Camping near Hocking Hills State Park

You don’t want to spend a day at Hocking Hills.

You want to spend a weekend, a week, a month: the more time you get with Hocking Hills, the better. It’s a big place, full of gorges and waterfalls and outdoor activities to keep you busy for ages.

Of course, if you’re spending more than a day, you’re going to have to spend the night somewhere: Which is why people come from all over the Midwest to set up tents and enjoy a long weekend or holiday exploring the area.

It’s not always easy to find a campsite at Hocking Hills. It’s the most popular state park in Ohio: You, your neighbor, and your cousin are probably all looking for campsites on the same weekend. It helps to know your way around.

Here’s a cheat sheet for camping at Hocking Hills. You’ll learn where to go and what to expect at each spot. First things first, though…

You’ll probably want to reserve a campsite in advance

Hocking Hills camping isn’t a free-for-all. If you want to camp within the park, you’ll be camping at state-run campsites. Outside of the park, there are a few private landowners who offer campsites at nightly rates similar to those within the park.

But there aren’t many off-the-grid, backcountry gravel road campsites. So if you want to make sure you’ve got a place to stay, it’s a good idea to reserve in advance. It’s best to start looking at least a month in advance.

If you’re the type who plans trips a few days before leaving, don’t worry: Last-minute cancellations provide chances to get good campsites, too.

The bottom line: There are plenty of places to camp, but don’t expect to find a prime spot last-minute.

Camping within Hocking Hills State Park

All campsites within the park borders are at the Hocking Hills State Park Campground, which is run by the state of Ohio. The campsites here are considered some of the best in the area: Many of them are located just a few hundred yards from the trailhead at Old Man’s Cave.

There are three areas of the Hocking Hills State Park Campground. Here’s a breakdown.

Main campground: Most of the campsites (and all of the cabins) are located near the Old Man’s Cave trailhead. All of the amenities described below are only available at the main campground.

Walk-in campsites: These are just east of Rose Lake. They’re primitive, but there are restrooms on-site. You’ll have to hike to get to these, though they’re all under a half-mile from the parking lot.

Youth group area: This is meant for group camping. If you have a large group (10 or 15-plus is a good rule of thumb) you can check out camping here. It’s further south, closer to Ash Cave and Cedar Falls.

Campground details: There are 199 campsites and 40 cabins in total at the Hocking Hills State Park Campground. These aren’t primitive, backcountry campsites: You could be comfortable here if you’d never camped a day in your life. The Hocking Hills State Park Campground features:

Sites with full RV hook-up, sites with 20-, 30-, and 50-amp service, and non-electric sites.
Rustic cabins.
Showers, restrooms, laundry facilities, a dump station, and a campground store.
A swimming pool, playgrounds, a horseshoe pit, and a volleyball court.

This is the most well-developed campground in the Hocking Hills area. And the best part? You’re just a few minutes from the Old Man’s Cave trailhead.

Pricing details: Most cabins are roughly $150 per night. Campsites range between $30 and $50 per night. This is standard for the area, though some of the more primitive and privately-owned spots outside of the state park are cheaper.

How to make a reservation: Go to the Ohio reservations website. From here, search for “Hocking Hills”, and browse your options.

Camping outside of Hocking Hills State Park

Outside of the state park borders, you’ll find a few great spots to camp. These spots aren’t as well-known as the state-run campsites: So if you’ve procrastinated finding a campsite until the night before your trip, you’ve got a better shot here.

While these aren’t in the state park, all of the campgrounds below are just minutes from the popular attractions in Hocking Hills.

Top ‘O The Caves

If you want a developed campground experience, like what you’d find in the state park, Top ‘O The Caves is a good spot to go. It’s got plenty of amenities and a wide variety of sites to choose from.

Campground details: There are more than 200 campsites at Top ‘O The Caves. There are also cabins and a lodge that are available for rent. The campground includes:

Full RV hook-up sites, water and electric sites, electric sites, and primitive sites.
Cozy cabins and a larger lodge.
Showers and restrooms.
Swimming pools and playgrounds.
Mini golf, a game arcade, and a gift shop.

Like the state-run campground in Hocking Hills, Top ‘O The Caves is a very developed spot. But, of course, you’re just a short walk from the wilderness.

Pricing details: Campsites currently range from $29 to $66 per night. Check out the up-to-date pricing on the website here.

How to make a reservation: You’ll have to stay for at least two nights if you want to make a reservation. And you can make that reservation here.

Knox Acres Campgrounds

Developed campsites are great. But swimming pools, general stores, and a hundred-plus RVs aren’t for everyone. If you want something more primitive, Knox Acres is a good place to look.

This campground is tucked in the forest a few miles to the southwest of Hocking Hills State Park. Here’s what you need to know.

Campground details: There are no fancy swimming pools and gift shops here. It’s a peaceful spot in the woods. There are nine campsites in total, each of them fairly small.

Pricing details: Campsites start at $25 per night.

How to make a reservation: You can sometimes find walk-in spots here. But it’s always smart to book in advance. To do so, shoot the owners a message on Facebook or give them a call.

Want to stay in a cabin instead?

Camping is great. And while waking up at 5 AM with a stiff back is endearing in its own way, there are also plenty of cabins available for rent at Hocking Hills. Many of these cabins are luxurious: Think treehouses and hot tubs.

Browse cabins by style:

Browse cabins by size: