You don't need one. Ohio state parks don't charge day-use entry, so there's no pass to borrow — just go. Verified against ohiodnr.gov, checked 2026-09-04.
| Program | Not needed — free entry |
|---|---|
| What it covers | Ohio's state parks and waterways charge no entrance fee — every day-use area (trails, beaches, picnic areas, boating/fishing access) is free. This has been true since the park system's founding in 1949; Ohio is one of a small number of states with zero entrance fees. |
| How to borrow | N/A — no pass needed for entry. Fees apply only to camping, lodging, golf, and similar paid activities/facilities. |
| Day-use cost otherwise | $0 day-use entry fee at all Ohio state parks. |
| Source | ohiodnr.gov · checked 2026-09-04 |
No library-lending program is needed or found because base entry is already free statewide.
Ohio is one of 10 states where the question is moot — parks are free to enter, which beats any pass program. Crossing a border? Arkansas, Illinois, Kentucky, Missouri work the same way.
Free day-use entry means the gate: walking in, picnicking, trails and swim areas where they exist. It does not make the paid extras free — camping, cabins, shelters and boat launches are booked and paid separately, and specialty sites can carry their own fees ($0 day-use entry fee at all Ohio state parks.). The practical upshot for Ohio residents: a spontaneous day hike costs nothing and needs no planning, which beats even the best borrow-a-pass program.
For comparison, and for Ohio residents crossing state lines: the 20 statewide programs all follow the same shape — the parks agency or state library seeds day-use passes into public-library circulation, a resident checks one out like a book for one to three weeks, and the pass covers gate entry (never camping). California, Colorado and New York are the reference implementations.
There's no program because none is needed: Ohio doesn't charge day-use entry at state parks.
$0 day-use entry fee at all Ohio state parks..