Best Tent Camping near New Franklin, OH
Tent camping options around New Franklin, Ohio include several primitive sites near the Towpath Trail and within Summit Metro Parks. Franklin Trailhead offers free, first-come-first-served tent sites about a quarter mile south of the trailhead on Center Road, while Heritage Farms provides tent camping on a working Christmas tree farm with picnic tables and fire rings at each site.
Tent campers should prepare for basic accommodations at most sites. Heritage Farms requires campers to park and then use provided wagons to transport gear to their sites, with some spots requiring a short hike. Many locations have vault toilets or porta-potties rather than flush facilities, and drinking water is limited or unavailable. At Franklin Trailhead, campers must register at a kiosk, with no reservations possible. Most tent sites are rustic with minimal amenities—Rivers Edge Camping Area provides picnic tables and fire pits but limited facilities beyond a porta-potty in the parking area.
The tent camping experience varies across locations. Big Bend Trailhead offers more secluded sites situated on a hillock above the parking area, providing privacy despite proximity to trails. A camper noted that "sites are situated on a hillock above the park and parking area, there is a good deal of privacy." Heritage Farms tent sites are scattered throughout a Christmas tree farm, offering unique views and sunset vistas. However, tent campers should be prepared for variable conditions. One review mentioned that "you can hear the highway from the campground, despite the fact that it is located a good distance away." Railroad tracks near some campgrounds may create noise during mornings or daytime hours, though trains typically don't run at night.
