Travel Question: Roadside or nearby picnic areas on US 35/US 50 in OH?

[Rusty Shackleford]

We are planning a driving trip from near Dayton to North Bend State Park in WV.

The gist of my question is this: assuming that we take US 35 to Chillicothe, then US 50 across the rest of Ohio into Parkersburg - can anyone recommend a roadside park along this route that is nice (IE, no needles!!), no charge for admission, and which has picnic shelters? We'd prefer to stop some place around Chillicothe.

My Google Map-fu is powerful but I see no likely candidates.

We took this route last year for a trip and to stop for lunch we wound up in a treeless, not so great city park in Chillicothe about 5 miles north off of Rt 35, with questionable looking characters eying us.

There is the Adena memorial near Rt 35 on the approach to Chillicothe but we passed this up because there was an admission charge (and we really weren't interested in touring the grounds.)

Thanks.

[amroad17]

There are some small state parks within 15 minutes of Chillicothe (east and southeast).  On US 50 there are two small rest areas on the way to Parkersburg--one near Albany, OH and one near Coolville, OH.  They are both well maintained, have restrooms, and have quite a few picnic tables.  I think they may both have a shelter or two.

[Rusty Shackleford]

There are some small state parks within 15 minutes of Chillicothe (east and southeast).  On US 50 there are two small rest areas on the way to Parkersburg--one near Albany, OH and one near Coolville, OH.  They are both well maintained, have restrooms, and have quite a few picnic tables.  I think they may both have a shelter or two.

Thank you.

I realize that this was an utterly lame question for a road geek board, but I figured that someone here would have the answer.

And actually, I just found one of the stops that you mentioned. I just Googled. This is the one near Albany, OH.

http://www.dot.state.oh.us/Divisions/Facilities/Facilities/RestAreas/Lists/Rest%20Area%20Information/Location.aspx?FilterField1=Location&FilterValue1=Athens%20U.S.%20Route%2050%20WB%20165.25