Best Tent Camping near Jackson Center, OH

Searching for a tent camping spot near Jackson Center? Find the best tent camping sites near Jackson Center. Each tent site offers quick access to one or more of Jackson Center, Ohio's most popular destinations.

Best Tent Sites Near Jackson Center, Ohio (10)

Show More
Showing results 1-10 of 10 campgrounds

Recent Tent Reviews near Jackson Center, Ohio

245 Reviews of 10 Jackson Center Campgrounds


  • not S.
    Camper-submitted photo from Dayton KOA Holiday
    Jun. 29, 2024

    Dayton KOA Holiday

    Clean and well managed

    I was impressed that this KOA had so many trees. Best tent sites are 320 and the ones next to the creek. Quietest tent sites are 408, 409 and 410, but those are also furthest from the bathroom. Very clean showerhouses. Great basecamp to explore the Dayton area.

  • Don B.
    Camper-submitted photo from John Bryan State Park Campground
    Sep. 21, 2016

    John Bryan State Park Campground

    John Bryant State Park

    Great place to visit has three parks in one John Bryant and Glen Helen nature preserve and Clifton Gorge are some of the best hiking trails in south west Ohio. Camp sites are great for tent camping with a few RV spots. You can visit the near by historical town of Yellow Springs.

  • L
    Camper-submitted photo from Jacoby Road Canoe Launch
    Jun. 18, 2021

    Jacoby Road Canoe Launch

    Beautiful, private spot

    Went with a buddy for a one night stay. Beautiful spot for tent camping right next to the Little Miami River. Picnic tables and fire pit are also nice amenities. I just wish there were a trash can. Still had a great time, though.

  • K
    Camper-submitted photo from Buck Creek State Park Campground
    Aug. 17, 2021

    Buck Creek State Park Campground

    Infested Bathrooms

    This campsite would have been perfect if not for the bathrooms littered with bugs, insects, and spiders. Otherwise, the campsite was quiet, the tent sites were nicely spaced out, and the bathrooms were easily accessible.

  • M
    Camper-submitted photo from Indian Lake State Park Campground
    Aug. 9, 2021

    Indian Lake State Park Campground

    Our Favorite Campaite of the Summer

    State parts are usually good parks, but Indian Lake was our favorite of the summer. A large lake, and large campground. Lots of trailer and tent camping, complete with a beach, boat dock and commissary. The campground had an ice cream stand and showed a movie on Saturday evening for kids in their amphitheater. We will definitely return!

  • Timothy C.
    Camper-submitted photo from John Bryan State Park Campground
    Oct. 7, 2020

    John Bryan State Park Campground

    Lovely, well maintained park.

    Great tent sites on mowed lawn under old growth trees. Our night’s rest was interrupted multiple times with airport noise—airplanes and helicopters. Note that at this time (COVID) you cannot just pull in and occupy a site. You must call in for a reservation.

  • Joy M.
    Camper-submitted photo from Buck Creek State Park Campground
    Jul. 27, 2021

    Buck Creek State Park Campground

    Nice, safe campsite

    Stopped here during a road trip with a friend. Very family friendly. Tent sites were nice and flat, felt a little cramped though. Bathrooms were clean. The lake was very nice, clear, and refreshing. Flet good to be close to it! Easy to find the campsites and pretty affordable.

  • Mandi B.
    Camper-submitted photo from Indian Lake State Park Campground
    May. 9, 2018

    Indian Lake State Park Campground

    May be good for a family

    Our experience with Indian Lake was tough, unfortunately we suffered a pretty severe thunderstorm while we were tent camping, it looked like a tsunami coming in. Despite the weather, our experience was still not the greatest one, the trail was confusing and we were eaten alive by mosquitos, even with bug spray. It also was not a very long hike, just a confusing one. The campground had cut down most of the tree coverage, and it was like we were camping with our neighbors. This may be a great family friendly park with a beach and kid activities, but we dont have kids and prefer a more quiet and secluded atmosphere. We will not be returning.

  • G
    Camper-submitted photo from Buck Creek State Park Campground
    Jun. 16, 2021

    Buck Creek State Park Campground

    Great Campground

    We arrived three hours after check in started and headed straight to the camp office to check in. Our tent site was ready right away and the kind lady at the desk helped us get DRY firewood and helped us locate our spot. Our campground was clean and mostly quiet. About a 2 min walk and you can walk along the lake on a trail, we caught the most gorgeous sunset. Overall a very nice and clean campground. The only complaint if I had to give one was the daddy long legs in the bathrooms. But they are not harmful at all and don’t really get in the way, but if you are not a spider person they may deter you.

