Travis L.
Scout
ScoutNew Straitsville Trailhead
Very nice
Nice and quiet. Bathroom was locked. Only one other person here. 10/10 recommend
Best Campgrounds near Chauncey, OH
Campgrounds in the Wayne National Forest and surrounding areas near Chauncey, Ohio provide a mix of established sites and primitive camping opportunities. Several state parks including Burr Oak, Lake Hope, and Strouds Run offer developed campgrounds with varied amenities for tent and RV campers. The Baileys Trail System area has become a popular destination with specialized camping options like Benton's on the Baileys and Baileys Trail Tent Camping, both receiving excellent reviews from visitors. Dispersed camping options exist within Wayne National Forest, particularly at Wildcat Hollow Hiking Trail where free primitive sites cater to hikers and backpackers.
Permits and reservation requirements vary significantly across the region's campgrounds. Most state parks require advance booking, especially during summer and fall color season, while dispersed areas in Wayne National Forest typically operate on a first-come basis. "The sites are only rented in person once you arrive, they have clear instructions at the entrance," noted one visitor about Strouds Run State Park. Road access differs considerably, with some areas like Benton's on the Baileys requiring hikers to climb steep terrain to reach campsites. Weather in this part of southeast Ohio features humid summers and variable spring conditions, with rainfall potentially affecting trail conditions throughout the Appalachian foothills region.
Campers frequently highlight the natural beauty and trail connectivity as major advantages of the area. The proximity to mountain biking and hiking trails represents a significant draw, particularly around the newer Baileys Trail System. According to one camper, "Excellent campground that is tucked out of the way. You have to walk to the site, up a steep hill, but it is very private and quiet." Water-based recreation at lakes within Burr Oak, Lake Hope, and Strouds Run state parks adds another dimension to camping experiences, with facilities for boating, fishing, and swimming. While some campgrounds like Strouds Run have been noted for minimal maintenance, others like Baileys Trail Tent Camping receive consistently high marks for cleanliness and management. Several visitors mentioned appreciating the balance of feeling remote while remaining close to Athens for supplies and entertainment.
Best Camping Sites Near Chauncey, Ohio (132)
1. Hocking Hills State Park Campground
109 ReviewsSouth Bloomingville, OH22 milesWebsite$20 - $70 / night
"There are lots of caves, trails, camping options and activities in the area. Be careful, however, every year someone is injured or dies going off trail, often falling from a cliff."
"If you stay away from the main roads, you might feel like you're in a smaller campground."
2. Burr Oak State Park Campground
31 ReviewsGlouster, OH11 milesWebsite+1 (740) 767-3683$20 - $55 / night
"Wayne National Forest shares the area with Burr Oak State Park near Glouster, Oh. Wayne National Forest is split into three areas in southeastern Ohio."
"The Blue Trail goes through here and provides a fun hike. There is a bathroom across the road and access to water at the entrance of the site. Showers are 15 minutes walk or a quick drive away."
3. Lake Hope State Park Campground
35 ReviewsNew Plymouth, OH12 milesWebsite+1 (740) 596-5253$20 - $35 / night
"Lake Hope State Park is the unsung hero of Logan county, Ohio. Hocking Hills State Park gets the crowds because of its amenities and closer proximity to Old Man's Cave...but..."
"Lake Hope has plenty of recreational opportunities for everyone and the campground is close by! The campground is quiet and well kept."
4. Strouds Run State Park Campground
10 ReviewsAthens, OH6 milesWebsite+1 (740) 592-2302"The go to camping location for Athens. Many campsites, trails, and amenities. Anything from boat rentals, a small store, and docks to use near the lake."
"Sites are only rented in person once you arrive, they have clear instructions at the entrance. Sites were nice and level, but a bit on the smaller side. Plenty of trails for hiking around the park."
5. Zaleski State Forest
17 ReviewsZaleski, OH15 milesWebsite+1 (740) 596-5781"Zaleski State Forest is adjacent to Lake Hope State Park. Off Rt 278 near Zaleski, Oh, true Ohio countryside to enjoy on the way in. Signal is spotty."
