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Best Tent Camping near Union, KY

551 Reviews

Tent campgrounds near Union, Kentucky offer limited options for primitive camping in the surrounding region. Morgan's Outdoor Adventures, located roughly 30 miles northwest in Indiana, provides tent sites with waterfront access, while the Quakertown State Recreation Area in Brookville, Indiana offers established tent camping within a reasonable drive. Several locations listed in the area, including Bullock Pen Lake Ramp and Boltz Lake Ramp, are actually boat launches with no camping facilities despite their listings.

Campers should prepare for varied amenities when tent camping in this region. Most functional tent sites near Union have basic facilities like fire rings and picnic tables. Quakertown State Recreation Area provides fire rings at all sites, though some picnic tables are reportedly small. A review mentioned, "Nice clean bathrooms. Site was a little pricey at $30. There's a good amount of trees for shade coverage." Water availability is limited at many locations, requiring tent campers to bring adequate supplies. Sites at Morgan's Outdoor Adventures include amenities like drinking water, showers, and toilets, providing more comfort than other primitive options in the area.

Tent campers seeking natural settings should consider Five Rivers Metroparks in Dayton, Ohio, though it requires a longer drive from Union. The Twin Valley Trail system there offers backpacking opportunities with designated backcountry tent sites. "There's a great backpacking trail that's challenging and an easy middle meeting place for friends/family," noted one camper review. The system features over 25 miles of integrated trails spanning approximately 2,000 acres with tent-specific campsites that include common cooking areas and clean vault toilets. Germantown MetroPark within this system provides walk-in tent sites set among trees and wildflower prairies, offering a more secluded tent camping experience that contrasts with the limited options closer to Union.

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Best Tent Sites Near Union, Kentucky (10)

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Recent Tent Camping Photos near Union, KY

6 Photos of 10 Union Campgrounds

Tent Camping Reviews near Union, KY

551 Reviews of 10 Union 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!

  • Melissa W.
    Jun. 22, 2020

    Clifty Falls State Park Campground

    Standard SP Campground

    All sites have a picnic table and fire ring. However, many of the picnic tables are very short which is fine as long as you have a small group or family. The fire rings are very nice and have a good grill grate. Bathrooms/showers were typical: moderately clean with luke cold water. Tent sites were decent (we were pleased with site 117). Some offer a little more privacy than others with brush growth and trees. RV sites offered less privacy but I was pleased with the separation between the tent and RV sections of the campground. The wood they sold was great and they also have ice for sale. The trails were crazy packed the second weekend in June so we didn't do much hiking (however, we've hiked the entire park trail system in the past and really enjoy it). The park is relatively flat so biking is a fun activity. They charge you to enter the park an additional 7-9$ even if you already reserved camping. A huge bonus is Madison, Indiana nearby (4.5 miles away) which has a couple of wineries (and restaurants) and you can also walk along the Ohio River. Overall, I would tent camp here again.

  • 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

  • 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.

Guide to Union

Tent camping near Union, Kentucky offers a variety of unique experiences for outdoor enthusiasts looking to immerse themselves in nature. From serene lakes to rustic retreats, there are options to suit different preferences.

Tent campers should check out Boltz Lake Ramp

  • The Boltz Lake Ramp is primarily a boat ramp, making it a great spot for those looking to launch their watercraft while enjoying the outdoors.
  • While it lacks traditional camping amenities, it serves as a convenient "put in" location for fishing and boating adventures.
  • Nearby options for camping can be found at RV Camper Village and Big Bone Lick State Park, which are well-reviewed alternatives.

Some prices for tent camping range from $20 to $30

Tent campers appreciate these amenities

  • Morgan's Outdoor Adventures provides drinking water, showers, and firewood, making it a well-equipped choice for campers.
  • At Tree Line Retreat, guests can enjoy the option of campfires and the ability to bring pets along, enhancing the camping experience.
  • The Eagle Creek Marina offers a scenic location for tent camping, although it does not provide electric hookups or showers, appealing to those seeking a more rustic experience.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

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

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

TheDyrt.com has all 10 tent camping locations near Union, KY, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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