Cabin camping is an amazing way to experience Friendship, while still enjoying a little rustic luxury. The Dyrt is the ultimate place to find cabins for your next outdoor adventure near Friendship. Each cabin offers quick access to one or more of Friendship's most popular destinations.
Our campground is located along the banks of the Ohio River. Easy to access right on the Ohio River Scenic Byway or US Highway 52. View river barges and tugs as they go by several times a day. Take in the sites of the Kentucky Appalachian foothills on the other side of the river. Wake up to the sounds of many birds that make their home in the scenic Ohio River bluffs. Toss a line in as you fish the river from our boat ramp. Take a hot shower or do laundry in our well stocked and clean bath house. Our hookups include 50/30 amp electric, sewer and water at each site. For your convenience we also offer honey wagon services and a dump station.
$35 - $125 / night
Hidden deep under the northeast forests of Kentucky, strange formations with names like Giant Turkey, Headache Rock, and The Cathedral mingle with cave corals, underground waterfalls and thousands of endangered bats. This is what awaits visitors to Carter Caves State Resort Park, approximately 90 miles east of Lexington. The park was only established, and the cave environments protected, in 1946. Prior to this, the land—and caves—have a long and storied history. It begins millions of years ago, when North America was in its development stage, with the land rising and falling, cracking and washing away. This began forming the caves as seen today. Fast-forward to the 1800s, and the caves served as a resource during the War of 1812. Today however, this 2000-acre park—both above and below ground—serves as a recreation destination for campers and adventurers. The resort at Carter Caves offers a variety of overnight options, including camping, cottages and a lodge. Campers will find a large campground with 89 RV sites with utilities, 30 primitive tent sites, eight equestrian sites, and two bunkhouses. Most RV sites are back-in, and can accommodate vehicles/trailers up to 60 feet; bunkhouses can accommodate up to six people. The campground features bathhouses with showers, water faucets, picnic shelters, horse stables, and a playground. The park’s cottages are fully equipped with linens, cookware, and most have wood-burning fireplaces; these can accommodate up to eight people. The Lewis Caveland Lodge offers 28 rooms with full amenities, balconies and patios. Dogs are permitted in designated areas, and must remain leashed. Campsite rates are $18–$55/night; cottages and lodge rooms are $75–$240/night. The main attraction at Carter Caves State Resort Park is … the caves! There are six named caves in the park for exploring. Some are open year-round, some are only open during the summer. The park offers guided walking tours in four of the caves. Tours range from 45 minutes to 2.5 hours, and require some stair-climbing and stooping. There are also two caves open for self-exploration. These are undeveloped, and require visitors to provide their own light source. For the adventurous, there are also two cave crawling expeditions. These tours are three hours long, and explore tight, undeveloped passages that require lots of crawling, stooping and duck-walking in muddy conditions. For visitors who would rather stay and play above ground, the park features 26 miles of hiking trails, guided horseback rides, putt-putt golf, rock climbing, and fishing and paddling on Smoky Valley Lake.
$24 / night
Zilpo, a large, fun-filled campground on Cave Run Lake, is a prime destination for families. The scenic campground offers a cabin rental, tent camping, RV sites with electric hookups and a selection of lakefront sites. Views of the lake are enjoyed by those who relax on the sandy beach. Tater Knob, a fire tower open to the public, is nearby, offering outstanding views of the area.
Water skiing and swimming are wonderful ways to enjoy the lake. Muskie, large and smallmouth bass, bluegill, crappie and catfish attract avid anglers. Hikers are fans of the Zilpo Mountain Loop Trail that extends for 2.25 miles, connecting to a network of other trails around the lake. Nature programs are regularly scheduled during peak season and wildlife watching is rewarding.
Zilpo sits on a peninsula in the middle portion of Cave Run Lake at an elevation of 800 feet. The lake spans 8,270 acres with soft, sandy beaches. The campground is shaded by a stand of mixed hardwoods, and campsites have good privacy.
The nearest community is 12 miles away.
$85 / night
At Long's Retreat Family Resort, whether you are looking to bring your own camper or to reserve a rental, we have affordable accommodations for your family with tent and RV camp sites, cabins and rental units!
While camping near Columbus enjoy water fun with waterslides, beach swimming, a splash pad and more on our 20 acre lake! Prefer to stay out of the water? Try our mini golf, go karts, kiddie train, carousel, arcades, sports courts and more!
