The leaves, they are a-changin’. The Tri-State region is one of the prettiest in the country for gazing at fall’s gorgeous colors, and the experience is even better when you’re camping right among the trees themselves. Luckily, there are plenty of beautiful camping destinations within four hours of Cincinnati, where waterfalls, hiking trails, beaches and mountain views reign supreme. Pack up the tent and grab the s’more supplies because it’s time for a road trip.

Hocking Hills State Park 19852 State Route 664 S., Logan, Ohio Distance: About 2 hours 30 minutes This park includes stunning cliffs, waterfalls and hemlock-shaded gorges. There are many biking and hiking trails for exploring the park’s natural beauty, as well as a 17-acre lake where you can boat and fish. Photo: Katherine Barrier
O’Bannon Woods State Park 7234 Old Forest Road, Corydon, Indiana Distance: About 2 hours This 3,000-acre park offers fishing, boating, hiking, horse trails and biking. It also includes more unusual attractions like an operational blacksmith forge, a pioneer farmstead and a historic three-story haypress barn. Photo: Facebook.com/obannonwoodsstatepark
Mohican State Park 3116 State Route 3, Loudonville, Ohio Distance: About 3 and a half hours This 1,110-acre park borders a 4,525-acre state forest where visitors can wander through a hemlock grove to enjoy the beautiful views offered by Clear Fork Gorge. There are 14 miles of hiking and 25 miles of biking trails, as well as fishing and boating on the Clear Fork River, Wolf Creek and Pleasant Hill Lake. The area is known as the Canoe Capital of Ohio. Photo: Facebook.com/MohicanStatePark
Clifty Falls State Park 2221 Clifty Drive, Madison, Indiana Distance: About 1 hour 30 minutes The park’s namesake waterfalls are a great reason to come back again and again, as their appearance changes with the seasons. Clifty Canyon offers great scenery and hiking, and the Clifty Creek bed is full of fossils of ancient sea creatures. Visitors can also check out the nearby Lanier State Historic Site, the former mansion of James F.D. Lanier, a frontier banker. Photo: Facebook.com/CliftyFallsSP
A.W. Marion State Park 7317 Warner-Huffer Rd, Circleville, Ohio Distance: About 2 hours This serene park includes the 145-acre Hargus Lake, with boats available for rental seasonally and several designated swimming areas for boaters and one for dogs. The lake is also stocked with a variety of fish. Photo: Facebook.com/A.W. Marion State Park
Big Bone Lick State Park 3380 Beaver Road, Union, Kentucky Distance: About 30 minutes This historic park is named after the gigantic Ice Age mammal bones discovered there and includes a museum that displays those bones, along with Ordovician fossils, Native American artifacts and more. The park is also home to a herd of bison, a reminder of a time centuries ago when wild bison roamed the state. Other activities include hiking, orienteering and mini golf, which is open until Nov. 15. Photo: Facebook.com/BigBoneLickSHS
Shawnee State Park 4404 State Route 125, Portsmouth, Ohio Distance: About 2 hours This park is just a small part of the 63,000-acre Shawnee State Forest, located in the Appalachian foothills near the Ohio River. Roosevelt and Turkey Creek lakes offer boating and swimming and are stocked for fishing. There’s also a nature center, a variety of hiking and bridle trails, an archery range, mini golf and geocaching. Photo: Facebook.com/ShawneeStatePark
John Bryan State Park 3790 State Route 370, Yellow Springs, Ohio Distance: About 1 hour 30 minutes This park features a limestone gorge created by the Little Miami River, a portion of which is a national natural landmark. It also includes boating, fishing, rock climbing, rappelling, disc golf and hiking and biking trails. Photo: Facebook.com/Friends of John Bryan State Park
Brown County State Park 1810 State Road 46 East, Nashville, Indiana Distance: About 2 hours Explore 70 miles of bridle trails on your own horse or during a guided trail ride with a steed from the park’s Saddle Barn. For those who prefer wandering on their own two feet, there are also 18 miles of hiking trails, a swimming pool and lakes for fishing. If you’re lucky, you may also catch a glimpse of one of the wild turkeys that call the park home. Photo: Facebook.com/BrownCountyStatePark
Red River Gorge Robbie Ridge Road, Stanton, Ky. Distance: 2 hours and 15 minutes In east-central Kentucky, you’ll find the Red River Gorge, where the land is rich with sandstone cliffs, waterfalls, natural bridges and trails that draw in hundreds of hikers and campers every year. The large amount of sandstone has made “the Red” one of the most popular rock climbing destinations in the world. You also can’t forget to stop by Miguel’s Pizza on Natural Bridge Road while you’re there — a Red River Gorge tradition. Photo: Facebook.com/OfficialRedRiverGorge
