Most Hocking Hills advice tells you to stay as close to Old Man's Cave as possible. For an event-driven October weekend, that's backward. The pumpkin patch, the farmers market, the downtown Halloween party, and the drive to Nelsonville all run through Logan — and a rental on the town side of the park puts you ten minutes from all of them and twenty from the trails.
The October events, mapped from Logan
| Event | Where | When (2026) | From Logan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Logan Farmers Market | Downtown Logan | Saturdays 8:30 a.m.–noon through Oct 31 | In town |
| Walker Farm pumpkin patch & corn maze | Chieftain Dr, Logan | Daily, mid-Sept through end of October (confirm hours) | ~10 min |
| Hocking Hills Jeep Run | Campbell Cove RV Resort, Lake Logan Rd | Thu–Sat, Oct 1–3 | ~10 min |
| Nelsonville Bigfoot Festival | Nelsonville Public Square | Oct 2–4 | ~15 min via US 33 |
| Hocking Valley Scenic Railway foliage trains | Nelsonville depot | Select October dates | ~15 min |
| Jack O' Lantern Jubilee | Worthington Park, downtown Logan | Late-October Saturday, 6–8 p.m. (date TBA) | In town |
| Circleville Pumpkin Show | Downtown Circleville | Wed–Sat, Oct 21–24 | ~45 min |
Old Man's Cave, for comparison, is about fifteen minutes south of Logan on SR 664. From a cabin deep in the park it's fifteen minutes back to town before any of the above starts. Staying near Logan flips that.
What "near Logan" actually means
Three zones. In and around town — a handful of rentals, some historic houses, walkable to the market and the Jubilee. The Lake Logan side, west and north of town off Lake Logan Road and SR 664 north — lakefront and near-lake properties, which is also Jeep Run headquarters territory. The US 33 corridor toward Rockbridge — larger properties and lodges with quick highway access to Nelsonville one way and Columbus the other. All three are ten to twenty minutes from the park's trailheads, which is close enough for a morning hike and far enough that you're not in the Saturday SR 374 traffic.
Who this is for
- Families doing the pumpkin patch, the market, and the Jubilee in one day. Kids in car seats for fifteen minutes at a time, not forty-five.
- Jeep Run participants who want to be near Campbell Cove for Friday check-in and the Saturday morning start.
- Anyone doing the Bigfoot Festival or the railway — both are in Nelsonville, and Logan is the natural base for a Nelsonville-heavy weekend. Our Nelsonville site covers the town.
- Groups who care about restaurants and breweries more than trailhead proximity. Logan is where the dinner options are.
Who should stay in the park instead
If your weekend is about dawn on the trails — Old Man's Cave at 8 a.m., Ash Cave in the fog — stay close to them. Cabins near Old Man's Cave and cabins near Ash Cave and Cedar Falls are the right call for that trip, and the drive into town for the market is a fine mid-morning errand. Both approaches work; the mistake is booking deep in the park for an events weekend and then spending the weekend driving.
What to look for in the rental
Same October checklist as anywhere — a real fire pit, a fireplace for the cold nights, enough bedrooms — plus two Logan-specific items: easy trailer or Jeep parking if you're doing the run, and a location that lets you get onto US 33 without crossing the SR 664/374 traffic on a peak Saturday. The Columbus drive guide explains the traffic patterns. And order firewood delivered regardless of which side of the park you land on.
Stay on the town side
Ten minutes to the market, the patch, and the Jubilee. Search rentals around Logan and Lake Logan.
Search live availability & pricing →Frequently Asked Questions
Is it better to stay in Logan or near Old Man's Cave in October?
For an events weekend (pumpkin patch, farmers market, Jack O' Lantern Jubilee, Nelsonville festivals, the Jeep Run), near Logan — you're ten minutes from all of it and twenty from the trails. For a trail-first weekend, stay near the park and drive into town as needed.
What October events happen in Logan, Ohio?
The Logan Farmers Market (Saturdays through October 31), Walker Farm's pumpkin patch and corn maze, the Jack O' Lantern Jubilee downtown on a late-October Saturday evening, and the Hocking Hills Jeep Run at Campbell Cove on Lake Logan Road, October 1–3. Nelsonville, fifteen minutes away, adds the Bigfoot Festival October 2–4 and the scenic railway's foliage trains.
How far is Old Man's Cave from Logan?
About fifteen minutes south on SR 664. Ash Cave is roughly twenty-five minutes from downtown Logan; Nelsonville is about fifteen minutes east on US 33.