Best Tent Camping near Swanton, OH

Tent campsites within the greater Swanton area offer multiple options in natural settings, particularly in the nearby Oak Openings Preserve Metropark. White Oak Campground features five individual tent sites and two group sites situated within a wooded setting approximately 5 miles southwest of Swanton. Wiregrass Lake Metropark provides three primitive tent sites positioned around a small fishing lake, with no RV accommodation available. Both campgrounds maintain reservation systems managed by the Toledo Metropark system.

Most tent campsites near Swanton feature raised gravel or sandy pads with fire rings and picnic tables. White Oak Campground provides free firewood for campers, clean restroom facilities with flush toilets, and dish washing stations with hot water. Wiregrass Lake offers similar amenities but with more limited facilities. Neither location provides showers, though according to one visitor, "free showers are available at the Wheel House in the Beach Ridge area of the park." Both require online reservations that must be completed before 4 PM on the day of arrival, as walk-up registration is not available. Sites remain open year-round but may experience increased mosquito activity during summer months.

The tent camping areas provide varying levels of privacy and seclusion. At White Oak, "the sites are very nicely spaced and shaded, and not right on the parking lot," as a camper wrote in their review. Site 3 at Wiregrass Lake is noted for having the most privacy with vegetation walls on all sides, creating a secluded tent experience. Several hiking trails connect directly to the White Oak Campground, including the 15.5-mile Scout Trail loop that runs through the Oak Openings ecosystem. While generally peaceful, campers should be aware of some road noise from nearby State Highway 295 and occasional aircraft noise from Toledo Express Airport. Tent campers frequently use these areas as bases for exploring the unique Oak Openings region, known for its diverse habitats including sand dunes, pine forests, and prairie remnants.

Best Tent Sites Near Swanton, Ohio (16)

    1. White Oak Campground

    10 Reviews
    Whitehouse, OH
    4 miles
    Website
    +1 (419) 407-9701

    $30 - $40 / night

    "I set up right at 3 at Site 7 - there's no check-in process or attendant. I hadn't printed my permit, so I wondered if I would get a visit from a ranger but all was quiet."

    "Nice restroom facilities, FREE firewood available. Grey water sinks for dish cleaning. Picnic table and fire ring at each site. Parking is general, but close to each site."

    2. Maumee Bay State Park Campground

    41 Reviews
    Oregon, OH
    26 miles
    Website
    +1 (419) 836-7758

    "This park is close to Toledo and within spitting distance of several refineries although you’d never know it! "

    "Just a short walk or bike ride to Lake Erie via a paved path. I highly recommend taking a bike, as there are so many trails and paths to ride throughout the park."

    3. Wiregrass Lake Metropark

    3 Reviews
    Holland, OH
    7 miles
    Website
    +1 (419) 407-9700

    $20 - $25 / night

    "Wiregrass lake was a very nice camping atmosphere. There are only 3 camping spots around the lake so you’re not packed in like sardines. The atmosphere is very calm, quiet, and relaxing."

    "3 camp sites available near fishable wiregrass lake in wiregrass metropark. Open year round. Firewood provide. Reservation required."

    4. Cannaley Treehouse Village

    1 Review
    Swanton, OH
    1 mile
    Website
    +1 (419) 407-9701

    "I think 1 night is plenty as the site itself doesn't offer a ton of amenities but there are some trails that you can walk/bike without leaving base. They also have showers which is a bonus!"

    5. Farnsworth Campground

    Be the first to review!
    Whitehouse, OH
    10 miles
    Website
    +1 (419) 407-9701

    $20 - $30 / night

    6. Independence Dam State Park Campground

    4 Reviews
    Defiance, OH
    29 miles
    Website
    +1 (419) 956-1368

    $18 - $25 / night

    "Most sites are on a small elevated bank on maumee river, (you can walk down the path but not put a kayak in) There are no hookups, only vault toilets, no staff only very nice camp hosts ( there are next"

    "It's very green with lots of trees and shade cover.  The paved path that goes along the camping sites is very nice and makes for a great walk or bike ride.  "

    7. Rockland Lake

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    Millbury, OH
    20 miles
    +1 (419) 360-4391

    $75 - $200 / night

    8. 6 Lakes Campground

    1 Review
    Hillsdale, MI
    43 miles
    Website
    +1 (517) 439-5660

    "Has a boat access, with a beautiful lake. You can go through little canals to get to other parts of the lake. Sites have perfect amount of shade. Defiantly will be going back"

    9. Funny Farm Campground

    Be the first to review!
    Pioneer, OH
    37 miles
    +1 (419) 737-2467
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Tent Camping Reviews near Swanton, OH

318 Reviews of 16 Swanton Campgrounds


  • Megan T.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 11, 2019

    White Oak Campground

    Peaceful Greenery

    I had a friend's wedding at The Stables (which I didn't realize was 3 min away) and decided to camp here rather than get a hotel. I set up right at 3 at Site 7 - there's no check-in process or attendant. I hadn't printed my permit, so I wondered if I would get a visit from a ranger but all was quiet. The site was spacious, sandy, and well suited for both tent and hammock. The fire ring was in good condition and fire wood was already stacked. The property was well maintained and the bathrooms clean and cool - the women's did have some standing water from a leaky toilet it looked like. You can hear distant cars and some not so distant planes. Also, while all the sites are wooded the woods are not very thick so you can see and hear your neighbors pretty well. Site number three looks at the most secluded to me while site number four was pretty much in the open beside the bathrooms. Group sites were full sun it appeared. The stream behind my site was dry. Nice map and brochures at the parking area. Sturdy picnic tables.

