Wayne National Forest offers several tent camping options near Marietta, Ohio, with both established campgrounds and primitive sites available. Hune Bridge Campground provides tent sites with a historic covered bridge and creek access, while Lane Farm Campground offers free tent camping with basic amenities just 5 miles from Marietta. Kinderhook Trailhead in Newport features designated tent sites with picnic tables and fire pits at an equestrian trailhead.
Most tent campgrounds in the area provide basic amenities including fire rings, picnic tables, and vault toilets, though drinking water is typically unavailable. Campers should bring their own water or water filtration systems, as creek water may be muddy or unsafe for drinking. Sites are generally first-come, first-served with no reservations possible, and many allow stays up to 14 days. A visitor commented, "A cute little place, just 4 campsites and a vault toilet that is relatively clean and well-stocked." The campgrounds are designed primarily for tent camping, though some can accommodate small campers with strategic parking.
Walk-in tent sites are available at Lamping Homestead Recreation Area, which features six spacious sites near a small pond. The North Country Trail passes directly by this campground, making it ideal for hikers. Tent campers frequently use these areas as bases for exploring the region's hiking trails, covered bridges, and scenic backroads. One camper noted that "each site has a picnic table, fire ring, and lantern pole," providing the essentials for a comfortable primitive camping experience. Most tent sites have little privacy between them but offer good shade coverage, particularly important during summer months. Cell phone service can be limited or non-existent in many camping areas, so backcountry tent campers should plan accordingly and bring physical maps of the area.
"A cute little place, just 4 campsites and a vault toilet that is relatively clean and well-stocked."
"It is getting difficult for travelling motorcyclists to find a campground to sleep for the night as most that call themselves campgrounds are RV parks and don't allow tent camping. "
from $10 / night
"There are 4 campsites and a vault toilet that is relatively clean and well-stocked. This campground is just off Hwy 26, but far enough away from town that there isn’t much traffic. "
"Part of the draw for me was the river running alongside, but it is bone dry. Other than that, it's your typical midway NFS campground."
"We pulled in and there was one couple setup at a designated site (picnic table and fire pit). As we drove around the trailhead, we found a second designated site."
"This is a horse trail camp. There is a vault toilet,a few trash cans,a water spigot and plenty of room for horse trailers. There are some trails you can walk or ride on."
"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."
"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."
"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."
ScoutActually talked to the Grandson of one of the miners at the park around the corner ( down the hill, and up the hill to the right) he was sitting in the bucket and came out and talked to me about it very cool. My lucky day
TravelerSites are basically parking pads with very little useful space around them but the sites are spaced apart. Bathroom and showers are usable but no frills. Scenery is pretty. ATV play area nearby.
GuideCamped here for the Mothman Festival in mid-September. Fine folks running the place - the 90+ y.o. matriarch takes the money and calculates tax by hand. Make note that the pictures posted on the website are VERY outdated; the facilities are derelict in comparison. We were just there to camp so it was fine for our purposes (i.e., no need to use the event space (closed I think), pool, playground, etc.). Tent camping is a free-for-all first-come first-serve. If rain is in the forecast, don't pitch a tent by the river; many sites on the floodplain had washed out after a heavy overnight rain. Also notable, the bathrooms were perhaps the nastiest I've seen at any campground. I don't think they cleaned them once during our two-night stay, and just progressively smelled more and more like urine as the weekend progressed.
RangerDidn't have the best experience. Stayed a week and never even met a host. Had a late check in and the office was never open until Friday afternoon. Laundry machines were broken--not a huge deal but obviously not well maintained. Had a couple days with gunshots for about 6 hours straight. Lot 44 also a little unpleasant since you are at the entrance and will hear every single car/truck coming in and out of the campground because they get bounced by the speed bump. Loud enough to wake you up around 430AM. Location was pretty convenient to several small towns.
TravelerGreat view of the sky for stargazing and telescopes at the sites in 40s. Trails are a little neglected though; lots of downed trees and faded blazes. Maybe it’s late in the season, and they will improve in the spring.
GuideWe found site F26 at the far end of the loop. Short paved pad with electric very near a simple clean bathroom with flush toilets. Sites are treeless and fairly close together but the sites in our mini loop all backed up to the woods. Surprised to encounter mosquitoes in October. Overall the campground is huge with 5 separate loops that are spread far apart. The check in station is a significant distance from the first loop A and more than a mile from loop F so if you don’t have reservations, go to the website to find out which sites are available then drive around to make your selection -then call or go online to register. $45.50 for electric only site includes booking fee.