"Much of Ohio is flat corn land, so Zaleski is a special place in Ohio. The trail swings close to some homes, which is less remote than out west where I live now, but overall it's nice."
6. Burr Oak Cove Campground
9 ReviewsGlouster, OH11 milesWebsite+1 (740) 753-0101$10 - $15 / night
"Some sites are close to each other, some are more spread out - see attached map. The ones you need to walk to (3-7) aren’t far - I wish I noticed them when I drove by."
"A friend and I were just traveling through Ohio and needed a place to stay."
7. Benton's on the Baileys
4 ReviewsChauncey, OH3 miles+1 (773) 837-0847$40 - $125 / night
"Extremely private primitive camping surrounded by Wayne National Forest and steps from the Baileys Trail System. Fire pit, picnic table and handmade hammock supplied for comfort and convenience."
"Excellent campground that is tucked out of the way. You have to walk to the site, up a steep hill, but it is very private and quiet. The bathrooms are down the hill too, but very clean and private."
8. Lake Snowden Campground - Hocking College
9 ReviewsAlbany, OH12 milesWebsite+1 (740) 698-6373"Lake Snowden is a great alternative to camping at Strouds. The lake is large and clean, with an awesome new “water park” opened during the summer. Great shelters, facilities, and optional bathrooms."
"We were able to camp right by the lake. The trails are great for hiking and some more intermediate mountain biking. And there are boat rentals of many different types."
9. Baileys Trail Tent Camping
3 ReviewsMillfield, OH3 miles"Spent consecutive months at this location and couldn't have been happier with the host and accomodations. Great for that "far out" feel just outside of town."
"Wonderful little location. We drove for about 3 hours to get from where we are. Nice wide open space surrounded by woods."
10. Wildcat Hollow Hiking Trail Dispersed
9 ReviewsCorning, OH13 milesWebsite"Nice trails to walk. nice area to visit i'll be back againg sometime this year."
"Great spot for walk in or hike in camping! There are a couple of campsites at the trailhead and quite a few all along the trail."
Recent Camping Photos near Chauncey, OH
294 Photos of 132 Chauncey Campgrounds
Emily M.
Benton's on the Baileys
Leon H.
Strouds Run State Park Campground
The Eco Camp C.
The Eco Camp
Vance M.
Hocking Hills Jellystone Campground
Shelly S.
Burr Oak State Park Campground
Eira T.
Burr Oak Cove Campground
Ruby W.
Lake Snowden Campground - Hocking College
Kelsey R.
Dock Area Campsites — Burr Oak State Park
Rachel H.
Lake Hope State Park Campground
Ruby W.
Wildcat Hollow Hiking Trail Dispersed
Missy R.
Pops Place Camping
Recent Reviews near Chauncey, OH
653 Reviews of 132 Chauncey Campgrounds
Andrew R.
TravelerDorr Run-Elm Trailhead
Good stop over point - OHV
Relatively flat; during OHV off season, one of the roads is closed, I believe to Dorr Run. This trailhead is mainly for OHV riders so there is space for a vehicle and trailer.
NOTE: I think they close the toilets every winter.
Ground is covered in snow, so I would scout it in the summer. Several parking areas along the road.
- BBrian E.Scout
Hilltop Resorts and Campgrounds
Family Camping
We had a family reunion there, our camper and rented 2 cabins, made full use of the shelter house that day. It worked out so well we are booking again this year.
Mark C.ScoutFarver Acres
Beautiful view, well maintained full hookup site.
This campground is well suited for groups of 3 RVs or less traveling together. The view is fantastic, WIFI is provided(I did not use) with 50 and 30 amp service available. Water pressure is good and the sites are new. Wildlife may visit you from time to time and the area is quiet and secluded. A community fire pit and gas grill are onsite. Firewood is provided and the site is well maintained. The owners are very friendly and quick to respond. We will use again.
- TTyler O.Traveler
Kinderhook Horse Trail
Quiet, small spot, perfect for a short camping trip.
