Laurelville, Ohio sits in the Appalachian foothills at an elevation of about 850 feet, creating varied terrain for camping experiences. Winter temperatures can drop below freezing from December through February, while summer brings warm days that typically range from 70-85°F. Most campgrounds in this region operate on seasonal schedules with limited or no winter availability.
What to do
Hiking to waterfalls: Hocking Hills State Park Campground provides direct access to numerous waterfall trails. "The hocking hills park itself is awesome. Great trails, beautiful waterfalls, wonderous caves. They are all pretty short hikes and easy access. We enjoyed it with our large breed dog and toddler," explains one visitor.
Swimming opportunities: The beach at Lake Hope State Park Campground offers a designated swimming area separated from the main lake by a wooden dock. "The park has a nice clean lake, nature room, bike rentals, paddle boat rentals, putt putt golf course and a movie stand," notes a camper who stayed at the group site.
Horseback riding: For equestrians, trails near Palmerosa Horse & Hike Campground provide scenic vistas. One rider shared, "I stayed in a cabin and loved this place, the horseback riding is awesome, airplane rock has a view second to none. the box canyon with waterfall is gorgeous."
What campers like
Quiet alternatives to popular areas: Lake Hope State Park offers seclusion compared to busier Hocking Hills locations. One reviewer noted, "Lake Hope gave me a new way to experience an area I grew very close to and appreciate but cannot stand the swarms of people. It was a great quiet and spacious campground with solid amenities."
Access to water recreation: Campbell Cove Camping provides lakeside sites with water activities. A camper described it as "Our favorite place to camp. Kayaking on the lake is amazing and hiking is abundant. Beautiful sunset view."
Proximity to conveniences: Big Sycamore Family Campground balances natural settings with nearby amenities. A reviewer explained, "Located within a short drive (about 10 miles/15 minutes) from everything Hocking Hills has to offer. There is even a restaurant close by that will deliver to your campsite. Kroger and Walmart are within 5-7 minutes driving for supplies."
What you should know
Site selection considerations: At Tar Hollow State Park Campground, tent-only areas have specific challenges. "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," notes one camper.
Weather impacts: Rain can significantly affect camping conditions at several locations. A Tar Hollow reviewer mentioned, "The path around the hill allows for great drainage; a huge help if you're camping in rainy weather."
Bathroom facilities vary widely: Campgrounds in the region offer everything from modern facilities to primitive options. At A.W. Marion State Park Campground, a camper reported, "Normally the vault toilets are really clean but it looked like they hadn't been touched since we were there in January and February. I don't mind the vault toilets but not when the first one you visit has no toilet paper and the seat was disgusting."
Tips for camping with families
Look for activity options: Hocking Hills KOA Holiday caters to families with various amenities. "The KOA had a lot of amenities to offer. The pool was wonderful, the bathroom was clean and spacious. The camp store has everything you may need with a Walmart 10 minutes down the road," shared one family.
Consider campsite privacy: Several campgrounds have closely spaced sites that may not work well for families. One camper at Hocking Hills State Park noted, "The campsites are so close together, which you think would at least mean the bathrooms were close, but no, they were a serious hike. Not good with kids."
Check for educational programs: Nature programs can enhance family camping trips. Lake Hope offers unique wildlife experiences as one visitor shared: "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!"
Tips from RVers
Site leveling challenges: Many campgrounds in the hilly terrain require leveling equipment. One RV camper at Lake Hope State Park reported, "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."
Check site dimensions carefully: The best places to camp near Laurelville for RVers require advance research on site sizes. An RVer at Hocking Hills State Park noted, "We enjoyed a full hookup site. The spots aren't very spacious but there's lots of trees nearby and an easy walk to get to Old Man's Cave."
Entry road conditions: Access roads to some campgrounds can be challenging. A KOA visitor advised, "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."
