Posts from April 14th, 2021

Spring is in the air in the Cincinnati area, and you know what that means. It's time to get outside and enjoy it! After being cooped up all winter, we're all eager to see some greenery, unplug and get away from screens for a while. 

The Cincy area offers virtually unlimited potential for adventures in the great outdoors, from hiking and biking to fishing and picnicking. These beautiful rustic campgrounds are perfect places to do all of the above, and they're all within a short drive of the city. That makes them perfect for a weekend getaway.

Lake Isabella Campground

10174 Loveland Madeira Rd., Loveland, OH 45140

Just 20 minutes from Cincinnati, Lake Isabella is a great place to experience rustic camping without straying too far from the city. With 24 primitive tent sites, the campground is by a grove of trees not far from the lake. Each site has a picnic table, and each group of four sites shares a communal fire pit. Lake Isabella offers excellent fishing, and the campground is also within walking distance of a canoe and kayak launch on the Little Miami River. 

Stonelick State Park

2895 Lake Dr., Pleasant Plain, OH 45162

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Stonelick State Park sits less than 45 minutes from Cincinnati and offers a 1,058-acre wild getaway on the shores of Stonelick Lake. The park is home to one of the area's best family campgrounds for anyone who wants to get away from it all. Shady and secluded, the campground includes about 100 campsites, with a mix of electric and non-electric sites, including some right on the water. Primitive group sites are available too. Stonelick Lake is known for excellent bass, catfish, and bluegill fishing and also offers a public beach and boating for small craft.

Winton Woods Campground

651 Lakeview Dr., Cincinnati, OH 45231

A beautiful campground within the Cincinnati city limits? Yes, please! Winton Woods Campground is a perfect camping destination for families who don't have the time to travel to a far-flung wilderness. And while this campground may not exactly be "roughing it," they do offer lovely, shaded campsites for tents as well as RVs, with easy access to amenities like electricity, WiFi, and modern restrooms and showers. Its proximity to the city means this campground fills up fast on weekends, so book your site early!

Caesar Creek State Park

8570 OH-73, Waynesville, OH 45068

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One of Southwest Ohio's top destinations for swimming, boating, and water sports, Caesar Creek State Park overlooks the picturesque waters of 2,830-acre Caesar Creek Lake. The park's campground offers nearly 300 sites, including full-hookup RV sites as well as many that are designated tents-only. Each site has a picnic table and campfire ring. Caesar Creek State Park is known for having one of the most beautiful public beaches in the region, but it's also a great place for hiking and bird watching. The park is home to about 25 miles of hiking trails, which explore a diverse habitat rich in plant and animal life. 

Hueston Woods State Park

6301 Park Office Rd., College Corner, OH 45003

Hueston Woods State Park offers more than 300 campsites, including both electric and non-electric sites, and even an equestrian group camp. The campground ranges from shady and secluded to open and spacious, and all campers have access to showers and modern amenities. Hueston Woods State Park offers hiking, fishing, horseback riding, disc golf, and a wide range of other activities. It's especially popular among fossil hunters, and its rich limestone beds yield rich deposits of fossilized marine life. 

East Fork State Park

3294 Elklick Road, Bethel, OH 45106

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Offering one of the largest campgrounds in Southwestern Ohio, East Fork State Park is home to more than 400 campsites for tents as well as RVs. Electric hookups are available (a handful of sites also include water and sewer hookups), and all sites include picnic tables and access to drinking water. This spacious campground offers a mix of shady sites, as well as some that are more open. The park itself spans more than 4,000 acres and includes fishing and boating access to William H. Harsha Lake, as well as more than 50 miles of hiking trails.

Buckeye Trail (Terrell Park Trailhead)

130 Longworth St., Milford, OH 45150

Ohio's premier long-distance backpacking route, the Buckeye Trail is for campers who really want to get away from it all. The trail forms a 1,440-mile loop that circles the entire state, with lean-tos and primitive backcountry campsites all along the way for overnight hikers. One of the best places to start exploring the Buckeye Trail is the small town of Milford, Ohio. Just 25 minutes from Cincinnati, Milford is an official "Trail Town," and the Buckeye Trailhead at Jim Terrell Park is one of many prime entrances to the trail. Hikers can also get a permit to camp in the park overnight. 

Cowan Lake State Park

1750 Osborn Rd., Wilmington, OH 45177

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With a reputation for being one of Ohio's most beautiful state parks, Cowan Lake is a photographer's dream come true and a great place to spend a few days off the grid. The campground offers electric and non-electric sites, as well as primitive tent-only group camping areas. Several miles of trails meander through the woods and along the shore of Cowan Lake. Keep an eye out for waterfowl and inlets filled with blooming American Lotus water lily as you explore the lakeshore, and bring a fishing rod. The lake is known for excellent catches of Largemouth Bass. 

Miami Whitewater Forest

9001 Mt. Hope Rd., Harrison, OH 45030

Just 25 miles northwest of Cincinnati, Miami Whitewater Forest is a 4,670-acre playground for anyone who enjoys spending time in the great outdoors. The forest offers many miles of hiking, biking, and horseback riding trails, along with ample access for fishing and kayaking on 85-acre Miami Whitewater Forest Lake. Campers can choose among 45 campsites, each with a picnic table, fire ring, and electric hookup, and all just footsteps away from the lake. Miami Whitewater Forest also includes an 11-acre dog park where you are welcome to let your dog run off-leash. 

Happy Camper

Where will you unplug and enjoy the great outdoors around Cincinnati?