Best Tent Camping near Radnor, OH
Tent campers seeking options near Radnor, Ohio can find several primitive sites within an hour's drive. Mohican Memorial State Forest offers ten designated "Park and Pack" tent sites accessible via hiking trails, while Scioto Grove Metro Park provides five reservable backpacking tent sites along a river trail about 45 miles southwest of Radnor. These tent-specific camping areas require registration and often fill quickly during peak seasons.
Most walk-in tent locations in the region require campers to park in designated lots and hike between a quarter-mile to three-quarters of a mile to reach their sites. Sites typically feature simple fire rings with little additional infrastructure. According to one visitor at Mohican, "Make sure you register at the kiosk by the ranger station in the forest. Do not camp illegally or without a reservation." Campers should bring all necessary water, as most primitive tent sites lack potable water sources. Vault toilets are generally not available at these backcountry sites, and visitors must practice leave-no-trace principles.
The tent-only camping experience at these locations offers significant privacy compared to developed campgrounds. Areas like Mohican's Site 10 provide "large and beautiful" spaces with ample room for multiple tents or hammocks. A visitor commented that the Mohican sites are "fairly remote" with minimal trail traffic passing nearby. Many tent sites offer proximity to streams or rivers, though water levels vary seasonally. Fall and spring typically provide the most comfortable tent camping conditions, with summer months sometimes bringing high humidity and insects. Scioto Grove's backpacking sites include two tent pads per site with provided firewood, making them excellent options for beginners testing backpacking gear or those seeking a quick overnight tent trip close to Columbus.
