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Best Tent Camping near Cleveland, OH

489 Reviews

Tent camping options surrounding Cleveland, Ohio range from secluded Christmas tree farm sites to lakeside primitive areas within local parks. Heritage Farms offers tent campers unique walk-in sites scattered throughout a working Christmas tree farm in Peninsula, approximately 20 miles south of Cleveland. Other notable tent-friendly areas include The West Woods in Geauga County and Penitentiary Glen Reservation, both providing walk-in tent sites within a natural forest setting.

Most primitive tent campgrounds near Cleveland require campers to pack in their own water and supplies. Sites typically feature basic amenities such as fire rings and picnic tables, though facilities vary significantly. Heritage Farms provides well-maintained porta-potties near the main building, while walk-in sites at The West Woods have toilets available only at the parking area, requiring a quarter-mile trek from the camping area. Access to tent sites often involves carrying gear some distance from parking areas, with Heritage Farms offering wagons to transport equipment to more remote sites. Many areas prohibit alcohol consumption and enforce quiet hours, with regulations clearly posted at trailheads or check-in areas.

The tent camping experience near Cleveland offers privacy rarely found at developed campgrounds. Sites at Heritage Farms are well-spaced and set among Christmas trees, providing natural separation between campers. The West Woods features raised tent pads to keep equipment dry during rainfall, though the camping area accommodates only small groups with minimal gear. Lake Erie Bluffs offers tent campers coastal views and shoreline access, with walk-in sites set back from day-use areas. According to one visitor, "Sites are spread apart nicely. Each one has a picnic table and fire ring. Grassy spots that are fairly level and mowed." Primitive tent sites in Summit Metro Parks provide convenient urban camping access along the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath, though road noise can be noticeable at some locations.

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Best Tent Sites Near Cleveland, Ohio (14)

    1. Heritage Farms

    10 Reviews
    Peninsula, OH
    20 miles
    Website

    $35 - $55 / night

    "Located about ½ mile off the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath, this campground is a part of a 5th generation working farm.  "

    "Privacy wasn't fully there like many other sites. No tree coverage, so be cautious in summertime heat. That being said, there was a two-open-sided A frame."

    2. The West Woods

    4 Reviews
    Novelty, OH
    21 miles
    Website

    "Tent pad is raised so even though it rained and the water streamed through the middle of camp, tent was fine."

    "While this is a spot in a smaller park with a lot of day use, the site is a walk off of the trail, and situated slightly lower than trail level for privacy. Amazing sounds, smells, and relaxation."

    3. Penitentiary Glen Reservation Campsite

    2 Reviews
    Kirtland, OH
    21 miles
    Website

    $25 / night

    "Even with the colder weather it was nice and cozy. Plenty of fire wood provided and a short distance away from the gorge to walk."

    "Would have given this site 5 stars but the walk to the site was a bit more of a haul than expected. It was just myself, kids, and pup."

    4. Ottawa Overlook Backcountry sites

    Be the first to review!
    Brecksville, OH
    14 miles
    Website
    +1 (440) 526-1012

    $5 / night

    5. Big Creek Park

    1 Review
    Chardon, OH
    27 miles
    Website
    +1 (440) 286-9516

    "Most of the trails are small, well-marked, accessible, and easily walkable for families."

    6. Headwaters Park

    2 Reviews
    Middlefield, OH
    31 miles
    Website
    +1 (440) 286-9516

    $10 - $20 / night

    "I camped at site J the tent pad was level and easy to drive stakes into. I didn't use the toilets so can't comment on the cleanliness there."

    "Park has tent sites as well. Site G is a great setting and therefore books out more readily than other sites. Best for relaxation, chill kayaking, fishing, horseback riding, and shorter walks."

