Best Tent Camping near Defiance, OH

Whether you're a tent camper, an RVer, or just passing through, Defiance, OH has a lot to offer. There are tons of hikes and other fun activities to partake in. Experience some of the most stunning views that Ohio camping has to offer. Discover great camping spots near Defiance, reviewed by campers like you.

Best Tent Sites Near Defiance, Ohio (10)

    1. Independence Dam State Park Campground

    4 Reviews
    Defiance, OH
    5 miles
    Website
    +1 (419) 956-1368

    $18 - $25 / night

    "Most sites are on a small elevated bank on maumee river, (you can walk down the path but not put a kayak in)

    There are no hookups, only vault toilets, no staff only very nice camp hosts ( there are next"

    "It's very green with lots of trees and shade cover.  The paved path that goes along the camping sites is very nice and makes for a great walk or bike ride.  "

    2. White Oak Campground

    10 Reviews
    Whitehouse, OH
    34 miles
    Website
    +1 (419) 407-9701

    $30 - $40 / night

    "I set up right at 3 at Site 7 - there's no check-in process or attendant. I hadn't printed my permit, so I wondered if I would get a visit from a ranger but all was quiet."

    "Nice restroom facilities, FREE firewood available. Grey water sinks for dish cleaning. Picnic table and fire ring at each site. Parking is general, but close to each site."

    3. Cannaley Treehouse Village

    1 Review
    Swanton, OH
    33 miles
    Website
    +1 (419) 407-9701

    "I think 1 night is plenty as the site itself doesn't offer a ton of amenities but there are some trails that you can walk/bike without leaving base. They also have showers which is a bonus!"

    4. Wiregrass Lake Metropark

    3 Reviews
    Holland, OH
    39 miles
    Website
    +1 (419) 407-9700

    $20 - $25 / night

    "Wiregrass lake was a very nice camping atmosphere. There are only 3 camping spots around the lake so you’re not packed in like sardines. The atmosphere is very calm, quiet, and relaxing."

    "3 camp sites available near fishable wiregrass lake in wiregrass metropark. Open year round. Firewood provide. Reservation required."

    5. Circle B RV Park and Cabins

    1 Review
    Angola, IN
    44 miles
    Website
    +1 (260) 665-5353

    6. Funny Farm Campground

    Be the first to review!
    Pioneer, OH
    31 miles
    +1 (419) 737-2467

    7. 6 Lakes Campground

    1 Review
    Hillsdale, MI
    44 miles
    Website
    +1 (517) 439-5660

    "Has a boat access, with a beautiful lake. You can go through little canals to get to other parts of the lake. Sites have perfect amount of shade. Defiantly will be going back"

    9. Farnsworth Campground

    Be the first to review!
    Whitehouse, OH
    35 miles
    Website
    +1 (419) 407-9701

    $20 - $30 / night

    10. Rockland Lake

    Be the first to review!
    Millbury, OH
    48 miles
    +1 (419) 360-4391

    $75 - $200 / night

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Recent Tent Camping Photos near Defiance, OH

8 Photos of 10 Defiance Campgrounds


Tent Camping Reviews near Defiance, OH

269 Reviews of 10 Defiance Campgrounds


  • Megan T.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 11, 2019

    White Oak Campground

    Peaceful Greenery

    I had a friend's wedding at The Stables (which I didn't realize was 3 min away) and decided to camp here rather than get a hotel. I set up right at 3 at Site 7 - there's no check-in process or attendant. I hadn't printed my permit, so I wondered if I would get a visit from a ranger but all was quiet. The site was spacious, sandy, and well suited for both tent and hammock. The fire ring was in good condition and fire wood was already stacked. The property was well maintained and the bathrooms clean and cool - the women's did have some standing water from a leaky toilet it looked like. You can hear distant cars and some not so distant planes. Also, while all the sites are wooded the woods are not very thick so you can see and hear your neighbors pretty well. Site number three looks at the most secluded to me while site number four was pretty much in the open beside the bathrooms. Group sites were full sun it appeared. The stream behind my site was dry. Nice map and brochures at the parking area. Sturdy picnic tables.

