Best Tent Camping near St. Clairsville, OH

Tent camping options near St. Clairsville, Ohio include several established sites within the Wayne National Forest, with Lamping Homestead Recreation Area and Hune Bridge Campground offering tent-specific campsites. Located roughly 30-40 miles from St. Clairsville, these tent camping areas provide access to the scenic Little Muskingum River and North Country Trail, making them suitable bases for hikers and nature enthusiasts seeking woodland camping experiences.

Most tent campsites in the region provide basic amenities, with fire rings and picnic tables available at Lamping Homestead and Hune Bridge Campground. Potable water is generally unavailable at these primitive tent sites, requiring campers to bring their own supply or filter from nearby creeks. Vault toilets are present at several locations, including Kinderhook Trailhead and Hune Bridge. The majority of tent camping areas allow pets, and fires are permitted in designated rings at most sites. Free camping is available at Hune Bridge Campground with a 14-day stay limit.

The camping terrain varies across sites, with shaded locations predominant in this forested region. A recent review noted that Hune Bridge Campground features "a historic covered bridge and lovely creek in the backyard" with four designated tent campsites. The area offers good opportunities for fishing and paddling, with multiple creeks accessible from camping areas. Tent campers seeking solitude might prefer weekday visits, as horse traffic can be significant at equestrian trailheads like Kinderhook during daylight hours. One camper shared that at Kinderhook Trailhead, "before sunset, everyone cleared out and only campers remained," highlighting the peaceful evenings typical at these woodland tent campsites. Most tent camping areas in the region remain open year-round, though seasonal conditions may affect access and comfort.

Best Tent Sites Near St. Clairsville, Ohio (12)

Show More
Showing results 1-10 of 12 campgrounds

2025 Detourist Giveaway

Presented byToyota Trucks

Review Campgrounds. Win Prizes.

Enter to Win


Recent Tent Camping Photos near St. Clairsville, OH

3 Photos of 12 St. Clairsville Campgrounds


Tent Camping Reviews near St. Clairsville, OH

297 Reviews of 12 St. Clairsville Campgrounds


  • Shari  G.The Dyrt PRO User
    May. 28, 2018

    Lamping Homestead Recreation Area

    Simple, Quiet, Beautiful!

    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. Each site had a picnic table and campfire ring, but there is no privacy between sites. There is no water available, other than the pond, so plan accordingly. The group picnic area is great for bigger families or groups, with a campfire ring, grills and a covered picnic area.    

    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.

    The closest town is Woodsfield, OH, about 13 miles from this campground and has most of the supplies you may need.

    More Information: https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/wayne/recarea/?recid=6214

  • Shannon G.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 16, 2022

    Tomlinson Run State Park Campground

    Camping in the trees

    Electric Site 37 - pad is pretty level, plenty for our small camper and truck, on a slight hill to get to fire ring but lots of space to spread out. You could tent but not really a flat spot. We were near the non-electric cul de sac and a neighbor right across but not on top of each other. Trees are everywhere and wonderful during the fall season. We had a big night of rain and with the wind it dried up pretty quickly.

    Camp store - small, not a lot in it but may be end of the season items only. Mostly shirts and mugs and very little snack food. The camp store staff were all very friendly and helpful and the store has limited WiFi if you stood in the right spot. There is a laundry room available there as well.

    Dump station- 2 way and potable water on the other side of it. The only place to drop your trash too.

    Trails - lots of trails to choose from. Some were pretty easy some were a little hilly. My favorite was the fern trail - lots of ferns and a very pretty stream. Hiking poles are recommended especially if it rains.

    Playground - is available for kids and a huge shelter house too.

    Firewood is $6 a bundle and burns well, no slab cut.

    Water - have to go up to entrance as the water spouts are still shut off.

    Showers - in womens the shower on the left never got warm, other two were fine. There are 4 flush toilets.

  • Danielle S.
    Apr. 16, 2021

    Hidden Hollow Campground — Fernwood State Forest

    Can't beat free, but caveats abound.

    This tiny gem of a campground is actually quite decent. Each site is furnished with a small fire ring and picnic table. The fire rings do not have a grill grate. The pit toilets in the restroom are "fragrant" when you enter the women's side of the building but not so terribly that they can't be used. My friend did gag upon entering the men's room. There are designated wastewater areas to dump grey water, but you'll have to bring your own water for drinking, washing, etc. There are no electric hookups.

