Waterfall camping in Ohio

Ohio’s lake beaches, forested hills, and winding rivers set the stage for outdoor adventure.

97% (804 reviews)
97% (804 reviews)

Popular camping styles for Ohio

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Dog-friendly getaways

8 top waterfall campgrounds in Ohio

99%
(1014)

Fruitdale Farm

9 sites · Lodging, Tents20 acres · Bainbridge, OH
Come stay at our little sustainable farmstead amid the beautiful rolling hills of southern Ohio! Our peaceful 20 acres has a good mix of woods, wild meadows and maintained cleared areas as well as a small pond, all of which can be explored via our nature trail. Enjoy the sounds of nature and an incredible night sky. Farm fresh eggs and fresh produce are available for purchase during the growing season and firewood is available all year round. There is also a wonderful sauna on the property that can be reserved. Great hiking, kayaking, biking, birding, fishing, swimming, and disc-golfing opportunities just a few miles away at Paint Creek State Park and the Highland Nature Sanctuary. Amish country is also just 15 minutes away with a great bakery, markets and greenhouses. This area is home to an impressive network of ancient earthworks including the world famous Serpent Mound. Our accommodations range from primitive tent-camping to "glamping" in one of our tiny off-grid cabins. The sites are spaced out for privacy and each site offers a private picnic table and fire pit. There are two shared privies/outhouses which have basic composting toilets. A grassy parking area is provided near the road, however, ALL SITES ARE WALK-IN ONLY. POINTS OF INTEREST in the area:   The HIGHLANDS NATURE SANCTUARY (7 miles away), previously called "7 Caves"  is highly recommended for some beautiful hiking.  There is a small museum (The Appalachian Forest Museum) at the main trailhead by the parking area... the folks there can direct you to a couple of other great trails nearby if you're interested in further hiking.  NOTE: Most of the trails within the sanctuary are not open to dogs, however, there are a couple of dog-friendly trails (inquire at the museum).   Museum is closed for the winter (Nov-March). **Recommended trails: Valley of the Ancients (1/2mile, start at museum) and the Barrett's Rim Trail (2.5 mile loop) and the Kamelands Trail, which are both accessible during the pandemic.   AMISH BAKERY (Country Crust Bakery) & MARKET (JRs General Store)* on 41 South in Bainbridge (15-20min away): The bakery is a great lunch stop for a fresh, soft Pretzel Bun sandwich (delicious) and to load up on fresh baked goods (the apple fritter is my fave!). The market, which is almost right across from the bakery, is also worth checking out... delicious deli sandwiches and great deals on spices, cheeses, pickles, jams, bulk foods, produce, etc. Watch out for horse & buggy traffic... and bicycles! *The Amish accept cash or check only and are closed on Sunday. In the teeny town of BAINBRIDGE (10-15min away): There are some nice antique/primitive shops around; in particular, Ancient Valley Mercantile has a nice selection of antiques as well as local art, gifts, gourmet coffees, local honey, etc. There's a wonderful little cafe (634 Coffee + Cafe, inside the historic Paxton Theater) that offers coffee drinks, pastries, soups and sandwiches. Stop into Pap's Hilltop Honey and Distillery, where you can purchase and sample a variety of moonshine flavors and cocktails. The Paxton Restaurant has good home cooked meals and a variety of pies and cheesecakes for dessert. Or grab an ice cream at the Dairy Queen before strolling the primitive shops.  PAINT CREEK LAKE STATE PARK: (2 miles away) There are dog-friendly hiking trails (the harmony trail and little pond trail are personal favorites), mountain bike trails, a 21-hole disc golf course, boat ramp (if you have kayaks, you can paddle around on the lake... this spot is excellent at sunset), and a camp store that has ice and hand-dipped ice cream. There is also a BEACH, which is good for picnicking and swimming, located at the southern entrance, off of SR 50. GREENFIELD: This town is closer (5 miles) and larger than Bainbridge and good for getting supplies. There are some restaurants, bars and supermarkets (Community Markets, at the further end of town, is recommended over the Save-a-Lot), El Canon (Mexican) would be my restaurant of choice if you decide to eat out.  Catch 22 Sports Bar has good burgers and there are plenty of pizza options for dine in or take-out. COVERED BRIDGE:  There is a sweet little covered bridge that you can still drive across in the tiny town of South Salem, just a 5 minute drive away.  To get there from here, take 41 North and then take a right onto Lower Twin Rd and drive a few miles and you will come to the bridge.  SERPENT MOUND (about 30 miles away, Peebles, OH) is an internationally known National Historic Landmark built by the ancient American Indian cultures of Ohio. It is an effigy mound representing a snake with a curled tail.  Nearby are three burial mounds—two created by the Adena culture (800 B.C.–A.D. 100), and one by the Fort Ancient culture (A.D. 1000–1650).  A must see! CHILLICOTHE (Ohio's first capital):  (30 minutes away) The historic downtown boasts charming architecture and is perfect for exploring on foot.  Several local shops, restaurants, coffee shops, breweries and bars.  A lovely city park with a small lake is host to a year-round population of ducks, geese and swans.  There is also a disc golf course and skate park in the city park.  There is frequent live music, gourmet cocktails and a wide variety of craft beer at Steiner's Speakeasy (an Americana-style bourbon bar of America).   GREAT SEAL STATE PARK (about 35 miles away in Chillicothe):  If you are into mountain biking, you will find some of the best trails in the state here (start at the Lick Run parking area).  There is also a great disc golf course here along with a picnic shelter and a playground for the kids.   FORT HILL EARTHWORKS & NATURE PRESERVE:  (30 minutes away) This preserve encompasses 1300 acres of mature woodlands and 11 miles of some of the best hiking trails in the state.  Part of the Old Growth Forest Network, there are remnants of the temperate deciduous forests that once covered all of the eastern United States.  For archaeology enthusiasts, there is a stone and earthen wall hilltop enclosure, as well as a smaller circular earthwork (both of which can be difficult to discern).
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$25
 / night
94%
(198)

