Best Tent Camping near Butler, OH

Tent camping options near Butler, Ohio are concentrated primarily in Mohican-Memorial State Forest, which offers both established campgrounds and more secluded backcountry sites. The Mohican State Park Campground provides traditional tent camping with some amenities, while the State Forest's Park and Pack sites (numbered 1-10) offer more primitive tent camping experiences with varying levels of accessibility from nearby trailheads.

Tent sites at Mohican-Memorial State Forest are set on natural forest terrain with minimal development. The Park and Pack sites require registration at the ranger station kiosk located at County Road 939 in Perrysville before setting up camp. Most primitive tent sites lack basic amenities—no drinking water, no toilets, and often no picnic tables—requiring campers to pack in all supplies. Fire rings are typically provided at designated sites, though fire restrictions may apply during dry periods. Creek crossings are required to access several of the sites, with water levels varying seasonally. A visitor commented, "After getting to the Ranger kiosk everything was pretty self explanatory. I stayed at Campsite 3, which was beautiful, tucked off of the trail beside a wide stream."

The Park and Pack tent sites offer varying degrees of seclusion, with some positioned near streams or ridges providing scenic views. Trail access ranges from easy walk-in paths to more challenging hikes, with sites 4 and 10 noted as more accessible for those with mobility concerns. Cell phone coverage is limited throughout the area, particularly with Verizon service. While the sites feel remote, proximity to bridle trails means occasional horse traffic near some campsites. Park rangers monitor for illegal camping, making registration essential. As described in feedback on The Dyrt, "The sunset photo is by the entrance of the parking lot to the campsite. This is the 2nd easiest campsite to walk into out of the 10. If you have any mobility issues this is the second best camp site to go to as most of it is along the wide access road and mountain bike trail."

Best Tent Sites Near Butler, Ohio (11)

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Tent Camping Reviews near Butler, OH

559 Reviews of 11 Butler Campgrounds


  • K
    Aug. 26, 2020

    Park and Pack Campsite 10 — Mohican-Memorial State Forest

    Campsite 10 large and beautiful

    Make sure you get a reservation at the kiosk by the ranger station in the forest. Do not go to the state park as that is completely different. For the forest office I go to Co Rd 939, Perrysville, OH 44864

    Do not camp illegally or without a reservation. They do post signs and ask other campers to report the illegal camping.  

    The sunset photo is by the entrance of the parking lot to the campsite.  This is the 2nd easiest campsite to walk into out of the 10.  If you have any mobility issues this is the second best camp site to go to as most of it is along the wide access road and mountain bike trail. The parking lot was clean and easy to access. 

    I had limited cell phone signal while here but this had the best signal out of the 10 sites. 

    All of the Park and Pack camp sites do not have a bathroom. As you can see from this site I took the time to take a picture of the moon pole.  So do leave no trace of your bathroom habits. 

    This site was great for both hammocks and tents.  You could have a small group here and not feel crowded. The camp fire set up is awesome. We had another camper over by that spot so I didn't take pictures of his gear.  He had a hammock and tent set up. He was camping at the spot for a week for his vacation. On our last night at this site another backpacker came through and set up.  Make sure you get a reservation and look closely at the board at the kiosk.  Our main camper at this site was gracious as he had booked the site for the week most folks didn't realize the site was taken as his name was so far up the clipboard.  We weren't alone in not realizing that and he enjoyed the brief company we provided as good neighbors to each other.

  • Nancy R.
    Jun. 9, 2018

    Alum Creek State Park Campground

    Puzzled Campers

    We had reservations, but didn’t figure out how to check in. The site numbers were very hard to see and figure out. The numbers didn’t appear to be sequential. The worst part for us was that there were no tent pads for pitching the tent. We were there during a very rainy time and had to pitch the tent in a ditch. Water flowed under the tent so we had quite a bit of mud on the bottom of the tent when we packed up. Luckily our tent kept us dry inspite of its location. Space was extremely limited. The picnic table was on the driveway. There was poison ivy less than a foot from our tent. Restrooms and showers were adequate, but toilet paper rolls would fall in the floor if you weren’t careful. All three showers drained into the middle stall making it difficult to keep thing dry.

  • W
    Jun. 10, 2022

    Rivers Edge Camping Area (Bridgeport Quarry Trailhead)

    Great location

    Great access close to parking lot with privacy between you and the trail. Right alongside the river with a picnic table and firepit. Portable toilet in parking lot. No running water but close to gas stations and restaurants. Only 12 minute drive over to Pro Football Hall of Fame.

  • Shannon G.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 26, 2020

    Mt Gilead State Park Campground

    Fall is here!

