Best Tent Camping near Grover Hill, OH

Tent campsites near Grover Hill, Ohio include several well-established options within driving distance. Independence Dam State Park Campground offers tent-specific sites along the Maumee River, while White Oak Campground provides a more secluded tent camping experience with wooded sites. Both locations accept tent campers year-round and feature basic amenities suitable for primitive camping experiences.

White Oak Campground maintains clean tent-only sites with sandy, flat tent pads that accommodate various tent sizes. Most tent sites include fire rings with free firewood provided, a unique amenity that several reviewers highlighted. The campground offers flush toilets, dish washing stations with hot water, and good spacing between sites for privacy. According to one visitor, "The sites are very nicely spaced and shaded, and not right on the parking lot." Road access is straightforward for most vehicles, though some sites require a short walk from the parking area to reach the tent pad.

Tent campers at Independence Dam State Park experience riverfront camping with varying levels of seclusion. Sites 11-15 provide the best tent camping experience with some offering direct access to the river via small walking paths. The terrain consists primarily of elevated sites on a small bank overlooking the Maumee River. A review noted that "most sites are on a small elevated bank on maumee river, you can walk down the path but not put a kayak in." The campground features vault toilets that are regularly maintained but lacks shower facilities, making it best suited for self-sufficient tent campers. Some road noise may be noticeable from the nearby two-lane highway. Both campgrounds connect to hiking trails, with White Oak offering access to the 15.5-mile Scout Trail loop and other paths through Oak Openings, providing extended backcountry hiking opportunities for tent campers seeking day adventures.

Best Tent Sites Near Grover Hill, Ohio (6)

    1. Independence Dam State Park Campground

    4 Reviews
    Defiance, OH
    21 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
    49 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."

    4. Cannaley Treehouse Village

    1 Review
    Swanton, OH
    50 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!"

    5. Funny Farm Campground

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

    6. Farnsworth Campground

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

    $20 - $30 / night

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Recent Tent Camping Photos near Grover Hill, OH

8 Photos of 6 Grover Hill Campgrounds


Tent Camping Reviews near Grover Hill, OH

247 Reviews of 6 Grover Hill Campgrounds


  • Napunani
    Jun. 26, 2022

    Indian Lake State Park Campground

    FHUs Sites in a field

    PROS 

    Able to reserve 144 days prior to arriving 

    Very nice campground but the design leaves a lot to be desired 

    Friendly camp hosts who were busy picking up trash in common areas and cleaning sites Moveable picnic table 

    Metal fire ring with cooking grate 

    Site D45 level asphalt parking pad surrounded by grass 

    Great view of lake from D loop; some had water access at rear of site 

    Quiet except for campground party animals who kept it going into the wee hours of the morning 

    Coin-operated laundromats in non FHU loops $1.50 wash and $1 dry 

    Free WIFI available and able to connect at campsite 

    Dump Stations at Park exit have complimentary hoses 

    Camp store sells hard dipped ice cream 

    14 miles from the Airstream Service Center in Jackson Center 

    CONS 

    No senior discount

    $6.50 reservation fee for self made on-line reservation 

    Basically the FHU loops are out in a field…no privacy from neighbors and no shade what so ever 

    Grass around sites desperately needed mowed, if you could get thru the large mud puddles 

    FHU loop D has narrow roads and require driving on grass to back in trailer and some campers in other sites had to move their vehicles 

    Short length of campsite required creative parking of tow vehicle 

    Damn Canadian Geese poop every...what a mess! 

    Site number on electric utility box 

    FHU sewer connection at the back of the campsite so bring the looooong stinky slinky FHU loop D had tiny toilet building, but no showers; showers were in non-FHU loops 

    No entry gate personnel on a Friday afternoon to accomplish check-in. Went to park office next morning and was informed no check in required prior to Memorial Day. Never saw a Park ranger driving thru campground

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • S
    Sep. 11, 2025

    Mary Jane Thurston State Park Campground

    Lots to do here

    The camp sites on the river are excellent. Some sights are by the highway. They are still nice, but lots of road noise. There is no water at the camp sites, but water is available. There are no shower facilities. There are great hiking trails and a nice frisbee golf course.

  • Shannon G.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 3, 2025

    Indian Lake State Park Campground

    Lots of sites

    Our pad was not level front to back so we had to adjust a little bit. The fire ring was nice but our picnic table was beat up. I went to move it and the seat pulled right off. We stayed on a Sunday night so it wasn’t packed. There are a ton of sites. Some had great shade and others didn’t have any at all. The bathrooms were flush toilets and they did have shower houses too. The camp store is really big and it’s right next to their pool. They have a dog park, place to dock your boat and a small beach. I would imagine this would be a pretty busy during the summer.

  • 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.

  • Andrea F.The Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 30, 2020

    Grand Lake St. Marys State Park — Grand Lake St Marys State Park

    Off Season and No Water

    We love camping in the off season but with that comes closures. Some sections of the campgrounds might not be open, no camp hosts and limited bathrooms and showers houses. This is to be expected, but when I called the morning of our trip to make sure potable water was available and I was told yes it was only to drive 2 hours and realized they were wrong. No water 🙁. This would not have been a peas we have dry camped before but all the bathrooms were closed as well.

