Mountainous camping in Ohio with swimming
Ohio’s lake beaches, forested hills, and winding rivers set the stage for outdoor adventure.
96% (200 reviews)
- Ohio
96% (200 reviews)
Popular camping styles for Ohio
Dog-friendly getaways
6 top mountainous campgrounds in Ohio with swimming
94%
(52)
Home Afarm
7 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents11 acres · Seaman, OH
Our little hobby farm was procured in December 2021. While we're just getting started our new home, we hope you'll enjoy sharing the orchard, meadows, forest, and swimming pond with us.
"Roads go ever ever on, under cloud and under star.
Yet feet that wandering have gone turn at last to home afar."
Learn more about this land:
Come relax atop the Appalachian foothills of southern Ohio. Enveloped in the heart of Tranquility Wilderness Area, our 11 acres has a mix of native pawpaw, peach, pear, and persimmon trees, deciduous forest, cedar woods, wild meadows, a small swimming pond, and a large, accessible field for ample flat for tents and room to play. Trails through the woods are being worked on, and facilities expanded as the seasons pass. Mellow nature’s soundtrack of birds, crickets, and frogs and enjoy an incredibly clear view of the night sky.
Hiking, kayaking, biking, birding, fishing, hunting, swimming, and more are available at several state parks and historical sites like within 10-30 minutes of the farm. Amish country is likewise near at hand with several bakeries, markets, furniture shops, and greenhouses. Our primitive sites are spaced for privacy, with a gravel parking area near the cottage and additional field parking is available near the road on the opposite site of the main house. While most sites are walk-in only, the upper field sites may be able to be parked near and the Lower Meadow, Boneyard, and Oak Grove may be able to be driven to, as weather and site conditions permit.
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from
$19.20
/ night
97%
(31)
Bear Pond
2 sites · Lodging3 acres · West Union, OH
Serene, Rolling Hills, Fresh air. Hiking Buzzards Roost, Canoe/Kayaking @ MoonDoggie LIVERee, visiting Family Traditions Animal Zoo, Miller’s Amish furniture and Bakery, Shawnee National Forest, Adams State Lake, Serpent Mound, Tranquility Wild Life Shooting Range, your away from everything but close to what ever you want. Bigfoot Country (Sasquatch Hunting is allowed, however like fishing, they are catch and release only😎) .
Nice private spot accommodates Tent Camping, Car camping, or even if your taking an Overland Trip. Bearpond will accommodate small RVs and Travel trailers. Nola's Cabin is a New availability as an Extra. Nola's Cabin is a Cozy small quiet cabin situated at the end of the gravel driveway under the trees. Overlooks the small valley down into the hill across the creek. Nice cozy place out of the elements. Electric is available. accommodates 4 people nicely. Twin (1) over full bunk (2) with Trundle (1). 6 inch Memory foam pads with liners are present on beds. Get a good nights rest while on your getaway, and still enjoy your outdoor cooking, fishing and star gazing. Bear Pond does have garbage bags upon request. But we ask you carry your refuse out with you due to the wildlife.
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$36
/ night
91%
(11)
Salt Creek Camp at Sunnyvale Farm
4 sites · RVs, Tents240 acres · Chauncey, OH
Sunnyvale Farm est. 1949 - is a 240 acre tree and grain farm nestled in the foothills of Southeast Ohio and situated along the Hocking River. Almost 200 acres of the farm is forested with many changes in elevation. This is a great place to sit back and relax or use as a base camp for your exploration of nature. Just 3 minutes from the Bailey mountain bike trails and the Hockhocking Adena bikeway. We are also 30 minutes from the Hocking Hills or 15 minutes from Strouds Run State Park and if you are a little more adventurous, you are welcome to hike the farm with many uphill climbs or an easier hike to see the little grotto.
If going into town is more your speed, Athens is a few minutes away and you can be on the campus of Ohio University in less than 10 minutes without having to leave paved roads.
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$18
/ night
96%
(36)
Raven's Retreat Hocking Hills
5 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents58 acres · Laurelville, OH
A modern and eclectic experience, this forest lodge sleeps 16 and is set on a 58-acre nature preserve. Created by two artists, the curated aesthetics of this home are ideal for retreats, gatherings, and team building. Featuring steel sculptures, wood carvings, tile murals, and a black walnut kitchen and bar; this 4000 sq ft space has a walk out lower level and open floor plan with forest views. Includes WIFI with 200 Mbps, hot tub, sauna, outdoor shower, onsite hiking trails and nearby Hocking Hills Parks.
Tiny Art Bungalows available in 2025
Pollinator Tiny Bungalow, Tiny Home/Cabin, sleeps 2.