  • Hannah O.
    Camper-submitted photo from John Bryan State Park Campground
    Aug. 19, 2018

    John Bryan State Park Campground

    Perfect Weekend Getaway, Lots to do

    Had a great time here. My only complaint is that the sites are very close together and there are few trees for privacy in the actual campsites, Also very little shade for this reason. For the most part the tent sites are grass, with a place to pull in. The site I stayed at was relatively close to the pit toilets and a water spigot, but also close to a bunch of RV sites, so I wouldn't say it was all that quiet. It was easy to access walking trails along a river, and also really close to Yellow Springs, which is a great little town (that I totally did not expect to find, who knew!) Cheap firewood and camp store at the entrance.

  • Shannon G.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Buck Creek State Park Campground
    May. 29, 2019

    Buck Creek State Park Campground

    Walk in for Memorial Weekend

    We had three walk-in sites to choose from on Memorial Weekend. We chose Site 113 in non-electric. It was a huge site with big trees for shade. Great for tent camping and it worked well for out camper. You have to pull in with a camper to be able to walk out onto your site. It’s a little backwards, but we only have 19ft camper so it worked for us. Plus we weren’t planning on driving anywhere so we didn’t have to worry about moving our truck. The bathroom/showers were not far and were nice and clean. For a holiday weekend it was nice and quiet. If your a bird watcher take your binoculars. Lots of robins, cardinals, red winged blackbirds and a few orioles. We drove though electric on our way out and the sites were much closer than where we were. We loved it and plan on going back.

  • Nicole L.
    Camper-submitted photo from John Bryan State Park Campground
    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.

  • Rick G.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Indian Lake State Park Campground
    May. 23, 2022

    Indian Lake State Park Campground

    Wide Open Space

    Spent 3 nights in the wide open A Loop. Checked in on a Sunday and left on Wednesday. Pretty much had the loop to ourselves. Didn’t bother to hookup the electric because the solar was keeping up with our needs. Ran to Jackson Center to checkout the Airstream Factory. Great Verizon signal allowed us to stream.

  • Casi O.
    Camper-submitted photo from Venture Out Resorts Arrowhead Lakes Resort
    Jul. 26, 2017

    Venture Out Resorts Arrowhead Lakes Resort

    Big rigs to tents

    We stayed here for free for 10 days as a part of a promotion that came with the purchase of our rig. Not sure about normal pricing though, as this campground is owned by Venture Out Resorts and they are a timeshare company (we had to sit for a hour long "pitch" to get our free days). They have 50amp, full hookup, pull through sites (and we saw 40+ ft rigs there) to tent camping to cabin rentals. The campground was clean (shower houses always looked great) and grounds were maintained. Amenities include an indoor pool, hot tub and sauna (close at 10p), but we did not partake because it was so overridden by children, chlorine, and no open windows - didn't seem worth any effort whatsoever in the July heat. The amenities we did checkout (close nightly at 8p) included their new 18 hole mini golf course, small arcade (4 games and pinball was broken 😢), loaner bikes, and water toys (we liked the paddle bikes). The company recently bought the property, so you can see what they inherited vs what it will probably eventually be like based off their sister properties (they recently added the putt putt and a big jungle gym) so it could evolve more as time passes. Regardless, in its current state as active 30 somethings, we were pretty bored. No hiking, significant highway noise, yes a couple big ponds, but a truck stop and truck storage is behind both - so no views. Most of the campers we saw were elderly or had young kids. I'd say if you fall into a category where you want to sit beside your rig all day or want your kids entertained (playgrounds, kids programming - it was luau week so they had a Moana movie night and other kid activities), go on and book a longer stay. If you're only looking for a spot to stay overnight by the highway, do it! It is simple to pull in and have full hookups to take advantage of but a 10 day stay is too long if you're paying. Other things to know: Walmart, Aldi, Lowes, and several automotive chain stores are at max 5 min away, which made grabbing some needed supplies super easy. That said truck stop above was very convenient to get into to fuel up our rig too. Fun fact: Neil Armstrong was born in Wapakoneta and the Armstrong Air & Space Museum is also a max 5 min drive away if you want to get your inner astronaut fix.

  • Napunani
    Camper-submitted photo from Indian Lake State Park Campground
    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

  • J
    Camper-submitted photo from John Bryan State Park Campground
    Aug. 16, 2020

    John Bryan State Park Campground

    Spacious and quiet

    This is a small and beautiful park. It’s a primitive campground with many tents and some small RVs. The sites are spacious with large trees for shade. We enjoyed some great hikes through the state park to the Clifton Gorge preserve. A beautiful part of Ohio! The village of Yellow Springs is nearby for a burger or ice cream run.

