7 campgrounds with availability this weekend
Lake Hope State Park Campground houses an impressive collection of glamping accommodations nestled within the rolling hills of southeastern Ohio. These elevated accommodations provide a perfect balance between outdoor immersion and luxury amenities, with several sites offering electricity, hot showers, and comfortable bedding setups for those seeking a more refined camping experience. The park's glamping options include canvas tent structures and safari-style accommodations that blend seamlessly with the surrounding woodland environment. One guest shared, "The lodge has great food. Lots of trails and history in the area. It was a quick and easy check in to get a site," highlighting the convenience and comfort that draws visitors to the glamping experience. Top O' The Caves Campground also features unique yurt accommodations as part of their glamping collection, offering circular canvas structures with solid floors and comfortable furnishings.
Visitors at these glamping destinations can explore numerous hiking trails winding through Zaleski State Forest while returning to comfortable accommodations each evening. Lake Hope provides exceptional water recreation with kayak rentals available for just $10 per hour, allowing glampers to enjoy the scenic lake without bringing their own equipment. The furnished safari tents and yurts remain accessible throughout most of the year, with some locations like Hocking Hills Jellystone Campground operating from mid-April to mid-October. A visitor noted, "Lake Hope has plenty of recreational opportunities for everyone and the campground is close by! The campground is quiet and well kept." Beyond outdoor activities, the area offers cultural experiences with the historic Hope Furnace nearby and the intriguing Moonville Tunnel just a short drive away, providing glampers with both natural beauty and historical context during their luxury camping stay.
"Firewood available for purchase on site. Lake Hope lodge provides great warm and dry spot for delicious food."
"With that said, all sites appeared to have a spot for at least 1 tent cleared away and the picnic table and fire ring in a secure location. Most sites only had room for one car parked at the site"
Available this weekend
from $21 - $35 / night
"In mid April 2023 I arrived late afternoon and there were TONS of spots available. Happy with the spot I picked. There was some noise from other campsites, but overall not terrible."
"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."
"Luxurious accommodations and continental breakfasts won’t be found here…..a space to unwind and reflect will."
"Site 41 with a paved pad and electric. We were across from the shower house and bathrooms. The office is closed but a staff person was on site."
Available this weekend
from $21 - $55 / night
"Free tricycles to ride around. Bouncy area, lake with a trampoline and activities all the time."
"The RV site was rather small without much personal space. But it worked for what they needed. The tent site was decently secluded and near a nice small pond."
"This was a nice campground extremely central to all frequented trails in the area . We stayed on the electric/ water side of campground ."
"I've included a photo of the map the attendant had to show a view of the areas...electric and non-electric with a total of 151 sites. "
"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."
Available this weekend
from $21 - $40 / night
Available this weekend
from $69 - $499 / night
"This campground has been around since the 1800s. It has a lot of permanent residents and we had a lot of fun checking out the different set ups. There are a lot of amenities but they need updated."
from $20 - $80 / night
"EV chargers on-site. Bathrooms were excellent individually separated rooms with showers and toilets. We were escorted to our site upon arrival."
"Awesome staff family owned for over 20 plus years. Extremely clean well maintained. Shower houses plenty of hot water facilities were very clean sites are well spread apart."
"We weren’t too keen on most of the parks amenities, but enjoyed just sitting around the fire the whole time."
"The fire pit location is across a tiny stream; we enjoyed a campfire in the woods! There were no loud folks. The loudest thing we heard was the occasional bark of a dog (which we didn't mind)."
Available this weekend
from $23 - $75 / night
TravelerGreat view of the sky for stargazing and telescopes at the sites in 40s. Trails are a little neglected though; lots of downed trees and faded blazes. Maybe it’s late in the season, and they will improve in the spring.
ScoutLaid back rv park on the Ohio river plenty of room. 10/10
ScoutVery clean and well maintained facilities. Grounds were kept groomed and trash free. Has dump station, electric, water, shower house, and plenty of trails to explore.
GuideWe used Site 53, which is a pull thru. The site was spacious and level. The fire pit location is across a tiny stream; we enjoyed a campfire in the woods! There were no loud folks. The loudest thing we heard was the occasional bark of a dog (which we didn't mind).
