Friendsgiving in a cabin beats Friendsgiving in someone's apartment on every axis: nobody drives home, the kitchen is bigger than you'd expect, and the post-feast tradition is a bonfire under stars instead of a couch and leftovers. Here's how to plan one that works.
Pick the right lodge
Count heads, then add two — someone always brings someone. Hocking Hills' large-group lodges sleep 10–30 and come with full kitchens, dining tables, and enough bathrooms for morning logistics. For Friendsgiving, prioritize: kitchen size (multiple cooks need counter space), dining capacity (a 20-person table beats six people eating on the couch), and a game room or rec space for the post-meal hours.
Kitchen logistics
- Assign dishes before the trip. One person handles the turkey or main; everyone else brings a side or dessert. The cabin kitchen handles cooking; it doesn't handle grocery shopping for 15.
- Shop in Logan on the way in. The Kroger on SR 33 has everything you need. Arrive early enough to unpack and prep.
- Confirm the oven situation. Most cabin kitchens have a standard oven. If you're cooking a 25-pound turkey for 20, verify it fits. Some lodges have double ovens — the golden ticket.
- Bring: trash bags, aluminum foil, large serving utensils, and a good knife. Cabins stock basics but not everything. A carving knife is the perennial gap.
The Friendsgiving weekend itinerary
Friday evening: arrive, unpack, fire up the bonfire with delivered firewood, and open the first bottle of wine. This is the decompression night.
Saturday morning: split the group — hikers hit Conkle's Hollow Rim Trail for late-October color while the cooks prep. Late November puts you in post-peak terrain: bare canopy, frost on the trails, and Rock House without another soul.
Saturday afternoon: the meal. Time it for mid-afternoon so the cooking is relaxed and the eating is leisurely.
Saturday evening: bonfire. Leftover pie. The kind of conversation that only happens when nobody has anywhere to be.
Sunday: recovery hike (Ash Cave's easy paved trail), leftovers for breakfast, and a slow checkout.
Find a Friendsgiving lodge
Group lodges with full kitchens and dining for 10–30 — search live availability.
Search live availability & pricing →Frequently Asked Questions
How many people can a Hocking Hills lodge host for Friendsgiving?
Large group lodges sleep 10 to 30 with full kitchens and dining tables. Pool House Lodge handles 20, Woodland Retreats' Hocking Manor handles 27, and Crockett's Run sleeps up to 60 across multiple cabins. Count real beds, not 'sleeps' numbers.
When should I book a Friendsgiving cabin?
Six to eight weeks ahead for a group lodge over the pre-Thanksgiving weekend. Thanksgiving week itself books very early — some families hold year-to-year reservations. The weekend before Thanksgiving is easier and avoids family-plan conflicts.
What should I bring to cook Friendsgiving at a cabin?
The cabin kitchen covers basics (pots, pans, dishes, oven, stovetop). Bring: a good carving knife, large serving utensils, aluminum foil, extra trash bags, and any specialty cookware. Shop at the Logan Kroger on the way in.