Towpath Trail Peace Park

5 sites · Tents2 acres · Bolivar, OH
Primitive tent camping on the Greenville Peace Treaty Line, Buckeye Trail, Ohio-Erie Canal Towpath Trail, Scenic Byway, Tuscarawas River Water Trail, and the Great American Rail Trail! Located on the historic Ohio-Erie Canal between the village of Bolivar Ballparks and the McDonnell trailheads on the towpath trail ten miles south of Canton, Ohio, and 1.5 miles west of I-77 exit 93 on Scenic Byway Rt 212 in beautiful Tuscarawas County, Ohio. The Peace Park is designed for bikers, hikers, dog walkers, and anyone traveling through to book a campsite even if anyone isn't available to meet and greet. Campers, once booked may go to an available campsite and set up camp. Dog-friendly, handicapped-accessible Porta-Jon with hand sanitizer shared electricity for charging phones, pristine aquifer water, picnic tables, fire-pits, fireside benches, birds, butterflies, lightning bugs, wild turkey, deer, and other wildlife are often seen. Please note: We're located on a section of the Ohio-Erie Canal Scenic Byway, the Wheeling and Lake Erie Railroad, and a 90-degree corner with a slight slope that causes trucks to downshift brake, we recommend bringing earplugs if you're a light sleeper!
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$18.75
 / night
100%
(10)

Near/Far Cabin and Campground

2 sites · Lodging, Tents15 acres · Stewart, OH
Immerse yourself in nature alongside a working farm! Our 15 acre property has many features. Enjoy hiking trails, a small 3 season creek, rock walls and large boulders, trickling waterfalls and caves if you're feeling adventurous. (The cave is currently an off trail experience, is only accessible at certain times of the year and requires steep hiking and some climbing large rocks.) An abundance of wildflowers and native flowering trees grow amongst the beautiful rolling hills of forest. In spring the wildflowers paint the landscape, in the summer the fireflies compete with the stars in a sparkling symphony and in the Fall colors fill the trees. You will experience true darkness, bright stars and the simplicity of being out in the country. We are a small homestead raising much of our own food. It's likely you will be greeted by dogs, cats, chickens, sheep, pigs and a cow. The property is adjacent to hunting club land, which means hundreds of acres of undeveloped, wooded and wild. Wildlife is abundant, including coyote, fox, bobcat, turkey, raccoon, hawk, owl, (reportedly) bear and lots of deer. Most are nocturnal, so you may hear them rather than see them, but they are near. Our livestock guardian dog keeps the pasture occupants safe, but that means nighttime barking. We provide noise machines in the cabin for white noise and you are welcome to bring a small fan. We live in a rural neighborhood, so there will be occasional sounds from other dwellings, there is a dog rescue across the street and although infrequent, you might hear ATV's and gun shots from down the road. There are copperheads snakes in the area as well as black widow and brown recluse spiders. You will not likely see them but it is wise to wear boots and stay on the trails. The cabin and campground currently share a composting toilet/outhouse with a space for hanging a shower bag (you must bring your own shower bag). There are 5 gallon jugs of water for filling shower bag, hand washing station and dish washing. There is a Berkey water filter in the cabin, but campers will need to bring their own drinking water. Please be aware that you may have minimal cell service during your stay and there is no wifi. The best place to get a good cell signal is the parking lot. The town of Amesville is filled with personality and is just 7 miles away. With a convenience store, park and a wonderful restaurant, Parks Place, which serves American fare cooked with a chefs flare and local ingredients. There is also a community studio that offers yoga and other fitness classes. Amesville hosts Coonskin Saturdays from May to October with music, food, classes and more on the Third Saturday of each month. The city of Athens is 20 miles away, with many restaurants and shops, ample grocery stores, movie theaters etc, as well as the beautiful campus of Ohio University. Strouds Run State Park and several Nature Preserves are within 15 miles of us, Baileys Bike Trail System is 20 miles away, Burr Oak is 25 miles away, and Hocking Hills State Park is 50 miles away. It is a spectacular area with so much to offer in the way of hiking and other nature related activities.
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$30
 / night
100%
(1)

