Chillicothe, Ohio serves as a gateway to several established campgrounds offering diverse accommodation options. Scioto Trail State Park Campground, located within city limits, provides tent and RV camping with amenities including electric hookups, drinking water, and trash disposal. Sun Valley Campground and Walnut Creek Campground and Resort expand the options with cabin accommodations alongside traditional camping areas. Within a short drive, campers can access Tar Hollow State Park and Hocking Hills State Park, both offering more extensive trail systems and varied terrain. Most campgrounds in the region maintain year-round operations, though amenities and services may be limited during winter months.
Reservations are strongly recommended for developed campgrounds, particularly during summer weekends and fall color season. Many campgrounds feature both reservable and non-reservable sites, with the latter filling quickly on weekends. Water and electric hookups are common at established sites, while primitive camping areas typically offer vault toilets and communal water sources. Cell service varies significantly throughout the region, with coverage becoming increasingly spotty in more remote areas like Zaleski State Forest. The terrain ranges from relatively flat campgrounds to more challenging hilly areas in the state forests. A visitor noted that "Autumn is the best time to camp in Ohio" with pleasant temperatures and colorful foliage enhancing the experience.
Campers consistently rate water access as a significant factor in site selection, with lakefront campgrounds receiving higher ratings. Paint Creek State Park Campground and A.W. Marion State Park Campground both feature lake access for fishing and non-motorized boating. Several visitors mentioned appreciating the mix of outdoor activities available, including hiking, fishing, and paddling opportunities. The proximity of campgrounds to natural features like caves and rock formations in Hocking Hills draws many visitors, though this can lead to crowding during peak seasons. Based on reviews from The Dyrt, campers seeking more solitude might prefer the less-visited Tar Hollow State Park or Lake Hope State Park, where one reviewer described it as "the unsung hero of Logan county" with fewer crowds than nearby popular destinations.
$35 / 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."
$22 - $75 / night
"The campground is about 2-3 acres large, situated on a hill with a path dug out around the perimeter. "
"The drive there was a very interesting tour of trump flags Amish buggies and more. Would come back if I was stranded in Ohio, but overall great pit stop for cleaning up on a long journey."
$29 - $60 / night
"We chose to camp at Scioto Trail State Park because of it's proximity to Salt Creek Kayak Adventures. While I had hiked at Scioto Trail in the past, this was our first visit to the campground."
"Walk-in sites with pit toilets and potable water. The map of how the sites are laid out online is extremely inaccurate, I would not have picked my site if it had been accurate."
$20 - $40 / night
"They had a scavenger hunt which made us really experience the nature around us, going through the woods off trail, going to the lakeside, walking around looking for different things on a list."
"Marion State Park on this particular weekend because it's relatively close to home (Columbus area)."
"We were able to reserve a drive-thru site on the same day we wanted it. It looks like there are quite a few seasonal campers there. Sites have space between them, many are shaded. "
$31 - $60 / night
"Cute, charming Ohio State Park. Enjoy 4 lovely hiking trails that showcase the parks features by taking you through the woods and fields. Fish is offered and their is boat dock ."
"An excellent disc golf course, hiking and beautiful lake views. Just past the town of Bainbridge, Ohio is Seip Mound to explore and hike the trails."
$33 / night
"Some are smaller, close to neighbors while other have seclusion with trees. From past experience, if it rains, some of the sites do flood. We had great weather this weekend."
"There is a short walk to a comfort station and the shower house is just a few more steps. Both were kept clean even in this busy park."
$27 / night
"Ranger Review: Morsel Spork at Pike Lake State Park Campground Review:
We stayed at site 67 next to the camp host. The camp site was nicely shaded with a small creek behind it."
"The lake is smaller, but nice beach area and pedal boats are fun. We hiked the Greenbriar and CCC Trails. They are not too challenging but beautiful."
"Nice scenic drive to campground only 7 miles off of Hwy 35. No"
"Has fishing, kayaking, golf cart trails, volleyball set up, basketball court, swimming pool and super nice cabins."
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.
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.
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.
ScoutWhile we are not horsemen, my husband and I so enjoyed our stay at this remote and picturesque campground. The property reflects great pride and financial investment: nicely-appointed and immaculate bathroom facilities; well-spaced campsites; classy equine stalls; and accommodating service second to none. Highly recommended!
TravelerI drove an hour and a half to get here because dyrt showed that we had full AT&T service here that is not the trucks we have between one and two bars of AT&T service so we’ll see if we drove here for me to be able to work for a couple days and be out in God’s creation
ScoutCamp sites are very tightly packed together and feels like I'm in someone's backyard that is having trouble growing grass.
The terrain surrounding Chillicothe, Ohio ranges from rolling hills to densely wooded valleys with elevations between 600-1,200 feet. The region experiences distinct seasons with summer highs averaging 85°F and winter lows frequently dropping below freezing. Primitive camping areas typically require hikers to carry gear up to 150 yards from parking areas to reach established campsites.
Hiking with elevation changes: Pike Lake State Park Campground offers multiple trails with varied terrain. "Parts of the CCC trail were overgrown with briars and narrow," notes Leon H., while another visitor mentions that "We hiked the Greenbriar and CCC Trails. They are not too challenging but beautiful."
Paddling on smaller lakes: Several campgrounds offer water access for non-motorized boating. At Pike Lake State Park Campground, "There is a small lake with a beach. You can kayak, but it's really small," explains Shannon G. The lakes are typically under 100 acres, making them perfect for beginners.
