Ohio's Hocking Hills region features dramatic sandstone cliffs, deep gorges, and dense forests. Camping elevation ranges between 900-1,100 feet with warm summers and cold winters. The region's rock formations create natural wind tunnels that can affect campfire conditions, especially near cliff edges where gusts can be unpredictable.
What to do
Hiking to waterfalls: Several trails near Lake Hope State Park Campground offer access to seasonal cascades and streams. "I'm a tent camper and a hiker, but my family and I even spent some time at the lake and rented a paddle board and a water bike which was so much fun! We also did some kayaking as well as driving to different hiking paths around the area," shares Anne P.
Fishing and boating: The lake at Burr Oak State Park Campground provides year-round fishing access with seasonal fish stocking. "Campers can rent pontoons or enjoy a day kayaking the lake, or swimming on the beach," notes Larissa C. Boat rentals typically cost $20-35 per hour depending on watercraft type.
Historical exploration: Visit iron furnace remnants and the Moonville Tunnel near camping areas. "Lake Hope is a nice flatwater paddle. Get there early and watch the water lilies open. Hope furnace is just outside the campground and next to the first 'put-in' for the lake. As history buffs will know that Ohio was one of the nation's leading iron producers back in the day," explains Dave V.
What campers like
Secluded tent sites: Campers praise the privacy available at Tar Hollow State Park Campground for those seeking a quieter experience. "Beautiful, secluded group camping. Shelter and pit bathrooms. Wide open space for lots of campers. Nice access to trails. Beach area is clean & small little lake," writes Renée C.
Night sky viewing: Light pollution is minimal at several campgrounds, providing excellent stargazing opportunities. "If you're lucky and have no clouds, there is virtually no light pollution and you can see the Milky Way," explains Jonathan W. about Tar Hollow State Park.
Wildlife encounters: "The naturalists feed hummingbirds at the nature center. They pull the feeders for awhile leading up to a 'Feed the Hummingbirds' program. So cool! The birds come right to you!" shares Chris C. about wildlife programming at Tar Hollow State Park.
What you should know
Weather considerations: Rapid weather changes can impact camping conditions. "Had reserved two tent sites, had to put down 45$ for each site. On Friday the weather was to be awful. Forecast calling for 3-4" of rain. Flash flood watches for entire area. So being in tents we cancelled our reservations," recounts Mike H. about his experience at Logan Ohio KOA.
Site access limitations: Some campgrounds require hiking gear from parking areas to campsites. "You cannot park your car directly at your campsite. There is a parking lot at the bottom of the campground hill. You have to carry your items to your campsite. Depending on what site you reserved you could have to walk uphill for about 100-150 yards," warns Sydney about Tar Hollow.
Cell service gaps: "There is no cell service. Be sure to give anyone who may need to contact you a heads up," advises Sydney about remote camping areas. Download offline maps before arrival, as navigation can be challenging in these areas.
Tips for camping with families
Kid-friendly activities: Hilltop Resorts and Campgrounds offers structured recreation for children. "There is a nice sized sand ground play set with swings and 2 slides, an air pillow (blob) putt putt, a trail to the lake, a dog run, poop pickup stations, an A/C'd game room and very pleasant staff," reports Mitchell C.
Bathroom facilities: Shower and restroom quality varies significantly between campgrounds. "The shower houses were immaculate. The front office includes a little gift shop, ice cream, and pizza," notes Vicki H. about her stay at Logan Ohio KOA.
Educational opportunities: Nature centers offer structured learning activities for children. "The park has nice camp sites, cabins if you like that kinda thing! But watch out for the FOG on the lake at night! It gets so bad you can't see past the end of your boat!" warns Robert R., highlighting a natural phenomenon children might find interesting at Lake Hope.
Tips from RVers
Site leveling challenges: Many campsites in the region require leveling equipment. "Camp sites are very small and very unlevel, had to raise back of camper and put front about a 1/4" off ground to get close to level. Site around is sloped in all directions," reports Daniel about his experience at Lake Hope State Park Campground.
Hookup availability: Buckeye Lake-Columbus East KOA offers full-service sites with seasonal restrictions. "Clean and well maintained sites. We arrived after the office closed, but there was a packet waiting for us at the night check-in site. Interestingly, there were still staff patrolling the camp on a golf cart for a while," notes Eric H.
Access road conditions: "The little road going up to the campground is VERY bumpy. It's not the campground road, it belongs to the Township, so its completely out of their ability to make improvements. This was only our second time out in our fifth wheel camper so it was a little scary, but we just drove slow and our truck handled it just fine," shares Vicki H. about navigating to Logan Ohio KOA.