    As others have mentioned, there is a gun range nearby and you can hear occasional firing. Helicopter traffic at night was a slight distraction from the otherwise quiet night I spent here.

    There is an easy orange-blazed trail behind site 10 but as of this writing, a there are several downed trees blocking the trail a good distance in.

    I'd definitely stay again.

    5/3/2021 Edited to add:. Well, our second stay here is decidedly less positive. We are at site 9 this time. No fire ring here. The women's bathroom is filthy and it made me gag (there is feces all over one toilet seat and the other smells so bad that I just peed in the woods). It's turkey season so lots of noise in the woods.

  • Aloma O.
    Sep. 5, 2022

    Tappan Lake Park Campground

    Needs accurate website for bookings

    Booked 2 sites online using website. Upon getting to our sites the numbers listed on the site posts did not match the numbers on the site map used for booking. Section 4. Seasonal campers verified the campground constantly changes site numbers around.. It is very misleading. Should not offer booking online or should make sure all online booking locations have the site numbers and pictures accurate. The site we had was NOT the one pictured on the map online. Very small, muddy, and could not even have a fire on it. Got lucky no one was across from us. We used that site to build a fire. Make sure you don't forget anything or need gas, not much around.

  • Emily S.
    Jun. 1, 2017

    Hidden Hollow Campground — Fernwood State Forest

    Free!

    Spent the first camping trip of the summer here on Memorial Day weekend and it was a beautiful spot. There are a number of sites set up in a circle, the initial sites are better suited for RVs while the sites along the back of the loop are flatter and can accommodate a tent. This was our first car camping in an actual campground experience in a while - our last few trips were all backcountry sites - and it felt very luxurious. The campground is situated near shooting ranges so the gunfire lasts late into the evening and begins early in the morning disrupting the serenity a bit.

    The best part - it's free! Just register at the box. There are vault toilets and each site has a fire ring, picnic table, garbage cans, and there are spots to dump waste water. It's very well-organized and well maintained.

  • K
    Jun. 25, 2021

    Jefferson Lake State Park Campground

    Quiet and Beautiful

    This smaller campground has a mix of equestrian sites and tent/RV sites. There are no showers, but the vault toilets were cleaned thoroughly ever morning. You need to be careful when booking, especially if you are trying to pitch a tent, as some sites are quite sloped. Our site was huge and right next to the water spigot.

  • Shari  G.The Dyrt PRO User
    May. 28, 2018

    Hune Bridge Campground

    Covered Bridge in your Backyard

    Adorable little campground, with a historic covered bridge and lovely creek in the backyard. 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.  

    Each site has a picnic table, fire ring, and lantern pole.  No drinking water is available, but there are creeks all around, so come prepared with a water filter! The creeks are also great for fishing and float trips. No much privacy between sites but a good deal of shade, especially site #4 in the afternoon. Just down the road from the campground are a couple more dispersed sites, too. It is completely FREE, and you can stay for up to 14 days. There are a couple other small campgrounds in the area similar to this one, such as Lane Farm and Lamping Homestead, just off Hwy 26.

    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. This campground also serves as the local “take out” for the river. While the canoe launch was destroyed in a flood, it is possible to get kayaks, small boats, and canoes up the down the embankment. The town of Marietta is just 15 miles away, and has all the things you need.

    First come, first served. No reservations available or even possible.

  • Zac C.
    Aug. 28, 2023

    Memory Park Campground

    Quiet but fantastic.

    We stayed in Cousins Cove. Everyone was raving about the newlyweds site so we walked over (when nobody was there, of course). That particular spot had a great fishing spot. Cousins Cove had plenty of shade and was close enough to the portable toilet that it wasn't inconvenient, but far enough to have to worry about smells or run off. The sites were primitive, which we liked and there were plenty of trees to hang hammocks. We used a truck bed and a roof top tent for camping, but the ground was relatively level. The site has plenty of kindling to walk around and gather up as well, so we didn't have to bring our own. There were other campers there, but everyone was so far away, we felt alone.

  • Kellie A.
    May. 24, 2021

    Salt Fork State Park Campground

    My Go-to Weekend Getaway

    Saltfork is located about 45 minutes from my house, and makes for the perfect overnight trip. 

    There are tons of things to do, and lots of space in which to do them. My favorites includes hiking trails, and the lakeside dog park. 

