Best Tent Camping near Guysville, OH

Tent campers visiting Guysville, Ohio can find several established campgrounds within Wayne National Forest and surrounding areas. Zaleski State Forest offers a popular backpacking trail system with designated tent camping areas, while Monday Creek OHV Dispersed camping provides free primitive tent sites. Baileys Trail Tent Camping and Benton's on the Baileys both offer tent-specific sites near the Baileys Trail System, approximately 10 miles north of Guysville.

Most tent sites in the region feature basic amenities with varying levels of development. Campgrounds like Zaleski provide access to potable water and vault toilets at designated backpacking campsites, while dispersed areas may offer only pit toilets or no facilities. According to one visitor, "The water is good and I have never seen them dry" at Zaleski's backpacking sites. Fire rings are common at established sites, though some areas require campers to create their own with a 10-foot clearance and a ring of rocks. Many locations operate on a first-come, first-served basis, with 14-day stay limits typical for dispersed camping in Wayne National Forest.

The tent camping experience near Guysville offers varied terrain and solitude options. Areas within Zaleski State Forest feature multiple secluded tent sites with good tree cover, making them ideal for hammock camping as well as traditional tent setups. A recent review noted that "All of the campsites have multiple areas for different hikers and each is relatively secluded from the others so you can be by yourself." Tent campers frequently use these areas as bases for exploring the extensive trail networks, including the Baileys Trail System and North Country Trail. While some campgrounds remain busy during peak seasons, backcountry tent sites typically offer more seclusion. Cell service varies significantly throughout the region, with some areas having no coverage within 4-5 miles of the campground, requiring proper preparation and printed maps.

Best Tent Sites Near Guysville, Ohio (27)

    1. Zaleski State Forest

    17 Reviews
    Zaleski, OH
    23 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."

    2. Baileys Trail Tent Camping

    3 Reviews
    Millfield, OH
    13 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."

    3. Benton's on the Baileys

    4 Reviews
    Chauncey, OH
    16 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."

    4. Camp Rotan

    2 Reviews
    Athens, OH
    9 miles
    Website
    +1 (740) 592-3325

    6. Monday Creek OHV Dispersed

    2 Reviews
    Nelsonville, OH
    21 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."

    7. Pops Place Camping

    3 Reviews
    Corning, OH
    25 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."

    8. Lavender Ranch

    Be the first to review!
    Guysville, OH
    11 miles
    Website
    +1 (740) 300-0493

    $20 - $110 / night

    9. Old Stone Church Campground

    2 Reviews
    New Lexington, OH
    28 miles
    Website

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

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Tent Camping Reviews near Guysville, OH

510 Reviews of 27 Guysville 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

  • B
    Oct. 23, 2021

    Forked Run State Park Campground

    Bad for tents

    Went there in October. No attendance around and not many campers. Sites are very bad for tent camping and not the bet for RV’s. Back ins are sort and most sites have no level ground even for the picnic table or fire ring. Showers were clean but cold. Vault toilets only and stuck to high Heaven. Not serviced well at all. Hiked the lake view trail, poorly maintained. The upper loop from the beach end is very hard to find and not marked at all. Even more disappointing than Hope Lake which has its own site problems for tents.

  • Shari  G.The Dyrt PRO User
    May. 28, 2018

    Lamping Homestead Recreation Area

    Simple, Quiet, Beautiful!

    Just a few miles from the Ohio Covered Bridge Scenic Highway, this lovely tent-only campground offers a pleasant get away. There are 6 spacious “walk-in” campsites, a small pond, and vault toilets. Each site had a picnic table and campfire ring, but there is no privacy between sites. There is no water available, other than the pond, so plan accordingly. The group picnic area is great for bigger families or groups, with a campfire ring, grills and a covered picnic area.    

    The area is great for hiking, with the North Country Trail going right by the campground, cycling through the rolling hills of the backroads, and canoeing on the Little Muskingum River.

    The closest town is Woodsfield, OH, about 13 miles from this campground and has most of the supplies you may need.

    More Information: https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/wayne/recarea/?recid=6214

  • 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.

  • Alex M.
    Jul. 20, 2022

    Krodel Park Campground

    Nice park, awful bathrooms

    This is a strange campground, but not a bad one. It is minutes away from downtown Point Pleasant. I had spent the afternoon exploring the town and didn't feel like driving further. There aren't many campgrounds nearby, so this place came to the rescue.

    The park's main feature is a lake that looks to be artificial. Maybe an old gravel quarry? The terrain around the lake is nicely landscaped. There is a paved path along the shore, along with picnic tables and shelters. Kayak rentals are available and the lake is stocked with fish.

    Most of the campground is RV focused, but I stayed at a primitive tent site. These are located closer to the entrance. There are no site numbers. Just pull your car up onto the grass and set up wherever. A few picnic tables and electrical outlets are spaced out along the road. There were a few other campers here when I visited, but there was enough room for us to maintain good separation. No shade trees or shrubs for privacy, though.