    7. Valley Overlook

    Be the first to review!
    Peninsula, OH
    22 miles
    Website

    8. Lake Erie Bluffs

    2 Reviews
    Perry, OH
    33 miles
    Website
    +1 (440) 358-7275

    $10 - $20 / night

    "Site was a walk-in site with plenty of room. Fire wood and kindling were at the site waiting for us when we got there. We had a perfect view of the sunset from the site."

    "Walk in sites with a beautiful view of Lake Erie! Quiet, clean, well kept! Provided firewood was great! Able to watch Eagles soaring over Lake Erie listening to the waves hit the bluff below!"

    9. Hidden Hollow Camp

    1 Review
    Lodi, OH
    36 miles
    Website
    +1 (330) 722-9364

    "Vault toilets are fine."

    10. Rivers Edge Camping Area (Bridgeport Quarry Trailhead)

    3 Reviews
    Massillon, OH
    47 miles
    Website

    "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."

    "Located near the Bridgeport Quarry Trailhead about 2.5 miles north of Massillon, OH in the Stark County Parks District. These sites are specifically designed for hikers/cyclists."

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Recent Tent Camping Photos near Cleveland, OH

25 Photos of 14 Cleveland Campgrounds

Tent Camping Reviews near Cleveland, OH

489 Reviews of 14 Cleveland Campgrounds

  • Jen L.
    Aug. 23, 2018

    The West Woods

    Newer isn't always better

    There are 2 sites in the park both of which are walk in only and not close together. They are relatively small, 2-4 person tent only. Run by the Geauga Park District and only $5 for county residents, its cheap and looks it. Reservations must be made 3 days in advance, so no spur of the moment get aways. Basically it was just a space for a tent and a fire ring. No bathroom (about a half mile of trail away), no water, no picnic table, no alcohol. Basically I got the urge to camp in the early spring and wanted somewhere near home but I wouldn't stay there again, and wouldn't recommend anyone else do so either. However, the West Woods as a park is really nice with a nature center, hiking and bridle trails, just the campsite that was lacking.

  • 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.

  • Greg A.
    Jun. 5, 2018

    Punderson State Park Campground

    Meh.

    It could be an ok place if you get the right spot. Some of the sites are VERY SLOPED and some people parked campers in those spots and used very odd things to try and level them. The sites are not maintained well and have lots of weeds and some are very close and are essentially sharing the space with the fire ring and picnic table with other campers. Not very private at all. If you have awnings or slides, you will have to be careful about what site you will get or you will not be able to open the slides or your awning. If you get a good spot or are tent camping then it may be ok.

  • Shari G.The Dyrt PRO User
    May. 28, 2018

    Heritage Farms

    Great for cyclists along the Towpath in Cuyahoga National Park

    Located about ½ mile off the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath, this campground is a part of a 5th generation working farm.  Both standard campsites and shelters are available and are scattered among a working Christmas Tree farm.   A very sweet couple owns the place and runs the campground, George & Carol Haramis.

    Each site is situated on grass, has a picnic table, and fire ring (firewood is supplied with your campsite fee).  Both pit toilets and water are available to campers as well. Some are shaded and other sites have quite a bit of sun.  The shelters are robustly constructed, but don’t have much cross ventilation as they are only open to the front, so are quite hot in the heat of the summer, and provide no barrier to insects.  No electricity is available. Come prepared to hang your food (not for bears, but for mice).

    They prefer reservations, but happily accommodated our reservation-less lifestyle as it was early in the season.  Our shelter site was just next to the gravel parking area and overlooked the farm as well as had a great view of the sunset.  Unfortunately, you can hear the highway from the campground, despite the fact that it is located a good distance away. It didn’t bother us at night, but we definitely heard it first thing in the morning.

    Just down the road in the village of Peninsula, OH (and right next to the towpath) are Century Cycles (super helpful bike shop!!) and the Winking Lizard Tavern (fun restaurant/bar). After a long day of cycling, we enjoyed an adult beverage and some dessert after making dinner in the campground.