Nestled on the shores of Cave Run Lake, this camp is part of the larger Twin Knobs Recreation Area. There are more than 200 sites spread out over 10 loops under a dense forest of mixed conifer and deciduous trees. The recreation area includes two reservable group picnic areas. Group camping is also available.
Summer amphitheater programs and scheduled campground activities provide family fun and entertainment. The campground also has volleyball courts, basketball hoops and horseshoe pits. There is a boat ramp and beach. Popular lake activities include fishing, swimming, motor boating, windsurfing, sailing and water skiing. Scenic foot trails include the 2.5-mile Twin Knobs Shoreline Trail and the 1.5-mile Knob Overlook Trail.
The Daniel Boone National Forest embraces some of the most rugged terrain west of the Appalachian Mountains. The forest lies within the Cumberland Plateau, where steep forested slopes, sandstone cliffs and narrow ravines characterize the land in this region. Cave Run Lake is in the Cumberland District in the northernmost part of the forest. The lake is surrounded by the rolling hills of northeastern Kentucky.
The Morehead Office Visitor Center offers information about the Daniel Boone National Forest in addition to interpretive exhibits. A popular attraction within the Daniel Boone National Forest is the Red River Gorge Geological Area, which features more than 100 natural sandstone arches.
$40 - $43 / night
Iron Ridge is one of two campgrounds in the Vesuvius Recreation Area in southeastern Ohio's Wayne National Forest. Iron Ridge offers a great location for outdoor recreation, with activities like boating, swimming and fishing on Lake Vesuvius. Horseback riding and hiking are also available in the rolling hills surrounding the campground.
Boating, fishing and swimming on Lake Vesuvius are the area's most popular activities. Anglers may catch bass, catfish, crappie or bluegill. More than 40 miles of trails exist in the area, with trailheads beginning at or near the campground. A 1/2-mile hiking trail connects the campground to Lake Vesuvius. Lake Shore Trail offers an 8-mile loop around the lake and shorter trails lead to Rock House Cave, a grand, tunnel-like sandstone cave that was once used by Native Americans for shelter.
Iron Ridge Campground is located on a wooded ridge above 143-acre Lake Vesuvius. A scenic forest of mature eastern hardwoods covers the area.
The closest town is Ironton, Ohio, less than 10 miles from the campground.
Reservations are required and may be made up to six months in advance online or by calling (866) 644-6727.
These amenities are available in the family campground on the north side of the lake:
Showerhouses, flush toilets, laundry facilities
Dump station
Basketball courtCampsites
Paint Creek's large campground — nearly 200 sites — offers pet-friendly campsites including electric and full hookup. There are some premium deck sites. Camper Cabins
Two Camper Cabins provide cozy wooden shelters — no tent needed. Pets are not allowed.
One bedroom; sleeps up to 4 (one queen bed and one set of bunk beds)
Air conditioning and fireplace
Microwave and refrigerator
TV with DVD player
Porch, gas grill, fire ring, picnic table
No cooking utensils
No bathroom/indoor plumbing. Camper Cabin guests use the shower houses and toilets in the campground.
No pets
No smokingReservations are required. Contact the park for more details. Bridle Camp
A small bridle camp with 10 primitive campsites (no electric) is available south of the lake in its own area of the park. There is potable water and pit latrines available. Sites must be reserved, online or by calling (866) 644-6727. [Driving Directions]
Guide
This campground has some features that are nicer than what is found in many state campgrounds. There are some secluded sites back in the woods, so you don't feel like you are camping in a parking lot in a few places. NOTE that most of these secluded sites (along the back edge of the campground) are up a flight of stairs. You have to carry all your gear up a hill or stairs to set up. You will not be near your car, which can get annoying.
The bathrooms were average, not great but not gross. We were there on their Halloween weekend, with a fun site-decorating contest and trick or treat in the afternoon, which was mildly annoying for us because they closed the roads from 2 to 6 so we could not drive back to our site, and when we finally could, someone was in our parking pot for the next hour.
The lakes are quite tiny. The one at the campground is more like a large pond- fine for paddling around on a paddleboard for practice, but don't think you'll get in any meaningful kayaking or sight-seeing on this pond. The other lake is slightly bigger, but still not big enough for kayaking more than a couple hours at most.
The new campground is on the river on what used to be the golf course- I will write a separate review for that.
