See the Leaves Changes at These 20 Camping Destinations Within Driving Distance of Cincinnati

By CityBeat Staff on Tue, Sep 28, 2021 at 5:28 pm

See the leaves and seasons change on an easy weekend camping trip near the Queen City. These camping destinations are perfect places to unwind and spend some time with Mother Nature — all less than four hours from the city. Some boast waterfalls and hiking trails, others feature beaches and mountain views; whichever one you choose, you're sure to enjoy. So pack up the tent and grab the s'more supplies, it's time for a road trip.

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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: VisitIndiana.com

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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: Catie Viox

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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

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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

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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

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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, disc golf and hiking and biking trails.
Photo: Friends of John Bryan State Park Facebook page

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Lake Isabella Park

10174 Loveland Madeira Road, Loveland
Distance: About 30 minutes
The 28-acre Lake Isabella is stocked weekly with catfish and other varieties of fish. Boat rentals are also available for fishing and cruising. The park also offers access to the Little Miami River and includes a canoe/kayak launch.
Photo: greatparks.org/parks/lake-isabella

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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 25 miles of hiking and 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

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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/OhioFindItHere

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East Fork State Park

3492 Elklick Road, Bethel, Ohio
Distance: About 45 minutes
The 2,160-acre William H. Harsha Lake offers unlimited horsepower boating, fishing and swimming. There are almost 100 miles of trails for hiking and biking.
Photo: discoverclermont.com

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O’Bannon Woods State Park

7234 Old Forest Road, Corydon, Indiana
Distance: About 2 hours
This 3,000 acre park offers fishing, swimming, 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.
Photo: Ohioriverparksproject.com

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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 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

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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 the bones, 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.
Photo: Facebook.com/BigBoneLickSHS

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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

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Hueston Woods State Park

College Corner, Ohio
Distance: About 1 hour
This park surrounds Acton Lake, where visitors can fish and canoe. Its almost 3,000 acres of recreation 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

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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.
Photo: Facebook.com/mccormickscreeksp

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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

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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

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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, horseshoe pits and geocaching.
Photo: Facebook.com/ShawneeStatePark

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A.W. Marion State Park

Circleville, Ohio
Distance: About 2 hours
This serene park includes the 145-acre Hargus Lake, with boats available for rental and several swimming areas (including one for dogs). The lake is also stocked with a variety of fish.
Photo: A.W. Marion State Park Facebook page

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