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Best Tent Camping near Covington, KY

525 Reviews

Tent camping options near Covington, Kentucky are limited, with several listed locations not offering actual camping facilities. Bullock Pen Lake Ramp and Boltz Lake Ramp are boat launches only without camping amenities, as confirmed by multiple visitor reviews. For tent campers seeking established sites, Morgan's Outdoor Adventures provides waterfront tent camping along a river approximately 50 miles from Covington. Constitution County Park offers a small tent camping area along the Little Miami River.

Most tent campgrounds in the region have basic amenities with varying levels of facilities. Tree Line Retreat in Kentucky allows fires and provides firewood but lacks showers and toilets. Five Rivers Metroparks in Dayton, Ohio, approximately 60 miles from Covington, offers more developed tent camping with fire rings, picnic tables, and vault toilets. According to one visitor, "The Twin Valley Trail was well marked and had a variety of ravines... covering around 2,000 acres." Many sites require campers to bring their own water, as potable water sources are limited or non-existent at most locations.

Tent campers seeking quieter experiences may prefer the backcountry sites at Five Rivers Metroparks, which feature separate camping areas with common cooking spaces. These sites provide a more secluded experience while remaining relatively close to urban areas. One camper noted, "For a 3-day/2-night backcountry experience not too far away from civilization, this is a great park." Constitution County Park's proximity to the Little Miami River makes it convenient for water activities, though its location adjacent to a road means limited privacy. Quakertown State Recreation Area in Indiana offers another option within driving distance of Covington, with reviews mentioning clean facilities and good shade coverage from trees, though it's approximately 50 miles away.

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Best Tent Sites Near Covington, Kentucky (13)

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Recent Tent Camping Photos near Covington, KY

10 Photos of 13 Covington Campgrounds

Tent Camping Reviews near Covington, KY

525 Reviews of 13 Covington Campgrounds

  • John M.
    Jul. 29, 2018

    Governor Bebb MetroPark Campground

    Roughing it by a creek and a pioneer village

    Basic car tent camping at several spots along a creek wIth picnic tables and fire rings (no hookups, portolet toilets, no showers.) There is a rustic scout cabin/group lodge reservable for scout, etc. groups. The park features a pioneer village with log cabins, including a blacksmith forge, etc. that have been moved to the site.

  • E
    Jul. 15, 2019

    Kincaid Lake State Park Campground

    Hilly, beautiful and secluded

    My family stayed here because we were visiting the Ark Encounter.  I’m not sure if there are closer campgrounds, but we chose to primitive camp here for our visit.  We arrived with just enough time to set up up our tent and head back towards Alexandria for dinner and supplies at Walmart.  There is not much variety and choices very close.  The RV and tent area is very hilly.  Our tent ground sloped but it didn’t bother us very much.  The campsites are very close to each other but there was only two other tent campers and they were both over 4 sites over from us. The tent area has portable toilets.  I chose to drive to the shower house when I needed to use the restroom.  The shower house is typical of most campgrounds, a few cobwebs but generally clean with shower and toilet stalls.  There are two shower houses for the entire campground.  The lake is very pretty, a few camp grounds are right off the shore.  The only thing I didn’t like was that there was no water spigot in the main tent camp area.

  • Matt S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 13, 2021

    Hartig Park & Wildlife Reserve - TEMPORARILY CLOSED

    Hidden Getaway

    This is an awesome quiet campground tucked away in northern KY along the Ohio River. There are 10-12 dispersed campsites with fire rings and picnic tables. No electric, no water, porti potti at park entrance. Would need to drive if camping at the top of the hill or bring a camp toilet. Great views and semi secluded.

  • Dave V.
    Nov. 1, 2019

    Hueston Woods State Park Campground

    A Relaxing Shoulder Season, Weekday stay

    Hueston Woods State Park, Oh.

    http://parks.ohiodnr.gov/huestonwoods 

    Campground Overview: Hueston Woods State Park is very close to Miami University...in the Southwest area of Ohio. The direction we traveled from the south took us on numerous winding country lanes through farm country that actually meandered in and out of Indiana and Ohio.

