Best Tent Camping near Columbus, OH
Looking for tent camping near Columbus? The Dyrt helps you find campsites with tent camping near Columbus. Each tent campsite offers quick access to one or more of Columbus's most popular destinations.
Best Tent Sites Near Columbus, OH (12)
1. Scioto-Grove Metro Park
Grove City, Ohio8 Reviews•13 Photos•98 SavesScioto Grove Metro Park is a 620-acre park along the Scioto River with mature forests and scenic bluffs overlooking the river. It features more than seven miles of trails, two picnic areas with shelters, tables and grills, a kids play area and several overlook decks. The park is located on a scenic bend of the Scioto River and is a great destination for canoeists, kayakers, anglers and people wanting to see waterfowl and other wildlife. Dogs on leashes are welcome throughout the park, which also features a sledding hill. Thanks to a generous donation of 193 acres of land from the City of Grove City, funds from the State of Ohio Clean Ohio Program, and passage of a property tax levy by Franklin County voters, Metro Parks has developed this park for people of all ages and abilities to experience nature and enjoy quality time with family and friends. Additional support came from outdoor retailer REI to construct a backpack trail along the river for those just getting into the sport, as well as those seasoned backpackers who want a quick overnight without having to journey several hours.
- Pets
- Fires
- Phone Service
- Reservable
- Tents
- Trash
2. Geneva Hills - Camp and Event Center
Rockbridge, Ohio2 Reviews•3 Photos•5 SavesProviding a place for all God's children to grow in Faith, Fellowship and Fun through Christ-centered camps and outdoor ministries. Located in the beautiful Hocking Hills in southern Fairfield County, Ohio, it is a quick and convenient drive that feels a million miles away - providing the serenity and connection with God's creation that only being emerged in nature can provide. Learn more about who we are, what we do and how you can participate in or support our work. As a non-profit with a seasonal mission, we still must maintain our facilities throughout the year to allow us to adequately support our mission. Lodging is a great way to help support our camp and help us cover our basic costs throughout the year while enjoying the outdoor experience and facilities that Geneva Hills has to offer.
- Pets
- Fires
- Phone Service
- Reservable
- ADA Access
- Tents
$35 - $600 / night
3. Old Stone Church Campground
New Lexington, Ohio2 Reviews•6 Photos•14 SavesThe horse camp has ten sites are provided at the campground, each with a 45' long by 15' wide parking space. Two sites are fully accessible for people with disabilities. Each site has a covered paddock, fire pit, grill, and tent pad.
- ADA Access
- Tents
- Group
- Equestrian
- Standard (Tent/RV)
- Trash
4. Old Stone Church Trailhead
New Lexington, Ohio1 Review•2 Photos•23 SavesPrimitive camping is allowed at no charge at the Old Stone Church Trailhead.
This trailhead is part of the Stone Church Horse Trail System. Named for the skeletal ruins of an old stone church nearby, the Stone Church Horse Trail System provides a great opportunity for scenic riding on 21 miles of trails. Various loops for other distances are available. The horse trail winds through the rolling hills of the Wayne National Forest. The trails will lead you through a variety of vegetation: open fields, brushland, mature forest, and new forest. Along the way, you may glimpse wildlife, and will recognize the influence of humans, both now and in the past. You will also pass many of our land management activities.
