Wayne National Forest offers primitive tent camping opportunities across its 244,000 acres in southeastern Ohio. Designated camping areas vary from basic backcountry sites to more developed facilities with limited amenities. The forest's Appalachian foothills terrain features elevations ranging from 650 to 1,250 feet, creating diverse camping environments through its three distinct units: Athens, Marietta, and Ironton.
What to do
Mountain biking on Baileys Trail System: Access over 30 miles of purpose-built singletrack trails directly from Baileys Trail Tent Camping. According to Alex A., "Wonderful little location. We drove for about 3 hours to get from where we are. Nice wide open space surrounded by woods."
Backpacking the Zaleski Trail: Complete the 23-mile backpacking loop at Zaleski State Forest Horse Camp, featuring three designated camping areas. One backpacker noted, "The trails are well marked and easy to follow. And there are several loop sections so you can easily plan various tips accordingly."
Visit historic sites: Explore the Moonville Tunnel near Zaleski by taking the connector trail from the south loop. A camper recommends, "We spent one afternoon hiking over to the Moonville Tunnel and it was one of the coolest parts of our four day trek."
OHV trail riding: Access miles of designated OHV trails from Monday Creek OHV Dispersed camping area. One visitor shared, "Lots of trucks and toy haulers heading up the various roads into the late evening. We slept soundly, made breakfast and were on our way."
What campers like
Clean facilities: Many tent campers appreciate the maintained facilities at Benton's on the Baileys, where "The bathrooms are down the hill too, but very clean and private. There are showers too."
Water access at backcountry sites: Zaleski State Forest campsites provide reliable water sources. A regular camper confirms, "The water is good and I have never seen them dry. You will see lots of wildlife, we have seen salamanders, deer, snakes, a wild turkey even wandered into our camp."
Free camping options: Monday Creek OHV area offers no-cost primitive camping with basic amenities. A reviewer appreciated, "Vaulted toilet and garbage cans were a welcome bonus."
Privacy between sites: Tent campers value secluded spots at Benton's on the Baileys, which provides "Extremely private primitive camping surrounded by Wayne National Forest and steps from the Baileys Trail System."
What you should know
Weather considerations: Spring conditions create muddy access points on forest roads and trails throughout Wayne National Forest. Prepare for seasonal changes, as "It can get a little humid and buggy there" during summer months.
Limited facilities: Most primitive campsites have basic or no amenities. At Pops Place Camping, "The porta john and shower were very clean. The shower uses an on demand water heater."
Water availability: Bring filtration systems for creek water or rely on designated water sources. One Zaleski camper advises, "Water is available at 3 backpack camping areas (Points D, I & P)."
Campsite occupancy: Popular sites fill quickly, especially on weekends. For Zaleski, "Get there early and get to the campsites first, there are decidedly better sites in each camp."
Trail difficulty: Some trails present moderate challenges. A backpacker warned, "I'm a backpacker and this was tough. There is clear trails and a lot of rocks to climb on top of."
Tips for camping with families
Choose sites with amenities: For family comfort, select campgrounds with basic facilities. At Lane Farm Campground, "The amenities there are a vault toilet, trash bin by the toilet building, picnic tables, camp fire ring with cooking grate, and lantern post."
Plan appropriate hiking distances: Select trails suitable for children. One family reported, "We did the South Loop at Zaleski - 10.9 miles. The hike was great. Lots of ups & downs, a pond & beautiful rock outcroppings."
Check for drinking water: Many primitive sites lack potable water. A camper at Lane Farm noted, "No drinking water is available and the creeks are quite muddy, so come prepared with water!"
Watch for poison ivy: Trail edges throughout the forest often have irritating plants. A family warned, "Trails had lots of poison ivy & ticks present."
Consider nearby activities: Supplement camping with swimming options. Near Zaleski, "You can dock a boat off lake hope and enjoy a day on the water, or rent a kayak or canoe at the local beach area right down the road."
Tips from RVers
Limited RV options: Most tent camping near Wayne National Forest has few RV accommodations. Small campers may fit at select sites like Lane Farm, where one RVer noted, "It's designed for tent camping, but Hamlet (our small camper) fit fine with some strategic parking."
Parking considerations: Some campgrounds require walking to tent sites. At Benton's on the Baileys, "You have to walk to the site, up a steep hill, but it is very private and quiet."
Road conditions: Access roads vary in quality. At Pops Place, "The road the campground is on is paved and the campground drive is decent gravel for street bikes."
Cell service variability: Connectivity changes throughout the forest. According to a camper, "There is good verizon cell service there, I did not expect it because of the location and hills in the area."
