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Best Tent Camping near Howard, OH

586 Reviews

Mohican-Memorial State Forest provides several walk-in tent camping options near Howard, Ohio. Park and Pack campsites within the forest offer free primitive tent camping with sites accessible by hiking along marked trails. Campers must register at the kiosk by the ranger station at 950 ODNR Mohican Road 60 (County Road 939) in Perrysville before setting up at these tent-only sites. Walhonding Hills Campground, located approximately 20 miles southwest of Howard, offers additional tent camping with more amenities and access to the Walhonding River.

Tent campers should prepare for minimal facilities at the Park and Pack sites. No drinking water, toilets, or trash disposal is available at these primitive tent locations, requiring campers to pack in all necessary supplies and practice leave-no-trace principles. Registration is required but cannot be reserved in advance—sites are first-come, first-served with sign-up at the forest kiosk. Some sites require creek crossings, particularly sites 2 and 3, which can vary in difficulty depending on recent rainfall. The walk to campsites ranges from approximately 0.3 miles to over a mile depending on the site chosen and parking location.

The tent camping experience at Mohican offers privacy and natural settings not available at more developed campgrounds. Based on reviews from The Dyrt, "The campsite was a nice quiet site" with many locations providing access to streams or scenic overlooks. Campsite 10 features multiple areas to set up shelter with hammock options and access to a ledge area with scenic views of the surrounding forest. Campers should be aware that cell phone coverage is limited or non-existent at most primitive tent sites. While sites are generally well-marked with trail blazes, having a downloaded map is recommended as some locations can be difficult to locate, especially Park and Pack site 4 which requires following a separate trail from the pavilion area rather than the main loop trail.

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Best Tent Sites Near Howard, Ohio (10)

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Recent Tent Camping Photos near Howard, OH

3 Photos of 10 Howard Campgrounds

Tent Camping Reviews near Howard, OH

586 Reviews of 10 Howard Campgrounds

  • 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.

  • K
    Aug. 26, 2020

    Park and Pack Campsite 10 — Mohican-Memorial State Forest

    Campsite 10 large and beautiful

    Make sure you get a reservation at the kiosk by the ranger station in the forest. Do not go to the state park as that is completely different. For the forest office I go to Co Rd 939, Perrysville, OH 44864

    Do not camp illegally or without a reservation. They do post signs and ask other campers to report the illegal camping.  

    The sunset photo is by the entrance of the parking lot to the campsite.  This is the 2nd easiest campsite to walk into out of the 10.  If you have any mobility issues this is the second best camp site to go to as most of it is along the wide access road and mountain bike trail. The parking lot was clean and easy to access. 

    I had limited cell phone signal while here but this had the best signal out of the 10 sites. 

    All of the Park and Pack camp sites do not have a bathroom. As you can see from this site I took the time to take a picture of the moon pole.  So do leave no trace of your bathroom habits. 

    This site was great for both hammocks and tents.  You could have a small group here and not feel crowded. The camp fire set up is awesome. We had another camper over by that spot so I didn't take pictures of his gear.  He had a hammock and tent set up. He was camping at the spot for a week for his vacation. On our last night at this site another backpacker came through and set up.  Make sure you get a reservation and look closely at the board at the kiosk.  Our main camper at this site was gracious as he had booked the site for the week most folks didn't realize the site was taken as his name was so far up the clipboard.  We weren't alone in not realizing that and he enjoyed the brief company we provided as good neighbors to each other.

  • 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.

  • Shannon G.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 26, 2020

    Mt Gilead State Park Campground

    Fall is here!

    Site 29 - this was a nice site in tall pine trees and colors all around. The pad was gravel and pretty level. We had trees in our site that could be used for hammocks as well. We were able to set up our ez-up and still have room to walk our dogs. It wasn’t the biggest site, but definitely not the smallest. We had electric for our camper. We had a good storm one night that caused a small pool of water out front and around the fire ring, but both areas drained very well the next day. There are vault toilets at the end of the road and a very nice shower house as you drive in that were clean all weekend. The park had a couple of playgrounds for kids, disc golf course and lots of hiking trails. The camp store is now open with limited hours. Wood is available but it’s all slab cut. There are also permanent cornhole boards. There are full hook up sites as well but are right next to one another and not a lot of trees. You can drive down to the lake and kayak and fish. It’s a very small campground with a very big park.

  • R
    Jul. 16, 2021

    Park and Pack Campsite 10 — Mohican-Memorial State Forest

    Mohican Memorial State Forest, Park & Pack, Site #10

    This was my second time enjoying Mohican State Forest’s Park & Pack sites. I took my daughter to site 10 for an overnighter.

    If you’re unfamiliar w/ the Park & Pack system I found this PDF to be extremely useful.

    http://www.backpackohio.com/etrails/bpo_mohican.pdf

    As others have stated, make sure to sign in at the kiosk, you can find it here:

    950 ODNR Mohican Road 60 (County Road 939), Perrysville, Ohio 44864

    There’s no reservations, you show up, see what sites are available, sign in and drive to the appropriate parking area.