There are two small camping spots with picnic tables. The vault toilet here is very clean and even had a lockable door. There is also drinkable water from a city water hand pump. Very quiet at night, except for a handful of cars that might drive through or spend the night. I spent two weeks here and had zero issues with people being loud or causing a ruckus. As far as fire wood, you can walk around and pick up all the downed wood you’d like, but I’d recommend bringing some wood with you if it’s rained in the last few days. Plenty of space to park. Gas stations, fast food, and dollar general are all within 10 mins. Verizon signal - 1/2 bars ATT signal - 2/3 bars
- MMatt J.Scout
The Hilltop at Redbird Ridge
Nice view and convenient location
Was a cool view at the top where the space is.
Close to hocking hills and Logan, right off 33 so it was easy to find
- KKate S.Scout
Top O' The Caves Campground
Not as relaxed or dog-friendly as described
I'll start by saying I have a cattle dog and a lab. Both have a bit of anxiety but are otherwise well trained and medicated (after much consideration with vets behaviorist and trainers).
Campsite is clean, accessible, and accommodating.
This is my complaint:
Before making our reservation the dogs had been doing extremely well on their walks. Little to no reactivity for weeks. Still, I did my best to find a “more remote” site that still had electric.
I understood there may be some traffic, but I severely under estimated how much. I found the map and video tour very misleading and difficult to read.
We ended up very close to the main entrance and right next to the highest traffic road in the whole camp site. The dogs were very stressed and barked at every car that went by. We made every effort to reduce this with our training techniques including keeping them on short leashes in hand to redirect, and leaving the site entirely during prime check in hours.
The campsite staff asked if they would settle the first night and I had every reason to think they would after the first night, based on experience, but they did not. There was no other communication about the issue or trying to find a resolution. I acknowledge I probably could have been more proactive myself, but I had read the relevant materials and did what research I could ahead of time. Since I had not heard anything I believed we were within expectations.
Upon leaving we were approached by a member of the campsite staff that told us we were not welcome back, and the dogs should have stayed home, that they had numerous complaints through out our stay and we had been a nuisance to everyone due to excessive noise (I'm paraphrasing). I was apologetic as I was under the impression it was being managed well enough since we had not heard anything.
When we got home I sent a note to the management to let them know I found the conversation with the staff member to be unprofessional and unhelpful. I offered a few ways they could make things more comfortable for everyone. I had a neutral tone and was focused on solutions and preventing another circumstance like this for them. Their response was about the same as the staff member and actually I had violated several policies I was unaware of and had not seen until their mention in this email.
I say all of this to say, based on my experience, they expect dogs to be practically silent and extremely obedient. Also, if you are bringing dogs that need any kind of special accommodation to stay relaxed, I HIGHLY recommend calling ahead and ensuring you have what you need at your site and have understood the policies and map (etc) correctly.
The staff will not be proactive about offering solutions or communicating potential conflicts early which could prevent your visit from being as quiet and relaxing as you may have liked.
- AAmanda U.Traveler
Kinderhook Trailhead
Trailhead camping
This is a horse trail camp. There is a vault toilet,a few trash cans,a water spigot and plenty of room for horse trailers. There are some trails you can walk or ride on. The locals were all very friendly. You can stay for 14 days and it's free.
- BBrian E.Scout
Campbell Cove Camping
Great place and not far from home
2nd time here, this time we booked for 10 days we liked it so much, very conveniently located for us. We would like to see more planned activities on weekends.
Guide to Chauncey
Wayne National Forest offers several dispersed camping options within a short drive from Chauncey, Ohio. The region's Appalachian foothills create varied terrain with elevations ranging from 650 to 1,000 feet. Summer temperatures typically reach the mid-80s with high humidity, while spring camping often requires preparation for significant temperature fluctuations between day and night.
What to do
Hiking and biking trails: Access over 31 miles of mountain biking trails at the Baileys Trail System near Chauncey. "Wonderful little location. We drove for about 3 hours to get from where we are. Nice wide open space surrounded by woods," reports one visitor who appreciated the proximity to trails.
Water activities: Fish, boat, and swim at Lake Hope State Park which offers boat rentals and a swimming beach. "At lake hope you can enjoy camping in many ways rather if it's by tent (the way I prefer) or by camper. Very nice beach and swimming area. Hiking and horse back riding trails. Canoe/kayak rental," notes a camper.