    Site 29 - this was a nice site in tall pine trees and colors all around. The pad was gravel and pretty level. We had trees in our site that could be used for hammocks as well. We were able to set up our ez-up and still have room to walk our dogs. It wasn’t the biggest site, but definitely not the smallest. We had electric for our camper. We had a good storm one night that caused a small pool of water out front and around the fire ring, but both areas drained very well the next day. There are vault toilets at the end of the road and a very nice shower house as you drive in that were clean all weekend. The park had a couple of playgrounds for kids, disc golf course and lots of hiking trails. The camp store is now open with limited hours. Wood is available but it’s all slab cut. There are also permanent cornhole boards. There are full hook up sites as well but are right next to one another and not a lot of trees. You can drive down to the lake and kayak and fish. It’s a very small campground with a very big park.

  • R
    Jul. 16, 2021

    Park and Pack Campsite 10 — Mohican-Memorial State Forest

    Mohican Memorial State Forest, Park & Pack, Site #10

    This was my second time enjoying Mohican State Forest’s Park & Pack sites. I took my daughter to site 10 for an overnighter.

    If you’re unfamiliar w/ the Park & Pack system I found this PDF to be extremely useful.

    http://www.backpackohio.com/etrails/bpo_mohican.pdf

    As others have stated, make sure to sign in at the kiosk, you can find it here:

    950 ODNR Mohican Road 60 (County Road 939), Perrysville, Ohio 44864

    There’s no reservations, you show up, see what sites are available, sign in and drive to the appropriate parking area.

    After signing in at the kiosk we drove and parked at the upper parking area for sites 8-10. The last 1/4 mile of the road is pretty rutted, so if you have a low profile vehicle you may need to park at the lower area (which isn’t much of a parking area and the Rangers don’t really want anyone parking there).

    Site 10 is about 3/4 of a mile down the trail from the upper parking area. Well marked and easy to find. There are plenty of areas to set up shelter and hang hammocks. After my daughter and I set up camp near the fire ring we explored and found spots below the SE edge.

    You can find a short “trail” at the NE edge of the campsite that leads down to a ledge where a couple unofficial fire rings have been built. You can also get there by continuing east past the last Site 10 trail marker. The trail is a bit over grown but was still easily followed. It will loop around towards the south then back west leading into the lower area.

    The whole area is beautiful and scenic. I’d like to head back in the fall and or winter to enjoy the view of the gorge in different seasons. The site is fairly remote, we only saw a hiker while hiking in and heard mountain bikers riding down the trail NW of Site 10. The only con I would give the site is there’s no water source, so you have to pack in all your water needs. Being the middle of summer that was quite a bit for my daughter and me. Packs were much lighter on the way out.

  • Skooma M.
    Jun. 24, 2022

    Findley State Park Campground

    Organized Group Site 2

    It was difficult to find pictures or reviews of the Findlay group sites. It honestly seemed to me that they didn't exist, so I thought I'd do the service of taking some pictures.

    The group sites are away from the main campsites, so you should have plenty of space for your group to set up and enough distance between them to not disturb the peace if you have a large group. OGA2 is heavily forested, I'm not sure about OGA1. There are plenty of trees so both hammock and tent campers should be accommodated. The fire pit is large and there are 4 picnic tables.

    The campsite is about 75 yards from the parking area, and there is a vault toilet right before the parking area.

  • Megan M.
    Sep. 6, 2018

    Mohican State Park Campground

    Beautiful river, trails, running water in the toilets, yay!

    I love Mohican State Park. There is so much to do- canoeing, kayaking, tubing, creeking, and great trails also.

    This campground is nice but is crowded in the warmer months. Look for a site along the water, that's where the tree cover is. I stayed in a camper cabin which was very nice, with microwave and refrigerator.

    There is running water in the toilets, which is nice for a state park in Ohio. The showers were decent, nothing to complain about there.

    The primitive tent camping sites looked nice and peaceful- take care to get a shaded spot, though, as some were just exposed in a grassy field. There is a long bumpy walk from the parking area to the primitive sites, so bring a wagon or sled or something.

  • A
    Sep. 28, 2021

    Mohican State Park Campground

    Excellent Campground

    The campground has plenty of great sites to choose from, in two different sections. Whether you want to rent a cabin, have a trailer/RV or basic tent camping, you will be all set. There shower facilities, bathrooms, pool and camp store are awesome. Such a great place to stay! Really look forward to going back!

  • Andrea F.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 27, 2020

    Pleasant Hill Lake Park Campground

    Nice Quiet Campground with a lot to Offer

    We arrived Friday late afternoon and set up in the rain. Didn’t see much of the park on Friday,  but Saturday we went exploring and saw the marina, beach, horse camp area, and walked some of the bridle trails. They also have playgrounds that are open and some food trucks in case you don’t want to cook.

     This is the second park we have stayed at that is part of the Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District and so far I am impressed. Large landscape sites that are full hookup with large concrete pads. Each with its own picnic table and fire pit. They also have a boat dock for the campers to use.   The lightning bugs even put on a nightly show.