    (Disclaimer: I am a tent camper, preferring backcountry sites of solitude and privacy...so take my reviews of campgrounds with a grain of salt). 

    The campground area is separated not only by roadway, but a short walk, ride or drive from the reservoir, docks, boat rental beach area and tiny nature center. 

    The Campground Office sits at the campground entrance and does offer quite a bit of camping items for its tiny size should you have forgotten anything. The cabins and lodge are on the opposite bank of the reservoir. The tent site area was sparsely occupied and the particular area was empty that I chose. 

    All campground sites are line of sight, no barriers or buffer between neighbors(something I do not enjoy)...the trees are mature and tall so offer no privacy. Noise/sound travels so when full, you’ll likely hear your neighbors conversations. 

    Unknowingly, it appeared every weekend in October has a big Halloween emphasis, so the upper campground was sold out. I was advised the lower non electric loop would also be sold out...which reinforced my gratefulness for midweek camping. 

    With the vast old growth forests, dried/dead branches for firewood was plentiful for a chilly night(38) fire. We evaded the impending rain for once and pressed on. Weekend campers experienced heavy storms as we left. 

    There are several hiking trails and biking trails. Streams were dried up at our visit. A cool restoration covered bridge was a short hop from the campground. The lodge has a restaurant, a gift shop, an outside pool and a nicely equipped activity room for older kids complete with numerous arcade games, pool table, and ping-pong table. There is also a token tiny exercise center-Key card entrance for lodge stayers. The A-frame lodge, though nostalgic, needs some TLC and updating(especially the exterior). 

    Traffic noise is noticeable, especially during quiet hours. While not excessive, it’s disruptive. 

    Deer sighting were plentiful as were chattering tree rats...ahem, squirrels, sorry. Woodpeckers stayed busy overhead. At dusk an overly friendly“masked trash panda” encroached seeking to share my delectable and perfectly toasted s’more...having to be chased off(unfortunately, it appeared he has been fed by campers to be that bold). Other small birds were plentiful as were migrating Canadian honkers. 

    Housekeeping notes: In the larger non-electric loop newer restrooms existed...modern bathrooms and showers were clean and stocked with TP. No paper towels offered, only electric hand dryers. Bathroom stalls, like the showers, utilized shower curtains rather than lockable doors. In my tent area...antiquated wood shed pit latrines...that truly needed razed. 

    I did not have time to walk any trails, but talked with mountain bikers that spoke favorably. There were several marked trails near the reservoir area. 

    Final Thoughts: It was a nice choice for a stop-over as I drifted north. However, I would not want to stay when it’s busy or on the weekends. The reservoir beach and watercraft fishing appears a big draw...and I wish I had brought both my bicycle and canoe.

  • S
    Jun. 1, 2023

    Hueston Woods State Park Campground

    Nice but hard to get good sites on weekends !

    Limited level campground with full and electric hookups (does have WiFi). Best areas are A (full hookups and B (electric hookups) with concrete pads, some with slight slopes. First sites #s on A side do have larger slopes! C through E are electric only but are hilly grass pads. Other areas are back in the woods with no WiFi connections and primitive bathrooms/ outhouses (no showers) But park has great recreational activities. Book early for weekends which are almost non existent during the summer for A and B areas! Also only one dump station in B area.

  • T
    Nov. 9, 2023

    Hartig Park & Wildlife Reserve - TEMPORARILY CLOSED

    Great Secluded Spot

    Stayed here two nights. The first night at campsite #10, which didn't really have level ground, so we moved to #8 for night two. Each spot has a picnic table and fire ring. The main road was nice to drive on, but the others were pretty rough. Had spots for hammocks, and the portopotty was well maintained. The spots were all pretty secluded. Great remote location!