    After called the park ranger he did let us get some water at the maintenance building so we were at least able to finish the weekend. Lesson learned always pull with at least some water.

    Now back to the campground itself was nice and clean. Site are a little close together. The biggest down side is you are there to enjoy the lake but the lake had algae warnings everywhere not to go near the water.

    They do have a dog park, pool and splash pad when in season and a marina. Also they have WiFi and good cell coverage.


Guide to Grover Hill

Tent camping near Grover Hill, Ohio places visitors in the northwestern Ohio countryside with elevations ranging from 700-800 feet above sea level. The region features a mix of agricultural landscapes and forested areas with summer temperatures typically ranging from 60°F at night to 85°F during daytime hours. Campgrounds in this area generally receive 36-40 inches of annual rainfall, with most concentrated during spring and early summer months.

What to do

Kayaking on Maumee River: Independence Dam State Park Campground offers direct river access from several locations, making it ideal for water activities. According to Amanda M., "You can walk down the path but not put a kayak in" at most sites, but there is "an opening near the middle of the campsite which allows access, along with access for kayaks," notes Andy K.

Biking on paved trails: White Oak Campground features a paved path system excellent for cycling through wooded areas. As Kevin K. explains, "We loved the hiking, bike trails, playground at Mallard lake area, and the kids liked exploring the sand dune area."

Hiking local trail networks: The Oak Openings region offers extensive hiking opportunities with varied terrain. Cassandra C. shares, "I camped at this campground after completing the 15.5 mile Scout Trail loop (aka 'Hiking Trail' and Yellow trail) that runs through Oak Openings. I was able to park my car here in the morning, hop on the trail (which runs right through the campground), and return later in the day."

What campers like

Free firewood supply: White Oak Campground provides complimentary firewood, a rare amenity among public campgrounds. Megan T. notes, "The fire ring was in good condition and fire wood was already stacked," while Chadwick mentions "extra fire wood available to purchase (we had 2 bundles waiting for us at our campsite)."

Camping among unique ecosystems: The Oak Openings area contains rare sand dunes and pine forests within a small area. Sherrie W. describes, "Oak openings has everything from pine tree forests to sand dunes. The sites were nice for primitive camping."

Clean facilities: Campgrounds maintain well-kept amenities despite their rustic settings. Abby B. reports, "Extremely clean bathrooms, dish washing station, and free firewood," adding that "There are free showers available at the Wheel House (5min drive) at the Beach Ridge area of the park by the tree houses."

What you should know

Limited staffing at some locations: Independence Dam State Park Campground operates with minimal personnel. Lee D. notes, "There did not seem to be any staff or rangers on-site and there is self-registration," while Amanda M. mentions, "There are no hookups, only vault toilets, no staff only very nice camp hosts (there are next to site 11)."

Reserve online before arrival: Walk-up camping may not be available at some locations. Lisa T. cautions, "MUST RESERVE ONLINE BEFORE 4PM. There is no walk-up service, and online site goes down after employees go home at night."

Ambient noise considerations: Proximity to roads and airports affects sound levels at campsites. Kevin K. mentions, "There definitely is some road noise from 295 nearby and we did hear and see one plane in the morning but we were already up eating breakfast so it didn't bother us." Andy K. adds that "the two lane traffic road is within 50-100 yards of the campsite, so the sound of vehicle traffic is quite frequent, especially since this road appears to be a favorite of motorcyclists."

Tips for camping with families

Site selection for maximum space: Cannaley Treehouse Village provides unique accommodations for families with young children. Leah R. shares, "This little village was so much fun for my 2 little people! 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."

Playground access: Several campgrounds feature play areas within driving distance. Kevin K. mentions his family "loved the hiking, bike trails, playground at Mallard lake area" during their tent camping experience.

Site flatness matters: For easier tent setup with children, choose sites carefully. Abby B. advises, "Sites 2 and 8 seemed to be the most flat," which helps when setting up multiple tents for family members.

Tips from RVers

Limited hookup options: Most campgrounds near Grover Hill primarily accommodate tent camping with few RV amenities. Lee D. explains, "The rates seemed kind of steep ($19 on weekdays; $20 weekends and $22 on holiday weekends) for sites with no hookups and only porta-potties."

Site access considerations: Some areas have parking limitations for larger vehicles. Megan T. notes, "Parking is general, but close to each site," while Lisa T. adds, "Parking is general, but close to each site. Nice flat sand pads for tents to set up on!"

Campervans vs. larger RVs: Independence Dam State Park has limited options for camper vans and small RVs. Lee D. reports, "The website indicated the sites were tent only but when I called, I was told we could park and sleep in our campervan... Turns out that there were only a very few sites that had paved pads that would accommodate our van; the rest were clearly for tents only."

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Grover Hill, OH?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Grover Hill, 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 Grover Hill, OH?

TheDyrt.com has all 6 tent camping locations near Grover Hill, OH, with real photos and reviews from campers.