- Pets
- Fires
- Tents
- Group
- Standard (Tent/RV)
- Alcohol
5. Waters Edge Canoe Livery
Chillicothe, Ohio1 Review•3 Photos•27 Saves- Pets
- Fires
- Phone Service
- Reservable
- ADA Access
- Tents
$12 / night
6. Merritt Site
Be the first to review!Clarence J. Brown Dam and Reservoir, Ohio•2 SavesThis recreation area is part of Clarence J. Brown Dam and Reservoir
- Tents
7. SaltCreek Retreats
Be the first to review!Adelphi, Ohio•1 SaveLocation, Location, Location! In the heart of the Hocking Hills, high up on the top of the hills overlooking the SaltCreek Valley. We offer our Family Farm with dry off grid camping in Mini convertible A frame cabins, dry camping cabin, yurt, dispersed camping & full service cabin home. We offer acres of private land with hiking trails, the Salt Creek for swimming & fishing, bikes available to share, firewood cut & stacked on site. We provide all the necessities for enjoying a camping trip without you having to lift a finger. We provide Comfy beds, linens, propane heaters, chuck camp box with all your culinary needs, lanterns, flashlights, maps of area attractions & supported businesses. Let’s not forget you will be in the middle of the woods where all the birds and animals live. That includes, flying insects, ants, stink bugs, skunks, raccoons, fox, coyote, deer, birds, bats and Hillbillies.
We are 20 minutes from The Caves, 5 minutes to a full service Village with grocery store, butcher shops, gas stations, 5 restaurants & banking needs. Luxury camping at its best.
- Pets
- Fires
- Phone Service
- Reservable
- Tents
- Cabins
$50 - $225 / night
9. Caveman's Retreat
Be the first to review!South Bloomingville, Ohio•2 Saves- Electric Hookups
- Tents
- Cabins
$32 / night
10. Stone Church Horseback Riding System
Be the first to review!New Lexington, Ohio•2 SavesNamed for the skeletal ruins of an old stone church nearby, the Stone Church Horse Trail System provides a great opportunity for scenic riding. Various loops for other distances are available. The horse trail winds through the rolling hills of the Wayne National Forest. The trails will lead you through a variety of vegetation- open fields, brushland, mature forest, and new forest. Along the way, you may glimpse wildlife, and will recognize the influence of humans, both now and in the past. You will also pass many of our land management activities. The trailhead provides a camp specifically for equestrians and 21 miles of scenic riding. The horse camp has ten sites are provided at the campground, each with a 45' long by 15' wide parking space. Two sites are fully accessible for people with disabilities. Each site has a covered paddock, fire pit, grill, and tent pad.
- Tents
Recent Tent Reviews in Columbus
642 Reviews of 12 Columbus Campgrounds
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Tammy F.
Guide
Old Stone Church Campground
Easy Access - Mostly Quiet
Easy pull-thru site for our small travel trailer. Each pull-thru is set-up for horses, but RVs are allowed (according to NFS website). Maybe because it was Halloween night, maybe due to hunting season, I dunno, but there seemed to be more traffic than expected for this road. Our only neighbors got a little... rowdy, but it was okay.
Campsite fee is $15 on the honor system. If you have a National Park's Golden Age or Access pass, they honor a 50 percent discount.
I had good 4G ATT cell service. Worked well, with no drops. Data was a bit slower than usual but still good.
The only facilities here were a single pit toilet (surprisingly clean) and a trash can at each site. There may be more services during the height of the season, at least water for horses, but nothing else I could tell.
A short distance further down the road, just after it turns to gravel, at the Old Stone Church trailhead, there are grassy places to back in smaller campers/RVs. And even further down the road, after it turns back to asphalt :D, there's a private campground with utilities, I think, but we only saw it and didn't check it out.
Lee D.
Legend
Delaware State Park Campground
Large, well-laid-out park on the Delaware Reservoir
General: 214-site campground, all with electric hookups. Campsites are in four loops.
Site Quality: All sites are paved and appeared to be level. A fire ring, picnic table, and electric hookup complete each site. Generous foliage provides separation between most sites.
Bath/Shower: Fully contained all-gender units in the third loop. Each one has a bench and a baby changing station. Soap and air dryers. A more traditional bath/shower house was in the fourth loop (don’t know about the first two loops).
Activities/Amenities: Several hiking trails (but it was raining when we were there so didn’t explore), a small putt-putt course (free use of putters and balls), disc golf, shuffleboard, basketball, tennis, and a small camper store. Each loop has a playground and other recreational options (i.e. volleyball net). The marina offers water toy rentals.
