Managed by Hocking College and set along the shores of Lake Snowden outside Albany, this campground draws a mix of tent campers, RV travelers, and festival-goers to a stretch of open terrain in southeastern Ohio. The lake is the central draw, with fishing, boating, and swimming all available on site, along with a water park featuring inflatable equipment that operates in summer months. Sites vary considerably: some are large and grassy with room for kids to move around, while others are steep, small, or lacking basic amenities like picnic tables and fire rings. Getting a good spot often comes down to arriving early.
The campground hosts several annual events, most notably the Paw Paw Festival and the Nelsonville Music and Arts Festival, which draw crowds that fill both tent and RV sites. During those weekends, the campground takes on a different character than a typical stay. Outside of festival season, the site tends to run quieter, though reviewers note it remains popular with local horse riders and families using the lake facilities. Forested sites along certain roads provide shade on hot days. Sites in open areas have less cover.
Full hookups are available for RVs, including electric, water, and sewer, along with a dump station and WiFi. One practical note worth knowing before booking: some electrical sites are 50-amp only and do not accommodate 30-amp connections, and the reservation system does not always make this clear upfront. The shower house in the upper camping area is functional but dated, and cleanliness has been inconsistent across visits. Lake Snowden At Hocking College and Hocking College Campgrounds are listed as additional access points for the same property. Athens, with its restaurants and services, is roughly ten minutes away, making this a workable base for exploring the region.
Description
Lake Snowden is a 675-acre education and recreation park, featuring the largest of four lakes, which form the Margaret Creek Conservancy District.
The lake covers approximately 136-acres offering camping, boating, fishing, picnicking and swimming. The serene setting reveals natural beauty while maintaining the convenience of being just 5 miles from Athens, Ohio. The shelter houses, restroom facilities, beach, shoreline fishing holes, and fish hatchery make Lake Snowden a full-featured recreation park.
Lake Snowden was built for the Margaret Creek Conservancy District in 1968 with federal funds through the Farmer’s Home Administration and the Soil Conservation Service in an effort to control flooding. It opened to the public in 1972. In 1998, Hocking College purchased Lake Snowden from Le-Ax Water District.
RV Road Trip Guides
Map & DirectionsLake Snowden Campground is located in Ohio near Albany
Directions
From jct US 50/32 & CR 681: Go 1 mi N on US 50/32.
Address
5900 US Highway 50
Albany, OH 45710
Coordinates
39.24172664 N
82.19076197 W
Connectivity
- T-Mobile5GExcellent Coverage
- VerizonLTESome CoverageVerified by 1 userLast on 4/4/26
- AT&T5GExcellent Coverage
Connectivity
- T-Mobile5GExcellent Coverage
- VerizonLTESome CoverageVerified by 1 userLast on 4/4/26
- AT&T5GExcellent Coverage
Access
- Drive-InPark next to your site
- Walk-InPark in a lot, walk to your site.
Site Types
- Tent Sites
- RV Sites
- Standard (Tent/RV)
- Group
- Cabins
Features
For Campers
- Market
- ADA Access
- Trash
- Picnic Table
- Firewood Available
- Phone Service
- Reservable
- WiFi
- Showers
- Drinking Water
- Electric Hookups
- Toilets
- Alcohol
- Pets
- Fires
For Vehicles
- Sanitary Dump
- Sewer Hookups
- Water Hookups
- Pull-Through Sites
- 30 Amp Hookups
- Big Rig Friendly