  • L
    Oct. 15, 2018

    White Oak Campground

    BEAUTIFUL! 10/10 would camp here again!

    Campground is nicely kept, only 5 individual sites, has two group sites. Nice restroom facilities, FREE firewood available. Grey water sinks for dish cleaning. Picnic table and fire ring at each site. Parking is general, but close to each site. We were there on a Monday night, only had one other tent in the campground. Nice flat sand pads for tents to set up on!

    DOWNSIDE: MUST RESERVE ONLINE BEFORE 4PM. There is no walk-up service, and online site goes down after employees go home at night.

  • Lee D.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jan. 14, 2025

    Maumee Bay State Park Campground

    Very close to Toledo but you'd never know it!

    General: Large state park with 256 campsites, all with electric (20-30-50 amp) hookups. Sites 1-11 and 21-29 have full hookups (water, sewer, electric). Also, there are a lodge and cabins. The park is very well maintained. This park is close to Toledo and within spitting distance of several refineries although you’d never know it! 

    Site Quality: All sites are very generous in size and appear to be spaced with a decent amount of space apart with foliage providing varying levels of privacy. Some have beautiful trees that in peak fall color would be stunning. All camper pads are paved and long enough to accommodate large RVs. Some have concrete pads for picnic tables, although the sites in our loop did not. A wooden picnic table and fire ring complete each site. 

    Restroom/Shower house: Very clean, however, bathhouses are shared between two loops. Each bathhouse only has two shower stalls, which may necessitate a wait when the campground is full. A hook and a small bench but nowhere to put soap/shampoo in the shower. Good warm water. 

    Activities/Amenities: So much to do! Several lakes are good for fishing or boating. Many trails, some grassy and some paved are good for walking, running, and biking. A beautiful and extensive boardwalk constructed by the Ohio Civilian Conservation Corps is available only for foot traffic. Bike rentals are available. A small camp store. Laundry facilities. Donuts and muffins on the weekends. Several playgrounds. Bird houses and feeders are located throughout the park and especially in the spring, you can hear many varieties of birds chirping (however, you will also experience the by-products of so many birds!). Excellent cell service (Verizon). There is also a dump station.

    There was a warning that due to the proximity to an urban area campers, bikes, etc. should be locked up but I didn't feel that vibe.

    We enjoyed two stays at this campground, once in September and once in May. Even though this large campground was full when we were there on a weekend in September, we did not feel overcrowded. There were many empty campsites when we were there during the week in May (the week before Memorial Day); we very much enjoyed our stay both times!

  • J
    Oct. 6, 2019

    Wiregrass Lake Metropark

    Great local camping area

    Wiregrass lake was a very nice camping atmosphere. There are only 3 camping spots around the lake so you’re not packed in like sardines. The atmosphere is very calm, quiet, and relaxing. The lake offers great fishing opportunities and doubles as a nice spot to sit by the water, enjoy the local wildlife and relax. Each site has a raised gravel pad for your tent, a picnic table, fire ring, and a trash and free wood box that is fully stocked. If your looking for a camping experience without being surrounded by a whole bunch of people this is it

  • Marg B.
    Jun. 14, 2018

    Lake Hudson Recreation Area

    Beautiful Nature, Dark Sky Rustic Camping

    Lake Hudson is a dark sky preserve full of trees, nature and a beautiful lake. The camping sites come with an electric plug in, a nice fire ring and a picnic table. They are cute sites. Most are not by the lake. There is a dumpster. The facilities are rustic. The facilities are port a potty type with wooden walls and cement floor. No showers. A hand pump well for water. The swimming part of the lake requires a drive. The Lake is beautiful with a sand beach, no wake boating and grills. However it is rustic so there is goose poo. The woods are beautiful. There is hunting. We had heard that some people partied there but the night we were there it was quiet and people were respectful. We had a beautiful fire and dutch oven dinner. We saw one cute racoon who ran away when I reacted. We were worried about mosquitos but we only saw one.

  • A
    Dec. 8, 2020

    Independence Dam State Park Campground

    Hidden gem for the right people

    This park is great for the right kind of trips, we visit here often in the summer to enjoy the river, kayak , and relax. Most sites are on a small elevated bank on maumee river, (you can walk down the path but not put a kayak in)

    There are no hookups, only vault toilets, no staff only very nice camp hosts ( there are next to site 11 ). 

