11 campgrounds with availability this weekend
Multiple cabin options exist near Deer Creek Lake in Ohio, with Deer Creek State Park Campground offering cabins that include electricity and basic furnishings. Paint Creek State Park and Tar Hollow State Park also maintain cabin accommodations with water access and nearby hiking trails. Cabins typically feature electric hookups, picnic tables, and fire rings for outdoor cooking and evening relaxation. Most have basic sleeping arrangements and minimal kitchen facilities. The bathrooms are generally well-maintained with hot showers available in centralized locations. "The lodge was nice and if we did have a reason to visit this area again we might just stay at lodge vs campground."
Cabin reservations are essential, especially during summer months when availability becomes limited. Deer Creek State Park's cabins accommodate various group sizes, while private camping resorts in the area often provide more amenities in their cabin offerings. Most locations allow pets in designated cabins for an additional fee. One visitor noted, "The park is always clean, well-maintained," which applies to both the grounds and cabin facilities. Booking windows typically open 6-12 months in advance, with holiday weekends filling quickly.
Most cabin accommodations provide beds with mattresses but expect to bring your own linens, pillows, and towels. Kitchen provisions vary widely—some include only outdoor fire rings while others offer refrigerators and microwaves. Basic supplies can be purchased at campground stores, though selection is limited. One camper suggested, "We came pretty well stocked up for our visit but did not notice a lot of stores in the area," indicating visitors should plan ahead. Cleaning supplies are recommended as cabins must typically be left in the condition they were found.
"Deer Creek State Park Campground is aptly named. There are deer all over and you can see them from many campsites...though we haven’t seen any deer tick yet."
"The snow was deep so we shoveled a path to our ez-up and to our fire ring. The site was perfect in the winter as the two sites directly behind us were not reservable at this time."
Available this weekend
from $35 / night
"We checked one restroom and one wash house: both were in good condition and quite clean. Lysol was in the air. The lake was pretty. Watching the herons was relaxing."
"Not only one but was using 4 buckets at a time before dumping keeping in her camper before caught dumping behind camper and trying to fit it down a small hole where the honey pots go that you are suppose"
"We stayed in a Sherman cabin; it included two sets of bunk beds, a mini fridge, microwave and a/c. The pool was clean (tho' unheated) and showerhouses well-maintained."
"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."
Available this weekend
from $20 - $70 / night
"Nice park, when we were there only half park was open( early in season). Great camp store. Nice shower rooms. Hilly. Some stop around us was sloped."
"Nice large campground with a fire pit and picnic table at each site. Camp site was decently sized though on a corner so can get a little busy. Bathrooms and showers were clean."
Available this weekend
from $33 - $60 / night
"Peaceful nice place, pets okay. I'd recommend it."
"This campground has a lot to offer with electric and water hookups for RVs with back-in and pull through sites. They have a dump station as well as an onsite bathroom/shower house."
"The campground was very low key and made for an easy going weekend! We weren’t too keen on most of the parks amenities, but enjoyed just sitting around the fire the whole time."
"Waited too late to book in hocking hills state park but found a site here instead. We are tent campers and stayed in site 106 on"Northridge"."
Available this weekend
from $23 - $75 / night
"Nice, flat campsites, running water and flush toilets. I believe all sites are electric and we brought a projector/screen to watch some movies."
"The sites, while somewhat close to each other, are very well secluded. Which can be good or bad depending on if you are going with multiple families vs just one family. Bathrooms were clean."
Available this weekend
from $19 - $70 / night
"A well manicured campground just outside Dayton, easy to get to, back in pavement site with 30A electric, picnic table and fire pit. Plenty of potable water spigots around, just not at the site."
"We booked a last minute 4th of July weekend and found site 48 available. It had a pretty level pad, lots of green space and a tree for shade."
Available this weekend
from $25 - $160 / night
"We booked last minute on a holiday weekend and had like 2 options for a spot. I wasn’t happy with our spot but again that’s my own fault."
"My wife and I spent Labor Day weekend here as it was close to Columbus and allowed family to come spend a night or two. We appreciated the full hook-ups and pull through site."
from $40 - $139 / night
RangerAlways great time here. The upper part has more wooden areas then the lower part. But those spot are close to the lake. They a great playground. They have a big camp store with a putt putt, big lake we’re boating, fishing and kayaking. Multiple shower houses very clean kept up. Nice campground to ride bikes around.
