Best Tent Camping near Van Buren, OH

Tent campgrounds surrounding the Van Buren, Ohio region offer a mix of wooded sites and waterfront camping options, with varying levels of privacy and amenities. White Oak Campground provides a tent-focused experience with well-spaced, shaded sites nestled within Oak Openings Preserve Metropark. Maumee Bay State Park Campground and Wiregrass Lake Metropark offer additional tent camping options within reasonable driving distance, featuring lakeside tent sites and natural surroundings.

Most tent sites in the region provide basic amenities such as fire rings, picnic tables, and access to toilet facilities. White Oak Campground stands out for tent campers with its free firewood, dish washing stations with hot water, and clean restroom facilities with flush toilets. The campground has only five individual sites and two group sites, creating a quiet atmosphere for backcountry tent camping enthusiasts. Wiregrass Lake Metropark features three tent-only sites with raised gravel pads situated around the lake. Most sites require advance reservations, with online booking closing at 4pm on the day of arrival.

The tent camping experience near Van Buren typically includes access to hiking trails, fishing opportunities, and natural settings. A camper noted, "White Oak Campground has free firewood, outdoor sinks to wash dishes, and access to a lot of hiking trails." Tent sites in this region often provide more seclusion than RV-focused campgrounds, with several locations offering walk-in tent options that enhance privacy. The Oak Openings area features diverse landscapes from pine forests to sand dunes, creating varied backdrops for tent campers. Sites at White Oak are described as "nicely spaced and shaded, and not right on the parking lot," making them appealing for those seeking a more primitive tent camping experience. Several campgrounds in the region maintain clean facilities, with particular attention to bathrooms and common areas.

Best Tent Sites Near Van Buren, Ohio (13)

    1. Maumee Bay State Park Campground

    41 Reviews
    Oregon, OH
    40 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."

    2. White Oak Campground

    10 Reviews
    Whitehouse, OH
    29 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."

    3. Tee Pee Family Campground

    1 Review
    Carey, OH
    23 miles
    Website
    +1 (419) 396-3042

    "The bad- No Wi-Fi Sites are close together. Our fire pit is less than 3 feet away from the next camper. Playgrounds for the kids are very weak."

    4. Independence Dam State Park Campground

    4 Reviews
    Defiance, OH
    35 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.  "

    5. Cannaley Treehouse Village

    1 Review
    Swanton, OH
    32 miles
    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!"

    6. Wiregrass Lake Metropark

    3 Reviews
    Holland, OH
    35 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."

    7. Farnsworth Campground

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

    $20 - $30 / night

    9. Rockland Lake

    Be the first to review!
    Millbury, OH
    27 miles
    +1 (419) 360-4391

    $75 - $200 / night

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Tent Camping Reviews near Van Buren, OH

280 Reviews of 13 Van Buren Campgrounds


  • Napunani
    Jun. 26, 2022

    Indian Lake State Park Campground

    FHUs Sites in a field

    PROS 

    Able to reserve 144 days prior to arriving 

    Very nice campground but the design leaves a lot to be desired 

    Friendly camp hosts who were busy picking up trash in common areas and cleaning sites Moveable picnic table 

    Metal fire ring with cooking grate 

    Site D45 level asphalt parking pad surrounded by grass 

    Great view of lake from D loop; some had water access at rear of site 

    Quiet except for campground party animals who kept it going into the wee hours of the morning 

    Coin-operated laundromats in non FHU loops $1.50 wash and $1 dry 

    Free WIFI available and able to connect at campsite 

    Dump Stations at Park exit have complimentary hoses 

    Camp store sells hard dipped ice cream 

    14 miles from the Airstream Service Center in Jackson Center 

    CONS 

    No senior discount

    $6.50 reservation fee for self made on-line reservation 

    Basically the FHU loops are out in a field…no privacy from neighbors and no shade what so ever 

    Grass around sites desperately needed mowed, if you could get thru the large mud puddles 

    FHU loop D has narrow roads and require driving on grass to back in trailer and some campers in other sites had to move their vehicles 

    Short length of campsite required creative parking of tow vehicle 

    Damn Canadian Geese poop every...what a mess! 

    Site number on electric utility box 

    FHU sewer connection at the back of the campsite so bring the looooong stinky slinky FHU loop D had tiny toilet building, but no showers; showers were in non-FHU loops 

    No entry gate personnel on a Friday afternoon to accomplish check-in. Went to park office next morning and was informed no check in required prior to Memorial Day. Never saw a Park ranger driving thru campground

  • 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.

  • Angie B.
    May. 19, 2018

    Van Buren State Park Campground

    Quiet

    Since Van Buren State park is an easy 20 minutes away from home for me, i visit there often. it is clean and quiet, they dont get too busy and loud. the horse camp is nice with some new pens to keep your horse instead of them having to be tied up. They keep the restrooms clean, but no flush toilets, which dont bother me. My only complaint about Van Buren State park is that there are no shower facilities.

  • 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

  • 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.

  • Lindsay B.
    Jun. 30, 2015

    Van Buren State Park Campground

    A gem in Northwest Ohio

    Van Buren State Park is very easy to access from I-75. It has tons of trails and a pond. There are a few places to car camp or RV camp nearby. I love getting out of town and visiting Van Buren State Park, and I have lots of good memories. It gets 4 stars because I now live in Montana and Montana camping outshines Ohio, but I can't bash on Van Buren State Park at all.

  • 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.


Guide to Van Buren

Tent camping near Van Buren, Ohio, offers a variety of scenic spots where nature lovers can unwind and enjoy the great outdoors. With options ranging from family-friendly sites to more secluded areas, there's something for everyone.

Some prices for tent camping range from $19 to $22

Tent campers like these nearby activities

  • Enjoy fishing and kayaking at Independence Dam State Park Campground, where the scenic riverbank provides ample opportunities for water activities.
  • Explore the hiking and biking trails around White Oak Campground, which are perfect for family adventures and nature walks.
  • Experience the thrill of inflatable slides and swimming at the pond in Tee Pee Family Campground, a great spot for kids to play and enjoy the outdoors.

Campground features that enhance your stay

  • Farnsworth Campground provides essential amenities like drinking water and picnic tables, ensuring a comfortable camping experience.
  • At Wolf Creek Park Campground, you can enjoy firewood availability and a friendly atmosphere, perfect for gathering around the campfire.
  • Rockland Lake features electric hookups and reservable sites, making it a convenient choice for those who want a bit more comfort while camping.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Van Buren, OH?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Van Buren, OH is Maumee Bay State Park Campground with a 4.6-star rating from 41 reviews.

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

TheDyrt.com has all 13 tent camping locations near Van Buren, OH, with real photos and reviews from campers.