Mammoth Cave National Park 1 Mammoth Cave Parkway, Mammoth Cave, Kentucky Distance: About 3 hours This national park highlights the world’s longest known cave system, over 400 miles long. The huge chambers and intricate underground labyrinths led early guide Stephen Bishop to describe it as “a grand, gloomy and peculiar place.” In addition to the cave tours, there are also trails and rivers for fishing and boating. Photo: Facebook.com/MammothCaveNPS
Mary Jane Thurston State Park 1466 State Route 65, McClure, Ohio Distance: About 3 hours This park borders the Maumee River, which includes an old canal that history buffs can explore. It also offers some of the best stream fishing in the state, as well as good waters for boating. Those looking to stay or host events during the day can rent a circa-1936 lodge. Photo: Facebook.com/MaryJaneThurstonStatePark
McCormick’s Creek State Park 250 McCormick Creek Park Road, Spencer, Indiana Distance: About 3 hours This park features over 10 miles of hiking trails, which wander past unique sites like Wolf Cave, Twin Bridges and the Falls on McCormick’s Creek. Visitors can also fish on the nearby White River, check out an exhibit at the Nature Center, swim at an Olympic-size pool or play around at the recreation center. Note, McCormick’s Creek State Park was damaged by a tornado this past March and is open for limited use. Some trails have reopened while others remain closed. Public programming has resumed, but the campground has been closed indefinitely, however. Photo: Facebook.com/mccormickscreeksp
Tar Hollow State Park 16396 Tar Hollow Road, Laurelville, Ohio Distance: About 2 hours This 604-acre park includes deep ravines and dense woodlands, home to pitch pines that were once a source of tar for early pioneers. Visitors can enjoy fishing, boating, swimming from a beach, several hiking trails and more. Photo: Facebook.com/TarHollowStatePark
West Branch State Park 5570 Esworthy Road, Ravenna, Ohio Distance: About 4 hours You can fish, boat and swim in this park’s 2,650-acre lake or camp, hike and ride horses through its meadows and woodlands. It also contains bogs and a beech-maple forest perfect for exploring. Photo: Facebook.com/WestBranchStatePark
East Fork State Park 3294 Elklick Road, Bethel One of Ohio’s largest state parks, East Fork in Clermont County is home to a beach on East Fork Lake. Additional camping amenities and trails for hiking, horseback riding and mountain biking, as well as access to fishing and boating, making East Fork a must-see weekend getaway this summer. Photo: Hailey Bollinger Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Lake Isabella Park 10174 Loveland Madeira Road, Loveland Distance: About 30 minutes The 28-acre Lake Isabella is stocked annually with thousands of fish, including farm-raised rainbow trout in March and October and channel catfish in the summer. Boat rentals are available for fishing and cruising. The park also offers access to the Little Miami River and includes a canoe/kayak launch. Photo: Google Maps
Salt Fork State Park 14755 Cadiz Road, Lore City, Ohio Distance: About 3 hours With 17,229 acres of recreational land, this magnificent state park is Ohio’s largest. The diverse landscape includes forested hills, open meadows, winding streams and misty valleys. Boating, fishing, swimming and trails are available, as well as an archery range, dog park and golf course. Visitors can also check out the historic Kennedy Stone House, built in 1837 using stones from a nearby quarry. Photo: Facebook.com/saltforkstatepark
Hueston Woods State Park 6301 Park Office Rd, College Corner, Ohio Distance: About 1 hour This park surrounds Acton Lake, where visitors can fish and canoe. Its almost-3,000 acres of recreational land also include hiking and fossil-hunting sites. Other amenities include an archery range, dog park, disc golf course and other sports facilities. Photo: Facebook.com/HuestonWoodsStatePark
Paint Creek State Park 280 Taylor Road, Bainbridge, Ohio Distance: About 1 hour and 45 minutes This park, nestled in the breathtakingly beautiful Paint Creek Valley, features a 1,148-acre lake perfect for fishing, boating and swimming. Visitors can enjoy wildflower-lined hiking, biking and bridle trails, as well as rock climbing, mini golf and disc golf. Photo: Facebook.com/PaintCreekStatePark