My five-star rating is based on the possibility of what our stay might have been if the weather had cooperated! Unfortunately, it was cold and rainy during our stay in June. We will definitely be back again to take advantage of the marina rentals.
- Dave B.Guide
Hocking Hills State Park Campground
Crown Jewel of Ohio
Autumn is the best time to experience this Park. Less crowded than summer. 5 million visitors last year. More than Yellowstone. Guided hike was the best.
Brad H.
Traveler
Mt Gilead State Park Campground
Store didn't open for the first two days we were here.
The store and check in office weren't open to check in or get the wifi password.
- Brad H.Traveler
Mt Gilead State Park Campground
Small but busy. Pretty close to 95. A little loud at times. Hard to find the office open.
Heated bathroom was nice.
- BBethGuide
John Bryan State Park Campground
Great, Small Campground
Campground is small with all you need. Shower house. Potable water. Dump station. Nearness to wonderful trails in the SP and Clifton Gorge. Just beautiful. Near picturesque Yellow Springs. Which has the BEST pizza at Bentinos
Dan M.Traveler
Cross Creek Camping Resort
Nice spot in a good location.
Sites are pretty close together and mostly permanent, but it’s in a good location and decent amenities. Our site needed maintenance but overall, it was a good week.
- AA B.Traveler
Geneva Hills - Camp and Event Center
Would stay again
Tent site was nice. We could make dinner and there weren’t any mosquitoes even though it was right above a swamp. It was a nice driving distance from Hocking Hills and a neat place to camp.
- DDjakata S.Guide
Hocking Hills State Park Campground
Best place
This is a great place to visit and camp. I am a tent camper so I was in the non electric site. The hiking is fantastic. Rose lake is also a wonderful lake and quite beautiful. Will always come back
- JJohn M.
Scout
Rustic Knolls Campground
Great campground
Excellent campground with fantastic staff and owners. Nice swimming pond with inflatable attractions. Well stocked camp store. Lots of activities for the whole family.
- Dan M.Traveler
Cross Creek Camping Resort
Nice place, lot of seasonal camps
Roads are pretty tight and spots are on the smallish side but not too bad. Most sites are seasonal campers and the non-seasonal sites are kept up very good. We stayed at a Premium pull-thru and the brick patio was very uneven causing me to trip several times. The brick fire ring was overgrown with weeds and grass coming thru the bricks and half of it was a 6-8 inch drop-off.... imagine falling off at night! This was site#133 the neighboring sites didn't look as bad. We would consider staying again at a different site. We camped at Cross Creek Camping Resort in a Fifth Wheel
Wailym C.
Ranger
Alum Creek State Park Campground
Road Noise
First time visiting this state campground and we only stayed one night, did not explore entire park. Grounds well maintained, clean and decent amenities. The sites are well placed and a good size. But no water view on any of the “premium water view” sites in loop L, other than one L17 (the picture with view) Same for loop K. Guests and hosts were friendly and welcoming. Quiet except for the road noise due to nearby busy roads. The boat launch to lake access is very nice with plenty of parking and space. Not bad for a stop when traveling through or a weekend. We stayed with 34’ camper. Site L15 (picture with red truck)
afshar Y.Scout
Hocking Hills KOA Holiday
Awesome stay
Stayed with the family for 5 days/ 4 nights and had a wonderful time. The KOA had a lot of amenities to offer. The staff was friendly, courteous and great to deal with. The sites were nice and wide but not all level but it's an area that has lots of hills. The pool was wonderful, the bathroom was clean and spacious. The camp store has everything you may need with a Walmart 10 minutes down the road. Close to the park to go explore but the KOA had a lot to offer for your stay.
Kyle B.Scout
Hocking Hills Camping & Canoe
New Ownership and its amazing!!!