  • Anne H.
    May. 22, 2018

    Winton Woods Campground

    Love this campground for a weekend rendezvous!

    Winton Woods campground has spacious paved RV spaces with full hook-ups, fire ring, and picnic table. They also have cabin and tent camping. The location is located on the lake with access to put in a kayak or canoe. The bathrooms are clean, with private combined shower/dressing stalls. There is a playground for children, and a camp store that sells firewood and supplies. I love the tall pines on the property. They made me feel like I was out west. The campground is also near paved and unpaved trails in the park that surround more of the lake which allows for walking/running/hiking and bicycling, fishing, small craft boating, with small craft boat rentals available at the marina. The park also allows for horseback riding, and a small water park for children in the summer.

  • J
    Sep. 19, 2021

    Kincaid Lake State Park Campground

    VERY much recommend

    My husband and I stayed for 2 weeks in a very large tent back in primitive camping area ... The campground we found to be very well maintained with a very kind and attentive staff who checked on us regularly. The sites were large enough for our liking with each having a picnic table and firepit but no water or electric. Primitive tent camping is back in its own little part of the park near the lake (there are a few lakeside sites if you have a small kayak or raft to use while there) and while we liked the privacy the one set back is this big hill you must climb to get to the bathhouse or anywhere else on the property .. the distance to walk to the bathhouse as well is a good little walk and not anything you want to be doing if you have health issues or limited physically at all .. the bathhouse was always being checked on by staff for cleanliness and stayed pretty fresh our entire stay (they have 2 bathhouses) .. you can't gather or bring your own firewood for whatever reason and the 6$ cost per bundle (as well as the 7$ per bag of ice if u should need it) isn't cheap. Most rv sites are in shade ...nice playground for the kids and just outside the campground is the rest of kincaid lake state park .. the state park area has a beautiful view of lake with Olympic sized pool as well as general store and many different shelter houses and grills to enjoy if you'd like.. they have a nice recreational area offering a big nice basketball court , playground, volleyball court and putt putt golf course .. NICE QUIET PEACEFUL PLACE TO GET AWAY TO FOR SURE. WE WILL DEF BE BACK

  • D
    Oct. 9, 2023

    Hartig Park & Wildlife Reserve - TEMPORARILY CLOSED

    Perfect offgrid campsite

    It's quiet, and each of the 10 campsites are easy to find.  There is no hookup, but each site has a picnic table and fire ring.    Most smaller rigs won't have a problem, and we saw several cars on the narrow and rough gravel road.    We look forward to exploring the miles of trails on this park.

Guide to Covington

Tent camping near Covington, Kentucky, offers a variety of unique experiences, from serene lakeside spots to rustic retreats. Whether you're looking for a peaceful getaway or an adventure-filled weekend, there are options to suit every camper's needs.

Local Attractions for Tent Campers

Tent Camping Prices

  • Tent camping at Quakertown State Rec Area typically ranges from $30 for a site, offering a clean and quiet environment.
  • Rates at Morgan’s Outdoor Adventures are competitive, with prices reflecting the beautiful waterfront views and amenities available.
  • Expect to pay around $20 to $28 for campsites at Dayton Metro Parks, which include well-maintained facilities and a bundle of firewood.

Tips for Tent Camping Near Covington

  • Be prepared for limited amenities at places like Boltz Lake Ramp, which lacks electric hookups and water facilities, making it essential to bring your own supplies.
  • For a more comfortable experience, consider Tree Line Retreat, where you can enjoy drinking water and firewood, along with the option to bring pets.
  • Always check for local regulations regarding fires and waste disposal, especially at sites like Eagle Creek Marina, which has strict rules on fires and amenities.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Covington, KY?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Covington, KY is Bullock Pen Lake Ramp with a 1-star rating from 1 review.

What is the best site to find tent camping near Covington, KY?

TheDyrt.com has all 13 tent camping locations near Covington, KY, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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