Recreational services (RSs) are one of nature's contributions to people and represent a primary human need at the regional scale. Due to their intangible, subjective, and non-material characteristics, quantifying RS has been a challenge and hot topic in current research. Previous research methods for evaluation have relied on stakeholders' perceptions, lacking universality, and often involved a one-size-fits-all direct assignment of RS potential supply capabilities to various types of land or vegetation, with little consideration for regional characteristics. This study aims to explore how landscape characters and their elements influence the supply of RS, thereby proposing an objective assessment method for the potential supply of RS that is tailored to local conditions. Taking the Subtropical Humid Huaiyang Low Mountain Landscape Region as an example, the study firstly categorizes scenic resource points into five types and quantifies the actual supply of each type of RS using kernel density analysis. Then, the Geographical Detector is employed to categorically assess the contribution of landscape character to RS. This is followed by a correlational quantitative analysis of landscape character elements and the potential supply capability of RS based on the Random Forest model. Finally, the potential supply of RS for each landscape type is calculated. The results show that: (1) The contribution of different landscape characters to RS varies, and different landscape character elements possess varying potential supply capabilities for RS; (2) The contribution of landscape character to RS and the potential supply capability of landscape character elements for RS exhibit spatial differentiation under different geographical and climatic conditions, and assessments should be tailored to local conditions; (3) The contribution of landscape character and the potential supply capability of landscape character elements for RS depend on the type of RS. When assessing the potential supply of RS, it is necessary to classify and discuss RS; (4) Since landscape types are clusters of landscape character elements, calculating the potential supply of RS based on landscape types can reflect the synergistic potential supply capabilities of several landscape character elements. This study emphasizes the key role of landscape character and its elements in the assessment of RS. The proposed quantitative method overcomes the limitations of subjectivity and offers objective advantages, ultimately providing references for All-for-One tourism planning and the site selection for scenic resource point construction.