Starting out.

I'm doing the research now and would like to get into backpacking on trips of 2-3 nights in length. I am not sure where to go that allows backpacking and camping. All the national parks around here do not permit camping within the park. Any suggestions of where to go in Northeast Ohio? Fairly close to the PA line, so that is another option.

We have several members here from Ohio!

If you are close to Pennsylvania, I'd look there, too. My very first backpacking experience(at age 6) was in the state forests of central Pennsylvania.

Googling "backpacking Ohio" and "backpacking Pennsylvania" comes up with some interesting hits.

I have no experience in Northeast Ohio, but I can give you some ideas for southern and southwest Ohio. I'd have to say Pennsylvania might be your best bet for local trips.

I've never backpacked there, but how about the Allegheny National Forest?

http://www.fs.usda.gov/recmain/allegheny/recreation

The map at the bottom of the page has some details. You'd want to do more research before launching on this.

Now you done it... you got me thinking!! Thank you...

http://northcountrytrail.org/shop/category.php?category_id=48&page=g

There's also the Buckeye Trail. After looking up the North Country Trail, they are identical throughout much of Ohio. Across the PA line is the Allegheny National Forest.

I looked some of these areas up for my eldest son (who lives in western Ohio) some years back, and finally remembered them.

I used to live in Kent, so I know exactly where you are. There should be some state parks around that allow camping, maybe up by the lake out towards the PA border. Upstate NY isn't all that far away and neither is most of PA. Also, it may seem far away, but Canada is another choice, especially if you intend to be gone more than a day or two.

You might start here-
http://ohiodnr.com/tabid/19426/default.aspx

Thanks everyone!! Loads of good research here!! Enough to get the creative juices flowing.