Best Tent Camping near Glenford, OH

Tent camping near Glenford, Ohio provides access to several established campgrounds and backcountry options within the rolling hills of southeastern Ohio. Old Stone Church Campground in Shawnee offers walk-in tent sites with basic amenities including picnic tables, vault toilets, and trash disposal. Approximately 30 minutes south, Zaleski State Forest provides primitive tent-only backcountry sites along well-marked hiking trails. For tent campers seeking more amenities, Pops Place Camping offers rustic tent sites with access to showers and drinking water, while Baileys Trail Tent Camping provides dedicated tent campsites near the Baileys Trail System.

Most tent campgrounds in the area operate on a seasonal basis, with limited or no services during winter months. Old Stone Church Campground uses an honor system for its $15 fee, with a 50% discount for National Parks pass holders. Vault toilets are available at most established sites, though drinking water is limited at primitive locations. Tent campers should be prepared for variable terrain and weather conditions. Fire rings are provided at most designated sites, but firewood availability varies by location. Monday Creek OHV Dispersed camping area offers free primitive tent camping with vault toilets but no drinking water, making it suitable for self-sufficient campers.

Backcountry tent camping in Zaleski State Forest provides a more secluded experience with multiple loop trails averaging 10 miles each. According to reviews, the terrain features "lots of ups and downs, a pond and beautiful rock outcroppings." Campsites fill quickly, especially at popular locations like Camp 2, which serves as a halfway point on the South Loop trail. Scioto Grove Metro Park, though farther from Glenford, offers reservable backpacking sites with tent pads and fire rings. One camper noted it's "great if you're looking to test out some new backpacking gear" with "totally primitive" sites along a river trail. Tent campers should be aware of seasonal conditions, with spring bringing muddy trails and summer months increasing humidity and insect activity.

Best Tent Sites Near Glenford, Ohio (21)

    1. Old Stone Church Campground

    2 Reviews
    New Lexington, OH
    20 miles
    Website

    "Each pull-thru is set-up for horses, but RVs are allowed (according to NFS website)."

    2. Pops Place Camping

    3 Reviews
    Corning, OH
    22 miles
    Website
    +1 (740) 683-3361

    $15 - $125 / night

    "I stayed there Aug 2024 and as of that date the rustic tent camping was $20. "

    "We'd like to welcome Ed and Michelle to our platform. This prime location is 15 minutes from the National Park.  On site drinking water and firewood available."

    4. Geneva Hills - Camp and Event Center

    2 Reviews
    Rockbridge, OH
    22 miles
    Website
    +1 (740) 746-8439

    $35 - $600 / night

    "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."

    5. Monday Creek OHV Dispersed

    2 Reviews
    Nelsonville, OH
    27 miles
    Website

    "Camped at the west side of the vaulted toilet lot. Arrived about 5 PM and all 3 camping spots were empty. Lots of trucks and toy haulers heading up the various roads into the late evening."

    6. Zaleski State Forest

    17 Reviews
    Zaleski, OH
    44 miles
    Website
    +1 (740) 596-5781

    "There's a great loop hike in Zaleski State Forest. High quality trees, nice little hills, cool rock formations. Fine campground for tent-camping (my preferred camping method)."

    "Campsites fill up quickly & areas will be shared. Not all have fire rings. Camp 2 is very popular since it is the halfway point(ish) on the trail. Camp 1 is only a couple miles into the loop."

    8. Benton's on the Baileys

    4 Reviews
    Chauncey, OH
    33 miles
    Website
    +1 (773) 837-0847

    $40 - $125 / night

    "Extremely private primitive camping surrounded by Wayne National Forest and steps from the Baileys Trail System. Fire pit, picnic table and handmade hammock supplied for comfort and convenience."

    "Excellent campground that is tucked out of the way. You have to walk to the site, up a steep hill, but it is very private and quiet. The bathrooms are down the hill too, but very clean and private."