The lodge has some amenities (pool, hot tub, cafe, bar), but we ate in the restaurant and it was terrible. I do not recommend. Get some apps at the bar if you have to but keep your expectations low. We had pork nachos and the pork tasted old, everything was cold and it gave me a terrible stomachache.
Traveler
The people that work here are so very nice. I love the relaxed chill atmosphere. I always come on a Sunday or a weeknights it is pretty empty and the campsites are too close together for me to go on a weekend. I think the sites should be less than $40 on a slow night but I still love it here.
Traveler
We stayed from Sunday until Tuesday and didn't want to leave! The campground offers something for everyone: playground equipment, basketball hoop and various balls, access to the river for fishing, and absolutely stunning views of the Ohio as well as the surrounding hills.
The campers were friendly. Nobody was loud and obnoxious. The owners Julie and Darcy are super nice and helpful.
We liked the campground so much we're returning in a few weeks!
Traveler
Did a quick one night stop while traveling. Just what we were looking for. Friendly family owned campground with nice quiet environment. Nice scenic drive to campground only 7 miles off of Hwy 35. No
Ranger
Start off by saying the staff were super great!!!! Stayed in space #1 and all the upper spots are open, wish they had more trees around the spaces. Overall it was still a great experience staying at this location.
TravelerThe campsite is totally geared towards family fun! The owners are so hospitable, that you feel like family! One of the most fun places we’ve ever stayed! My kids were busy nonstop with planned fun activities! And they had things for the adults as well and a lot of things for everyone to do together!
Traveler
A very nice state park with an abundance of natural resources surrounding the campground. There are many hiking options, some that explore the various caves around the grounds. The caves themselves are quite the treat.
The staff are all very friendly and there are camping sites for tents or rigs. However, like many state parks that have not been updated, navigating into some of the spots with a large rig can be challenging. On the one hand, this is nice as there are mature trees throughout. On the other hand, they could increase the size / length of the existing campsites. There is a nice playground and a camp store for any items you have forgotten.
The lodge is available down the road (within the state park) for dinner if you are looking to mix up the trip. Not fine dining, but decent food. There is also a pool available at a discounted rate for campers - which our kids enjoyed. Note: there are no full hookup sites, which is not uncommon for KY State Parks.
Scout
Quiet, less utilized campground on Cave Run Lake. Campsites have more privacy and are more primitive. There is a bathhouse, but it is not regularly maintained. This campground is perfect for kayaking and fishing. Some of the campsites have private beaches.
Scout
We used site 64 Sunday through Tuesday. The park was peaceful and pleasing as the employees and volunteers obviously take pride in their efforts. A 12-year-old was with me; she enjoyed shooting basketball and swinging at the playground. Fellow campers were quiet. I'll be back!
ScoutLevel site. Staff cleans the bathhouse every hour.
TravelerStay 6 nights, very peaceful and quite place, this time of year! Campground empty, no one there. Beautiful sites, large, all fine gravel and paved pull offs, very nice! Bathrooms could use a update, easily Lot’s of bug in May, but huge amount of ticks 🕷️ Campground sets back off main road about 10 miles, so no traffic noise at all. Has boat lunch, beach, camp store, 2 dump stations, 7 loops host at most of them, very nice people. We had great time, will defiantly be back to stay again!
ScoutWe stayed in sites along the river. Wow, what a peaceful beautiful place. We will be back again and again
Traveler
The staff and people were nice and helpful. However, based on the picture I thought it was like KOA or Jellystone and it might have been in its past but not now. It felt more like a workcamp then a campground. Many long stay residents and their sites looked like it. Heavily patched campers that will most likely never move again and one site looked like a junkard. The resident did seem to love fishing in the pond, which I guess has very large catfish so if you like that you might like it.
TravelerThe view!!!!!! Backing your camper up to the view of the Ohio River is so calming. Watching the barges going up and down is never boring. The owners go out of their way to make sure that you are ok or if you need anything.
Scout
Stayed on the F Loop next to the lake, fire pit, picnic table, level tent site and bathroom showers a short walk. Camp hosts very friendly and helpful. campsite are close together.
ScoutWe went with three small kids. Great facilities, hiking, caving etc. We plan to return because two nights was not nearly enough to do all the things we wanted to. The tent sites are close together so we may not have enjoyed it as much if it were busier but we were lucky enough to get a site with no immediate neighbors. Pictures online made it appear that tree cover was not as good as it actually was.
