Southeastern Ohio's hill country around Guysville provides multiple campground options within the region's rolling terrain and forested valleys. Several state parks including Burr Oak, Strouds Run, and Lake Hope State Parks offer established camping with varying amenities from primitive tent sites to full-hookup RV spots. Burr Oak State Park Campground accommodates tent camping, RVs, cabins, and glamping options with access via boat, hiking trails, or vehicle. Campgrounds in the area typically feature picnic tables, fire rings, and basic amenities, while some provide additional facilities such as showers, electric hookups, and potable water. The proximity to lakes, hiking trails, and wooded areas makes this region popular for outdoor recreation throughout the year.
Many campgrounds in the Guysville area operate year-round, though facilities and services may be limited during winter months. Full hookup sites are available at several locations including Burr Oak, Lake Hope, and Forked Run State Parks, while more primitive options can be found at places like Zaleski State Forest. Road access to most established campgrounds is well-maintained, though some secondary routes may become challenging during wet weather. Cell phone service varies significantly throughout the region, with most visitors reporting spotty coverage in more remote areas. Reservations are recommended for weekend camping, especially during summer and fall when the area's scenic attributes draw larger crowds. As one visitor noted, "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."
Water features represent significant attractions for campers near Guysville, with several campgrounds situated on or near lakes and rivers. Burr Oak Cove Campground provides close access to the lake, while Forked Run State Park Campground sits along backwater from the Ohio River. Campers particularly value the relative tranquility compared to more heavily visited areas in Ohio. The region's mix of forests, hills, and water bodies creates diverse camping environments within short distances. Hiking trails connect many camping areas to natural attractions, making it possible to explore extensively without relocating camp. Reviews frequently mention the area's historical significance, including remnants of Ohio's iron production industry near Lake Hope. The camping density varies significantly between locations, with some offering more seclusion than others. A visitor to Zaleski State Forest described it as "a great loop hike in Zaleski State Forest. High quality trees, nice little hills, cool rock formations. Fine campground for tent-camping."
"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."
"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."
"We live close to this park and frequent there, sometimes just day trips. Tent camping is great and just like most places there are a few sites that are the best."
"I discovered this park in 2019 while on a history road trip to Marietta, Ohio and Blanerhasset Island. "
"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."
$29 - $46 / 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."
"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."
$35 / night
"Sitting above two fishing lakes, one you can swim in during the summer the campground is peaceful and tranquil and next to some amazing woodland."
"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."
"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 - $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."
TravelerRelatively 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.
ScoutWe 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.
ScoutThis 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.
TravelerThere 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
ScoutWas 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
ScoutI'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.
TravelerThis 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.
Scout2nd 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.
TravelerBig property with every site type. Complete with KOA amenities. EV chargers on-site. Bathrooms were excellent individually separated rooms with showers and toilets. We were escorted to our site upon arrival. Very poor Verizon coverage but the Wi-Fi on site worked fine. Plenty of food spots just north on the highway exit we stopped at Milstone BBQ. Plenty of fun hikes in Hocking Hills State park.
Camping in Guysville offers access to southern Ohio's Appalachian foothills between 700-1000 feet elevation, where dense deciduous forests create a varied landscape for outdoor activities. The region experiences four distinct seasons with summer temperatures averaging 80-85°F and winter lows frequently dropping below freezing. Many campsites in the area remain relatively uncrowded compared to other Ohio camping destinations, especially during weekdays.
Hiking options: The Zaleski State Forest trail system provides multiple backpacking opportunities with varying difficulty levels. "The trail is diverse and great for beginners and experienced hikers. The campsites have privies, spigots for water, and a lot of different sites for different sized groups. Its a popular trail for a reason!" A 10.9-mile South Loop option offers a manageable overnight trip.
Water activities: Lake Hope State Park Campground offers paddling and swimming throughout summer. "We also did some kayaking as well as driving to different hiking paths around the area. We did a 'walking tour' that had TERRIBLE directions but we had a blast anyway." Rentals available include paddle boards, kayaks, canoes and water bikes at some locations.
Fishing spots: Many lakes near Guysville contain various freshwater species. At Forked Run State Park, a visitor noted that "what makes the lake unique at Forked Run is that it contains dime sized fresh water jelly fish. These type aren't able to sting you." Fishing is generally productive throughout spring and fall.
Affordable options: Budget-conscious campers appreciate sites like Burr Oak Cove Campground where sites cost $15 during peak season. "Camp sites are $10 a night...There is one trail that leads down to Burr Oak lake. The trail is 1 mile, but it seems to link up with some longer yellow and green-blazed trails that go around the lake."
Privacy levels: Strouds Run State Park Campground provides varying levels of seclusion between sites. "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."
Wildlife encounters: Campers frequently spot local fauna. "You will see lots of wildlife, we have seen salamanders, deer, snakes, a wild turkey even wandered into our camp in May 2018. Back in 1988, I saw two rattlesnakes together beside the trail on the northern loop."
Water sources: Some campgrounds have limited water access. At Lake Snowden Campground, "I've never actually been inside the shower house though. Everything in the campground is walkable, but if you want to hit up the shower houses, you have to go up to Hilltop, which is a bit of a trek w/ shower gear."
Cell coverage: Service varies significantly throughout the region. At Burr Oak Cove, "Att cell reception was at 2 bars of LTE as well making remote work possible." Other areas have very limited connectivity.
Seasonal considerations: Many facilities reduce services in cooler months. "However, as the fall-winter progresses water actually becomes unavailable (although the camping fee drops....)." Always verify what amenities will be available during your planned visit.
Toilet facilities: Many campgrounds in the area use vault or pit toilets rather than flush systems. "Vault toilets were clean but only central and shared between all loops." Bring your own toilet paper as a backup measure.
Kid-friendly amenities: Hocking Hills State Park Campground provides features for children. "There is a swimming pool and even an outdoor theater. Clean bathrooms and heated showers." The nearby hiking trails range from easy to moderate difficulty.
Space considerations: Look for sites with room for children to play. "The campground is safe and people are respectful of the quiet hours. What I can say though is the sites are pretty large and grassy, great place to let kids run around and play."
Nearby attractions: Several campgrounds connect to recreational areas. "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."
Site limitations: Many campgrounds have challenging sites for larger rigs. "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."
Hookup availability: Check specific campground amenities before arrival. At Baileys Trail Tent Camping, facilities are more primitive, though one reviewer staying long-term reported: "Spent consecutive months at this location and couldn't have been happier with the host and accommodations. Great for that 'far out' feel just outside of town."
Access challenges: Some campsites have difficult approaches. "There are very few amenities here. There are pit toilets, potable water towards the front, and that's it. There is a road that runs alongside the entire length of the campground, right at the edge, so you can hear cars coming and going."
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Guysville, OH?
According to TheDyrt.com, Guysville, OH offers a wide range of camping options, with 119 campgrounds and RV parks near Guysville, OH and 8 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Guysville, OH?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Guysville, OH is Burr Oak State Park Campground with a 4-star rating from 33 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Guysville, OH?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 8 free dispersed camping spots near Guysville, OH.
What parks are near Guysville, OH?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 28 parks near Guysville, OH that allow camping, notably Wayne National Forest and Dillon Lake.
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