ScoutRight close to Columbus this campground is a staple for locals trying to just get away for the weekend. There is an amphitheater, a camper’s beach, nature center, and more all within the campground. Alum creek state park is a larger facility surrounding the campground with a public beach, walking paths, mountain bike trails, archery range, hunting areas, boat marina and more. The public beach is rather gravelly but has nice shower houses and grills available. We are attending during fall fest where they put on many activities for the campers and it is a lot of fun. You have to reserve 6 months in advance to be able to get in on fall fest unless there is a last minute cancellation. Our site is relatively flat parking, we didn’t need to level the rig. It did rain the morning we got here and the area around the fire pit was a bit muddy. The view out the back of this camp site is nice and wooded, you’re not looking at your neighbors out the back window. The sides you can definitely see each other but it’s still wooded and secluded enough between the sites here.
GuideWe used Site 53, which is a pull thru. The site was spacious and level. The fire pit location is across a tiny stream; we enjoyed a campfire in the woods! There were no loud folks. The loudest thing we heard was the occasional bark of a dog (which we didn't mind).
The restrooms were new and extremely clean. The staff at the camp store was friendly.
There are plenty of places and opportunities to enjoy Pine Lake: you can sit on a bench or rent a canoe.
We'd love to return to Tar Hollow when the fall foliage is beautiful.
RangerThis campground is located near major roads and within a quick trip to Hocking Hills State Park. Tents spots are located near the lake and provide pine tree shaded cover. Bathrooms are private and very clean!
RangerThis one is the closest to home! We love it here. Great Lake/reservoir for boating, kayaking swimming and fishing. Two Nice shower houses. Playground. Camp store! Updated fhu sites. Has a good size marina with Store in nature Center. Park is great for riding bikes.
RangerThis campground is huge. Great for biking. Nice lake for fishing, boating and kayaking. There is a campers beach in campground. Many sites have water access. Small fishing pond. Very nice camp store. Big, wooded sites.
TravelerGreat - close to hiking trails at Hawking Hills state park!
RangerAlways a family favorite. Smaller sites on upper area. Nice big area for big rv on lower level and by the lake. Nice shower rooms. Camp store. Nice playground and putt putt.
RangerNice park, when we were there only half park was open( early in season). Great camp store. Nice shower rooms. Hilly. Some stop around us was sloped. But we did love the one with a deck, but your fire ring was down a hill.
Cabins near Deer Creek Lake provide access to more than 18,000 acres of woodland areas spanning across southern Ohio's Highland, Ross, and Fayette counties. The area sits at approximately 800 feet above sea level with summer temperatures averaging in the 80s and winter lows frequently dropping below freezing. Water levels at Deer Creek Lake fluctuate seasonally, impacting shoreline access from various cabin rental locations.
Disc golf courses: Paint Creek State Park Campground has an excellent disc golf course for cabin guests. "A winter camping gem! Heated bathroom with showers are available for winter campers at Paint Creek State Park. An excellent disc golf course, hiking and beautiful lake views," notes Jody R.
Biking opportunities: Tar Hollow State Park Campground offers wooded trails suitable for mountain biking near their cabins. "Stayed here with 2 friends in early October. Very close to a lake with beautiful views," says Tyler S. The park has several miles of trails that connect to the main camping areas.
Fishing access: Cabin rentals provide convenient access to multiple fishing locations. "Easy access to boat ramp. Campsites are small. Wish the hiking trails by the campground had more of a lake view," mentions Liz M. from Paint Creek State Park. Most cabin areas include cleaning stations and places to store fishing equipment.
Outdoor theater visits: Lake Hill Campground cabins position visitors near regional attractions. "I also knew that it was close to an outdoor drama. I was researching the play again but I have just realized that I have missed the season again. I will try again next year to make it back to the classic play," shares Kenpocentaur K., referencing the nearby Tecumseh Drama.