    9. Scioto-Grove Metro Park

    8 Reviews
    Grove City, OH
    38 miles
    Website
    +1 (614) 949-1078

    "Free reserve ahead weekend backpacking campsites. All sites have 2 tent pads, a fire ring and firewood provided."

    "Scioto Grove is great if you're looking to test out some new backpacking gear."

    10. Baileys Trail Tent Camping

    3 Reviews
    Millfield, OH
    34 miles

    "Wonderful little location. We drove for about 3 hours to get from where we are. Nice wide open space surrounded by woods."

    "Spent consecutive months at this location and couldn't have been happier with the host and accomodations. Great for that "far out" feel just outside of town."

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Tent Camping Reviews near Glenford, OH

728 Reviews of 21 Glenford Campgrounds


  • Eira T.
    Jul. 5, 2015

    Burr Oak Cove Campground

    Quiet campground in Wayne National Forest!

    We enjoyed walk-in site #3 during a holiday weekend. The walk-in sites afford more privacy and tree cover than the drive-up sites, where you can see your neighbors on all sides. No showers or sinks, just several vault toilets. Potable water available throughout the camp. Camp sites are $10 a night.

    Neighbors were fairly quiet, and there is one trail that leads down to Burr Oak lake. The trail is 1 mile, but it seems to link up with some longer yellow and green-blazed trails that go around the lake. The campground is also a short drive from the Wildcat Hollow trail head in the Athens Unit of Wayne National Forest

  • Shelly S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 6, 2017

    Blue Rock State Park Campground

    It's moss I think....

    Blue Rock State Park is outside Zanesville, Oh off I70. Rt 60 takes you South and then you have a choice of routes in. Good Ohio farmland scenery.

    Out of the way, small camping area with basic sites. A cool feature is a few of the sites have pavilion type covered patios that you can pitch your tent in to help stay dry during inclimate weather.

    Otherwise the sites are close together. Though there are a few sites that are more off to themselves, they are still wide open with sparse tree cover.

    The restroom is basic, the showerhouse is located at the reservoir beach as well as the camp store and boat rental.The staff was very knowledgeable about the area and conversational.

    Several trails are in the area, the Horse Camp is up the road. In addition to this area there is the Blue Rock State Forest that offers several out door activities, check out their map and site online.

  • Nancy R.
    Jun. 9, 2018

    Alum Creek State Park Campground

    Puzzled Campers

    We had reservations, but didn’t figure out how to check in. The site numbers were very hard to see and figure out. The numbers didn’t appear to be sequential. The worst part for us was that there were no tent pads for pitching the tent. We were there during a very rainy time and had to pitch the tent in a ditch. Water flowed under the tent so we had quite a bit of mud on the bottom of the tent when we packed up. Luckily our tent kept us dry inspite of its location. Space was extremely limited. The picnic table was on the driveway. There was poison ivy less than a foot from our tent. Restrooms and showers were adequate, but toilet paper rolls would fall in the floor if you weren’t careful. All three showers drained into the middle stall making it difficult to keep thing dry.

  • Dave V.
    Oct. 31, 2019

    Hocking Hills State Park Campground

    Close proximity to natural attractions

    Hocking Hills State Park, Oh-Site 89. https://thehockinghills.org/

    Hocking Hills State Park offers close proximity to most of the popular natural attractions...Old Man’s Cave, Ash Cave, Cantwell Cliffs, etc....but for a tent camper that prefers solitude and space, I found it unappealing.

    I did arrive late on a Monday evening, mid-October and got one of the last available sites. Packed on a Monday night!

    I found the camping sites a bit cramped both in depth and width. Site 89 and 90 shared the same parking pad. Limited flat locations existed for a tent and my tent footprint is fairly small. You do have a firepit and picnic table with all three in fairly close proximity, so you must be extremely cautious with wind direction when deciding for a fire, else you’ll have embers dotting your tent and picnic table. Even though the neighbors were trying to be respectfully quiet...you heard every conversation and saw their every move.

