Campgrounds and RV parks near New Lexington, OH

Burr Oak State Park is the main draw for water and trail activity. Primitive sites are available at Dock #2 and Dock #3, located along the shoreline of the 664-acre Burr Oak Lake. At Burr Oak Lake, anglers catch largemouth bass, channel catfish, bluegill and crappie. A swimming beach, boat rentals, and seasonal docks round out the lake activities. Hikers have miles of options. The campground offers access to 10 miles of hiking trails and an 18-mile backpack trail, as well as fishing, boating, and swimming opportunities on the lake. An 18-hole disc golf course and a kid-friendly Storybook Trail tell a children's story along the trail with overhead views of the lake, and a small trailside library lets visitors take a book and leave a book. Families staying at Hocking Hills River RV Park are within a short drive of Old Man's Cave, Cedar Falls, Ash Cave, and Conkle's Hollow. ATV riders use Perry Backwoods Campgrounds and Begleys ATV Campground as trail-access bases.

Camping season in this part of Ohio runs strongest from late spring through mid-fall. Spring brings the wettest months and swollen creeks, with May typically the rainiest month for the region, so expect muddy sites and soft ground at the primitive dock-side sites at Burr Oak. Bug pressure ramps up by late May. Summer is peak season. Weekends at Burr Oak, Hocking Hills River RV Park, and the ATV-focused private campgrounds book out weeks ahead, especially around Memorial Day, July 4, and Labor Day. Daytime highs sit in the low 80s, humidity is high, and afternoon thunderstorms are common. Fall delivers the region's best conditions: cooler nights, lower humidity, and vivid color through the oak-hickory forest in mid to late October. In autumn, the forest displays spectacular fall colors as leaves turn to deep reds, brilliant yellows and burnt oranges. Winter camping is possible at Burr Oak, since the campground is currently open for reservations year-round through the Ohio State Parks reservation system, but many private parks close or reduce services; Hocking Hills River RV Park, for example, is open from March through December.

Sites at Burr Oak's main campground are non-electric, so RV renters relying on air conditioning should plan for generator hours or choose a private park with hookups. Cell coverage is spotty in the hollows around Burr Oak Lake and along the Hocking River; download maps and reservation confirmations before arrival. Hocking Hills River RV Park sits directly on the river, and its riverfront pull-through campsites feature 30-amp electrical hookups, water hookups, and convenient access to a dump station. Access roads to several parks in the area are narrow with tight turns and steep grades, which matters for larger Class A rigs and fifth wheels. Expect mixed hardwood shade, occasional train noise near the Hocking River sites, and active raccoon and deer populations. Pack layers even in summer; nights in the hollows cool quickly after sundown.