Hocking Hills Weekend Getaway: A 3-Day Itinerary

A Hocking Hills weekend getaway works best as two nights: arrive Friday afternoon, spend Saturday on the big three in Hocking Hills State Park (Old Man's Cave, Cedar Falls and Ash Cave), and fit Conkle's Hollow or Lake Hope in on Sunday before the drive home. Start each hike early, and book Saturday dinner ahead.

This is the Hocking Hills itinerary we'd hand a friend staying at our cabin, which sits 10 to 22 minutes from each stop in the park.

A Hocking Hills weekend getaway at a glance

Friday: arrive before dark

Check-in at our cabin is after 3 p.m. Try to arrive while it's light: the drive is easy, but the woods get truly dark, and it's nicer to see the place the first time in daylight.

Stop for groceries on the way in. Walmart in Logan covers groceries, and Campbell's Market in McArthur sells firewood, which we don't supply. Then keep the evening simple: pizza from Mama Renie's in McArthur, a fire in the stone fire pit, and the hot tub.

Saturday morning: Old Man's Cave and Cedar Falls

Get to Old Man's Cave early. The state park trails open half an hour before sunrise, and on October weekends the main lots fill by mid-morning. The 1-mile gorge trail passes the Upper, Middle and Lower Falls on stone stairs and bridges.

From there, drive to Cedar Falls, the biggest waterfall in the park by volume, at the bottom of a hemlock-shaded gorge on a 1-mile trail. If you'd rather keep walking, the Grandma Gatewood Trail links the two, but it's a long day on foot.

Our guide to the best Hocking Hills hikes ranks every trail by effort if you want to swap one in.

Saturday afternoon: lunch and Ash Cave

The Rock House Restaurant at the state park lodge serves lunch from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and is open to everyone, not just lodge guests. It's on State Route 664, near Old Man's Cave.

After lunch, finish at Ash Cave, 10 minutes from our cabin. The quarter-mile gorge trail is flat, paved and wheelchair accessible, and the cave itself is nearly 700 feet wide.

Then go back for a rest. A Hocking Hills itinerary that leaves no time for the porch is trying too hard.

Saturday evening: wine, dinner and stars

Hocking Hills Winery outside Logan is open until 10 p.m. on Saturdays. Expect pizza, small plates and live music on the patio. For a sit-down dinner, the Rock House Restaurant serves until 9 p.m., but dinner needs a reservation, so book it when you book the trip.

On a clear night, the John Glenn Astronomy Park runs evening programs at the state park. Or stay home: with no streetlights and no neighbors, our meadow is a fine place to look up.

More options are in our guide to restaurants in Hocking Hills.

Sunday: one more hike, then brunch

Checkout is by 11 a.m., so pack the car after breakfast. On the way out, walk the easy, partly paved gorge trail at Conkle's Hollow, Hocking Hills, a mile round trip between walls nearly 200 feet high. Pets aren't allowed there, so take the dogs to Rock House instead.

Or drive to Lake Hope for Sunday brunch at the dining lodge, which overlooks the lake. It's closed from November 2, 2026, to January 4, 2027, so check before a winter trip.

If it rains or you bring the kids

Rain is a good time to see the waterfalls run, as long as you wear boots with grip. If it's pouring, ride the Hocking Hills train ride from Nelsonville, about 2 hours round trip, or stay in and play pool and ping pong in our game room.

With small kids, swap Cedar Falls for an extra hour at Ash Cave, and save the afternoon for the Lake Hope beach in summer.

Our pick

The best Hocking Hills weekend getaway is the one with a slow Saturday afternoon built in. Hike early, eat well, and spend the hours in between on a porch with nobody else around.

That's why we'd pick one of the secluded cabins in Hocking Hills over a hotel for a weekend. Ours sits on 97 private acres. For the full list of ideas, see our guide to things to do in Hocking Hills.

Hocking Hills weekend getaway FAQs

How many days do you need for a Hocking Hills weekend getaway?

Two nights is enough for a Hocking Hills weekend getaway: one full day covers Old Man's Cave, Cedar Falls and Ash Cave, with Conkle's Hollow or Lake Hope on the second morning. With three nights you can add the train, a winery and a lazy day at the cabin. Our cabin has a 2-night minimum.

What is the best order to see the Hocking Hills caves?

The best order is Old Man's Cave first thing in the morning, Cedar Falls next, and Ash Cave in the afternoon. Old Man's Cave is the most famous hike in the park, so it's worth beating the crowds. Ash Cave's short, paved trail is easy at the end of a long day, and it's the closest of the three to our cabin.

When should you book a weekend in Hocking Hills?

Book a weekend in Hocking Hills as early as you can for October, when the fall color peaks and weekends fill first. At our cabin, holiday weekends need 3 nights. Late August into September is our quietest stretch, so it's the easiest time to find open weekend dates on short notice.

Is Hocking Hills worth it for one night?

Hocking Hills is worth it even for one night, but you'll only see part of it. With one night, arrive by lunch, hike Old Man's Cave and Ash Cave in the afternoon, and walk Conkle's Hollow the next morning. Our cabin has a 2-night minimum, so for a single night, look for a place that allows 1-night stays.