Ohio Outdoor Guide: Campgrounds, Trails, Beaches & RV Spots
Key Takeaways
- Hocking Hills is Ohio’s signature outdoor destination — genuine sandstone gorges, caves, and waterfalls that consistently surprise people who don’t expect this from Ohio
- Ash Cave Trail is the one hike in Hocking Hills that’s fully paved and wheelchair/stroller-accessible — the easiest way to see the park’s best feature with the whole family
- Lake Erie’s islands (Kelleys Island, Put-in-Bay) require a ferry, which keeps them genuinely less crowded than the mainland beaches
- Check for algae bloom advisories before a Lake Erie swim day in late summer — it’s a real, recurring issue, and Ohio’s inland reservoir beaches are a reliable backup
Gorges in the South, Lake Erie in the North
Ohio’s outdoor identity runs through two very different landscapes — Hocking Hills’ sandstone canyon country in the south, and Lake Erie’s islands and beaches in the north. Both are genuinely worth a trip.
Campgrounds
Hocking Hills State Park Campground — Logan
Over 150 electric sites with paved pads, heated showers, a pool for registered campers, and unmatched access to the park’s trail system. This is the campground to book if gorge hiking is the priority — reserve well ahead for weekends.
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Mohican State Park — Loudonville
Camping along the Clear Fork of the Mohican River, with both full-hookup and electric sites, a seasonal pool with a splash pad, and river tubing right there. Sells out every summer weekend — book about 6 months ahead.
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East Harbor State Park — Lakeside-Marblehead
The largest campground in the entire Ohio state park system, a short walk from a 1,500-foot Lake Erie beach. Big-rig friendly with plenty of pull-throughs.
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Kelleys Island State Park — Kelleys Island (ferry access)
Lake Erie island camping near a sandy public beach and the island’s famous glacial grooves. The ferry crossing keeps this genuinely quieter than mainland options.
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John Bryan State Park — Yellow Springs
A wooded gorge campground near the Little Miami River — a good, quieter alternative if Hocking Hills is fully booked.
Learn moreHiking Trails
Old Man’s Cave Gorge Trail — Hocking Hills
The park’s signature hike, past Upper Falls, Devil’s Bathtub, Lower Falls, and the recessed cave itself. Stairs and bridges throughout — some sections get slippery, and swimming in the creeks and falls is prohibited.
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Ash Cave Trail — Hocking Hills
A short, paved, fully accessible walk to Ohio’s largest recessed cave and a delicate waterfall. The best easy hike in the entire park — genuinely doable with strollers or wheelchairs.
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Cedar Falls Trail — Hocking Hills
Shorter than Old Man’s Cave but with real stairs to a powerful waterfall. Less crowded than the park’s more famous trails.
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Rock House — Hocking Hills
The only true cave corridor in the park — a family favorite specifically because it’s unlike anything else on the trail list.
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Brandywine Falls — Cuyahoga Valley National Park
A 65-foot waterfall, the tallest in the park, reachable via a short accessible boardwalk or a longer moderate gorge loop if you want more of a hike.
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The Ledges (Ritchie Ledges) — Cuyahoga Valley National Park
A moderate 2.2-mile loop past towering sandstone cliffs and an ice cave. Rocky footing — not stroller-friendly, but a genuinely dramatic short hike.
Learn moreBeaches / Lakes & Swimming Areas
Cedar Point Beach — Sandusky
About a mile of sand beside the famous amusement park — clean, with lake views and rental options. Beach access is included with park admission.
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Kelleys Island State Park Beach
A gradual, kid-friendly sandy beach reached by ferry — genuinely quieter than the mainland options, with beach glass and kayak rentals as a bonus.
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East Harbor State Park Beach — Marblehead
A 1,500-foot family beach with calm water, close to the Put-in-Bay and Kelleys Island ferries if you want to island-hop.
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Headlands Beach State Park — Mentor
Ohio’s longest natural sand beach, at about a mile — good for a classic beach day without the ferry commitment.
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Alum Creek State Park Beach — Lewis Center
The largest inland beach in the Ohio state park system — a reliable backup if a Lake Erie algae bloom advisory is in effect. No lifeguard, so keep a closer eye on younger kids.
Learn moreRV Spots
East Harbor State Park — Lakeside-Marblehead
The largest campground in the state, with plenty of pull-throughs and a walk to the Lake Erie beach. The top RV pick if you want lake access.
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Mohican State Park — Loudonville
Both full-hookup and electric sites, with a dump station and camp store — the best full-hookup state-park option in Ohio. Book 6 months out.
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Hocking Hills State Park Campground — Logan
Electric sites with paved pads up to 50 feet — the top RV pick for gorge country, though it’s worth checking current renovation status before booking.
Learn morePlanning Your Trip
If gorge hiking is the priority, base at Hocking Hills and use Ash Cave as your family-friendly anchor before working up to Old Man’s Cave. If a Lake Erie trip is the goal, East Harbor gives you the best combination of camping and beach access, with Kelleys Island as a genuinely worthwhile ferry day trip if you want quieter water. Keep Alum Creek in your back pocket as a reliable swim day if Lake Erie posts an algae advisory.