The Best Fire Pits and Campfire Spots in Hocking Hills

Not all fire pits are created equal. Some Hocking Hills cabins offer a bare metal ring in a clearing; others give you a stone-built fire pit with Adirondack chairs, a covered pavilion, and firewood stacked and ready at check-in. If the campfire experience is a priority for your trip, here's what to look for.

What Top Properties Include

The best fire pit setups in the Hocking Hills share a few common features. First, seating. Adirondack chairs, log benches, or built-in stone seating around the pit make the difference between a campfire you enjoy for hours and one where everyone's standing around awkwardly. Check listing photos carefully — if you see a fire ring but no chairs, bring your own camp chairs.

Second, shelter. Covered fire pits or pavilions let you use the fire pit even during light rain — a real advantage in southeast Ohio where spring and fall weather is unpredictable. Some luxury properties have screened-in porch areas with fire features that work rain or shine.

Third, firewood included. Several properties include a starter supply of firewood as part of the booking. Hocking Hills Treehouse Cabins set up the fire pit before arrival and leave extra wood for guests. Others sell bundles on-site through a camp store, which is nearly as convenient.

Cabin Types and Fire Pit Setups

Secluded Private Cabins

These are your best bet for an uninterrupted campfire experience. Properties on 15 or more private acres — like those offered by Buffalo Cabins, Good Earth Cabins, or Campbell's Hollow Cottages — give you a fire pit surrounded by forest with no neighbors in sight. Many include campfire/picnic areas as part of the property, with charcoal grills and picnic tables alongside the fire pit.

Multi-Cabin Resorts

Properties with multiple cabins on shared land (Big Pine Retreat, Bear Run Inn, Campfire Cabins) typically provide fire rings at each individual cabin plus a shared shelter house. The fire pit experience is good but less private — you may see or hear neighboring guests. The advantage is access to shared amenities like fishing ponds, hiking trails, and camp stores with firewood for sale.

Campgrounds

Campgrounds like Hocking Hills State Park, Pine Creek, and the Hocking Hills Family Fun Center in Rockbridge provide fire rings at every site. These are simple steel rings — bring your own grill grate if you want to cook. Firewood is available at camp stores, and most campgrounds explicitly prohibit guests from gathering wood on the property or bringing outside firewood.

What to Ask Before Booking

Not every property lists fire pit details clearly. Here are the questions worth asking before you reserve:

Is there a fire pit or fire ring on the property? Don't assume — some properties have removed fire pits due to liability or local regulations.

Is it a wood-burning fire pit or gas? Gas fire pits are becoming more common at luxury properties. They're convenient but don't give you the wood-smoke campfire experience.

Is firewood included or available for purchase on-site? Knowing this helps you plan whether you need to stop at a vendor on the way in.

Is the fire pit covered or sheltered? Critical for spring and fall trips when rain is likely.

Are there seating and cooking facilities at the fire pit? A fire pit with no chairs is just a hole in the ground with ambitions.