The restrooms were new and extremely clean. The staff at the camp store was friendly.
There are plenty of places and opportunities to enjoy Pine Lake: you can sit on a bench or rent a canoe.
We'd love to return to Tar Hollow when the fall foliage is beautiful.
RangerSites are small - especially the ones with power. Bathrooms are dirty and very worn out. Only 1 of 3 of the mens showers were working. Lots of spiders in the bathrooms and the stall doors don't latch effectively. Camp store (and access to ice) was closed for 'remodel'.
RangerIt’s just beautiful there. Great for bikes. Good camp store, putt putt, bike rentals, camper beach. Easy access to fishing. And there a playground surrounded by a little stream of water that is so cool. New bathrooms are spectacular. Also has family showers.
RangerNot our favorite. Very small campground. Good hiking trails. Decent beach. Very hilly. Shower house was kinda gross.
TravelerThe campground was well maintained and it did offer some fun activities for the kids (pillow trampoline, basketball court, mini golf). We stayed in the RV section and although the sites are grassy, we prefer more trees and bigger sites for shade and privacy. This is more of an RV park feel that we prefer. However, it was within close driving proximity to Hocking Hills State Park, which was our reason for booking. So it did the job!
ScoutJellystone Hocking Hills Ohio Don’t waste your money! I reserved a full hook up deluxe site with patio. Was supposed to be a level concrete slab. It was not! It was all gravel and dirt. No concrete whatsoever. This deluxe site sloped down so when you had a fire( weren’t allowed to move fire pit) your chairs went down hill and I fell almost every night. They brought in a crushed zone but it didn’t help the situation. Owner told us he would credit us some money back since the site wasn’t as promised, he did not. The playground was a mess. Old and nasty. The jump pad didn’t hold much air, so kids would jump on and sink right o the ground. The mining area was not locked so kids got into the pump and electrical areas which was dangerous for the little ones. YOGI BEAR MADE ONE 15 MINUTE APPEARANCE IN 5 DAYS. The schedule showed daily appearances at least daily if not more than once daily, which is how other Jellystones have been for us. MY GRANDSON was so sad. He had been looking forward to this trip for months, and recalled our prior JELLYSTONE stay at Watts Bar Lake in Tennessee, which was a totally different experience than this awful Hocking hills Jellystone. We repeatedly asked about Yogi appearances and were told“Yogi was busy and maybe he would come tomorrow“. The owner made so many excuses like,“my concrete guy didn’t show up last week” that’s why we didn’t have our concrete level patio site that we paid for. The playground didn’t have mulch cause his guy didn’t show up last week. The jump pad didn’t work right because his guy didn’t show up. The new pool wasn’t completed because his guy didn’t show up. Even the yogi bear statue they show in their picture wasn’t there. The pool they did have was in the owners backyard and you had to drive to it. It was slimed and disgusting. I have never been so disappointed. We drove 4.5 hours to get there specifically so my grandkids could camp at a Jellystone with Yogi Bear around. I don’t know how they are allowed to be a Jellystone, they are definitely not up to par. I’m sure we aren’t the only family to pay jellystones higher prices so the kids could see Yogi and friends daily. I could go on…there really were so many bad things about this place, but I see this review is very long. I will attach some photos
Lake Hope State Park and surrounding areas in southeastern Ohio feature varied terrain across the Appalachian foothills, with elevations ranging from 600 to 1,000 feet. The region experiences four distinct seasons, with humid summers reaching into the 90s and winter temperatures often dropping below freezing. Yurt camping options near Albany, Ohio provide access to over 50 miles of hiking trails through deciduous forest with significant oak and hickory stands.
Kayaking at Strouds Run: Rent watercraft at the lake for affordable recreation. "In mid April 2023 I arrived late afternoon and there were TONS of spots available. Happy with the spot I picked. There was some noise from other campsites, but overall not terrible. Strouds is an amazing park with incredible trails! Bathrooms were clean," notes Anna S. at Strouds Run State Park Campground.