    I stay in the primitive camping, it allows for more privacy and quiet. Although it also means you are relegated to the pit toilets. I personally don't mind them, but I know some campers will make the drive to the nicer shower house in the RV heavy side of the park. 

    Each site has a picnic table and fire ring, the fire rings in the primitive section need some work, as the grates are very old and small.


Guide to St. Clairsville

Tent camping options near St. Clairsville, Ohio extend beyond established campsites to include primitive locations in the Wayne National Forest. The region features Appalachian foothills with elevations between 700-1,000 feet and mixed hardwood forests. Summer temperatures average 75-85°F with high humidity, while spring and fall camping offer more moderate conditions with temperatures ranging from 50-70°F.

What to do

Fishing opportunities: At Hune Bridge Campground, visitors can enjoy creek fishing in multiple nearby waterways. According to Jeff P., "Part of the draw for me was the river running alongside," though he notes water levels can vary seasonally.

Equestrian trail access: Kinderhook Trailhead serves as a starting point for horseback riding trails in Wayne National Forest. The campground experiences significant daytime horse traffic, as one camper notes, "With it being an equestrian trail, there were a lot of horses and trailers throughout the day."

Hiking adventures: Lamping Homestead Recreation Area connects directly to the North Country Trail. One visitor explains, "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."

Cycling routes: The back roads around Wayne National Forest campgrounds offer cyclists gravel routes through scenic terrain. According to a Hune Bridge camper, "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."

What campers like

Peaceful evenings: While some campgrounds see day-use traffic, nights bring tranquility to Kinderhook Trailhead. A visitor shares, "Before sunset, everyone cleared out and only campers remained."

Historical features: Several camping areas offer access to preserved historical structures. Seth V. calls Hune Bridge Campground "a great drive in campsite perfect for family and friends to get into the woods for a bit."

Scenic waterways: Multiple creeks flow through the camping areas, providing visual appeal and recreation options. A camper at Hune Bridge describes it as an "Adorable little campground, with a historic covered bridge and lovely creek in the backyard."

Simple amenities: The basic facilities at Lamping Homestead meet essential camping needs. One reviewer notes, "Each site had a picnic table and campfire ring, but there is no privacy between sites. There is no water available, other than the pond, so plan accordingly."

What you should know

Water availability concerns: Nearly all camping areas require you to bring your own water or filter from natural sources. At Conaway Run State Lake, a camper reports, "Porta potties are all that is available. No running water so you have to bring your own."

Limited site privacy: Most campgrounds feature open layouts without significant barriers between sites. At Lamping Homestead Recreation Area, campers should expect communal camping arrangements rather than secluded sites.

Vault toilet conditions: Toilet facilities vary in maintenance across locations. At Hune Bridge, a reviewer mentions a "vault toilet that is relatively clean and well-stocked."

Campground closures: Some listed campgrounds may be permanently closed or unmaintained. One camper reported about Haught Run Campground: "Completely closed...nope, nada, nothing there anymore!"

Tips for camping with families

Group facilities: Larger family gatherings benefit from dedicated group areas. At Lamping Homestead, "The group picnic area is great for bigger families or groups, with a campfire ring, grills and a covered picnic area."

Site selection for shade: When camping with children, choosing shaded sites helps manage summer heat. A Hune Bridge camper recommends, "No much privacy between sites but a good deal of shade, especially site #4 in the afternoon."

Supply planning: The distance to stores requires advance preparation. One camper notes Woodsfield is "about 13 miles from this campground and has most of the supplies you may need."

Activity options: Families should plan outdoor activities suited to the forest environment. Kinderhook Trailhead offers an "open area, so there wouldn't be physical privacy, although the tall trees provide shade" for family games and activities.

Tips from RVers

RV site limitations: Most campgrounds have restricted space for larger vehicles. Hune Bridge Campground accommodates smaller RVs but lacks hookups, making it suitable for self-contained camping only.

Alternative options: RVers seeking more amenities should consider Twin Hills Campground, which offers electric hookups, sanitary dump facilities, and water hookups not available at primitive forest sites.

Road conditions: Forest service roads may present challenges for larger rigs. Some access roads are described as "nicely graded gravel," but conditions can change seasonally, especially after rainfall.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near St. Clairsville, OH?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near St. Clairsville, OH is Twin Hills Campground with a 0-star rating from 0 reviews.

What is the best site to find tent camping near St. Clairsville, OH?

TheDyrt.com has all 12 tent camping locations near St. Clairsville, OH, with real photos and reviews from campers.