Tar Hollow State Park offers forested camping near Logan, Ohio at elevations of 800 to 1,100 feet. The area sees moderate annual rainfall of 39 inches with summer temperatures averaging in the low 80s. Sites tend to be situated on sloping terrain with varied ground conditions depending on recent weather patterns.
What to Do
Hummingbird watching: At Lake Hope State Park, naturalists conduct special hummingbird programs where visitors can experience close encounters with these tiny birds. "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!" writes Chris C.
Paddle sports: Burr Oak State Park Campground offers multiple water activities on its sizeable lake. "We stayed for a long weekend and had a great time. The staff was very friendly and helpful. We took a couple of the hikes down by the lake and it was great," notes Kevin F. Kayak, canoe, and paddleboard rentals are available seasonally.
Trail exploration: Tar Hollow State Park Campground features multiple trail networks within the Zaleski State Forest system. "Trails are superb... tall canopies, fern ground cover, a wild assortment of fungi and wildlife at every turn. The terrain is undulating but very doable," shares a camper. However, trail markings can be confusing: "The hiking paths are not clearly marked and I am embarrassed to admit I did get lost in the woods."
What Campers Like
Alternative yurt camping: Logan, Ohio visitors seeking yurt accommodations find options at select campgrounds. Top O' The Caves features yurts set among the trees with short hiking access to natural formations. One camper notes: "We have returned to this camp ground four times! Everything is quite outdated especially the park and mini golf. With that said it was a great time."
Natural seclusion: Lake Hope State Park Campground provides a more remote camping experience compared to other area options. "Each time I have stayed at Lake Hope State Park, I have marveled at why there are only a few stray campers in a state park of 190 sites. Granted... I am usually camping during the week... but its a ghost town. Which is fine by me... solitude... peace and quiet," writes Dave V.
Kid-friendly amenities: Hilltop Resorts and Campgrounds offers facilities particularly suited for families. "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," according to Mitchell C.
What You Should Know
Site conditions: Many campgrounds in the region have uneven sites that require careful setup. At Lake Hope, one camper reports: "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." Similar terrain challenges exist across the area.
Seasonal accessibility: Most campgrounds operate from April through October with limited winter availability. However, Hilltop Resorts is expanding their season options. According to one review: "Owner planning to stay open all year working on some big upgrades to campground to accommodate winter weather camping."
Weather preparedness: Hocking Hills KOA Holiday has strict policies regarding weather cancellations. "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. Campground would not return our 90$ deposit," cautions Mike H.
Tips for Camping with Families
Private bathrooms: Hilltop Resorts features individual bathroom facilities that receive high marks from families. "The bathroom/shower facility are private individual units and are the cleanest we have ever seen!" notes Tiffani C. This setup provides more privacy compared to traditional campground bathhouses.
Activity options: Hocking Hills KOA Holiday provides numerous structured activities for children. A visitor shares: "There was a nice little pool, but it wasn't open for the season yet. The front office includes a little gift shop, ice cream, and pizza. This campground was also located close (within a few miles) to all the main hiking trails."
Less crowded alternatives: For families seeking quieter camping options than the main Hocking Hills areas, Lakeview RV Park offers a calmer environment. "Nice quiet campground! Owners are awesome! Nice level site we were on. Small swimming lake! Canoe rental and jet pack 'skiing'," reports Robin R.
Tips from RVers
Road conditions: Access roads to some campgrounds require careful driving. About Hocking Hills KOA Holiday, one camper notes: "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."
Site selection: RV sites vary significantly in size and privacy. A visitor to Burr Oak recommends: "The RV sites were a bit narrow, but otherwise nice and shaded." At Tar Hollow, most sites are better suited for tent camping than large rigs.
Utility connections: Full hookup options exist at select campgrounds with varying capabilities. At Hocking Hills KOA Holiday, "They have sites that are full hook up with wooden decks. All the others were water and electric. Cable and WiFi included 70 plus channels. 50/30/20 amp power at all sites. Big Rig friendly."
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