Creek exploration: Waters Edge Canoe Livery provides access to local waterways. Jonathan W. describes it as a "Very fun place to camp and enjoy the creek on a kayak or canoe. Very friendly staff, and one of my favorite places to go."
Walk-in tent camping: For those seeking more seclusion, Tar Hollow State Park Campground offers a primitive experience. "The north ridge campground is in an entirely separate area of the park than the RVs and there aren't many campsites, so in that way it feels a little more remote and secluded," explains Sydney.
Spacious sites: Several campgrounds offer larger sites for those wanting more room. At A.W. Marion State Park Campground, Cassandra C. found that "Site #9 is probably the biggest in the primitive section. This site has plenty of room for a few small tents."
Well-maintained facilities: Despite being rustic, many campers appreciate the clean amenities. At Scioto Trail State Park, Anna S. noted, "Walk-in sites with pit toilets and potable water. All sites appeared to have a picnic table and fire ring. Many miles of trails/dirt roads for hiking and biking."
Cell service limitations: Be prepared for connectivity issues. At Scioto Trail State Park Campground, Aaron S. mentioned it's "a nice campground. We camped three times this summer and fall. The set-up is good. There are at least three water spigot, and they are easy to get to."
Variable site quality: Campsite conditions can differ dramatically within the same campground. At Pike Lake, Kristin L. observed that "It rained the first day we were there and people were literally bailing there sites out with buckets. The places that weren't flooded were very muddy."
Bathroom facilities: Know what to expect with facilities. At Tar Hollow State Park, Sydney explained, "The bathrooms are pit latrines. However…these are some of the dirtiest I've experienced. The bathrooms are also very narrow and perhaps most importantly, they are not lit."
Playground accessibility: Some sites offer immediate access to play areas. At Pike Lake State Park, Shannon G. noted their site was "right across the site is the playground. It's a little noisy but if you have kids, it works."
Educational opportunities: Many parks offer ranger-led activities. Jonathan W. described Tar Hollow: "There is a small two-room nature center, and there is a naturalist who conducts several activities. In past years we've been able to let the kids go off with the naturalist on an hour+ guided hike."
Swimming options: Walnut Creek Campground and Resort provides multiple recreation options. Kelly W. noted it "Has fishing, kayaking, golf cart trails, volleyball set up, basketball court, swimming pool and super nice cabins."
Site selection cautions: Many campgrounds have limited level sites. At Hocking Hills State Park Campground, Meghan H. reported, "Ironically, we stayed at the worst campsite there, it was downslope, and they had recently cut down many trees and the site was a muddy mess. Every single other campsite they were perfect."
Check hookup availability: Facilities vary widely between campgrounds. At Sun Valley Campground, Andrew S. notes it "has a lot to offer with electric and water hookups for RVs with back-in and pull through sites. They have a dump station as well as an onsite bathroom/shower house."
Site layout challenges: Some campgrounds have tighter spacing than others. At Hocking Hills, Laura C. observed, "The camping however left a lot to be desired. The sites were extremely close together."
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best campgrounds in Chillicothe, Ohio?
The Chillicothe area offers several excellent camping options. Tar Hollow State Park Campground is known for its secluded tent sites that provide an immersive nature experience. The North Ridge campsite is particularly popular for those seeking solitude. Another top choice is Scioto Trail State Park Campground, conveniently located near Chillicothe with reservable sites, water access, and toilet facilities. For those willing to venture slightly further, Paint Creek and Pike Lake State Parks also offer quality camping experiences within a reasonable drive. The region's campgrounds are particularly beautiful during autumn when the foliage transforms the landscape.
What is the cost of camping in Chillicothe, Ohio?
Camping costs near Chillicothe vary by facility type and amenities. At Hocking Hills State Park Campground, sites typically range from $25-35 per night depending on whether you choose electric or non-electric options. Paint Creek State Park Campground offers competitive rates for both tent and RV camping, with prices generally falling between $20-30 nightly. Ohio state parks maintain relatively consistent pricing, with primitive sites being the most affordable option at around $15-20 per night. Private campgrounds like Walnut Creek and Sun Valley typically charge higher rates ($30-50) but offer additional amenities. Most campgrounds offer discounts for extended stays and may have different seasonal pricing structures.
Are there private campgrounds near Chillicothe for RV camping?
Yes, several private campgrounds near Chillicothe cater specifically to RV campers. Hocking River RV Park offers pull-through spots that can accommodate large rigs up to 43 feet, though some maneuvering may be required. The park features riverside fire rings and basic bathroom facilities. Waters Edge Canoe Livery is another option with drive-in access, water, and toilet facilities for RV campers. Walnut Creek Campground and Resort provides full RV hookups and is big-rig friendly. Most private RV parks in the area offer reservable sites, and many remain open year-round with amenities like water, electric, and dump stations.
Is tent camping available near Chillicothe?
Yes, tent camping is readily available near Chillicothe. Scioto-Grove Metro Park offers weekend tent camping opportunities, though it's closed during winter months. For a more secluded tent experience, Lake Hope State Park Campground provides a quieter alternative to more crowded parks in the region. The park features beautiful surroundings and is less congested than nearby alternatives. Additionally, Walnut Creek Campground and Pike Lake State Park offer tent sites within driving distance of Chillicothe. Most tent sites in the area include basic amenities like fire rings and access to restroom facilities.
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