Best Tent Camping near Celina, OH
Tent camping options around Celina, Ohio center on a modest selection of primitive sites and established campgrounds. St. Mary's Section of the Buckeye Trail offers an Adirondack shelter between Points 6 and 7, providing hikers and backpackers a place to sleep without carrying a tent. On Cedar Pond, located about 25 miles southeast of Celina, features two tent sites with basic amenities in a more developed setting.
Most tent campgrounds in the Celina area provide varied levels of services. St. Mary's Section of the Buckeye Trail has walk-in access only, with no drinking water, toilets, or trash service, though fires are permitted. Campers should bring all necessary supplies including water and food. On Cedar Pond offers more amenities for tent campers, including drinking water, electric hookups, picnic tables, showers, toilets, and trash disposal. Firewood is available on site. Saulisberry Park Campground in Kenton allows pets and provides electrical hookups and dump stations, though it lacks shower facilities.
The camping experience varies significantly between primitive and established sites near Celina. The Buckeye Trail shelter accommodates up to six people sleeping off the ground and includes a stone fireplace for cooking and warmth. According to one visitor, "There is deadfall from the trees around you that will serve as kindling and fuel for the fire." This shelter is positioned approximately 10 miles from trailheads at Lockington or Fort Loramie, making it ideal for breaking up a two-day backpacking trip. For those seeking more amenities, On Cedar Pond offers a different experience. A recent review noted, "The stay was amazing! So beautiful." Walk-in tent locations throughout the region tend to offer more seclusion and natural surroundings compared to drive-in options, making them preferred destinations for primitive tent camping enthusiasts.