This campground has been a staple of Hocking Hills for decades. Finally some new owners took over in May ‘24 and have really done an amazing job renovating things. The staff is super friendly, large primitive campsites right on the river with tons of shade trees! They are even building treehouses to stay in. We love it here!
Anna S.Ranger
Scioto-Grove Metro Park
Great for a quick getaway
Need to reserve online, books up very fast. Got lucky and found an opening for site 5 which was right on river and away from the busier parts of park - didn’t see a single person. Nice tent pads, campfire ring, and provided wood.
Brianna L.Scout
Campbell Cove Camping
The perfect family campground !
This is our first time staying at a non state park. I was a little nervous, but I already booked our next visit here ! To start, the staff are absolutely amazing and so kind. We stayed at site 61 and the lake view is perfect. Bring your hammock because there are plenty of trees !!
There is a great playground for kids and a swimming hole. The bathrooms are so clean. You can kayak on the lake and they do have rentals .
- Kevin C.Ranger
Campbell Cove Camping
Wonderfully well kept campground
This is a very nice campground near all of the attractions of Hocking Hills, Ohio. We had full hookups that were excellent, but if we didn't there were several new restrooms throughout the grounds. The camp store has the usual stuff you'll find and is always seems to have a friendly attendant behind the counter. There are several fun things for the kids to do, including a very large bounce pad and a pretty nice looking playground. There's a somewhat small swimming area, but it seems to be pretty clean for a pond. The campground is right on Lake Logan and there's access to the water at the bottom of the grounds. There's also boat rentals right around the corner.
- JJason G.Guide
Tomorrow's Stars RV Resort
Easy Layover and Kid Friendly
Tomorrow Stars Campground is an excellent layover off I-70, offering a family-friendly and quiet atmosphere. The campground features a pool and boasts clean, well-maintained facilities. The staff goes above and beyond to provide assistance, ensuring a pleasant stay for all visitors. With easy in and out pull-through, level sites, Tomorrow Stars Campground guarantees a hassle-free experience for travelers.
- JJoe I.Guide
Dillon State Park Campground
Nice spacious campsites
First time at this park booked last minute so options were limited wasn't sure what leftovers we would get but ended up with 2 great sites. We lucked out and had 2 trees just right for hammock relaxing but it seems like lots of sites have no trees just depends on the section of park not alot of privacy between. Sites but there huge so you don't feel stuffed in next to everyone. Shower houses are limited 1 in each section but plenty of flush bathrooms located all over and kept very clean. Internet works very well verizon and att.
- ssamantha H.Traveler
Jackson Lake Park
It’s was pretty decent
So originally I was not super thrilled when we arrived but that changed quickly. We booked last minute on a holiday weekend and had like 2 options for a spot. I wasn’t happy with our spot but again that’s my own fault. I would definitely book ahead and look at the map to find a good spot. Some are very close to neighbors. Others are really nice. I was upset The pool was not open since there was no post about it being closed and the website says it would be open the weekend of Memorial Day. So I went into everything with a pretty crappy attitude. THEN, we went to the lake and at the desk was the new managers. They have only had it for 2 weeks now. They were super super sweet. She told us that they really did everything in their power to have the pool open and it just did not work out. They worked really hard to get it fixed and it needs to cure for like a week. I believe she said. So completely NOT their fault. Again they have only been there 2 weeks. We met some seasonal people and they were super nice as well. Our kids made friends quickly. The little lake was so much fun. My children were upset we had to leave early due to the storm coming in. We did not want to travel back in the storm. However I could have paid 100 dollars more and got into the jellystone park. I don’t think I recommend our spot though. It was on a corner which was nice but so small, no shade, fire pit was so little, no picnic table or anything. But if the pool was up, it would have been better.
- CChris A.Guide
Alum Creek State Park Campground
Large Established State Park
Very well maintained, established state park. Sites are paved, level, and generally ample in space. Ample shade and privacy if needed. Amenities include boating, fishing, disc golf, MTB trails, live music select evenings, etc. Facilities are cleaned regularly. Staff are friendly and helpful..