    Sites 1-6 are misleading on the site, they are not on the river bend, there is a gravel trail/road between them and the river bank. its not a huge deal for access but annoying if your expecting direct access. 

    Sites 9 and 10 were not bookable in 2020 an hopefully remain that way, they are basically in front on the camp host site, so the camp host is between you and the river. 

    Sites 11-15 are the best in my opinion 

    Site 13 has direct access to the river on a small walking path.

    Site 15 is our favorite, it has the most room and still has a small path down to the river.

  • SThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 11, 2025

    Mary Jane Thurston State Park Campground

    Lots to do here

    The camp sites on the river are excellent. Some sights are by the highway. They are still nice, but lots of road noise. There is no water at the camp sites, but water is available. There are no shower facilities. There are great hiking trails and a nice frisbee golf course.

  • Cheryl M.
    May. 8, 2018

    Lake Hudson Recreation Area

    Lakeside, privacy & low priced!

    50 sites separated by thick trees, 11 are on the lake side with trails thru woods to lake (not really 'lakeview' from inside camper). Swimming, boating, kayaking, fishing, sand beaches & more on a good size lake with tons of inlets & curvy shorelines.

    $20/nt in 2018. All are 20/30 amp, no water, no sewer. Several spigots in camp area, no dump station... nearby one at Hayes State Park. Vault toilets (didn't use as we have in camper). Boat launch. Very pretty lake & views, peaceful. Info/reserve at https://www.midnrreservations.com/LakeHudsonRecreationArea?Map

    Note1: LONG RV's 31'+ would fit in a lot of the sites, but sites say up to 30'. We had approx 40-45' space from road to treeline.

    Note2: DARK SKY PARK designation so enjoy the amazing night star views! They do ask you to keep blinds & drapes closed and exterior lights off or to a minimum.

    Note3: Extension or long electrical cords may be needed, as boxes are at back end and halfway to next site over.

  • C
    Jul. 5, 2022

    Lake Hudson Recreation Area

    Lake Hudson Rec Area

    Site 16. We stayed here over the weekend of July 4th. The road to get in is a dusty road that’s is very bumpy. It’s a rustic campground with no water or dump station, so make sure you bring water and have a plan for dumping. We used the RV dump station at the Loves Truck Stop in Marshall, MI on our way home which is an hour west of the campground off of I-94 for $10. We were told that you could use Hayes State Park which is 30 mins away as a place for dumping as well. There is only a hand pump to use to get water in front of the campground so make sure you bring jugs for filling. There are a few sites and a cabin in the lake with a pretty view. The mosquitoes and gnats were terrible so make sure you bring bug spray and a fan when hanging out outside. There is no firewood available for sale, but there is someone up the road who sales it for a decent price. The site itself is big as it fit our 32 foot travel trailer. It does connect to the site on the other side of you and the back of you. The electric box for your neighbor is also in the back of this site. No playground for kids, but lots of hiking trails which we biked too the beach and boat launch. There is also a place to fish at the boat launch, where we caught sunfish, large and small mouth bass. There is also 1 geocaching spot too. We will definitely come back. We had a great time!


Guide to Swanton

Tent camping near Swanton, Ohio, offers a variety of scenic spots perfect for outdoor enthusiasts looking to immerse themselves in nature. With well-maintained facilities and a range of activities, these campgrounds provide an excellent escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

Explore Local Trails and Nature

  • Enjoy hiking and biking trails at White Oak Campground, where families can explore the beautiful surroundings and engage in outdoor activities.
  • Experience the tranquility of Wiregrass Lake Metropark, featuring a serene lake ideal for fishing and wildlife observation.
  • Discover the scenic beauty of Independence Dam State Park Campground, which offers a paved path along the river, perfect for walking or biking.

Affordable Tent Camping Options

  • Tent camping prices at Farnsworth Campground typically range from $20 to $25 per night, providing a budget-friendly option for families and solo adventurers alike.
  • At Maumee Bay State Park Campground, expect to pay around $22 for a night of camping, with spacious sites and access to various amenities.
  • Cannaley Treehouse Village offers unique tent camping experiences, with prices starting at approximately $30 per night, making it a fun getaway for families.

Unique Attractions and Amenities

  • Rockland Lake features a private quarry setting, perfect for families looking for a unique camping experience with swimming and fishing opportunities.
  • Enjoy the rustic charm of Funny Farm Campground, which offers electric hookups and a market for convenience during your stay.
  • Experience the hidden gem of 6 Lakes Campground, where you can explore beautiful lakes and canals, making it a great spot for boating and fishing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Swanton, OH?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Swanton, OH is White Oak Campground with a 4.7-star rating from 10 reviews.

What is the best site to find tent camping near Swanton, OH?

TheDyrt.com has all 16 tent camping locations near Swanton, OH, with real photos and reviews from campers.