Hours: Open daily mid-May through October, 10 am–5 pm. Admission: $9 adults; $5 children ages 6–12; children under 6 free. Website: panamarocks.com.
There was a 1/2 mile trail through towering rock formations, crevices and forest. Other than another couple, we were the only ones there.
Canandaigua, New York
We stayed at the Canandaigua KOA in the Finger Lakes region of New York. They had full service and decent wifi.
We stayed here to explore the wine region around Canandaigua Lake.
The area was beautiful and the wine tasting fun and artsy.
Herkimer, New York
We stayed at this KOA before. Overall, we are not KOA fans because of the crowds, noise and cost, but they are easy to book online, have all the amenities, and are usually located in good areas to stop when putting in the miles on the way to a destination. We were able to pull in facing the West Canada Creek.
Our first attempt at a light ball picture. We entertained the people at the laundromat behind us! Michael put a flashlight inside a blue plastic bottle and twirled it for 60 seconds while the camera took timed photos. The things we do for fun!
Practical Tips for This Route
Cuyahoga Valley is free — no entrance fee, which makes it exceptional value for a national park with this much to offer. Go ahead and plan a full day. Visit both waterfalls — Blue Hen Falls and Brandywine Falls are a few miles apart and make a perfect combined half-day. Brandywine Falls at 65 feet is more dramatic, while Blue Hen Falls has a quieter, more serene forest atmosphere. Both boardwalks are dog-friendly on leash. Allow more time than you expect at the Lucy & Desi Museum — it’s significantly more extensive than it sounds and includes full-scale stage set reproductions. Plan at least two hours if you’re any kind of a fan. The Jamestown mural walk is free — the downtown I Love Lucy murals are scattered across several city blocks and make for a genuinely fun self-guided walk. Panama Rocks is a genuine hidden gem — we were nearly alone there, the terrain is unlike anything we’ve seen, and at $9 admission it’s one of the best-value attractions in western New York. Wear sturdy shoes — the trail surface is uneven rock. Finger Lakes wine tip — the region specializes in cool-climate varietals like Riesling and Cabernet Franc that are quite different from California wines. Keep an open mind and you may be pleasantly surprised.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cuyahoga Valley National Park worth visiting? Absolutely, and it’s one of the most underrated national parks in the country. Sandwiched between Cleveland and Akron, it gets overlooked by many travelers who don’t realize a genuine national park sits in their backyard. The restored river valley, working farm, extensive trail network, and two impressive waterfalls give it real depth — and it’s completely free.
What happened to Cuyahoga Valley — why was it closed? In 1986, the EPA was forced to close the park after industrial pollution from major corporations including Chevron, 3M, Ford, GM, and Chrysler left the soil and waterways extremely toxic from decades of factory waste and sewage. What followed is one of the great American environmental comeback stories — the contaminants were removed, the area was designated a National Park in 2000, and full land restoration was completed in 2015. The recovery of the river and forest is remarkable and something the local community is genuinely proud of.
Are dogs allowed in Cuyahoga Valley National Park? Yes — dogs are welcome on most trails on a 6-foot leash, including the boardwalk trails to both Blue Hen Falls and Brandywine Falls. Jake enjoyed both walks and handled the terrain easily.
What is the Lucy and Desi Museum in Jamestown, New York? Jamestown is the birthplace of Lucille Ball, and the museum celebrates her remarkable career and her partnership with Desi Arnaz. The collection includes costumes, personal memorabilia, production artifacts, and strikingly faithful full-scale reproductions of the original I Love Lucy television stage sets — the kitchen, the living room — exactly as they appeared on screen. It’s professionally executed and genuinely impressive even if you’re only a casual fan of the show.
What is Panama Rocks in New York? Panama Rocks is a privately owned geological park in Chautauqua County, New York, featuring 400-million-year-old quartz conglomerate rock formations — towering boulders split by narrow crevices, ancient cave passages, and exposed tree roots that have grown down and over the rock faces over centuries. It genuinely feels like walking into a fantasy landscape. The half-mile trail is not strenuous but the terrain is uneven, so sturdy shoes are a must.
What wines does the Finger Lakes region produce? The Finger Lakes AVA in upstate New York is best known for its world-class Rieslings — dry, off-dry, and sweet styles — along with excellent Gewürztraminer, Pinot Gris, and Cabernet Franc. The cool continental climate creates wines with high natural acidity and mineral character that are quite different from West Coast styles. The region around Canandaigua Lake has a growing concentration of quality producers, and the tasting rooms tend to be small, personal, and genuinely welcoming.
