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Best Tent Camping near Jackson Center, OH

260 Reviews

Tent campsites near Jackson Center, Ohio offer a mix of established campgrounds and primitive sites for outdoor enthusiasts. St. Mary's Section of the Buckeye Trail provides a unique tent camping experience with an Adirondack shelter between Points 6 and 7, built as an Eagle Scout project and large enough for six people to sleep comfortably off the ground. On Cedar Pond, located approximately 17 miles south of Jackson Center, offers two reservable tent sites with amenities including electric hookups, drinking water, and picnic tables.

Most tent camping areas in this region have basic amenities, with significant variation between sites. The Buckeye Trail shelter includes a stone fireplace suitable for cooking and warmth, with deadfall from surrounding trees available as fuel. Campers should verify fire regulations before their trip, as restrictions may apply seasonally. Sycamore State Park Campground provides more developed facilities with drinking water, electric hookups, showers, and toilets for tent campers. A camper noted, "The park has such a variety of things to do," including disc golf, hiking trails with challenging hills, and fishing opportunities in the pond.

Tent sites in the Jackson Center area often provide access to water features and natural attractions. Jacoby Road Canoe Launch offers primitive tent camping beside the Little Miami River, with picnic tables and fire pits but no drinking water or trash facilities. A recent review described it as a "beautiful, private spot for tent camping." The area around Yellow Springs contains several low-key tent camping options that avoid crowds while maintaining proximity to popular destinations. Seasonal considerations affect the tent camping experience, with most campgrounds being most accessible from spring through fall. Tent campers frequently use these areas as bases for hiking, fishing, and paddling activities, with trail access available at multiple sites.

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Best Tent Sites Near Jackson Center, Ohio (10)

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Recent Tent Camping Photos near Jackson Center, OH

2 Photos of 10 Jackson Center Campgrounds

Tent Camping Reviews near Jackson Center, OH

260 Reviews of 10 Jackson Center 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

  • Nicole L.
    Sep. 4, 2021

    John Bryan State Park Campground

    Not bad, just disappointed

    Visited twice in May 2021 (sites 54 & 39) bookending our camping roundtrip from Virginia to Kansas and this was one of the worst places we stayed. We lived in Dayton for a number of years and Yellow Springs is one of our favorite places. That being said, we were quite disappointed at the set up.

    There is no privacy between campsites, at all. If someone on one end of the campground is having a party, everyone in the campground is going to be up all night (our first night). On our last night there, we (and the poor family with young kids in a tent 15 feet away) were audibly assaulted by a very amorous and inebriated couple in a tent until the wee hours. With no trees between sites, you have no buffer and good god what I would have given for a buffer.

    Pit toilets have those heavy doors that help keep things less buggy (positive) but because they are on a raised area in the middle of an almost treeless campground, the clang of them shutting echoes throughout the night.

    No showers.

    No dedicated tent-pads. We were car-top camping so I can't speak to ground conditions for tent camping but do know our two spots would have put us on some sort of slope. (Unless we set up a tent right next to the road on 54).

    Like I said, it wasn't bad. Definitely wasn't great.

  • Janet R.The Dyrt PRO User
    May. 16, 2025

    Wright-Patterson FamCamp

    The right place for a stop on a road trip

    If you are retired or active duty military, you have access to recreation sites maintained adjacent to many bases. Wright-Patterson has a recreational family-friendly “Fam Camp” campground located by a small lake in the woods on the south side if the base. Families or adults can enjoy staying at the campground for a few days of camping, fishing, paddling and as a base for exploring in and around Dayton. There are many sites with hookups for RV’s, an area for RVs that dont need hookups, basic tent sites, and also a number of camper cabins by the lake. It is also a convenient stopover for folks on roadtrips and seems to be popular with retirees traveling with RV’s. We stopped for one night while on a road trip ourselves, and stayed in one of the tent sites which was very pleasant. This stay was in May, but we stayed here one time in October as well. There is a full bath house with showers snd bathrooms, a rec center with rental equipment for getting out on the lake, and a clubhouse. There is a field with bleachers for ball games, and a nice fenced in dog park.