    After signing in at the kiosk we drove and parked at the upper parking area for sites 8-10. The last 1/4 mile of the road is pretty rutted, so if you have a low profile vehicle you may need to park at the lower area (which isn’t much of a parking area and the Rangers don’t really want anyone parking there).

    Site 10 is about 3/4 of a mile down the trail from the upper parking area. Well marked and easy to find. There are plenty of areas to set up shelter and hang hammocks. After my daughter and I set up camp near the fire ring we explored and found spots below the SE edge.

    You can find a short “trail” at the NE edge of the campsite that leads down to a ledge where a couple unofficial fire rings have been built. You can also get there by continuing east past the last Site 10 trail marker. The trail is a bit over grown but was still easily followed. It will loop around towards the south then back west leading into the lower area.

    The whole area is beautiful and scenic. I’d like to head back in the fall and or winter to enjoy the view of the gorge in different seasons. The site is fairly remote, we only saw a hiker while hiking in and heard mountain bikers riding down the trail NW of Site 10. The only con I would give the site is there’s no water source, so you have to pack in all your water needs. Being the middle of summer that was quite a bit for my daughter and me. Packs were much lighter on the way out.

  • Skooma M.
    Jun. 24, 2022

    Findley State Park Campground

    Organized Group Site 2

    It was difficult to find pictures or reviews of the Findlay group sites. It honestly seemed to me that they didn't exist, so I thought I'd do the service of taking some pictures.

    The group sites are away from the main campsites, so you should have plenty of space for your group to set up and enough distance between them to not disturb the peace if you have a large group. OGA2 is heavily forested, I'm not sure about OGA1. There are plenty of trees so both hammock and tent campers should be accommodated. The fire pit is large and there are 4 picnic tables.

    The campsite is about 75 yards from the parking area, and there is a vault toilet right before the parking area.

  • Megan M.
    Sep. 6, 2018

    Mohican State Park Campground

    Beautiful river, trails, running water in the toilets, yay!

    I love Mohican State Park. There is so much to do- canoeing, kayaking, tubing, creeking, and great trails also.

    This campground is nice but is crowded in the warmer months. Look for a site along the water, that's where the tree cover is. I stayed in a camper cabin which was very nice, with microwave and refrigerator.

    There is running water in the toilets, which is nice for a state park in Ohio. The showers were decent, nothing to complain about there.

    The primitive tent camping sites looked nice and peaceful- take care to get a shaded spot, though, as some were just exposed in a grassy field. There is a long bumpy walk from the parking area to the primitive sites, so bring a wagon or sled or something.

  • Kellie A.
    May. 24, 2021

    Salt Fork State Park Campground

    My Go-to Weekend Getaway

    Saltfork is located about 45 minutes from my house, and makes for the perfect overnight trip. 

    There are tons of things to do, and lots of space in which to do them. My favorites includes hiking trails, and the lakeside dog park. 

    I stay in the primitive camping, it allows for more privacy and quiet. Although it also means you are relegated to the pit toilets. I personally don't mind them, but I know some campers will make the drive to the nicer shower house in the RV heavy side of the park. 

    Each site has a picnic table and fire ring, the fire rings in the primitive section need some work, as the grates are very old and small.

  • A
    Sep. 28, 2021

    Mohican State Park Campground

    Excellent Campground

    The campground has plenty of great sites to choose from, in two different sections. Whether you want to rent a cabin, have a trailer/RV or basic tent camping, you will be all set. There shower facilities, bathrooms, pool and camp store are awesome. Such a great place to stay! Really look forward to going back!

Guide to Howard

Tent camping near Howard, Ohio offers a variety of scenic locations and amenities for outdoor enthusiasts looking to immerse themselves in nature.

Tent campers should check out Mohican State Park Campground

  • The Mohican State Park Campground features paved pull-through sites and is conveniently located near hiking trails, making it a popular choice for families and pet owners.
  • With amenities like sewer hookups and friendly staff, this campground provides a comfortable experience for tent campers seeking convenience and community.
  • Campers appreciate the proximity to the river, which adds a serene backdrop to their outdoor adventures.

Tent campers like these nearby activities

  • Enjoy hiking and exploring the trails at Mohican Memorial State Forest, where you can find well-marked paths and beautiful scenery.
  • For a unique experience, visit Park and Pack Campsite 10, which offers a remote setting perfect for those looking to escape the crowds and enjoy nature.
  • The Park and Pack Campsite 3 is ideal for those who want to camp beside a stream, providing a peaceful environment for relaxation and exploration.

Some prices for tent camping range from free to $33

  • The Mohican State Park Campground charges around $33 for a well-equipped site, making it a reasonable option for families.
  • Many of the Park and Pack sites, like Park and Pack Campsite 10, offer free camping, allowing for an affordable outdoor experience.
  • For those seeking a more rustic experience, Park and Pack Campsite 3 provides a free option with no amenities, perfect for adventurous campers.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Howard, OH is Park and Pack Campsite 10 — Mohican-Memorial State Forest with a 5-star rating from 5 reviews.

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

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

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