Best Tent Camping near Wadsworth, OH

Tent campsites near Wadsworth, Ohio range from established campgrounds to primitive backcountry sites, with several options within a 30-mile radius. Heritage Farms offers walk-in tent sites situated among Christmas trees, while The West Woods provides more secluded tent camping with sites positioned away from the main trails. Rivers Edge Camping Area at Bridgeport Quarry Trailhead offers free tent camping in a small grassy field near the Tuscarawas River, approximately 25 miles south of Wadsworth.

Most tent campgrounds in the region have basic amenities with varying levels of accessibility. Heritage Farms provides fire rings, picnic tables, and porta-potties, but requires campers to carry gear from parking areas to their sites using provided wagons and wheelbarrows. The West Woods features raised tent pads that help keep tents dry during rain, but sites are approximately a quarter-mile walk from the parking area. Many primitive tent sites lack drinking water, so campers should bring their own supplies. Several locations, including Rivers Edge and Ottawa Overlook Backcountry sites, offer vault toilets but minimal other facilities. Firewood is available at some locations like Heritage Farms for an additional fee.

The tent camping experience varies significantly across locations. Sites at Heritage Farms offer limited privacy between campsites but provide open-sided A-frame shelters at some locations. The West Woods provides more seclusion with sites positioned below trail level, though occasional road noise can be heard. Mohican Memorial State Forest's Park and Pack sites offer excellent backcountry tent camping options with spacious areas for multiple tents and good hammocking opportunities. A camper noted, "Site 10 is about 3/4 of a mile down the trail from the upper parking area. Well marked and easy to find. There are plenty of areas to set up shelter and hang hammocks." Many locations feature proximity to hiking trails, with several tent sites positioned along the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath, making them ideal for hikers and cyclists seeking overnight accommodations.

Best Tent Sites Near Wadsworth, Ohio (20)

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Tent Camping Reviews near Wadsworth, OH

633 Reviews of 20 Wadsworth Campgrounds


  • Jen L.
    Aug. 23, 2018

    The West Woods

    Newer isn't always better

    There are 2 sites in the park both of which are walk in only and not close together. They are relatively small, 2-4 person tent only. Run by the Geauga Park District and only $5 for county residents, its cheap and looks it. Reservations must be made 3 days in advance, so no spur of the moment get aways. Basically it was just a space for a tent and a fire ring. No bathroom (about a half mile of trail away), no water, no picnic table, no alcohol. Basically I got the urge to camp in the early spring and wanted somewhere near home but I wouldn't stay there again, and wouldn't recommend anyone else do so either. However, the West Woods as a park is really nice with a nature center, hiking and bridle trails, just the campsite that was lacking.

  • K
    Aug. 26, 2020

    Park and Pack Campsite 10 — Mohican-Memorial State Forest

    Campsite 10 large and beautiful

    Make sure you get a reservation at the kiosk by the ranger station in the forest. Do not go to the state park as that is completely different. For the forest office I go to Co Rd 939, Perrysville, OH 44864

    Do not camp illegally or without a reservation. They do post signs and ask other campers to report the illegal camping.  

    The sunset photo is by the entrance of the parking lot to the campsite.  This is the 2nd easiest campsite to walk into out of the 10.  If you have any mobility issues this is the second best camp site to go to as most of it is along the wide access road and mountain bike trail. The parking lot was clean and easy to access. 

    I had limited cell phone signal while here but this had the best signal out of the 10 sites. 

    All of the Park and Pack camp sites do not have a bathroom. As you can see from this site I took the time to take a picture of the moon pole.  So do leave no trace of your bathroom habits. 

    This site was great for both hammocks and tents.  You could have a small group here and not feel crowded. The camp fire set up is awesome. We had another camper over by that spot so I didn't take pictures of his gear.  He had a hammock and tent set up. He was camping at the spot for a week for his vacation. On our last night at this site another backpacker came through and set up.  Make sure you get a reservation and look closely at the board at the kiosk.  Our main camper at this site was gracious as he had booked the site for the week most folks didn't realize the site was taken as his name was so far up the clipboard.  We weren't alone in not realizing that and he enjoyed the brief company we provided as good neighbors to each other.

  • Jennifer K.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 18, 2022

    Mill Creek Camping — Berlin Lake Wildlife Area

    Beautiful but no peace and quiet

    Camp hosts were amazing and our spot was large and pretty. Our neighbors however were absolutely obnoxious. Just screaming obscenities nearly the whole time and were definitely drinking even though no alcohol is allowed in the park. Rangers drive by very frequently yet do absolutely nothing even after quiet hours start. Maybe it's not always like this but I may never return because of it. I want a nice quiet and relaxing time not put up with screaming drunks and kids. Also there was so much traffic constantly!

  • W
    Jun. 10, 2022

    Rivers Edge Camping Area (Bridgeport Quarry Trailhead)

    Great location

    Great access close to parking lot with privacy between you and the trail. Right alongside the river with a picnic table and firepit. Portable toilet in parking lot. No running water but close to gas stations and restaurants. Only 12 minute drive over to Pro Football Hall of Fame.

