Cabins near Malvern, Ohio offer comfortable accommodations within the rolling hills of eastern Ohio, where elevations range from 1,000 to 1,200 feet. Located between Atwood and Leesville Lakes, Malvern's cabin rentals experience seasonal temperature variations with summer highs around 83°F and winter lows frequently below freezing. Most cabin facilities in this region remain open from April through October, with limited winter availability.
What to do
Beach activities: At Atwood Lake Park Campground, visitors can enjoy a designated swimming area with lifeguards during summer months. "The beach was awesome... sandy all the way out. Concession stand is nice by beach too," notes one camper, who also mentions the convenient paved trails for biking or walking.
Fishing opportunities: West Branch State Park Campground offers excellent fishing access directly from waterside sites. According to one visitor: "Great site! Shades lots of space semi private area. Right off the water with area to tie boat for easy water access." The park's multiple lake inlets create prime fishing spots for bass and crappie.
Disc golf courses: Clay's Resort Jellystone Park maintains an on-site disc golf course among its numerous amenities. "We decided to stay after plenty of referrals from friends and family. Pleasantly surprised with how clean everything was," mentions a recent visitor who enjoyed the various recreational facilities.
Trail exploration: Several cabin properties connect to hiking paths through hardwood forests. Many trails are suitable for all skill levels and most are under three miles round-trip. "There are many scenic hiking trails at West Branch. Bridal trails are located on Esworthy Rd," shares one regular visitor who returns to the park annually.
What campers like
Private bathrooms: The deluxe cabins at Salem-Lisbon Ohio KOA feature in-cabin bathroom facilities, which guests particularly appreciate. One reviewer specifically mentioned, "This was a Fall camping experience in a cabin as we knew it would be cold in the evenings. We had a cozy cabin with 2 bathrooms. We also had a small kitchen where we could cook when we didn't want to cook over the fire."
Waterfront sites: Premium cabin locations at Atwood Lake Park Muskingum Watershed Conservancy Dist offer direct lake access. A camper noted, "Overall we had fun there and made best of it. Many sites here are new and amidst a concrete jungle. Pads w small decorative newly planted plants... We did search out best spots here and they're at the tip of the peninsula. Largest lots I saw AND there right on the water!!"
Year-round availability: Some cabin facilities remain open during winter months, providing off-season options. A winter visitor to Salem-Lisbon KOA shared: "This was an awesome place for a winter trip! The tent sites were big and right on the lake. Everyone was so kind!"
Recreation amenities: Woods Tall Timber Resort provides extensive recreational facilities that enhance cabin stays. "WTTR is our families favorite place to be during camping season in Ohio. It has everything you can imagine, it's safe and CLEAN! We couldn't recommend a resort more than this one," states an enthusiastic reviewer.
What you should know
Site differences: Cabin quality and amenities vary widely between parks. At Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park- Akron/Canton, one visitor observed: "Overall we had a nice trip but the bathroom facilities made tent and popup camping pretty difficult." This highlights the importance of researching specific cabin features before booking.
Water quality concerns: Some cabin locations experience water quality issues. A Jellystone visitor mentioned: "The water situation was equally disturbing. The water smelled horrible, and both the shower head and faucet were caked with scum. My kids begged not to have to take a shower because of the smell."
Seasonal crowds: Summer months bring higher attendance, especially at parks with water features. "The lake was over crowded to the point that they ran out of life jackets, which are required to swim, so we sat," reported a Clay's Resort visitor, adding that "day pass users received all the privileges of campers."
Reservation requirements: For prime cabin locations, especially waterfront sites, advance planning is essential. A West Branch regular advises: "Make reservations! (6 months in advance). Waterside sites fill up quickly!" Many parks use online reservation systems with booking windows opening exactly six months before arrival dates.
Tips for camping with families
Activity planning: Canton/East Sparta KOA Holiday - Bear Creek Ranch offers specialized family activities including horseback riding. A return visitor notes, "This is our favorite KOA! I have 4 kids and return at least 1x per year. Great family owned KOA. Horseback riding on site."
Playground access: Multiple cabins are situated near play areas for convenient supervision. Atwood Lake features "several playground areas for the children," and one visitor mentioned that "kids love the playgrounds and being able to bike or scoot all around."
Ice cream socials: Weekend treats are available at several parks during summer. A West Branch visitor shared, "An ice cream social is held on Saturday evenings that my children always love to attend."
Age-appropriate amenities: Different parks cater to various age groups. Jellystone Park specializes in younger children with character visits, while others offer teen-friendly activities. "Many activities for kids including mini golf, 2 playground areas and a water park. Although the water park and mini golf are open to public, they were not overly crowded," notes one Jellystone visitor.
Tips from RVers
Full hookup locations: West Branch State Park cabins can be reserved near full hookup areas for those traveling with both RVs and non-RVing family members. "We can launch our kayaks right from our campsite. The shower house and bathrooms are large and clean," mentions a regular visitor.
Level site selection: Pay attention to site descriptions when booking cabin/RV combination stays. "Severe Sloping Site Won't Keep Us From Having Fun" begins one West Branch review, which continues: "Our site was labeled slight slope. That was a joke. We were only off 2 inches side to side but front to back we had to lower the front 15 inches."
Dump station facilities: Cabin guests with accompanying RVs should note dump station locations and policies. One visitor to Jellystone mentioned: "Stopped by to use black water dump upon arriving home from Arizona. Super clean, tidy, and lots of family activities to be had. Price to use dump facility was very reasonable and very convenient."