ScoutLaid back rv park on the Ohio river plenty of room. 10/10
RangerWe thoroughly enjoyed this camp spot right on the river. LOTS of different birds. And it was so quiet!
ScoutIve camped here a few times in the kast few years and have really enjoyed it. They just put in a spigot to get water from. There is vault toilets. They cut down some brush to make a few trails that you can hike. This campground is surrounded by other free campgrounds in Jesse Owen's state Park but this is the only one that gets cell service. You are allowed to run generator.
Tent campsites near Marietta, Ohio are primarily located within Wayne National Forest, which spans over 244,000 acres across southeastern Ohio. The forest features mixed hardwoods with rolling terrain at elevations between 650-1,000 feet, creating diverse camping environments. Summer temperatures average 75-85°F with high humidity, while spring and fall camping seasons offer more moderate conditions with nighttime temperatures often dropping below 50°F.
Fishing spots: 1-2 miles from camps. The creeks and rivers near Hune Bridge Campground provide good fishing opportunities. "The creeks are also great for fishing and float trips," mentions a camper who appreciated the water access near this free campground.
Hiking on North Country Trail: connects multiple sites. This national scenic trail passes directly through several camping areas in Wayne National Forest. One visitor to Lamping Homestead Recreation Area noted, "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."
Historic sites: 5-15 miles radius. The region surrounding tent campsites contains numerous historical points of interest including covered bridges and historic structures. A camper observed, "Within the national forest, you will find some historic covered bridges, churches, homes, general stores and quite a few hiking and horse trails and some nicely graded gravel back roads for cycling."
Wide spaces between sites: At Baileys Trail Tent Camping, campers enjoy the generous spacing. "We drove for about 3 hours to get from where we are. Nice wide open space surrounded by woods. There were other campers but very friendly and had plenty of space to ourselves," one reviewer commented about their experience.
Natural setting with minimal development: The simplicity and natural surroundings are frequently mentioned in reviews. One visitor stated, "I'm happy I had this place to call home for the past couple months. I felt safe, secure, and couldn't have asked for a better host. My favorite part: the trees!"
Quiet weekday camping: Most tent campgrounds are significantly less crowded during weekdays. A camper at Kinderhook Trailhead noted, "With it being an equestrian trail, there were a lot of horses and trailers throughout the day. Before sunset, everyone cleared out and only campers remained."
Limited or no cell service: Many camping areas in Wayne National Forest have poor connectivity. Visitors should download maps beforehand and bring paper backups. At Lane Farm Campground, a reviewer warned, "There is no phone service within 4-5 miles of the campground."
Water sources are limited: Most tent sites do not have drinking water available. "No drinking water is available and the creeks are quite muddy, so come prepared with water!" advised one camper. Plan to bring all water needed or bring filtration systems if camping multiple days.
Some sites require advance planning: While many campsites operate on first-come, first-served basis, certain locations may fill quickly, especially on weekends. At Zaleski State Forest, a visitor recommended, "Get there early and get to the campsites first, there are decidedly better sites in each camp."
Beginner-friendly backpacking options: Families with children can find suitable backpacking routes. "I have backpacked the trails here since the 1980s. More recently, I have taken my kids for several treks on the lower loop," shared an experienced visitor to Zaleski State Forest who found the trails manageable for different ages.
Check for ticks and poison ivy: Parents should be vigilant about these common forest hazards. A family who visited mentioned, "Trails had lots of poison ivy & ticks present. We look forward to coming back & doing the remainder of the trail."
Look for wildlife viewing opportunities: The forests around Marietta provide excellent wildlife spotting chances for children. "You will see lots of wildlife, we have seen salamanders, deer, snakes, a wild turkey even wandered into our camp," noted one family's experience camping in the area.
Limited space for larger vehicles: Most tent campsites near Marietta are not designed for larger RVs or trailers. At Lane Farm Campground, a visitor with a small camper noted, "It's designed for tent camping, but Hamlet (our small camper) fit fine with some strategic parking."
Check road conditions: Many campgrounds are accessed via forest roads that may be challenging for RVs. Strategic planning helps avoid difficult situations on narrow or rough roads leading to tent camping areas.
Consider alternatives for larger rigs: Campers needing more space should look at commercial campgrounds closer to Marietta rather than the primitive forest sites. The Wayne National Forest sites primarily accommodate tent camping with very limited options for larger vehicles.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Marietta, OH?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Marietta, OH is Lane Farm Campground with a 4-star rating from 2 reviews.
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