(undergoing current renovation)
Another Tiny Art Bungalow coming soon, sleeps 2.
Raven's Retreat is just an hour from Columbus, Ohio and less than 2 miles from the local Hocking Hills town, Laurelville. So, you can get groceries, gas, supplies, buy local cider, and visit 6 family-owned restaurants less than a 5-minute drive away.
We, Dustin and Raven, the owners of Sculptdecor, custom art, created much of what you will see in all of the spaces at Ravens's Retreat Hocking Hills, including the kitchens and bathrooms.
We have installed Starlink internet connection in our Art Lodge and Tiny Bungalows, ensuring you stay connected while enjoying your time in nature. Starlink is the best internet in the Hocking Hills with an average speed of 200 to 400 Mbps.
Upon booking, you'll receive our personal guidebook filled with local recommendations to help you plan your perfect getaway. We're locals and passionate about making your stay exceptional. Upon booking, you'll receive our direct contact phone numbers for any assistance you might need. Events and parties must be approved in writing; talk to us about your plans; we want you to have an incredible experience!
The State Parks and Nature Preserves nearby are:
Rockhouse ( 6.5 miles away )
Conkles Hollow ( 10.5 miles away )
Whispering Cave ( 14 miles away )
Old Man's Cave ( 14 miles away )
Ash Cave ( 13 miles )
Cantwell Cliffs ( 12 miles away )
and several more!
Laurelville is a small town on the western end of the Hocking Hills. It is mostly made up of nice farmers and kind hearted hill people. The closest larger towns are Logan, Lancaster, Circleville, and Chillicothe.
HOST INTERACTION: We give our guests space but are available if needed
Raven's Retreat is a beautiful, 58-acre nature preserve located in the Hocking Hills, 2 miles east of Laurelville, Oh. This land has remained mostly untouched and was purchased due to its resemblance to the deep forest of West Virginia, home to Raven's mother, Lisa Mahaney. The property is dear to us and we do everything we can to protect and maintain it in its natural state. It contains 4 creeks, hiking trails, a pond, and the top of a ridge. There are several endangered species including whippoorwills and two lined salamanders that reside at Raven's Retreat. There is an abundance of wildlife present due to keeping this property as wild as possible. No hunting, fishing, or swimming is allowed on the preserve. We are working with local environmental specialists to ensure that we maintain a thriving, healthy place for wildlife.
We do our best to keep the human traffic on the property low but we want people to feel free to explore our challenging trails. There are over a mile of Hiking trails on the property that are not heavily traveled. The elevation change from the top of our ridge to the deepest part of our creek bed is over 220ft. If you plan to hike our trails, please keep strong scents such as perfumes to a minimum. This is often overlooked, but it can be confusing and disturb the wildlife.
Quiet hours are to be honored and kept when the sun goes down. A respectful noise level is to be kept in consideration for our neighbors and animals. 💡 Please note, we do consider the effects of light pollution and use particular lights to lessen our impact on the night creatures.
Please do not bring your animals with you if you are staying at the Unique Art Lodge or Tiny Bungalows here at Raven's Retreat. In the future, we have plans to have spaces that are suitable for animal friends.
We prioritize guest wellness by having our spaces cleaned by professional cleaners who use eco-friendly products, pay a fair wage, and have serious attention to detail. While we adore animals, we currently cannot accommodate domestic animals due to our resident senior dog, Peanut, who you may see somewhere on the property during your stay.
For art enthusiasts, the Sculptdecor Shop, run by master sculptor Dustin Weatherby, is on on the 58-acres closest to the Art Lodge located at the bottom of the driveway. Dustin specializes in animatronics, steel sculptures, wood carvings, mixed media sculptures, and starting in 2025, will offer live art performances and experience packages for guests. Feel free to stop by the shop and say hello—our home is on the same 58-acre property. Although you cannot see our home from the Art Lodge or Tiny Bungalows, we're often nearby to assist you if you need us.
We can't wait to share our passion for art and nature seen within our spaces. Book your stay and experience it for yourself.
Your hosts,
-Raven and Dustin-
Ravens Retreat Hocking Hills
Important: Before you arrive, you will be asked to complete guest verification through third-party provider Superhog. This is done to ensure we are keeping up-to-date with short-term rental regulations as well as providing both our guests and our properties with extra protection. Superhog will contact you via email and/or text to complete the verification. Please complete the verification process prior to arriving at the property to enable a quick and easy check-in process.
You will also be asked to purchase a $35 damage waiver via third party provider Superhog, which will protect you and your group in case of accidental damage of up to $500 during your stay. We understand accidents happen; this lessens stress on all people involved.