    No electric, which is fine in my book...the water spigot is centrally located on the loop and happened to be next to my site.

    The restroom/shower facilities were not well cared for upon my visit. The floors were very muddy and trash was piled up in the corner of one stall and out of necessities.

    Construction and dump truck noise started early with a project behind the restrooms.

    The visitor’s center was well-stocked and the employee was pleasant. Cell service is unavailable and even sketchy at the visitor’s center. Wood can be purchased at the visitor’s center.

    Close proximity to local attractions and a swimming pool are likely the big draw.

    Knowing that I prefer solitude and distance when camping, I’ll likely not return but choose nearby Lake Hope State Park for my local visits.

  • A
    Oct. 18, 2020

    Burr Oak State Park Campground

    Nice trails, not so nice campsites

    Most of the sites at this state park campground are very small and don’t have much level ground. Even the sites meant for RVs and trailers are right on top of each other. It’s almost like they took what should have been one site and made it two. There’s a handful of sites that offer a little space and level ground for tent campers. You may or may not have a picnic table and fire ring with a grill at your campsite when you arrive. According to staff, people take the fire rings and I guess there’s nothing they can do. Bathrooms were clean. The lake view trail was nice and accessible from the campground.

  • Shannon G.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 3, 2020

    A.W. Marion State Park Campground

    A Good Place to Meet is in the Middle

    A new site for us at this campground, site 59 which is an inside site. We also had friends who booked 2 inside sites very nearby so we were able to all set up in the middle and share a large space for 10 people and 7 dogs. We were able to be socially distant, have space for cornhole and lots of room for the dogs. Our site pad was pretty level. My husband went over the pad just a little onto the grass, as the other side sloped. So when we stepped out of the camp, we wouldn't be stepping down on a slope. This is one of the quietest campgrounds we go to even though there is plenty for kids to do (playground). Had the weather been better, we would have brought our kayaks for the lake. You have three different types of restrooms. The ones closest to use are the drop toilets, a little further is a porta potty and the furthest was the flush toilets (no showers). It's our little slice of heaven so we like to try a new site each time if we are able. We take our dogs with us so we have to be a little more picky so we don't bother anyone.

  • Ruby W.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 12, 2019

    Zaleski State Forest

    Ranger Review: Banner & Oak Firebiner at Zaleski South Loop

    Campground Review: With a close friend coming to visit from Spain, I wanted to show her a cool backpacking location in Southeastern Ohio. Zaleski State Forest seemed like a good choice for a new backpacker. There are multiple loops to trek, averaging about 10 miles per loop. Overall the trails are well maintained (minus a few dense areas). There was almost an excessive amount of blazes. Campsites are plentiful along the trails. We stayed at Campsite C. Each site has access to communal well-water and a restroom. Each site usually has a small fire ring and logs to sit on. Overall, the campsites were pretty decent and secluded, but nothing special view wise aside from the typical Ohio forest. I would say pretty overall, but nothing quite outstanding.

    Product Review: The Banner & Oak Firebiner is a neat little tool that has some really fun features! Most notable being the fire starter. The Firebiner uses a small spark wheel and replaceable ferro rod to create sparks. The sparks are pretty large for the little tool. I now use my Firebiner to start my MSR stove quickly and with zero plastic waste! I haven’t used it to try to start a straight up fire, but friends have successfully before. Most importantly, the spark wheel is just darn right fun to play with. The device has other little uses like a bottle opener, utility blade, and screwdriver. I absolutely love this device! Only complaint would be that I wish it came in different colors, but who really cares.

    Here is a link to check out the Firebiner yourself: https://bannerandoak.com/products/banner-and-oak-firebiner?variant=9696793034788&currency=USD&gclid=CjwKCAjwnMTqBRAzEiwAEF3ndu9CmerLos5Y1yvjGHJ2L4FG732wg9bMpyPAJRa3m8dxlxffZ6Nt-RoC6LQQAvD_BwE

  • Lee D.The Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 4, 2022

    Hocking Hills State Park Campground

    Beautiful scenery!

