Best Tent Camping near Coshocton, OH
State parks and forests surrounding Coshocton, Ohio provide several options for tent camping, with Mohican Memorial State Forest offering some of the most secluded tent-only sites in the region. Located about 30 miles northeast of Coshocton, the forest's Park and Pack campsites provide primitive tent camping experiences with numbered sites accessible via short hikes from designated parking areas. Closer to Coshocton, Walhonding Hills Campground in Walhonding and Mohawk Dam Campground near Warsaw offer established tent campsites with varying levels of amenities. These locations provide tent campers with access to the rolling hills and waterways characteristic of east-central Ohio.
Most tent-only sites in the Mohican Memorial State Forest require registration at the ranger station kiosk located on County Road 939 in Perrysville before hiking to the campsite. The Park and Pack sites feature dirt and forest duff surfaces with minimal grading, and campers must bring all necessary water as no potable sources exist at the sites. Fire rings are provided at most locations, though fire restrictions may apply seasonally. Cell service is limited or non-existent at many backcountry tent sites, particularly in valleys. Old Stone Church Campground, south of Coshocton, offers walk-in tent sites with basic amenities including pit toilets and trash receptacles for $15 per night on an honor system.
The walk-in tent sites at Mohican Memorial State Forest provide exceptional seclusion. According to reviews, "Site 10 is about 3/4 of a mile down the trail from the upper parking area, well marked and easy to find with plenty of areas to set up shelter." Another camper noted that Campsite 3 "had plenty of space for tents and hammocks" and was "close enough to hang out by the creek." Some sites require creek crossings that are typically ankle-deep during summer months. Tent campers frequently use these areas as bases for exploring the extensive trail system throughout the forest. For those seeking more developed facilities, Pops Place Camping offers rustic tent camping for $20 with access to clean portable toilets, showers, and drinking water from an outside spigot.