  • Sherrie W.
    Camper-submitted photo from John Bryan State Park Campground
    Aug. 26, 2020

    John Bryan State Park Campground

    Holy Raccoons!

    We stayed at John Bryan so we hike the Clifton Gorge and we love the town of Yellow Springs. The campground was a pretty basic Ohio campground, but did boast a frisbee golf course and access to the trails right from the campground. The campground is surrounded by wood, but pretty bare otherwise. There was very little privacy and sites just seemed to be placed randomly in the field. The pit toilets were relatively clean, and the campground roads safe for kids to ride bikes. We stayed at site 64 which was probably about the most private site there. We did need to position are cars around us to get this. Once dusk hit the raccoons were unbelievable. They would come out of the wood and stare at us fearlessly. Despite packing up our food properly, they were all over our table and right up next to our tent scavenging for food as soon as we went in our tent. The camp host was out searching the woods because they stole some kids backpack during the night. The trails were cool, but very poorly marked. There were paper signs that had fallen off the trees and the maps proved difficult to use because there were so many unmarked side trails. Better trail markers would make a huge difference.

  • Patricia W.
    Camper-submitted photo from Buck Creek State Park Campground
    Aug. 7, 2018

    Buck Creek State Park Campground

    Great no matter what site

    Sites are large. Pads for RVs are large. Every site is close to the reservoir, with tons of hidden beaches. Deer are everywhere. Watch out for raccoons. If you are tenting, bungee your coolers. Leave other food in your car. The raccoons have chewed through peoples’ tents to get their food.

  • Ralph L.
    Camper-submitted photo from Indian Lake State Park Campground
    Aug. 4, 2018

    Indian Lake State Park Campground

    Good Site with STRANGE Wildlife !

    This Ohio State Park is in a small quaint town. Good sites, nice beach + a real swimming pool. Many places for fishing from shore OR launching your boat ! There is even lots of wildlife especially of the pink vriety !

  • Kim A.
    Camper-submitted photo from John Bryan State Park Campground
    Jul. 4, 2022

    John Bryan State Park Campground

    Beautiful park but raccoons are a nuisance

    The park and facilities are beautiful. Campground has a new bathhouse with 2 family showers/bathrooms and 3 showers/3 toliets for each women and men's room. The grounds had a nice modern playground, pavilions, volleyball net and much more.
    We stayed at the group site which was outside of the main park. This area had vault toliets and potable water faucet only. So you had to drive to the main park to use bathhouse and anything else. Upside was the low car traffic in that area.

    Complete downside and what will keep us from returning are the sheer number and boldness of raccoons. They are lingering the edge of the woods day and night ready to grab anything. At night the main dumpsters has raccoon in/around/on top of them. One night a newb camper in our group didn't lock up his cooler and at 130 am there was a mob of fighting/growling raccoons which carried on for at least 30 min. He said there were upwards of 30 raccoons swarming his cooler while he tried to recover and lock it up. I have never in my camping experience seen/heard anything like it. It freaked the kids and new campers out. I hunkered down in my tent and advised others to do the same. The group campsite also is stated to fit 50ppl. It is not that large. I would say 20ppl would be more adequate. Our tents and cars were less than 5ft from others tent and cars. We had to park cars next to tents bc raccoons and keeping food in cars. Everything else about the park/staff/general area/activities were great.

  • Lindsay B.
    Camper-submitted photo from Ottawa Metro Park Campground
    Jun. 30, 2015

    Ottawa Metro Park Campground

    Swimming and Family Fun

    The Ottawa Metro Park has a big swimming area, a fishing area, big campsites (mostly for RVs) and walking trails. It's nice. It's Ohio camping, but it's nice. Wouldn't travel far out of my way, but if you're around, you won't regret stopping by.

  • Buck B.
    Camper-submitted photo from Buck Creek State Park Campground
    Sep. 6, 2020

    Buck Creek State Park Campground

    Awesome spot

    One of my favorites in this area , great rv spots and even better tent /non electric spots ... easy walk to fish or to campers beach ... my sons love camping here for the trails and large areas to ride their bikes

  • Meredith S.
    Camper-submitted photo from Wapakoneta KOA
    Aug. 2, 2020

    Wapakoneta KOA

    Local base camp

    We stay here while visiting family nearby Ohio. Lots of shade and quiet even with families and usually pretty full, hosts are extremely nice and accommodating. Swimming pool is clean. Not far from highway but no real traffic noise. Check out the Template of Tolerance a few miles away in Wapakoneta. Definitely with a visit.


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.