Best RV Parks & Resorts near Athens, OH

Beautiful State park that offers camping, hiking, mountain bike trails and places to do rappeling. Camp sites are either electric or full hook up. Full hook up sites have access to showers, water and flush toilets. Electric camps have nearby pit toliets. Campsites are capped at six people. Also offers hike-in campsites

I can’t speak for what this is like when there are more people here. But, it’s after the fair, and we are parked in a large open field with numerous full hook up sites. We picked Site 117, which was fairly flat (one block to level). Bath house is typical fair bath house. This type of overnighting suits our lifestyle when we want a quick overnight with full hook ups.

Many electric only spots, but did have about 30-40 full hook-ups. Camping spaces were about 30-40 feet wide. You get a huge spot.

Just a big campground with full hook up.

Limited full hook ups. Newer, clean shower houses & bathrooms

This was a nice campground extremely central to all frequented trails in the area . We stayed on the electric/ water side of campground . Any staff we encountered was friendly and helpful along w each and every camper thanks fully . Nice atmosphere and pool was a blessing w 90+ degree days . There’s a pretty good size game room also that kids loved . Bathrooms on side of campgrounds we stayed near were under construction. Full hook ups on other side were nice and now we know to try and book over there. One of caves you can walk right from camp.

The site was angled so we had to turn around before we could back in/park - our 5th wheel is 43’ and it was tight even with all spots not full. The pad was level and full hook ups but the site was small and the fire pit was RIGHT next to the camper. Beautiful wooded view behind us.

There was also quite a bit of mud at the front of campsite which we used fallen leaves to cover but there should be material added there.

Walking distance to all state park trails which was great! Bathhouse was warm and clean.

We took our camper to one of the electric hook up only sights and it was amazing. We camped with our 4 little boys and there was never a dull moment or a lull. The forest surrounding our area was serene with tall pine trees and the forest floor was filled with soft pine needles making for a very fun place for the kids to play. There was a playground close by that we went to in the evenings. It was phenomenal and an amazing experience for our kids. We will absolutely be back. Book early though — we got online at 12:01 am 6 months prior to the dates we wanted (4th or July weekend). The full hook up sites were on the main drag, crowded, and not nearly as pretty. It was definitely worth using water sparingly to have the view we did. We also visited Old Man’s Cave and it was breathtaking.

General: 172-site state park with a mix of full hook-up, electric, and no hook-ups in separate areas plus a 33-site family hike-in camp, two group camps, and three cabins. All sites need to be reserved – no walk-ins are allowed. There is a beautiful visitor center, and the camp office has a small store as well. There is a very nice coin-operated laundry room. Don’t count on cell service– with a fleeting one bar of Verizon, it was just enough to tease us, but the break was also a welcome respite. 

Site Quality: Standard issue for state parks with paved driveways, picnic table, and fire ring, however, there are a few things to note: Some sites are decidedly not level (#105 is very sloped). 103 and 101 meet at a V at the back end and this impedes the separation between the sites. Our site (103) had a drop-off between the driveway and the rest of the site that could pose a tripping hazard if you are not careful. All of the restrooms emit a hum, but the wastewater treatment facility is very loud and is located directly behind the first 9-10 full hook-up sites. 

Bathhouse: The restrooms were clean, but the showers were just adequate (not the worst camp shower but definitely not the best I have experienced) but at least there was hot water. 

Activities: We came for the hiking, and we were not disappointed. This park is gorgeous! We hiked the Blue trail (Grandma Gatewood Trail) to Cedar Falls, taking in Upper and Lower Falls, and Old Man’s Cave along the way, and returned via the Rim Trail, which was much easier (fewer roots and up and down). We received a color-coded map of the trails upon check-in but had difficulty deciphering it, especially the mileage. We went to the Camp Office before starting our hike to get clarity. Once on the trails, they were well-marked with either signs or blazes. While you could do a long hike (12 miles one-way) from one end of the park to the other), don’t miss Ash Cave – we drove there the next morning before leaving. There are also mountain biking trails, two playgrounds (the one more centrally located is a bit dated and does not look very safe but there is a newer, larger one at the very end of the road (near the lake trail) and there are also horseshoe pits and a volleyball net there. In season, there is a large swimming pool. 

The campground itself gets 3 stars for some of its flaws but the scenery is so beautiful, 4 stars are merited, in my opinion. I would recommend reserving in one of the “spurs” as there would be less traffic.

Hocking Hills State Park and the surrounding area is like a page out of a fairytale book. Cliffs, caves, hollows, and waterfalls galore make the hiking experience out of this world. The old man’s cave state campground is wonderful. You can hike into the old man’s cave area directly from the campground which makes it a unique place to camp. It is one state park that actually has full hook up sites as well as a wonderful swimming pool with the waterslide for the kids. The camp store is very nice but it’s not really accessible to bike for the kids due to a winding steep road and traffic. The seven hiking sites with in the Hocking Hills area are just Breathtaking.

We loved the hocking hills area and the campground was nice and quiet! We camped off on a side loop which was awesome. Only downfalls to this campground was our site off the pad for camper was very muddy and when it rained all the mud washed over our rug and stuff. The other downfall is that the bathrooms are very dirty. We would camp in the full hook up area if we go again

Also the last day when we dumped I washed my hands in bathrooms by the pool and they were so much nicer! If you need to shower I would drive up there!