Stargazing opportunities: The lack of light pollution creates excellent night sky viewing conditions. "If you're lucky and have no clouds, there is virtually no light pollution and you can see the Milky Way," writes Jonathan W. about Tar Hollow State Park Campground.
Fishing at multiple lakes: Several parks offer shoreline fishing access. "Fishing is hit and miss," reports Leon H. about Strouds Run, while Robert R. from Lake Hope warns, "Watch out for the FOG on the lake at night! It gets so bad you can't see past the end of your boat!"
Nature programs: Seasonal ranger-led activities provide educational opportunities. "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 Lake Hope State Park.
Secluded camping spots: Many sites offer privacy away from crowds. "At lake hope you can enjoy camping in many ways rather if it's by tent (the way I prefer) or by camper. It's a very nice place to have some family fun," Jonathan W. notes about Lake Hope State Park Campground.
Yurt accommodations: Several campgrounds near Albany offer yurt camping options with solid floors and proper beds. "Top O' The Caves has a thriving Timber Rattlesnake population. Watch your steps," warns Renée C. about Top O' The Caves Campground, where yurts provide an elevated camping experience.
Affordable boat rentals: Multiple lakes offer reasonable rates for water recreation. "Lake Hope provided exceptional water recreation with kayak rentals available for just $10 per hour," mentions one visitor, while Lucille W. notes about Strouds Run: "Strouds is a great place to rent a paddle board, kayak, canoe, or pontoon."
Winter camping options: Some parks remain open year-round for off-season experiences. "We actually stayed at the lodge and it was lovely. We would hike around during the day and swim inside as it was before spring. Lots of great trails," reports Kenpocentaur K. about Burr Oak State Park Campground.
Limited cell service: Most campgrounds have minimal or no connectivity. "There is no cell service. Enjoy the outdoors! You are off the grid!" explains Sydney about Tar Hollow State Park.
Varying bathroom facilities: Quality ranges significantly between campgrounds. "Bathrooms are pit latrines. Normally, I wouldn't be too concerned about this (you're camping! it's cool to rough it a bit!) However…these are some of the dirtiest I've experienced," notes Sydney about Tar Hollow.
Site terrain challenges: Many campsites feature uneven ground that requires careful setup. "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 Lake Hope.
Seasonal operating hours: Some facilities have limited availability. "This is an extremely primitive place that is not run by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. It is run by the same woman who runs the boat rentals at several other state parks in SE Ohio," explains Megan M. about Strouds Run.
Jump pad activities: Some campgrounds offer inflatable play areas. "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," says Mitchell C. about Hilltop Resorts and Campgrounds.
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Guided nature programs enhance family experiences. "We have stayed here a couple of times in a tent and a class a motor home. The campground is pretty secluded but beautiful rolling hills," shares Marshall P. about Lake Hope.
Mini-golf access: Some campgrounds offer affordable family activities. "Older campgrounds with a lot of things to do. Put put golf and a fun small arcade, although dated, were great for down times inbetween hikes," explains Jennifer R. about Top O' The Caves.
Lake beaches: Several parks feature swimming areas with beach access. "There is a nice little pool, but it wasn't open for the season yet. The shower houses were immaculate," notes Vicki H. about Hocking Hills KOA Holiday.
Site leveling requirements: Many sites require significant adjustment. "We stayed in the camper cabin, which is just a very basic shed with a bed, bunk beds, air conditioning and heat. We stayed there because it was July and I wanted A/C and electricity," explains Megan M. about Forked Run.
Limited hookup options: Many campgrounds offer only basic services. "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," reports Isaac K. about Tar Hollow.
Narrow access roads: Some campgrounds have challenging approaches. "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," warns Vicki H. about Hocking Hills KOA.
Off-season availability: Several parks offer extended camping seasons. "In mid April 2023 I arrived late afternoon and there were TONS of spots available," notes Anna S. about Strouds Run.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular glamping campsite near Albany, OH?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular glamping campground near Albany, OH is Lake Hope State Park Campground with a 3.9-star rating from 35 reviews.
What is the best site to find glamping camping near Albany, OH?
TheDyrt.com has all 23 glamping camping locations near Albany, OH, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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