    More info here:  https://centurycycles.com/articles/camping-along-the-towpath-trail-pg1342.htm

  • 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.

  • R
    Aug. 1, 2018

    West Branch State Park Campground

    Well kept campground with access to beach and dock

    Each campsite in on a leveled cement pad and comes with a fire ring a picnic table. There is plenty of room around your site and you don't feel crowded. Most sites offer nice tree coverage for shade. The restrooms and showers are very clean and well taken care of. There is also a laundry facility and sink outside each one for washing dishes and water fountains throughout the park. There is a nice beachfront for swimming and then a dock that be reached from outside the park. A beautiful lake for kayaking or boating. The store has most camping needs in it and once a week they host an ice cream social. Has a very nice playground and a sand volleyball court. There are some hiking trails, but nothing extensive.

  • Brady R.
    Jun. 3, 2021

    Heritage Farms

    Available Through HipCamp

    Review for Site #12. 

    Our site was in the middle of the sites, but upon on a slight hill. Privacy wasn't fully there like many other sites. No tree coverage, so be cautious in summertime heat. That being said, there was a two-open-sided A frame. It was great to store our belongings in there, esp. when it rained overnight - kept everything dry (with the help of a tarp).

    It's hard to not give it any lower than 5 stars when you literally camp within a Christmas tree farm. It's a dream. Lol. 

    You do have to carry your belongings into the campsites, but it wasn't too horrible for us, esp. since our campsite was right off the walking path. The provided wagons and wheelbarrows make it easier too. 

    Firewood is $8 a bundle and required to pay via PayPal. Water is also available for purchase, but we brought our own. 

    2 portopots were provided and were mostly clean. All sites come with fire pit and picnic table. Some of them have tree coverage and access to hang hammocks.

    Sunset was incredible the first night. It did get very chilly when we were there.

  • Andrea F.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 12, 2020

    West Branch State Park Campground

    Severe Sloping Site Won’t Keep Us From Having Fun

    On first impression we were not impressed with this park. First the water fill is on an incline so when our tank was “full” pulling away from fill station it was really only 2/3 full. This was okay for a short weekend but not good planning from who ever designed the park. Also our site was labeled slight slope. That was a joke. We were only off 2 inches side to side but front to back we had to lower the front 15 inches. The jack was down as low as it would go and we were still off by 1.5 inches.

    Once the dynamics of filling and setting up were done. We set off to explore the park. It had some really nice hiking trails. We also played some disc golf and went geocaching.

    The camper beach was small but nice and clean. We also took the inflatable kayaks out on the lake twice and it was so smooth and clear.

    The only thing we were unable to do is have a camp fire. The fire ring was pushed so far down in the mud we were unable to get good air flow to start a fire. No campfire no worries the bugs were bad anyway.

    I will definitely come back but not to site 190. To much hassle.

  • K
    Aug. 20, 2020

    Findley State Park Campground

    Clean and great hiking

    Findley state park is well maintained large park! We can easily get lost on 3 mile hikes in the woods and still be on marked paths! The roads are paved and excellent for biking and skating. About half the sites are for tent or dry camping. Half have electric and a few of those have full hookups. We have enjoyed the shade at our site this week and the space between us and our neighbors.

    Shower houses are clean. Canoes and kayaks are available for renting. Many musicians set up camp and would jam out for some live evening music! Everyone was so nice at the campground. We enjoyed our stay.

Guide to Cleveland

Cleveland, Ohio, offers a variety of tent camping options that cater to outdoor enthusiasts looking for a peaceful escape. From scenic parks to unique private sites, there’s something for everyone.

Tent campers appreciate these amenities

Some prices for tent camping range from $0 to $35

Tent campers should check out local activities

Frequently Asked Questions

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

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Cleveland, OH is Heritage Farms with a 4.6-star rating from 10 reviews.

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

TheDyrt.com has all 14 tent camping locations near Cleveland, OH, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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