  • Greg A.
    Jun. 5, 2018

    Punderson State Park Campground

    Meh.

    It could be an ok place if you get the right spot. Some of the sites are VERY SLOPED and some people parked campers in those spots and used very odd things to try and level them. The sites are not maintained well and have lots of weeds and some are very close and are essentially sharing the space with the fire ring and picnic table with other campers. Not very private at all. If you have awnings or slides, you will have to be careful about what site you will get or you will not be able to open the slides or your awning. If you get a good spot or are tent camping then it may be ok.

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

    Heritage Farms

    Great for cyclists along the Towpath in Cuyahoga National Park

    Located about ½ mile off the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath, this campground is a part of a 5th generation working farm.  Both standard campsites and shelters are available and are scattered among a working Christmas Tree farm.   A very sweet couple owns the place and runs the campground, George & Carol Haramis.

    Each site is situated on grass, has a picnic table, and fire ring (firewood is supplied with your campsite fee).  Both pit toilets and water are available to campers as well. Some are shaded and other sites have quite a bit of sun.  The shelters are robustly constructed, but don’t have much cross ventilation as they are only open to the front, so are quite hot in the heat of the summer, and provide no barrier to insects.  No electricity is available. Come prepared to hang your food (not for bears, but for mice).

    They prefer reservations, but happily accommodated our reservation-less lifestyle as it was early in the season.  Our shelter site was just next to the gravel parking area and overlooked the farm as well as had a great view of the sunset.  Unfortunately, you can hear the highway from the campground, despite the fact that it is located a good distance away. It didn’t bother us at night, but we definitely heard it first thing in the morning.

    Just down the road in the village of Peninsula, OH (and right next to the towpath) are Century Cycles (super helpful bike shop!!) and the Winking Lizard Tavern (fun restaurant/bar). After a long day of cycling, we enjoyed an adult beverage and some dessert after making dinner in the campground.

    More info here:  https://centurycycles.com/articles/camping-along-the-towpath-trail-pg1342.htm

  • 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.

  • R
    Jul. 16, 2021

    Park and Pack Campsite 10 — Mohican-Memorial State Forest

    Mohican Memorial State Forest, Park & Pack, Site #10

    This was my second time enjoying Mohican State Forest’s Park & Pack sites. I took my daughter to site 10 for an overnighter.

    If you’re unfamiliar w/ the Park & Pack system I found this PDF to be extremely useful.

    http://www.backpackohio.com/etrails/bpo_mohican.pdf

    As others have stated, make sure to sign in at the kiosk, you can find it here:

    950 ODNR Mohican Road 60 (County Road 939), Perrysville, Ohio 44864

    There’s no reservations, you show up, see what sites are available, sign in and drive to the appropriate parking area.

    After signing in at the kiosk we drove and parked at the upper parking area for sites 8-10. The last 1/4 mile of the road is pretty rutted, so if you have a low profile vehicle you may need to park at the lower area (which isn’t much of a parking area and the Rangers don’t really want anyone parking there).

    Site 10 is about 3/4 of a mile down the trail from the upper parking area. Well marked and easy to find. There are plenty of areas to set up shelter and hang hammocks. After my daughter and I set up camp near the fire ring we explored and found spots below the SE edge.

    You can find a short “trail” at the NE edge of the campsite that leads down to a ledge where a couple unofficial fire rings have been built. You can also get there by continuing east past the last Site 10 trail marker. The trail is a bit over grown but was still easily followed. It will loop around towards the south then back west leading into the lower area.

    The whole area is beautiful and scenic. I’d like to head back in the fall and or winter to enjoy the view of the gorge in different seasons. The site is fairly remote, we only saw a hiker while hiking in and heard mountain bikers riding down the trail NW of Site 10. The only con I would give the site is there’s no water source, so you have to pack in all your water needs. Being the middle of summer that was quite a bit for my daughter and me. Packs were much lighter on the way out.

  • Skooma M.
    Jun. 24, 2022

    Findley State Park Campground

    Organized Group Site 2

    It was difficult to find pictures or reviews of the Findlay group sites. It honestly seemed to me that they didn't exist, so I thought I'd do the service of taking some pictures.

    The group sites are away from the main campsites, so you should have plenty of space for your group to set up and enough distance between them to not disturb the peace if you have a large group. OGA2 is heavily forested, I'm not sure about OGA1. There are plenty of trees so both hammock and tent campers should be accommodated. The fire pit is large and there are 4 picnic tables.

    The campsite is about 75 yards from the parking area, and there is a vault toilet right before the parking area.


Guide to Wadsworth

Tent camping opportunities near Wadsworth, Ohio are scattered across a region of rolling hills and Appalachian foothills, with elevations ranging from 900 to 1,200 feet above sea level. The area experiences four distinct seasons with summer temperatures averaging 70-85°F and winter temperatures often dropping below freezing. Most primitive tent camping locations are located within 30 miles of Wadsworth, with several sites positioned along waterways or within conservation areas.