    This is not a particularly quiet or restful campground. The day use area around the lake was hopping, with people coming and going well into the night. No closing time, or just not enforced? Not sure. Having so much traffic was a little uncomfortable from a safety standpoint, but nothing untoward happened while I was there. There was also quite a bit of noise from the nearby road and railroad.

    The biggest problem with this campground was the bathroom. It was one of the worst I've seen. It may very well have been cleaned recently, but it was so dark and dingy that I couldn't tell. No windows and just a single bare incandescent bulb for illumination. Reminded me of a gas station toilet. The sink barely drained, the toilet barely flushed, and the urinal looked like it was about to fall off the wall. I have used vault toilets that were much, much nicer than this. I found myself wishing for one of those. Gross.

    There is only one other bathroom located closer to the RV area, and this looked to be just as bad. To be clear, there are only two single occupancy men's rooms for the ENTIRE campground. Yes, there are a few porta potties scattered around as well, but this is ridiculous. This place needs to invest in better facilities.

  • Shari  G.The Dyrt PRO User
    May. 9, 2018

    Lane Farm Campground

    Free, clean, and close to town!

    A cute little place, just 4 campsites and a vault toilet that is relatively clean and well-stocked. This roadside campground is near homes and a small town, so not much traffic during the day, but quite a bit during the morning and evening commuting time. Within the national forest, you will find some historic covered bridges and quite a few hiking and horse trails. The town of Marietta is just 5 miles away, and has all the things you need.

    Each site has a picnic table, fire ring, and lantern pole. It’s designed for tent camping, but Hamlet (our small camper) fit fine with some strategic parking. No drinking water is available and the creeks are quite muddy, so come prepared with water! No privacy between sites and not much shade, which worked fine in May but probably wouldn’t be much fun in the heat of the summer. It is completely FREE, though, and you can stay for up to 14 days. There are quite a few small campgrounds in the area just like this one. There is no phone service within 4-5 miles of the campground.

    Note: We have noticed that people stop by or drive through in the evening. Sometimes they stay for a couple of minutes and other times for just a couple of hours. Due to its location, this campground could be a meeting spot of sorts, but didn’t witness any shenanigans.

  • 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.

  • Dave V.
    Aug. 27, 2017

    River Run Campground — North Bend State Park

    Deer Heaven

    North Bend State Park is about 10 miles south on Rt 16 off of Rt 50...east of Parkersburg, WV.

    When you slowly wind your way along twisty backcountry roads, through a small town, you'll ultimately find yourself entering North Bend State Park.

    Immediately to the right is Cokely Campground. Initially, you don't see it...you must drive up and over a roller. At the top of the hill, you observe a handful of picnic tables and fire rings, a porta-potty and a small woodshed with a water spigot alongside. Very little delineation from site to site and more of a mown field. Only the top two locations are the only quasi-level sites along a narrow tree line. No electric. These sites are $16 nightly.

    Traveling over the hill and turning to the right you see the main Cokely Campground with newer showerhouse/restroom building and playground. Campsites are blacktop with water and electric, apparently for large RV/Campers. These sites are $28 nightly.

    If you were to bypass the RV/Camper location, you would continue down the side road to the boat ramp and lake.

    The grounds and restrooms were clean, maincured and well maintained. Midweek the RV sites were already filled.

    We decided against Cokely Campground and returned to the main park road deeper into the State Park to River Run Campground.

    You pass the Lodge/Restaurant and the huge "L" shaped outdoor pool on your right as you descend (Note: the pool is seasonal and with college aga lifeguards that exit for school early, it was closed mid-August).

    Winding down to River Run, deer in abundance were lining the the roadway, so use care. River Run Campground runs along a river...imagine that!

    Tent sites are situated between the roadway and the river on the left...then additional tent sites are around a small half acre pond on the right. Most the roadside tent sites are level, but sit at a lower level, so when it rains (and it does in WV)...it gets soggy. No visible distinction or foliage between tent sites. One porta-potty sits at the crossroads across from the office.

    Saturday it was quiet with only one other tent camper, but rain was forecasted...although a pumphouse, located at the entrance to River Run, kicks on periodically with a low, annoying droning. Being at site 45, it was quite noticeable, as I imagine with all sites in the 40's. The tent specific sites are non-electric with central water spigots ($22 nightly). As you pass the tent sites and the office, you enter a loop of paved RV/Camper sites with blacktop drives, water and electric ($28 nightly). The Showerhouse/restrooms are located in the center of this area...and are very clean and maintained. The coveted RV/Camper sites are along the bank of the river and offer more distance between neighbors. On the inner ring, a split rail fence separates neighbors.

    While the sun didn't shine during our visit, it appears the thick forest canopy keeps all river sites shaded. The grounds and facilities are neat at clean.

    All the trails bisect this campground, some foot only, others multipurpose. River Run also has a nice playground for the kids. Trails have difficulty drying out, so rocks and roots were muddy and slick, but still enjoyable.

    Note: Mountainbike races are often held here, so campgrounds can get crazy and packed. Additionally, because of the pool, this is a very busy campground. Be forewarned that the pool is 58 steps up from the parking lot to the pool area.