  • L
    Oct. 15, 2018

    White Oak Campground

    BEAUTIFUL! 10/10 would camp here again!

    Campground is nicely kept, only 5 individual sites, has two group sites. Nice restroom facilities, FREE firewood available. Grey water sinks for dish cleaning. Picnic table and fire ring at each site. Parking is general, but close to each site. We were there on a Monday night, only had one other tent in the campground. Nice flat sand pads for tents to set up on!

    DOWNSIDE: MUST RESERVE ONLINE BEFORE 4PM. There is no walk-up service, and online site goes down after employees go home at night.

  • N
    Apr. 17, 2019

    Indian Springs Campground

    Dirty

    Dirty restrooms. Dirty lake. You have to pay extra to use the slide. Camp sites have been cut in half. Only 1 bathhouse/restrooms all the eay in the front at the beach. On the 2nf day we did find a porta potty in the back but it was nasty and everyone refused to use it. Manager was rude when i could not fit my car, tent (10x20), table and fire ring on out site. Told me o had to move my tent 1 foot over after it was already set up and loaded with beds. She left and I pulled it down and restaked just in time for her to vome and look disappointed that i had followed her order to pull it down and said i did not have to do that. The site was mostly dirt very little to no grass. When it rained we had nothing but mud. Hay rides on the weekend were late and the man driving it went way to fast down the back hill making you feel you were about to fall out. Employees childrwn throwing water on the people riding the hay ride. Someone went around fogging for mosquitos and allowed the children to run and play in the fog. Karaoke lady was extremely rude to all the children.

  • Marg B.
    Jun. 14, 2018

    Lake Hudson Recreation Area

    Beautiful Nature, Dark Sky Rustic Camping

    Lake Hudson is a dark sky preserve full of trees, nature and a beautiful lake. The camping sites come with an electric plug in, a nice fire ring and a picnic table. They are cute sites. Most are not by the lake. There is a dumpster. The facilities are rustic. The facilities are port a potty type with wooden walls and cement floor. No showers. A hand pump well for water. The swimming part of the lake requires a drive. The Lake is beautiful with a sand beach, no wake boating and grills. However it is rustic so there is goose poo. The woods are beautiful. There is hunting. We had heard that some people partied there but the night we were there it was quiet and people were respectful. We had a beautiful fire and dutch oven dinner. We saw one cute racoon who ran away when I reacted. We were worried about mosquitos but we only saw one.

  • J
    Oct. 6, 2019

    Wiregrass Lake Metropark

    Great local camping area

    Wiregrass lake was a very nice camping atmosphere. There are only 3 camping spots around the lake so you’re not packed in like sardines. The atmosphere is very calm, quiet, and relaxing. The lake offers great fishing opportunities and doubles as a nice spot to sit by the water, enjoy the local wildlife and relax. Each site has a raised gravel pad for your tent, a picnic table, fire ring, and a trash and free wood box that is fully stocked. If your looking for a camping experience without being surrounded by a whole bunch of people this is it

  • A
    Dec. 8, 2020

    Independence Dam State Park Campground

    Hidden gem for the right people

    This park is great for the right kind of trips, we visit here often in the summer to enjoy the river, kayak , and relax. Most sites are on a small elevated bank on maumee river, (you can walk down the path but not put a kayak in)

    There are no hookups, only vault toilets, no staff only very nice camp hosts ( there are next to site 11 ). 

    Sites 1-6 are misleading on the site, they are not on the river bend, there is a gravel trail/road between them and the river bank. its not a huge deal for access but annoying if your expecting direct access. 

    Sites 9 and 10 were not bookable in 2020 an hopefully remain that way, they are basically in front on the camp host site, so the camp host is between you and the river. 

    Sites 11-15 are the best in my opinion 

    Site 13 has direct access to the river on a small walking path.