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$30
/ night
100%
(2)
Roosevelt Glamping Company
4 sites · Lodging60 acres · Wooster, OH
The property spans 60 acres with lush woods, a meandering creek, valleys and rock formations. The top of the ridge lends awesome sunset views overlooking the valley. You can rent a cabin on the property, or rent a permanent Safari Tent that overlooks the creek. You can also rent our luxury 16' canvas bell tents that be set up in addition to renting the cabin to allow for more guests.
Learn more about this land:
Pitch your tent in a specified area or rent our luxury 16' canvas bell tents and have everything set up for you- including beds, seating and linens. The property is shared by one cabin rental, one permanent Safari Tent and the owners also live onsite should you need anything , but give you complete privacy. Certain areas of the property are not accessible to explore when there are renting cabin or tent guests in those areas.
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$242.50
/ night
Booked 1 time
Luxe Carpeneter's Cabin : 32 acres
1 site · Lodging32 acres · Laurelville, OH
Contemporary Eco-conscious cabin with luxury amenities tucked in our 32 acre pine forest. Just 5 minutes to necessities (like pizza) and 10-20 minutes to all the outdoor adventures Hocking County Ohio offers.
The modern, yet cozy, Carpenter's Cabin has a small footprint of 934sf but explodes with over 1700sf of interior living space over four floors and another 600sf is available on the three decks. The cabin boasts two owner's bedrooms, two bunk rooms, and one alcove bed in the library to sleep up to eight adults and twelve total persons. Three full baths round out the private spaces. There are two media rooms - The Pit on the main floor and in the lower level walkout.
The cabin was built as the first eco-luxe cabin in the Hocking Hills and includes luxury amenities such as organic bamboo sheets, Turkish cotton /eucalyptus bath towels, and natural body products to name just a few.
Explore our 32 acre pine forest in the Appalachian foothills, or enjoy the hot tub, fire pit, and our three covered decks (including a third story screened deck off one of the two owner’s suites). Check out The Perch four stories up, and the extremely popular conversation pit, known affectionately as The Pit.
The Carpenter's Cabin is just 5 minutes to downtown Laurelville for supplies, or enjoy a meal at a local restaurant.
No smoking, vaping, marijuana, etc inside the cabin or in our 32 acres of forest. No animals. No parties. No firearms use, sparklers, fireworks, etc. No ATVs, dirt bikes, etc.
Camera on property
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from
$472.50
/ night
Under $50
Mountainous camping in Ohio with swimming guide
Overview
With its vast agricultural plains hemmed in by mountains, lakes, and rivers, Ohio’s natural scenery covers all terrains. Beach breaks await along the sandy shores of Lake Erie to the north, while to the east, ancient caves and waterfalls are hidden away in the forested foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. Outdoor activities take place through all four seasons, from hiking and canoeing to snowshoeing and ice fishing, and camping is possible year-round. Summer temperatures average 80°F, and this is prime time for campers, but the views are most spectacular in the fall, when the eastern hills are ablaze with colorful foliage.
Where to go
Great Lakes Plains
Sandy beaches and island getaways dot the 312-mile shore of Lake Erie, stretching from Toledo through Cleveland to Conneaut. East Harbor State Park is a highlight of the Lake Erie Birding Trail, and birders flock to nearby Maumee Bay State Park during the spring warbler migration. The most scenic spots for summer camping are on the islands, and regular ferries set out for the Bass Islands and Kelleys Island state parks.
Till Plains
Cornfields and farmlands blanket Ohio’s central region, but there are also more than a dozen state parks within a short drive of Columbus. The limestone gorges of John Bryan State Park harbor some of the region’s best hiking trails, while to the north, the Mohican River is one of Ohio’s top spots for canoeing. For beaches, boating, and lakeside campgrounds, Indian Lake State Park and Alum Creek State Park are both popular choices.
Appalachian Plateau
East of the Till Plains, the patchwork farmlands of Amish Country lead the way to the state’s only national park, Cuyahoga Valley. This is where Ohio’s adventurous spirit comes into its own—take a ride on the Cuyahoga Valley Railroad, go ziplining or caving in the Hocking Hills State Park, or enjoy backcountry camping in the heart of the Wayne National Forest.
Bluegrass Region
Rambling woodlands and steep cliffs line the banks of the Ohio River in the state’s southernmost region. Just outside Cincinnati, East Fork State Park has one of the largest state campgrounds in Ohio, while the rugged landscapes of the Shawnee State Park are just a 2-hour drive from the city. For hikers, the ultimate challenge is the North Country National Scenic Trail, which cuts through southern Ohio.
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