Cabin privacy levels: Many cabins offer separation from busy campground areas. At Hocking Hills State Park Campground, "We stayed in the walk-in family campground, not the main campground. The sites are mostly far apart from one another and the area is fairly dense woods leaving you feeling a peaceful solitude," explains Kate W.
Winter cabin options: Several parks maintain year-round cabin availability. "Heated bathroom with showers are available for winter campers at Paint Creek State Park," states Jody R., making it ideal for off-season stays when many other cabin destinations close.
Water activities: Cowan Lake State Park Campground provides cabin renters with direct lake access. "Cowan Lake State Park - A friend and I were able to kayak on the lake the night of a Friday the 13th moon. It was beautiful," shares Kenpocentaur K., highlighting nighttime paddling opportunities not available at all cabin locations.
Nature education: Parks offer interpretive programs for cabin guests. "The rangers and naturalists have many activities going on and are very knowledgeable," notes Kate W. about Tar Hollow. These programs typically run weekends during summer months and select weekends in spring and fall.
Bathroom distances: At most cabin locations, shower facilities may require walking. At Sun Valley Campground, "They have a dump station as well as an onsite bathroom/shower house. The owners are very friendly," says Andrew S., but distances between cabins and facilities vary widely.
Cabin maintenance issues: Some older cabin units show wear. "The cabins are not in the best of shape. Finding mouse traps and some maintenance within the cabin that should have been done was concerning with a toddler," reports Renée C. about Cowan Lake's cabins.
Seasonal road conditions: Access to some cabin areas becomes challenging in winter. "Rain and water made area a bit mushy in places," notes Johnothan R. about conditions at Sun Valley Campground, a concern especially during spring thaw periods.
Cell service limitations: Many cabin areas have limited connectivity. "There is no cell service. Enjoy the outdoors! You are off the grid!" mentions Sydney about Tar Hollow, suggesting visitors plan communications accordingly before arrival.
Playground proximity: Select cabins near recreational facilities. At Buck Creek State Park Campground, "Camp host on I think lot 71 or there about were great at keeping the activities going. Every night there was a movie and you could buy root beer floats for $1!! And the kids loved it," shares Melissa M.
Child-friendly water features: Jackson Lake Park offers swimming options beyond standard lake access. "I was pretty impressed with the park. Lots of fun for kids with the swimming pond and arcade," notes Jess N., though checking seasonal availability is recommended as "the pool was not open since there was no post about it being closed" according to another visitor.
Biking areas: Some cabin areas feature open spaces for children to ride. "My sons love camping here for the trails and large areas to ride their bikes," says Buck B. about Buck Creek State Park. Paved paths near many cabin areas provide safe riding zones.
Evening activities: Many parks schedule family programming. "Camp host on I think lot 71 or there about were great at keeping the activities going. Every night there was a movie," reports Melissa M. about Buck Creek, with most events running between Memorial Day and Labor Day weekends.
Utility hookup quality: Alum Creek State Park Campground offers full hookup sites for those with larger RVs needing more amenities than basic cabins. "Great state park campground. There are some full hook ups but mostly just electric. They have pancake breakfast on Saturday mornings through summer and doughnuts on Sunday," notes Jill B.
Internet reliability: For those working remotely from cabins or RVs, service varies widely. "Internet here on t-moble 5G home is 90Mbps down and 6 to 20Mbps up. Verizon on cellphone, only 10Mbs down, 1-3Mbps up. ATT cellphones are similar to Verizon," reports Johnothan R. at Cowan Lake.
Leveling considerations: Some cabin parking pads may challenge RV setups. "A bit rough getting RV setup, but pad is fairly level, so easily setup to use slides. Site 60, 46 feet max length, ours 39," explains Johnothan R., describing Cowan Lake's sites.
Seasonal site availability: Many cabin areas near Deer Creek Lake fill quickly. "They do have a thriving Timber Rattlesnake population. Watch your steps," warns Renée C. about Tar Hollow, a consideration when planning cabin or RV stays.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular cabin campsite near Deer Creek Lake?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular cabin campground near Deer Creek Lake is Deer Creek State Park Campground with a 4.3-star rating from 32 reviews.
What is the best site to find cabin camping near Deer Creek Lake?
TheDyrt.com has all 43 cabin camping locations near Deer Creek Lake, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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