    Site 15 is our favorite, it has the most room and still has a small path down to the river.

  • Cheryl M.
    May. 8, 2018

    Lake Hudson Recreation Area

    Lakeside, privacy & low priced!

    50 sites separated by thick trees, 11 are on the lake side with trails thru woods to lake (not really 'lakeview' from inside camper). Swimming, boating, kayaking, fishing, sand beaches & more on a good size lake with tons of inlets & curvy shorelines.

    $20/nt in 2018. All are 20/30 amp, no water, no sewer. Several spigots in camp area, no dump station... nearby one at Hayes State Park. Vault toilets (didn't use as we have in camper). Boat launch. Very pretty lake & views, peaceful. Info/reserve at https://www.midnrreservations.com/LakeHudsonRecreationArea?Map

    Note1: LONG RV's 31'+ would fit in a lot of the sites, but sites say up to 30'. We had approx 40-45' space from road to treeline.

    Note2: DARK SKY PARK designation so enjoy the amazing night star views! They do ask you to keep blinds & drapes closed and exterior lights off or to a minimum.

    Note3: Extension or long electrical cords may be needed, as boxes are at back end and halfway to next site over.

  • Shannon G.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 2, 2025

    Van Buren State Park Campground

    Small and peaceful

    We stayed one night on our way to IN. We’ve never been here before and wanted to check it off our list. It’s a small campground with one side as equestrian and the other side not. All sites had electric and water, no full hookup. There were only drop toilets and no showers. They were clean but I don’t think I’d want to do more than a weekend there. It had a nice playground for kids and plenty of trails to hike or go horseback riding. They also had a dog park and small wildflower garden. The check in cabin had ice and wood for sale but no store. Our site was really nice. The pads were recently paved and had a huge bumper at the end. The fire ring was nice and the site had plenty of space for tents.

  • C
    Jul. 5, 2022

    Lake Hudson Recreation Area

    Lake Hudson Rec Area

    Site 16. We stayed here over the weekend of July 4th. The road to get in is a dusty road that’s is very bumpy. It’s a rustic campground with no water or dump station, so make sure you bring water and have a plan for dumping. We used the RV dump station at the Loves Truck Stop in Marshall, MI on our way home which is an hour west of the campground off of I-94 for $10. We were told that you could use Hayes State Park which is 30 mins away as a place for dumping as well. There is only a hand pump to use to get water in front of the campground so make sure you bring jugs for filling. There are a few sites and a cabin in the lake with a pretty view. The mosquitoes and gnats were terrible so make sure you bring bug spray and a fan when hanging out outside. There is no firewood available for sale, but there is someone up the road who sales it for a decent price. The site itself is big as it fit our 32 foot travel trailer. It does connect to the site on the other side of you and the back of you. The electric box for your neighbor is also in the back of this site. No playground for kids, but lots of hiking trails which we biked too the beach and boat launch. There is also a place to fish at the boat launch, where we caught sunfish, large and small mouth bass. There is also 1 geocaching spot too. We will definitely come back. We had a great time!


Guide to Defiance

Tent camping near Defiance, Ohio, offers a variety of scenic locations and outdoor activities for nature enthusiasts. With well-reviewed campgrounds, you can enjoy the beauty of the outdoors while engaging in various recreational pursuits.

Tent campers should check out local activities

  • At Independence Dam State Park Campground, visitors can enjoy kayaking and fishing along the Maumee River, making it a perfect spot for water lovers.
  • White Oak Campground features hiking and biking trails, along with a playground for kids, ensuring a fun-filled family outing.
  • For a unique experience, Cannaley Treehouse Village offers trails for walking and biking, allowing campers to explore the natural surroundings right from their base.

Amenities that enhance your camping experience

Features that make these campgrounds stand out

Frequently Asked Questions

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

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Defiance, OH is Independence Dam State Park Campground with a 3.8-star rating from 4 reviews.

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

TheDyrt.com has all 10 tent camping locations near Defiance, OH, with real photos and reviews from campers.