What to do

Explore riverside habitats: Rivers Edge Camping Area at Bridgeport Quarry Trailhead offers direct access to the Tuscarawas River, making it ideal for water activities. A camper noted, "Great access close to parking lot with privacy between you and the trail. Right alongside the river with a picnic table and firepit. Portable toilet in parking lot. No running water but close to gas stations and restaurants."

Bird watching opportunities: The West Woods features exceptional bird diversity with raised tent pads for wildlife observation. According to a reviewer, "TONS OF BIRDS you will hear them all day long and see all sorts of different kinds. Really pretty and relaxing scenery overall. Probably best for solo campers."

Visit historic sites: Heritage Farms campsites offer convenient access to nearby attractions. One camper shared, "Located about ½ mile off the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath, this campground is a part of a 5th generation working farm. Both standard campsites and shelters are available and are scattered among a working Christmas Tree farm."

Pack-in backcountry experience: Park and Pack Campsite 10 at Mohican Memorial State Forest requires a 3/4 mile hike from the upper parking area but rewards with solitude. A visitor mentioned, "Site 10 is about 3/4 of a mile down the trail from the upper parking area. Well marked and easy to find. There are plenty of areas to set up shelter and hang hammocks."

What campers like

Seasonal camping views: Campers praise the seasonal diversity at the best tent camping near Wadsworth. At Heritage Farms, one camper highlighted, "Sunset was incredible the first night. It did get very chilly when we were there."

Privacy between sites: The West Woods offers secluded tent camping experiences. A camper observed, "While this is a spot in a smaller park with a lot of day use, the site is a walk off of the trail, and situated slightly lower than trail level for privacy. Amazing sounds, smells, and relaxation."

Cost-effective options: Free camping at Rivers Edge attracts budget-conscious tent campers. According to one review, "These sites are specifically designed for hikers/cyclists. Camping is dispersed in a small grassy field and is FREE! There is room for maybe 6-8 small backcountry tents."

Hammock-friendly terrain: Many campsites feature suitable trees for hammock camping. At Mohican Memorial State Forest, a reviewer shared, "This site was great for both hammocks and tents. You could have a small group here and not feel crowded. The camp fire set up is awesome."

What you should know

Registration procedures: For Park and Pack sites, proper registration is essential. A camper advised, "Make sure you get a reservation at the kiosk by the ranger station in the forest. Do not go to the state park as that is completely different."

Site accessibility challenges: Many tent sites require walking with gear. At Heritage Farms, a camper explained, "Be prepared - you park near the front of the campgrounds to check in, and then you are provided wagons to carry your gear to your site. It is kind of a fun adventure."

Water availability limitations: Most primitive sites lack drinking water sources. A Mohican Forest camper noted, "The only con I would give the site is there's no water source, so you have to pack in all your water needs. Being the middle of summer that was quite a bit."

Firewood restrictions: Several campgrounds have specific firewood policies. One Heritage Farms reviewer mentioned, "If you plan on having a fire, you have to purchase wood from them because you can't bring your own (it's a tree farm)."

Tips for camping with families

Wagon-friendly sites: Heritage Farms offers equipment to help transport gear. A camper shared, "You do have to carry your belongings into the campsites, but it wasn't too horrible for us, esp. since our campsite was right off the walking path. The provided wagons and wheelbarrows make it easier too."

Child safety considerations: Some sites have terrain challenges for younger children. At The West Woods, a camper cautioned, "In near a slope which leads to the river, which the kids loved but younger kids might find dangerous."

Kid-friendly spaces: Rivers Edge Camping Area provides open areas for children to play. A visitor mentioned, "The camp site is a short walk and was very nice. The porta potty was very big, clean and had hand sanitizer! In the morning there were many runners in the park but they stayed away from the camping area."

Space for multiple tents: For larger family groups, certain sites offer more room. At Park and Pack Site 10, a camper noted, "You could have a small group here and not feel crowded. The camp fire set up is awesome."

Tips from RVers

Limited RV options: Most tent camping sites near Wadsworth don't accommodate RVs. However, Hidden Hollow Camp provides alternative options for groups who might typically use RVs. A visitor mentioned, "We have camped here multiple times with out scout troop. Facilities are excellent with a large clubhouse with kitchen. Vault toilets are fine."

Parking limitations: For those transitioning from RV camping to tent camping, parking can be challenging. At Mohican Memorial Forest, a camper cautioned, "The last 1/4 mile of the road is pretty rutted, so if you have a low profile vehicle you may need to park at the lower area (which isn't much of a parking area and the Rangers don't really want anyone parking there)."

Frequently Asked Questions

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

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Wadsworth, OH is Heritage Farms with a 4.6-star rating from 10 reviews.

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

TheDyrt.com has all 20 tent camping locations near Wadsworth, OH, with real photos and reviews from campers.