    There were a lot of trails I did not get to travel, and I'll bring my bike next time for the Rails-to-Trail. Nice but popular campground,


Guide to Guysville

Tent camping near Guysville, Ohio offers access to the expansive Wayne National Forest, which spans across 244,000 acres of Appalachian foothills with elevations ranging from 660 to 1,250 feet. The region experiences moderate seasonal changes with summer temperatures averaging 80-85°F and winter lows frequently dropping below freezing. Local camping areas feature varied terrain with mixed hardwood forests dominated by oak and hickory trees, creating natural shelter for campsites throughout the region.

What to do

Explore historic structures: The Old Stone Church Trailhead area offers hiking opportunities with historical elements. "Well marked. Parking can be on side of road or down below where campsites are," notes Christy P., who found the area "beautiful" and "nicely maintained."

Mountain biking: The 31-mile Baileys Trail System provides dedicated single-track trails specifically designed for mountain biking. A visitor at Baileys Trail Tent Camping mentions they "drove for about 3 hours" to access this location, describing it as a "wonderful little location" with "nice wide open space surrounded by woods."

Backpacking loops: Several established backcountry routes provide multi-day hiking options. According to Nick M., who stayed at Zaleski State Forest, the area offers a "good backpacking loop" though it "can get a little humid and buggy." Another backpacker named kevin T. found the Zaleski trails "kind of hard" even for experienced backpackers, noting the "19 miles" route was "definitely worth it because of the views."

What campers like

Private campsites: Secluded tent spots allow for peaceful stays with minimal neighbor interaction. Emily M. at Benton's on the Baileys describes their "excellent campground that is tucked out of the way," noting that while "you have to walk to the site, up a steep hill," it is "very private and quiet."

Reliable facilities: Even rustic sites typically maintain functional amenities. At Old Stone Church Campground, Tammy F. found "the only facilities here were a single pit toilet (surprisingly clean) and a trash can at each site," adding they had "good 4G ATT cell service" that "worked well, with no drops."

Wildlife encounters: The forested setting provides opportunities to observe local fauna. Lani R. recounts meeting "our guide kitty friend at camp 1" in Zaleski State Forest, while another visitor mentioned seeing "salamanders, deer, snakes, a wild turkey" during their stay. James W. noted the area has "a great deal of interesting rock formations to check out as well as a few good overlook areas."

What you should know

Navigation challenges: Limited cell service in many areas requires advance planning. Lani R. emphasized there is "NO SERVICE PLAN ACCORDING make sure you have a map especially to get out of the park!!!!" at Zaleski State Forest.

Seasonal conditions: Weather patterns affect site accessibility and comfort. The region experiences significant humidity during summer months, with Nick M. noting camping areas "can get a little humid and buggy there."

Campsite availability: Popular areas fill quickly, especially during peak seasons. At Monday Creek OHV Dispersed camping, Kevin C. "arrived about 5 PM and all 3 camping spots were empty" but observed "lots of trucks and toy haulers heading up the various roads into the late evening."

Payment systems: Several sites operate on honor systems. Tammy F. notes that at Old Stone Church Campground, "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."

Tips for camping with families

Accessible trails: Several areas offer hiking suitable for younger children. Renée C. reported: "Wonderful overnight backpack trip for our family. We did the South Loop at Zaleski - 10.9 miles. The hike was great. Lots of ups & downs, a pond & beautiful rock outcroppings... Our 8 year old did great & we saw lots of families camping."

Playground amenities: Some campgrounds provide recreational facilities specifically for children. Pops Place Camping features a "common grass area [with] wood lounge chairs, common fire ring, playground, and cornhole boards," according to David M., who added there is "a basketball backboard near the current cabin if you happen to bring a basketball for your kids to use."

Water activities: Nearby ponds and lakes offer swimming opportunities during summer months. Kasey K. noted you can "enjoy a day playing in the water, eating ice cream and sun bathing" at nearby beaches, adding "you can dock a boat off lake hope and enjoy a day on the water, or rent a kayak or canoe at the local beach area right down the road."

Tips from RVers

Site access: Some areas have limitations for larger vehicles. Tammy F. found Old Stone Church Campground offered an "easy pull-thru site for our small travel trailer," noting "each pull-thru is set-up for horses, but RVs are allowed (according to NFS website)."

Road conditions: Variable road quality affects travel to some campgrounds. David M. observed that near Pops Place Camping, "the road the campground is on is paved (good riding to the north of it) and the campground drive is decent gravel for street bikes."

Limited hookups: Most sites near Guysville offer primitive camping without electrical connections. While water is typically available at designated points, Kevin C. notes that even at established areas like Monday Creek OHV Dispersed camping, facilities are basic with just "vaulted toilet and garbage cans."

Frequently Asked Questions

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

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Guysville, OH is Zaleski State Forest with a 4.4-star rating from 17 reviews.

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

TheDyrt.com has all 27 tent camping locations near Guysville, OH, with real photos and reviews from campers.