  • K
    Jun. 13, 2018

    John Bryan State Park Campground

    Great Location, Fiesty Raccoons

    Beware of the raccoons. They are adorable but will literally steal your food right in front of you. We were set up for about 5 minutes before a raccoon appeared and swiped a large bag of sunchips off the picnic table as I was about to make a sandwich. Straight savage. Campground is a few minutes from Yellow Springs which is a beautiful town with a lot to see and do including a brewery and nature preserve. John Bryan park itself has some nice hikes and offers top rop rock climbing and repelling. Climbing routes are all available on mountainoroject.com Campground/Park also offers disc golf and volleyball with a ton of picnic areas. Facilities are not the best with outhouse style bathrooms, no showers. This isnt notmally an issue but we visited at the end of June and weather was crazy hot. All in all it's a pretty cool place. Had a great time and even ended up naming all the raccoons, Larry, Mary, & Baby Terry.

  • Ron G.
    Oct. 15, 2019

    Pastime Campground

    Quiet and Convenient

    There are 38 grass sites that are a bit snug, but mostly pleasant. New in June 2019 are 18 gravel padded sites, with lots of space. All sites are W/E. All the new gravel sites and half the grass ones have 50/30/20A electric, the rest are 30/20A. The park has a dump station. Two of the gravel sites have sewer hookup.
    All sites are clean, with tables and fire rings. There is a very nice and clean restroom/shower facility. Walking path and playground are adjacent to the campground. There is a nice swimming pool at the south end of the village park. Campers get a discounted admission. Most all sites have lots of shade.

  • A
    Sep. 29, 2018

    John Bryan State Park Campground

    Tents and Trees

    The campground I used is right off of the main entrance to the park. It is surrounded by wonderful trees which give a fantastic ambiance in the fall. The ground was well kept and nearby there were ground latrienes. Make sure to watch for walnuts in the late summer to fall however as there are many, many walnut tres nearby and having one under your sleeping bag can ruin a great night.

  • 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.

  • Andrea F.The Dyrt PRO User
    Apr. 11, 2021

    John Bryan State Park Campground

    Great Trails

    This is a park I have hiked at several times but this is the first time camping here. It a very limited campground. Only 17 electric sites and 43 primitive sites. The restrooms are pit toilets and there is no shower house. What they lack in amenities they make up for in scenery. They offer 10 hiking trails 9.7 miles of mountain bike trails. Also a disc golf course and playground. They are also close to the town of Yellow Springs which offers shopping, dining, and even its own brewery. Also some other area attractions are Young’s Jersey Dairy, Brandenberry Winery, Clifton Mills and Stillwrights Distillery.

  • K
    Jul. 21, 2020

    John Bryan State Park Campground

    Small but lovely

    This is a very pretty little campground with really basic amenities - vault toilets and a some common area spigots.  Large trees, grassy sites, nice trails.  Our non-electric spot was a bit challenging to find a level spot on the grass but it was large enough to work it out.  Had table and fire ring and a place to dump gray water.  Close to Yellow Springs which is a real plus.

Guide to Jackson Center

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

Tips for tent camping near Jackson Center

  • The St. Mary's Section - Buckeye Trail (Points 6-7) features an Adirondack shelter, perfect for those wanting to lighten their load while enjoying a cozy spot to rest.
  • On Cedar Pond provides essential amenities like drinking water and electric hookups, making it a comfortable choice for families.
  • For a more rustic experience, consider Jacoby Road Canoe Launch, where you can enjoy a peaceful setting along the Little Miami River.

Local activities to enjoy while camping

  • At Sycamore State Park Campground, you can explore hiking trails and enjoy fishing, making it a great spot for outdoor activities.
  • The Tee Pee Family Campground features a pond with an inflatable slide, perfect for kids looking to have some fun in the water.
  • For those interested in canoeing, Morris Bean Reserve offers a serene environment to paddle and explore the local waterways.

Some prices for tent camping range from $1 to $20

  • Camping at On Cedar Pond typically requires a reservation fee of around $5, providing access to well-maintained facilities.
  • The Jacoby Road Canoe Launch has a reasonable reservation service fee of about $1.33, making it an affordable option for budget-conscious campers.
  • For a unique experience, St. Mary's Section - Buckeye Trail (Points 6-7) offers free camping, allowing you to enjoy the great outdoors without breaking the bank.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Jackson Center, OH?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Jackson Center, OH is St. Mary's Section - Buckeye Trail (Points 6-7) with a 4-star rating from 1 review.

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

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

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