ScoutWe arrived late and the hosts were so kind and communicative. We were met at the office and given a site right on the river. We had a peaceful night and awoke to fog on the river which was beautiful and quickly lifted. A sweet kitty visited with us during our walk down to the water and breakfast. Electric and water hookups were fine and the showers were great - individual rooms with toilet, sink and shower were roomy and had surfaces for resting your toiletries. We were just passing through so only stayed one night but I’d definitely go back. Highly recommend.
Scout
Campsites 40-43 are for close friends of family. Spur of the moment plans landed us here for the weekend. We booked 42 site unseen.. when we put out our awning we touched camper in front of us.. camp host let us switch campsites. Plenty of fishing and biking trails. Campsites we're just too close for us.
Traveler
Super close to all the sightseeing. Perfect prices and just really enjoyed it. The sites are a little tight but overall very nice and kept up to date.
ScoutWe always make sure this is our #1 spot to go it's our home base campground , love the mature trees in the campground and the trail around the lake . It's beautiful ❤️ down here must visit.
GuideGreat time! Has fishing, kayaking, golf cart trails, volleyball set up, basketball court, swimming pool and super nice cabins.
GuideWe had an awesome time camping here. We were far away enough from our neighbors but close enough at the same time. The shower houses are slightly sketchy. There isnt a place to keep any clothes dry and only one of three showers produced warm water. We showered in our camper instead.
ScoutThere’s a quiet time reserved for after 11pm. Apparently no one cares because people were LOUD the first night we were there. The second night was less crowded and much more enjoyable. There’s so much to do at Carter caves that I didn’t mind it too much. Lots to do within walking distance of the campground too.
ScoutIf you are looking for good old wholesome camping take advantage of Sandy Springs Campground any time of the year.
GuideTent camping sites were set back, in the woods, down a private path (about 75’) and totally secluded.
The park had a clean, nice outdoor movie theater, mini golf, and a lake with rentables.
TravelerMy family of 5 stayed in the houseboat for several days, and what a wonderful unique experience. Our family includes two adults and three kids (ages 2 to 13), and the houseboat sleeping arrangements worked out well for us (older kids sleeping in the belly of the whale...an almost cave-like experience that they loved) and wife and I sleeping in the beds towards the rear of the boat, with a pack n play for our toddler between our two beds.
The campground is on the smaller side, which is a positive as it creates a more friendly, peaceful and cozy experience. We had the perfect weather (warm during the day and cool at night). It rained one day, which we used to go explore the nearby State Park and grab a bite to eat in a nearby city (appx 30 min away), in addition to relaxing in the houseboat.
The campground owners and their family are probably the most down-to-earth people I've met at any campground, and they take time to get to know you and your family, and vice versa.
The campground was always clean and safe, and we stayed during a holiday weekend, where the campground was full and had numerous activities going on. The playground was a favorite of my youngest two.
The Campground bathrooms/showers were also clean and well-maintained. The houseboat has its own shower, but it's about the size of a phone booth, which I enjoyed using, but at least one of the kids preferred more space, so the option is there to use the campground showers.
For a smaller sized campground, I was impressed with the size of the camp store and it's offerings.
Finally, the icing on the cake...the location of the campground and the gorgeous views, especially from the houseboat. It's located between the shores of the Ohio River and a forested area. Lots of shade and lots of scenic views. Also, there's something both relaxing and adventurous in watching the long barges, tugboats and other boats traveling the Ohio river. I don't know, makes me feel a little Mark Twain-ish.
I'm attaching some pictures from our trip. The nature of where we were staying was a complete surprise for my family, so when we pulled up and I announced "a 1970's houseboat", they were super excited. I also ordered some sea captain accessories from Amazon for us to create some memorable photos.
GuideI found this jewel during the pandemic. I wanted to stay closer to home than usual for vacation. It was the cutest, most affordable, safe for solo female campers, clean, wonderful owners, tons of things to do, or just relaxing. I fell in love and have returned many, many times. I have stayed in all of the cabins and campers except SS Sandy Springs and Flair. I am familiar with this area and Shawnee State Forest, aka, The Little Smokies!
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular cabin campsite near Friendship, OH?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular cabin campground near Friendship, OH is Sandy Springs Campground with a 5-star rating from 31 reviews.
What is the best site to find cabin camping near Friendship, OH?
TheDyrt.com has all 29 cabin camping locations near Friendship, OH, with real photos and reviews from campers.