Memorial Day—the official start of the summer season! Though Hocking Hills is a great place to visit at any time, there is always something special about Memorial Day weekend. The temperature is rising, the days are getting longer, and the spring rains have created a lush, green playground for all kinds of outdoor activities. Memorial Day weekend in Hocking Hills is great for checking out festivals, family camping and cabin trips, and even just catching a little R&R in Ohio’s scenic wonderland before the summer busyness begins. Here are our top recommendations for how to spend Memorial Day in Hocking Hills.
Hocking Hills State Park
Hocking Hills State Park is open from dawn till dusk year-round, but the swimming pool opens on Memorial Day. Pack the family and a picnic and spend the day hiking, swimming, and enjoying nature in this top Hocking Hills tourist attraction.
Festivals
Memorial Day weekend kicks off summer festival season around the country, and Hocking Hills guarantees fun for the whole family with a spectacular array of music, arts, and cultural festivals, as well as flower and garden shows and more. There is even a Moonshine festival every year in New Straitsville, featuring a working still and a lot of history.
Luckily, you don’t have to choose! Rent a Hocking Hills cabin for the weekend and spend all three days soaking up the local culture. For more information on upcoming events, check out our Hocking Hills events guide.
Tours
There are many ways to experience the beauty of Hocking Hills. You can spend the long weekend driving through southeast Ohio’s most picturesque landscape on a self-guided driving tour, paddle your way down Hocking River on a Hocking Hills Livery Tour, or see it all from a plane on a Hocking Hills Scenic Air Tour. If you prefer a more low-key tour, join the Hocking Hills State Park naturalist for a guided tour of Old Man’s Cave. More adventurous souls can take a canopy tour through the treetops on one of the area’s many world-class zipline adventures. Finally, you can learn some Hocking River Valley history while riding on the Hocking Valley Scenic Railway Memorial Day train. The train departs the Nelsonville Depot on Memorial Day every year.
Memorial Day is a great time to get out and enjoy these activities—while some of the spring wildflowers are still in bloom and before the summer crowds arrive.
Family Gatherings
Memorial Day weekend is also when family reunion season shifts into high gear. With summer camp, vacations, and other commitments, it is often one of the only times whole families can get together. This year, why not gather the family in Hocking Hills. Our lodges can hold up to 20 people and have everything you need to make your family reunion a success—some even come with a private swimming pool!
It’s not too early (or too late) to book your Hocking Hills Memorial Day getaway. Be sure to check our Specials page for current discounts and special offers. We look forward to helping you kick off summer!
Photo Credits: “Cedar Falls” by Matt Chen [CC-BY-ND-2.0], via Flickr; “Nelsonville, Ohio” by Tim Kiser [CC-BY-SA-2.5], via Wikimedia Commons