Timber Ridge

1 site · Lodging350 acres · Lancaster, OH
Located in the beautiful Hocking Hills in southern Fairfield County, Ohio, it is a quick and convenient drive that feels a million miles away - providing the serenity and connection with God's creation that only being emerged in nature can provide.Learn more about this land: A very secluded section of the camp, home to four large screened bunk houses, perfect for mattress pads, cots, or even tents. This area is perfect for groups looking to get outside and have an amazing camping experience together . Includes a covered picnic area with attached kitchen. Stove, refrigerator, long counter spaces and kitchen sink makes for the fully capable space for meal prep. The area also has a large fire pit, great for bonfires. Timber Ridge also has a block bath house with 4 pit latrine toilets and four showers, split into two separate bathrooms, perfect for groups with both male and female campers. Nightly rate is $250 for up to 20 persons, over 20 persons, rate is $350. Contact office for booking information.
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$225
 / night
Booked 1 time

Hawk Falls - Main Site

1 site · RV, Tent42 acres · Ray, OH
Experience Nature at Its Finest in Vinton County! Enjoy the quiet beauty and trails of this secluded site in Vinton County! Less than 30 minutes from the stunning Old Man's Cave, this site offers a perfect escape into nature. Nestled in the heart of nature, our site features: Hiking Trails: Explore the lush surroundings with our well-marked trails, perfect for both casual strolls and avid hikers. RV Electricity: Convenient hookups are available for RVs, ensuring a comfortable stay. Patio: Relax on the spacious patio, perfect for dining, unwinding, and enjoying the serene views. Mini Cabin Access: Experience cozy and rustic comfort with access to our mini cabin, equipped with essentials for a pleasant stay. Fire Pit: Gather around the fire pit for memorable evenings under the stars. This site is directly next to our other listing at Hawk Falls, offering even more trails and scenic spots to explore. Whether you're looking to unwind, hike, or simply enjoy the peace and quiet, this site provides the perfect backdrop for your adventure. Book now to secure your spot and immerse yourself in the natural beauty of Vinton County!
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$89.10
 / night

Under $50

Star Hosts in Ohio

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Happy farmer sitting in a truck in a grassy field
Happy farmer sitting in a truck in a grassy field

Waterfall camping in Ohio guide

Overview

Looking to camp near waterfalls in Ohio? Look no further than Fruitdale Farm! With over 280 options in Ohio that offer the perfect waterfall experience, you'll have plenty to choose from. Whether you prefer a rustic tent site or a cozy cabin, there's something for everyone. And with prices starting as low as $20 per night, you won't have to break the bank to enjoy the great outdoors. Plus, you can trust the reviews - top campsites like Fruitdale Farm (352 reviews), Towpath Trail Peace Park (107 reviews), and Geneva Hills (81 reviews) have been highly rated by fellow campers. And don't worry about roughing it - popular amenities like campfires, toilets, and showers are available at many locations. And if you're looking for adventure, popular activities like wildlife watching, climbing, and whitewater paddling are just a stone's throw away. So pack your bags and get ready to experience the beauty of Ohio's waterfalls!

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