Guide to Butler

Mohican-Memorial State Forest dominates tent camping options near Butler, Ohio, spanning over 4,500 acres with elevations ranging from 900 to 1,200 feet. The forest's primitive campsites receive approximately 25-30 inches of annual rainfall, creating seasonal challenges for creek crossings and trail conditions. Winter camping is permitted at most sites, but water sources frequently freeze between December and February.

What to do

Seasonal activities: The forested landscape around Mohican State Park Campground offers different experiences throughout the year. Fall colors peak in mid-October, while winter camping provides solitude with temperatures typically between 20-40°F. A visitor noted, "Our first visit to the park was early in the camping season, and on a warm and beautiful spring weekend. The atmosphere was amazing in the park."

Water recreation: Campers can access the Clear Fork Branch of the Mohican River for fishing, swimming, and floating. During summer months, the river provides relief from heat. At Walhonding Hills Campground, located 22 miles south of Butler, "They have a pool and atv trails on campground property. Great for doom buggies, side by sides, and 4 wheelers, dirt bikes as well."

Trail navigation: Download trail maps before arrival as cell service is unreliable. The Mohican area contains over 25 miles of hiking paths with various difficulty levels. According to one camper at Park and Pack Campsite 10, "If you're unfamiliar w/ the Park & Pack system I found this PDF to be extremely useful. http://www.backpackohio.com/etrails/bpo_mohican.pdf."

What campers like

Privacy levels: Each primitive campsite offers different isolation levels. At Mohican-Memorial State Forest, campers appreciate sites positioned away from main trails. One camper at Park and Pack Campsite 10 mentioned, "Site 10 is about 3/4 of a mile down the trail from the upper parking area. Well marked and easy to find. There are plenty of areas to set up shelter and hang hammocks."

Water features: Many sites have stream access, important for longer stays requiring water filtration. Creeks run clearer in spring and after rainfall. A camper at Park and Pack Campsite 3 shared, "I stayed at Campsite 3, which was beautiful, tucked off of the trail beside a wide stream. Fair warning, you do have to cross a stream to get to it."

Wildlife encounters: The forest hosts white-tailed deer, wild turkeys, and various bird species. Dawn and dusk offer the best wildlife viewing times, particularly near water sources. Campers should properly store food as raccoons are common visitors.

What you should know

Site registration process: The Park and Pack registration system requires physical sign-up at the ranger station. One camper at Mohican Memorial State Forest Park and Pack Site 1 advised, "Make sure you register for your site and do not camp illegally. It is an issue here and they are looking to make sure folks did register at the kiosk at the ranger station."

Navigation challenges: Many first-time visitors struggle finding specific campsites despite maps. Trail markers can be confusing or missing entirely. A camper noted, "I took the main trail head at the bridle parking lot but this isn't where you should go. The main trail head gets you to sites 1-3."

Access limitations: Creek water levels fluctuate seasonally, affecting campsite accessibility. After heavy rain, crossing points may become impassable. High-clearance vehicles may be needed for certain parking areas. One visitor cautioned, "The last 1/4 mile of the road is pretty rutted, so if you have a low profile vehicle you may need to park at the lower area."

Tips for camping with families

Selecting appropriate sites: For families with young children, choose sites with easier access. According to a visitor at Rivers Edge Camping Area, "The camp site is a short walk and was very nice. The porta potty was very big, clean and had hand sanitizer!"

Mobility considerations: Sites 4 and 10 offer the easiest access for families with mobility concerns. A reviewer described Campsite 4 as "great if your legs are tired after a long day of hiking or if you did too many hills that day. Or if you're a beginner camper, or family that want to try something new, it's easy to walk into and out of."

Group accommodations: Some sites better accommodate multiple tents for family camping. At Hidden Hollow Camp, a visitor reported, "We have camped here multiple times with out scout troop. Facilities are excellent with a large clubhouse with kitchen. Vault toilets are fine."

Tips from RVers

Limited RV options: Tent camping dominates near Butler, with few true RV sites in the immediate vicinity. Those requiring hookups should look at established campgrounds rather than forest sites. One RVer reported, "Stayed here a few times with just power at site. Was at main Camp ground with RV's all around. Seemed pretty popular yet was quiet enough."

Seasonal accessibility: RV camping options increase during summer months but decrease substantially from November through March. Road conditions for larger vehicles worsen after rainfall, particularly on forest access roads.

Alternative lodging: For those seeking tent camping near Butler with more amenities, established campgrounds provide options. "The campground itself is very well laid out. It's long and just a few rows deep with trees throughout, so you don't feel over crowded. You're never far from a restroom no matter where you are."

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Butler, OH?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Butler, OH is Mohican State Park Campground with a 4.6-star rating from 5 reviews.

What is the best site to find tent camping near Butler, OH?

TheDyrt.com has all 11 tent camping locations near Butler, OH, with real photos and reviews from campers.