- Kim H.Scout
Deer Creek Camping Resort
Generous Sites!
We stayed two nights in #184. Our site was HUGE! The pad was very level, so setting up the TT was quick and easy.
We checked one restroom and one wash house: both were in good condition and quite clean. Lysol was in the air.
The lake was pretty. Watching the herons was relaxing.
The people in our section were courteous. All seemed to obey the quiet hours.
The only negative was the lack of a central fresh water fill station. Spigots are dispersed throughout the camp, which means sitting in the road for as long as it takes to fill your tank. Fortunately, we had a spigot by our site, so we could fill once we parked.
We'll definitely be back.
- GGin R.Traveler
Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park at Dogwood Valley
Overpriced
Used to love to camp there but it is getting so crowded and overpriced. Bring a life jacket or you will get charged to use theirs in the lake, which is also a charge.
- JJoe I.Guide
Alum Creek State Park Campground
Great park
Been here before came back because we liked it so much. Sites are good sized compared to alot of state parks good for tent and rv. Cell service is good, bathrooms are older and could use updating but are decently clean for use.
- ssamantha H.Traveler
Campbell Cove Camping
Cute little spot fun for kids
This place was really cute. I personally feel like it was a little too open for my liking. I’d rather feel like I’m out in the woods more and maybe a little bit more space between you and your neighbor . However, it was nice. One of the gentlemen that worked there I think also stays during the season. His name is Steve. He is super friendly and helpful. He taught my kids some fishing tricks ! And don’t get me started on the bathrooms!! I have NEVER seen such amazing, clean, nice bathrooms at a campground we decided to use their shower instead of our camper shower ! 
Cody M.Traveler
Buckeye Run Farm
Absolutely Wonderful!
One of the best trips I've ever gone on! We went here for the solar eclipse. Absolute beautiful farm with plenty of space for various tents and a gorgeous cabin. Adorable and friendly variety of animals. We loved the donkeys and horses! Very cute little bar with plently to stare at and read. The best part about all of it is the host, shes a absolute joy to be around and very kind! We cannot wait to possibly come back in the summer!!
BonnieScoutHidden Lakes Campground
Trashy, dumb with potholes everywhere, drug$ everywhere
We had owned a property and it got stolen l
Guide to Columbus
Tent camping near Columbus, Ohio offers a variety of scenic spots where nature lovers can unwind and enjoy the great outdoors. With options ranging from public parks to private retreats, there's something for every type of camper.
Tent campers appreciate these amenities
- At Scioto-Grove Metro Park, campers can enjoy drinking water, firewood, and sanitary dump facilities, making it a convenient choice for a weekend getaway.
- Geneva Hills - Camp and Event Center provides picnic tables and showers, ensuring a comfortable camping experience even in the wild.
- Waters Edge Canoe Livery features a market and water hookups, perfect for those looking to combine camping with water activities.
Some prices for tent camping range from $0 to $15
- Camping at Old Stone Church Trailhead is free, making it an excellent option for budget-conscious campers.
- The fee for a site at Old Stone Church Campground is $15, which is collected on the honor system.
- Merritt Site does not allow reservations and has no amenities, making it a true back-to-basics experience for adventurous campers.
Local activities to enjoy while tent camping
- Explore the beautiful trails and scenic views at Scioto-Grove Metro Park, which offers a peaceful environment right by the river.
- Caveman's Retreat serves as a great base for ziplining adventures in the nearby Hocking Hills area.
- Enjoy kayaking or canoeing at Waters Edge Canoe Livery, where you can paddle along the creek and soak in the natural beauty.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Columbus, OH?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Columbus, OH is Scioto-Grove Metro Park with a 4.3-star rating from 8 reviews.
What is the best site to find tent camping near Columbus, OH?
TheDyrt.com has all 12 tent camping locations near Columbus, OH, with real photos and reviews from campers.