Center Hill Lake and surrounding areas offer rustic cabin accommodations with varying levels of amenities. Many cabins sit on elevated terrain providing views of the water. Several state parks within a 30-mile radius of Smithville maintain cabin rentals that require advance booking. Winter cabin stays often feature discounted rates but may have limited services compared to peak season.
What to do
Hiking at Edgar Evins State Park: Multiple trail systems range from easy to moderate difficulty, with some leading to scenic overlooks of Center Hill Lake. One visitor reports, "We stayed here in November 2017... We could see and hear the lake from our campsite and though there were a few other folks camping too, it was pretty quiet and very relaxing."
Swimming holes at Rock Island State Park: The park features natural swimming areas below the falls area, separate from the designated beach. According to a camper, "Great hikes and random places to jump into the water. Beautiful landscape makes this a great place to spend the weekend."
Boat tours at Center Hill: Several marinas offer pontoon rentals for exploring the lake's 415 miles of shoreline. One visitor at Edgar Evins mentioned, "Very informative pontoon boat tour with a Park Ranger. Great lunch at the marina too!"
Seasonal fishing: Spring and fall offer excellent bass fishing conditions. Local bait shops near cabin areas can provide current lake conditions and fishing reports.
What campers like
Platform camping at Edgar Evins State Park: The unique deck-style sites position cabins and camping areas on wooden platforms overlooking the lake. One reviewer notes, "We love the platform sites that are so spacious and private. Easy access to dump station and bath houses. Almost all sites have view of water."
Winter wildlife viewing: Deer are commonly spotted throughout the camping areas during colder months. A camper shared, "The wildlife includes a LOT of deer that walk through the campground throughout the day, groundhogs and a skunk."
Quiet weekday stays: Most cabin areas have significantly lower occupancy Monday through Thursday, especially in spring and fall. As one camper put it, "The campground was less than half full during the week."
Proximity to waterfalls: Several cabins sit within driving distance of multiple falls. "We packed up during the day to explore other nearby parks like fall creek falls and Cummins falls but came back at night to camp," explained one visitor.
What you should know
Cell service limitations: Most cabin areas have spotty coverage, particularly AT&T users report weak signals. According to one camper at Edgar Evins, "AT&T had 2 bars and 1 MB/s w/o a booster, 3 bars and 4 MB/s with it. Overall WiFi was problematic."
Steep access to some cabins: Several cabins require navigating inclines. Beech Hollow Hideout features particularly challenging access as noted by a visitor: "The Hideout is another climb further up the same hill. Mind you it's not far, it's also not too shy of needing a ladder system to get up to."
Winter road conditions: Access roads to cabins can become difficult after rainfall or during freezing conditions. Four-wheel drive vehicles are recommended December through February.
Reservation requirements: State park cabins often require booking 3-6 months in advance for summer weekends. Non-peak season offers more last-minute availability.
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Ragland Bottom offers family-friendly cabin sites near play areas. A visitor noted, "The camp host is as sweet as can be. I have nothing but nice things to say about him... There's a playground and sand volleyball court, boat ramp, and a hiking trail."
Swimming options: Several cabin locations offer direct water access. One camper at Ragland Bottom shared, "The lakefront sites all have water access right from the site, so you can launch a kayak, or throw out a line, or just go for a swim right from your site."
Secure food storage: Wildlife encounters are common near cabins. Store food in vehicles or hard-sided containers rather than leaving on porches overnight.
Cabin selection for large groups: Corner sites typically offer more outdoor space for families. Specific site requests should be made during reservation.
Tips from RVers
Water access challenges at Fall Creek Falls: RV sites with cabins may have limited access to lake shores. A camper noted, "The lakeside sites surprisingly did not have easy access to the lake."
Cabin pad leveling: Many cabins sit on uneven terrain requiring additional support. One visitor mentioned, "Pay attention to grades of sites when booking, you might need extra supports to level out."
Electrical limitations: Most rustic cabins provide limited outlets. Bring power strips if using multiple devices.
Road navigation: Access roads to cabin areas often feature tight turns. According to one camper at Cedar of Lebanon, "The only thing that was not ideal were how tight the roads were between campsites but it may have felt that way because we are new to hauling a camper."