Historical exploration: Visit historic iron furnace ruins at Lake Hope State Park and the nearby Moonville Tunnel. According to a visitor, "Hope furnace is just outside the campground and next to the first 'put-in' for the lake. As history buffs will know that Ohio was one of the nation's leading iron producers back in the day."
What campers like
Privacy and seclusion: Many dispersed sites at Wildcat Hollow offer private camping spots along the trail. "Wildcat Hollow is a fantastic free camping and backpacking location. It's quite secluded, has well established trails, and has a variety of remote campsites to choose from," shares one backpacker.
Affordable options: Wayne National Forest offers free camping at several locations. At Burr Oak Cove, one camper reported, "You do hear highway traffic from the site at the turnaround point (#12), but I liked that it was away from others. Note that you can connect to Lakeview Trail from the campground."
Unique camping experiences: Benton's on the Baileys provides walk-in sites with special amenities. "Extremely private primitive camping surrounded by Wayne National Forest and steps from the Baileys Trail System. Fire pit, picnic table and handmade hammock supplied for comfort and convenience," describes a satisfied guest.
What you should know
Reservation requirements: Most established campgrounds require reservations, but some operate first-come, first-served. At Burr Oak Cove Campground, "You pay at an honor box at the entrance once you pick your spot," explains a visitor who noted the $15 fee ($10 in off-season when water is turned off).
Water availability: Water access varies significantly between sites. For backpacking at Wildcat Hollow, one hiker advises, "While there is water in the valleys I wouldn't use it even with a filter. There are signs posted at the trailhead that advise against it plus there is still active oil drilling in one of the hollows."
Site conditions: Prepare for potential mud, especially in spring or after rain. "The trail is challenging terrain, especially when backpacking. It can be very wet and muddy in the spring (or after any rains), so be prepared for that," warns a hiker at Wildcat Hollow.
Tips for camping with families
Beach and water activities: Strouds Run State Park provides family-friendly water recreation. "The lake and the beach are very nice! Strouds is a great place to rent a paddle board, kayak, canoe, or pontoon. There are pic nic tables, a beach volley ball area, and bathrooms," notes a family visitor.
Wildlife viewing: Visit Lake Hope's nature center for unique wildlife encounters. "The naturalists feed hummingbirds at the nature center. They pull the feeders for awhile leading up to a 'Feed the Hummingbirds' program. So cool! The birds come right to you!" shares an excited camper.
Accessible camping options: Choose campsites based on hiking ability, especially with children. At Benton's on the Baileys, campers should know "You have to walk to the site, up a steep hill, but it is very private and quiet. The bathrooms are down the hill too, but very clean and private."
Tips for RVers
Site leveling challenges: Many campgrounds in the area have uneven sites. One RVer at Lake Snowden noted, "The sites are pretty large and grassy, great place to let kids run around and play. The campground is safe and people are respectful of the quiet hours."
Limited hookup availability: Plan for varying levels of RV accommodations. At Burr Oak Cove, a camper advised, "The sites are clean with picnic tables and fire rings and can accommodate small RVs. There are a couple of vault style outhouses, dump stations and a couple of water stations as well. No electric or water hookups, though."
Off-season considerations: Some campgrounds reduce services in winter. "Self paying, off season was $15. But the restrooms were closed," reported a November visitor to Strouds Run. "Be aware that Google maps doesn't send you to the campground but to a parking lot at the Lake (25 min detour). So make sure you follow the State Park signs."
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Chauncey, OH?
What camping is available near Chauncey, OH?
According to TheDyrt.com, Chauncey, OH offers a wide range of camping options, with 132 campgrounds and RV parks near Chauncey, OH and 8 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Chauncey, OH?
Which is the most popular campground near Chauncey, OH?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Chauncey, OH is Hocking Hills State Park Campground with a 4.4-star rating from 109 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Chauncey, OH?
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Chauncey, OH?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 8 free dispersed camping spots near Chauncey, OH.
What parks are near Chauncey, OH?
What parks are near Chauncey, OH?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 26 parks near Chauncey, OH that allow camping, notably Wayne National Forest and Dillon Lake.
Keep Exploring