    General: 172-site state park with a mix of full hook-up, electric, and no hook-ups in separate areas plus a 33-site family hike-in camp, two group camps, and three cabins. All sites need to be reserved – no walk-ins are allowed. There is a beautiful visitor center, and the camp office has a small store as well. There is a very nice coin-operated laundry room. Don’t count on cell service– with a fleeting one bar of Verizon, it was just enough to tease us, but the break was also a welcome respite. 

    Site Quality: Standard issue for state parks with paved driveways, picnic table, and fire ring, however, there are a few things to note: Some sites are decidedly not level (#105 is very sloped). 103 and 101 meet at a V at the back end and this impedes the separation between the sites. Our site (103) had a drop-off between the driveway and the rest of the site that could pose a tripping hazard if you are not careful. All of the restrooms emit a hum, but the wastewater treatment facility is very loud and is located directly behind the first 9-10 full hook-up sites. 

    Bathhouse: The restrooms were clean, but the showers were just adequate (not the worst camp shower but definitely not the best I have experienced) but at least there was hot water. 

    Activities: We came for the hiking, and we were not disappointed. This park is gorgeous! We hiked the Blue trail (Grandma Gatewood Trail) to Cedar Falls, taking in Upper and Lower Falls, and Old Man’s Cave along the way, and returned via the Rim Trail, which was much easier (fewer roots and up and down). We received a color-coded map of the trails upon check-in but had difficulty deciphering it, especially the mileage. We went to the Camp Office before starting our hike to get clarity. Once on the trails, they were well-marked with either signs or blazes. While you could do a long hike (12 miles one-way) from one end of the park to the other), don’t miss Ash Cave – we drove there the next morning before leaving. There are also mountain biking trails, two playgrounds (the one more centrally located is a bit dated and does not look very safe but there is a newer, larger one at the very end of the road (near the lake trail) and there are also horseshoe pits and a volleyball net there. In season, there is a large swimming pool. 

    The campground itself gets 3 stars for some of its flaws but the scenery is so beautiful, 4 stars are merited, in my opinion. I would recommend reserving in one of the “spurs” as there would be less traffic.

  • Shannon G.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 7, 2020

    A.W. Marion State Park Campground

    Inside Campsite and Pleasantly Surprised on the Fourth of July!

    After staying one night in non-electric we were able to transfer to an electric site thanks to our great camp hosts. They let us know that one had opened and recommended us to call in the next morning. We were able to get an electric site that was on the inside, a site we would have never chosen otherwise as we have dogs and try to find a space with no one behind us. The site was actually really nice. There was grass and some partial shade. We had room for our ez-up tent, our pop-up bathroom and still room to set up our chairs and walk the dogs without bothering our neighbors. Our friends had the site next to us and they were able to use the trees to hang their hammocks. There was a nice fire ring and the pad was easy to level our a-frame camper. We had another set of neighbors who were in a class A motorhome (it was huge!). Everyone we talked to were very friendly. We were closer to the vault toilets (they were kept clean) and the playground. It was Fourth of July weekend and the campground was really quiet. If you have kayaks, you can drive them down the hill next to the campground to get into the lake. If you like to hike or mountain bike there are trails to use as well.


Guide to Glenford

The forested hills surrounding Glenford, Ohio sit at elevations between 800-1000 feet, creating varied terrain for tent campers seeking both riverside and hilltop experiences. Summer temperatures typically range from 60-85°F with higher humidity levels from June through August. Spring camping often encounters muddy conditions due to the region's clay-rich soil combined with seasonal rainfall.

What to do

Motorcycle touring: Set up base camp at Pops Place Camping for exploring scenic roads including the Triple Nickel. "This is an ideal base camp for riding your motorcycle on the scenic roads in that area of Ohio such as the triple nickel. The owners are very nice people and helpful," notes David M., who adds the campground has "decent gravel for street bikes" at the entrance.