The pool was refreshing after long days of hiking but the 15 min mandatory rest for adults and kids on the hour was a little different for us as we have never been at a pool that did that!

The trails and areas around are incredible!! Pictures do no justice! We will go back again one day!

We have stayed here a couple of times in a tent and a class a motor home.  

The campground is pretty secluded but beautiful rolling hills.    While the site we stayed in with the motorhome was fairly level, sites are mostly small and tight on hilly terrain.  That said, I would still recommend this as a nice weekend getaway 

One of our visits was during hunting season and both the campground and the cabins were mostly being used by hunting parties. 

This is also close enough in proximately to serve as an alternative camping area for visiting Hocking Hills

This campground is managed by Hocking College and is about 10 minutes from Athens and Ohio University. There are many nice campsites, but there are also a lot that are steep, small and/or nothing but dirt. The lake is great for fishing, boating, swimming and they have a new water park featuring inflatable swing, slide and other features. The lifeguards are great and proactive about issues. Best deal going, after 5pm it's just $5 per swimmer. Our kids like it a lot. It is right off of a 4 lane highway, but noise is minimal. Athens has lots of places to eat, and many festivals occur at Lake Snowden, including the Paw Paw Festival. Get here early to find a good site. We have camped here in tents, a pop up and our travel trailer. Popular with local horse riders. Playground has a kid sized wooden train and a large tower/swing set. The shower house in the upper camping area is functional, but dated and usually messy, although they do clean it often.

As with any trip, do your research, read your reviews, peruse Google Satellite maps and talk to locals when you can.

Mountwood County Park http://www.mountwoodpark.org/about.html is located about 15 minutes east of Parkersburg on Rt 50. Heading east on Rt 50 from Parkersburg, WV you will arrive at Mountwood County Park on the right...but the campground portion is a mile further east on the left side of the road. Both are marked by road signage...but most would assume they are all in one location.

If you bring your quads, dirt bikes or mountain bikes with you when you camp, then Mountwood County Park is for you. Right off the back of Mountwood are plenty of ATV trails to keep you busy during your stay. If bombing mountain bike trails is your thing, then across the highway from the campground is your dream. If relaxing in a serene mountain or river valley campground atmosphere is what you desire...keep driving east on Rt 50 another 20 minutes to North Bend State Park.

The primitive tent sites ($20 nightly) are less than desirable and more of an afterthought...and I'm being gracious. There is patchy tall grass, dirt and rocks with no leveled areas. And you have to wander a distance to the restroom/showerhouse when needed. You can rent the tiny cabins ($40 nightly) up on the top of the hill if you desire. They were rented and filled during my visit, surrounded with trailers filled with quads (not a bad thing, just not what I was expecting). One of the main ATV offroad trail entrances is a hundred yards or so past the primitive tent sites so anticipate traffic and some noise. There were a few electric/water sites available for RV/Campers but the majority of them were filled.

It does appear that that there are several "long term campers" at numerous sites, as wooden steps and decks are built and attached to the campers. I would not describe the campground as neat and tidy, but fills a need.

The other portion of the county park lies across Rt 50 about 1/2 mile east. This is where you will find a nice 50 acre lake...shaped like a "T" on its side... for short paddles or fishing (no swimming permitted), a solid collection of varied ability MTB trails and a cool, little local WV Oil history museum. Being a bit of a history buff, I was fascinated by the museum...how the local town was created during the oil boon and then destroyed by fire...of an enormous wilderness mansion that sat where the campground now sits. Interesting stuff.

There is a nice dog park if you brought your pooch. Several picnic areas with picnic shelters, playgrounds, and decent shared hiking trails.

As stated, if your main purpose is to MTB or ATV, then you might be contented with Mountwood County Park Campground. As county parks go, Mountwood County Park, itself, is nice and has a lot to offer. If quiet camping is your objective, I would recommend NorthBend State Park just down the road a piece.

Very nice place. Need more water hookups for RVs. Too many golf carts riding around.

Small privately owned campground about 15 min off I-77. We stopped for an overnight on our way north. Right on the Ohio River. Tight spots, but pretty level. The owner, Max, is amazing. He met us with a welcome packet in a reusable bag. He has so much info on where to eat and what to see in the surrounding areas. The guy bends over backwards for his guests. Did I mention we're right on the Ohio River with full hookup for $25 a night?! Full hookup alone is worth more than 25 bucks. Cash or Check only.

Site 9, non-electric on Halloween weekend was great. We were one of two campers on our circle. Site 9 has a pretty level pad and has the biggest area to camp in. We are across from the dump station and the flush toilets. Not horrible, but e bathroom does have a light so it could bother some people. Most sites in non-electric have some sort of shade but not all spaces are created equal. Some sites are small and the pads can be unlevel . The electric sites are the same where some have shade and some do not while some pads are level and some are not. There are vault toilets closest to those sites and no full hookups. They have a nice playground and plenty of trail to hike. The trees were past peak leaf season but still very pretty. The camp hosts make it a point to stop out and say hello which is one of the reasons we keep coming back. It’s a tiny park, a diamond in the rough.