Mountain biking: Access the Baileys Trail System directly from Benton's on the Baileys, where sites are "surrounded by Wayne National Forest and steps from the Baileys Trail System." Keith B. mentions that the "campsite is near the Baileys Bike System," making it convenient for cyclists wanting quick trail access.

Gear testing: For backpackers wanting to test equipment before longer trips, Scioto Grove Metro Park offers an accessible option. "Scioto Grove is great if you're looking to test out some new backpacking gear. There are 5 reservable sites along the river trail," writes Zach, noting the park provides "tent pads and a fire pit."

What campers like

Privacy between sites: At Geneva Hills Camp, tent campers appreciate the natural spacing between sites. "Tent site was nice. We could make dinner and there weren't any mosquitoes even though it was right above a swamp," reports camper A.B., who found it "a neat place to camp" with convenient access to Hocking Hills.

Clean facilities: Campers consistently mention well-maintained bathrooms at many Glenford-area campgrounds. One visitor to Old Stone Church Trailhead called it "Beautiful. Nicely maintained," noting it was "Well marked. Parking can be on side of road or down below where campsites are."

Affordable options: Budget-conscious campers appreciate the accessible pricing at area campgrounds. At Pops Place Camping, "as of August 2024 the rustic tent camping was $20," according to David M., who noted the site includes "porta john and shower" that were "very clean" plus access to drinking water at the shower house.

What you should know

Limited cell service: Many tent sites have variable connectivity. Emily M. at Benton's on the Baileys reports "excellent campground that is tucked out of the way. You have to walk to the site, up a steep hill, but it is very private and quiet."

Dispersed camping considerations: At Monday Creek OHV Dispersed, prepare for truly primitive conditions. "Camped at the west side of the vaulted toilet lot. Arrived about 5 PM and all 3 camping spots were empty," writes Kevin C., who warns about "lots of trucks and toy haulers heading up the various roads into the late evening."

Reservation requirements: The best tent camping near Glenford, Ohio often requires advance planning. For Scioto Grove Metro Park, Anna S. advises that you "need to reserve online, books up very fast," adding she "got lucky and found an opening for site 5 which was right on river and away from the busier parts of park."

Tips for camping with families

Kid-friendly terrain: Zaleski State Forest offers loops appropriate for different age groups. "I have taken my kids for several treks on the lower loop," shares Leon H., adding "You will see lots of wildlife, we have seen salamanders, deer, snakes, a wild turkey even wandered into our camp."

Playground access: Some campgrounds provide dedicated play areas for children. At Pops Place Camping, David M. notes that "The common grass area has wood lounge chairs, common fire ring, playground, and cornhole boards," plus "a basketball backboard near the current cabin if you happen to bring a basketball for your kids to use."

Educational opportunities: Baileys Trail Tent Camping provides an immersive forest setting for nature study. Alex A. describes it as a "nice wide open space surrounded by woods" with "very nice bathroom/shower compared to what we expected," making it suitable for children needing reliable facilities.

Tips from RVers

Pull-through access: RVers with smaller rigs can find limited but accommodating spaces. At Old Stone Church Campground, Tammy F. reported "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)."

Connectivity considerations: Cell service varies significantly between campgrounds. Tammy F. noted at Old Stone Church Campground, "I had good 4G ATT cell service. Worked well, with no drops. Data was a bit slower than usual but still good," which is important for RVers needing connectivity.

Limited hookups: Most sites near Glenford lack full hookups. Tammy F. reports that Old Stone Church has "The only facilities here were a single pit toilet (surprisingly clean) and a trash can at each site," and adds that "There may be more services during the height of the season, at least water for horses, but nothing else I could tell."

Frequently Asked Questions

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

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Glenford, OH is Old Stone Church Campground with a 4.5-star rating from 2 reviews.

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

TheDyrt.com has all 21 tent camping locations near Glenford, OH, with real photos and reviews from campers.